| In the reign of the famous
King Arthur, there lived near the Land's End of England, in the county
of Cornwall, a worthy farmer, who had an only son named Jack. Jack was
a boy of a bold temper; he took pleasure in hearing or reading stories
of wizards, conjurers, giants, and fairies, and used to listen eagerly
while his father talked of the great deeds of the brave knights of King
Arthur's Round Table. When Jack was sent to take care of the sheep and
oxen in the fields, he used to amuse himself with planning battles, sieges,
and the means to conquer or surprise a foe. He was above the common sports
of children; but hardly any one could equal him at wrestling; or, if he
met with a match for himself in strength, his skill and address always
made him the victor. In those days there lived on St. Michael's Mount of
Cornwall, which rises out of the sea at some distance from the main land,
a huge giant. He was eighteen feet high, and three yards round; and his
fierce and savage looks were the terror of all his neighbours. He dwelt
in a gloomy cavern on the very top of the mountain, and used to wade over
to the main land in search of his prey. When he came near, the people left
their houses; and after he had glutted his appetite upon their cattle,
he would throw half-a-dozen oxen upon his back, and tie three times as
many sheep and hogs round his waist, and so march back to his own abode.
The giant had done this for many years, and the coast of Cornwall was greatly
hurt by his thefts, when Jack boldly resolved to destroy him. He therefore
took a horn, a shovel, pickaxe, and a dark lantern, and early in a long
winter's evening he swam to the mount. There he fell to work at once, and
before morning he had dug a pit twenty-two feet deep, and almost as many
broad. He covered it over with sticks and straw, and strewed some of the
earth over them, to make it look just like solid ground. He then put his
horn to his mouth, and blew such a loud and long tantivy, that the giant
awoke and came towards Jack, roaring like thunder: "You saucy villain,
you shall pay dearly for breaking my rest; I will broil you for my breakfast."
He had scarcely spoken these words, when he came advancing one step farther;
but then he tumbled headlong into the pit, and his fall shook the very
mountain. "O ho, Mr. Giant!" said Jack, looking into the pit, "have you
found your way so soon to the bottom? How is your appetite now? Will nothing
serve you for breakfast this cold morning but broiling poor Jack?" The
giant now tried to rise, but Jack struck him a blow on the crown of the
head with his pickaxe, which killed him at once. Jack then made haste back
to rejoice his friends with the news of the giant's death. When the justices
of Cornwall heard of this valiant action, they sent for Jack, and declared
that he should always be called Jack the Giant Killer; and they also gave
him a sword and belt, upon which was written in letters of gold:
"This is the valiant Cornishman
Who slew the Giant Cormoran."
The news of Jack's exploits
soon spread over the western parts of England; and another giant, called
Old Blunderbore, vowed to have revenge on Jack, if it should ever be his
fortune to get him into his power. This giant kept an enchanted castle
in the midst of a lonely wood. About four months after the death of Cormoran,
as Jack was taking a journey into Wales, he passed through this wood; and
as he was very weary, he sat down to rest by the side of a pleasant fountain,
and there he fell into a deep sleep. The giant came to the fountain for
water just at this time, and found Jack there; and as the lines on Jack's
belt showed who he was, the giant lifted him up and laid him gently upon
his shoulder to carry him to his castle: but as he passed through the thicket,
the rustling of the leaves waked Jack; and he was sadly afraid when he
found himself in the clutches of Blunderbore. Yet this was nothing to his
fright soon after; for when they reached the castle, he beheld the floor
covered all over with the skulls and bones of men and women. The giant
took him into a large room where lay the hearts and limbs of persons who
had been lately killed; and he told Jack, with a horrid grin, that men's
hearts, eaten with pepper and vinegar, were his nicest food; and also,
that he thought he should make a dainty meal on his heart. When he had
said this, he locked Jack up in that room, while he went to fetch another
giant who lived in the same wood, to enjoy a dinner off Jack's flesh with
him. While he was away, Jack heard dreadful shrieks, groans, and cries,
from many parts of the castle; and soon after he heard a mournful voice
repeat these lines:
"Haste, valiant stranger,
haste away,
Lest you become the giant's
prey.
On his return he'll bring
another,
Still more savage than his
brother:
A horrid, cruel monster,
who,
Before he kills, will torture
you.
Oh valiant stranger, haste
away,
Or you'll become these giants'
prey."
This warning was so shocking
to poor Jack, that he was ready to go mad. He ran to the window, and saw
the two giants coming along arm in arm. This window was right over the
gates of the castle. "Now," thought Jack, "either my death or freedom is
at hand." There were two strong cords in the room: Jack made a large noose
with a slip-knot at the ends of both these, and as the giants were coming
through the gates, he threw the ropes over their heads. He then made the
other ends fast to a beam in the ceiling, and pulled with all his might
till he had almost strangled them. When he saw that they were both quite
black in the face, and had not the least strength left, he drew his sword,
and slid down the ropes; he then killed the giants, and thus saved himself
from the cruel death they meant to put him to. Jack next took a great bunch
of keys from the pocket of Blunderbore, and went into the castle again.
He made a strict search through all the rooms; and in them found three
ladies tied up by the hair of their heads, and almost starved to death.
They told him that their husbands had been killed by the giants, who had
then condemned them to be starved to death, because they would not eat
the flesh of their own dead husbands. "Ladies," said Jack, "I have put
an end to the monster and his wicked brother; and I give you this castle
and all the riches it contains, to make you some amends for the dreadful
pains you have felt." He then very politely gave them the keys of the castle,
and went further on his journey to Wales. As Jack had not taken any of
the giant's riches for himself, and so had very little money of his own,
he thought it best to travel as fast as he could. At length he lost his
way, and when night came on he was in a lonely valley between two lofty
mountains, where he walked about for some hours without seeing any dwelling
place, so he thought himself very lucky at last, in finding a large and
handsome house.
He went up to it boldly,
and knocked loudly at the gate, when, to his great terror and surprise,
there came forth a monstrous giant with two heads. He spoke to Jack very
civilly, for he was a Welsh giant, and all the mischief he did was by private
and secret malice, under the show of friendship and kindness. Jack told
him that he was a traveller who had lost his way, on which the huge monster
made him welcome, and led him into a room, where there was a good bed to
pass the night in. Jack took off his clothes quickly; but though he was
so weary he could not go to sleep. Soon after this he heard the giant walking
backward and forward in the next room, and saying to himself:
"Though here you lodge with
me this night,
You shall not see the morning
light;
My club shall dash your brains
out quite."
"Say you so?" thought Jack;
"are these your tricks upon travellers? But I hope to prove as cunning
as you." Then getting out of bed, he groped about the room, and at last
found a large thick billet of wood; he laid it in his own place in the
bed, and then hid himself in a dark corner of the room. In the middle of
the night the giant came with his great club, and struck many heavy blows
on the bed, in the very place where Jack had laid the billet, and then
he went back to his own room, thinking he had broken all his bones. Early
in the morning, Jack put a bold face upon the matter, and walked into the
giant's room to thank him for his lodgings. The giant started when he saw
him, and he began to stammer out, "Oh, dear me! Is it you? Pray, how did
you sleep last night? Did you hear or see any thing in the dead of the
night?" "Nothing worth speaking of," said Jack carelessly; "a rat, I believe,
gave me three or four slaps with his tail, and disturbed me a little; but
I soon went to sleep again." The giant wondered more and more at this;
yet he did not answer a word, but went to bring two great bowls of hasty-pudding
for their breakfast. Jack wished to make the giant believe that he could
eat as much as himself. So he contrived to button a leathern bag inside
his coat, and slipped the hasty-pudding into this bag, while he seemed
to put it into his mouth. When breakfast was over, he said to the giant:
"Now I will show you a fine trick; I can cure all wounds with a touch;
I could cut off my head one minute, and the next, put it sound again on
my shoulders: you shall see an example." He then took hold of the knife,
ripped up the leathern bag, and all the hasty-pudding tumbled out upon
the floor. "Ods splutter hur nails," cried the Welsh giant, who was ashamed
to be outdone by such a little fellow as Jack, "hur can do that hurself."
So he snatched up the knife, plunged it into his stomach, and in a moment
dropped down dead.
As soon as Jack had thus
tricked the Welsh monster, he went farther on his journey; and a few days
after he met with King Arthur's only son, who had got his father's leave
to travel into Wales, to deliver a beautiful lady from the power of a wicked
magician, who held her in his enchantments. When Jack found that the young
prince had no servants with him, he begged leave to attend him; and the
prince at once agreed to this, and gave Jack many thanks for his kindness.
The prince was a handsome, polite, and brave knight, and so good-natured
that he gave money to every body he met. At length he gave his last penny
to an old woman, and then turned to Jack, and said: "How shall we be able
to get food for ourselves the rest of our journey?" "Leave that to me sir,"
said Jack; "I will provide for my prince." Night now came on, and the prince
began to grow uneasy at thinking where they should lodge. "Sir," said Jack,
"be of good heart; two miles farther there lives a large giant, whom I
know well. He has three heads, and will fight five hundred men, and make
them fly before him." "Alas!" replied the king's son, "we had better never
have been born than meet with such a monster." "My lord, leave me to manage
him, and wait here in quiet till I return." The prince now staid behind,
while Jack rode on full speed. And when he came to the gates of the castle,
he gave a loud knock. The giant, with a voice like thunder, roared out:
"Who is there?" And Jack made answer, and said: "No one but your poor cousin
Jack." "Well," said the giant, "what news, cousin Jack?" "Dear uncle,"
said Jack, "I have some heavy news." "Pooh!" said the giant, "what heavy
news can come to me? I am a giant with three heads; and can fight five
hundred men, and make them fly before me." "Alas!" said Jack, "Here is
the king's son, coming with two thousand men, to kill you, and to destroy
the castle and all that you have." "Oh, cousin Jack," said the giant, "This
is heavy news indeed! But I have a large cellar under ground, where I will
hide myself, and you shall lock, and bar me in, and keep the keys till
the king's son is gone."
Now when Jack had made the
giant fast in the vault, he went back and fetched the prince to the castle;
they both made themselves merry with the wine and other dainties that were
in the house. So that night they rested very pleasantly, while the poor
giant lay trembling and shaking with fear in the cellar under ground. Early
in the morning, Jack gave the king's son gold and silver out of the giant's
treasure, and set him three miles forward on his journey. He then went
to let his uncle out of the hole, who asked Jack what he should give him
as a reward for saving his castle. "Why, good uncle," said Jack, "I desire
nothing but the old coat and cap, with the old rusty sword and slippers,
which are hanging at your bed's head," Then said the giant: "You shall
have them; and pray keep them for my sake, for they are things of great
use: the coat will keep you invisible, the cap will give you knowledge,
the sword cut through anything, and the shoes are of vast swiftness; these
may be useful to you in all times of danger, so take them with all my heart."
Jack gave many thanks to the giant, and then set off to the prince. When
he had come up with the king's son, they soon arrived at the dwelling of
the beautiful lady, who was under the power of a wicked magician. She received
the prince very politely, and made a noble feast for him; and when it was
ended, she rose, and wiping her mouth with a fine handkerchief, said: "My
lord, you must submit to the custom of my palace; to-morrow morning I command
you to tell me on whom I bestow this handkerchief or lose your head." She
then went out of the room. The young prince went to bed very mournful:
but Jack put on his cap of knowledge, which told him that the lady was
forced, by the power of enchantment, to meet the wicked magician every
night in the middle of the forest. Jack now put on his coat of darkness,
and his shoes of swiftness, and was there before her. When the lady came,
she gave the handkerchief to the magician. Jack with his sword of sharpness,
at one blow, cut off his head; the enchantment was then ended in a moment,
and the lady was restored to her former virtue and goodness.
She was married to the prince
on the next day, and soon after went back with her royal husband, and a
great company, to the court of King Arthur, where they were received with
loud and joyful welcomes; and the valiant hero Jack, for the many great
exploits he had done for the good of his country, was made one of the Knights
of the Round Table. As Jack had been so lucky in all his adventures, he
resolved not to be idle for the future, but still to do what services he
could for the honour of the king and the nation. He therefore humbly begged
his majesty to furnish him with a horse and money, that he might travel
in search of new and strange exploits. "For," said he to the king, "there
are many giants yet living in the remote parts of Wales, to the great terror
and distress of your majesty's subjects; therefore if it please you, sire,
to favour me in my design, I will soon rid your kingdom of these giants
and monsters in human shape." Now when the king heard this offer, and began
to think of the cruel deeds of these blood-thirsty giants and savage monsters,
he gave Jack every thing proper for such a journey. After this Jack took
leave of the king, the prince, and all the knights, and set off; taking
with him his cap of knowledge, his sword of sharpness, his shoes of swiftness,
and his invisible coat, the better to perform the great exploits that might
fall in his way. He went along over high hills and lofty mountains, and
on the third day he came to a large wide forest, through which his road
led. He had hardly entered the forest, when on a sudden he heard very dreadful
shrieks and cries. He forced his way through the trees, and saw a monstrous
giant dragging along by the hair of their heads a handsome knight and his
beautiful lady. Their tears and cries melted the heart of honest Jack to
pity and compassion; he alighted from his horse, and tying him to an oak
tree he put on his invisible coat, under which he carried his sword of
sharpness.
When he came up to the giant,
he made several strokes at him, but could not reach his body, on account
of the enormous height of the terrible creature, but he wounded his thighs
in several places; and at length, putting both hands to his sword, and
aiming with all his might, he cut off both the giant's legs just below
the garter; and the trunk of his body tumbling to the ground, made not
only the trees shake, but the earth itself tremble with the force of his
fall. Then Jack, setting his foot upon his neck, exclaimed, "Thou barbarous
and savage wretch, behold I come to execute upon thee the just reward for
all thy crimes;" and instantly plunged his sword into the giant's body.
The huge monster gave a hideous groan, and yielded up his life into the
hands of the victorious Jack the Giant Killer, whilst the noble knight
and the virtuous lady were both joyful spectators of his sudden death and
their deliverance. The courteous knight and his fair lady, not only returned
Jack hearty thanks for their deliverance, but also invited him to their
house, to refresh himself after his dreadful encounter, as likewise to
receive a reward for his good services. "No," said Jack, "I cannot be at
ease till I find out the den that was the monster's habitation." The knight
on hearing this grew very sorrowful, and replied, "Noble stranger, it is
too much to run a second hazard; this monster lived in a den under yonder
mountain, with a brother of his, more fierce and cruel than himself; therefore,
if you should go thither, and perish in the attempt, it would be a heart-breaking
thing to me and my lady; so let me persuade you to go with us, and desist
from any farther pursuit." "Nay," answered Jack, "if there be another,
even if there were twenty, I would shed the last drop of blood in my body
before one of them should escape my fury. When I have finished this task,
I will come and pay my respects to you." So when they had told him where
to find them again, he got on his horse and went after the dead giant's
brother.
Jack had not rode a mile
and a half, before he came in sight of the mouth of the cavern; and nigh
the entrance of it, he saw the other giant sitting on a huge block of fine
timber, with a knotted iron club lying by his side, waiting for his brother.
His eyes looked like flames of fire, his face was grim and ugly, and his
cheeks seemed like two flitches of bacon; the bristles of his beard seemed
to be thick rods of iron wire; and his long locks of hair hung down upon
his broad shoulders like curling snakes. Jack got down from his horse,
and turned him into a thicket; then he put on his coat of darkness, and
drew a little nearer to behold this figure, and said softly: "Oh, monster!
are you there? It will not be long before I shall take you fast by the
beard." The giant all this while, could not see him, by reason of his invisible
coat: so Jack came quite close to him, and struck a blow at his head with
his sword of sharpness, but he missed his aim, and only cut off his nose,
which made him roar like loud claps of thunder. And though he rolled his
glaring eyes round on every side, he could not see who had given him the
blow; yet he took up his iron club, and began to lay about him like one
that was mad with pain and fury.
"Nay," said Jack, "if this
be the case I will kill you at once." So saying, he slipped nimbly behind
him, and jumping upon the block of timber, as the giant rose from it, he
stabbed him in the back; when, after a few howls, he dropped down dead.
Jack cut off his head, and sent it with the head of his brother, whom he
had killed before in the forest, to King Arthur, by a wagon which he hired
for that purpose, with an account of all his exploits. When Jack had thus
killed these two monsters, he went into their cave in search of their treasure:
he passed through many turnings and windings, which led him to a room paved
with freestone; at the end of it was a boiling caldron, and on the right
hand stood a large table where the giants used to dine. He then came to
a window that was secured with iron bars, through which he saw a number
of wretched captives, who cried out when they saw Jack, "Alas! alas! young
man, you are come to be one among us in this horrid den." "I hope," said
Jack, "you will not stay here long; but pray tell me what is the meaning
of your being here at all?" "Alas!" said one poor old man, "I will tell
you, sir. We are persons that have been taken by the giants who hold this
cave, and are kept till they choose to have a feast, then one of us is
to be killed, and cooked to please their taste. It is not long since they
took three for the same purpose." "Well," said Jack, "I have given them
such a dinner that it will be long enough before they have any more." The
captives were amazed at his words. "You may believe me," said Jack; "for
I have killed them both with the edge of the sword, and have sent their
large heads to the court of King Arthur, as marks of my great success."
To show them that what he
said was true, he unlocked the gate, and set them all free. Then he led
them to the great room, placed them round the table, and set before them
two quarters of beef, with bread and wine; upon which they feasted to their
fill. When supper was over, they searched the giants' coffers, and Jack
shared the store in them among the captives, who thanked him for their
escape. The next morning they set off to their homes, and Jack to the knight's
house, whom he had left with his lady not long before. It was just at the
time of sunrise that Jack mounted his horse to proceed on his journey.
He arrived at the knight's
house, where he was received with the greatest joy by the thankful knight
and his lady, who, in honour of Jack's exploits, gave a grand feast, to
which all the nobles and gentry were invited. When the company were assembled,
the knight declared to them the great actions of Jack, and gave him, as
a mark of respect, a fine ring, on which was engraved the picture of the
giant dragging the knight and the lady by the hair, with this motto round
it:
"Behold, in dire distress
were we,
Under a giant's fierce command;
But gained our lives and
liberty,
From valiant Jack's victorious
hand."
Among the guests then present
were five aged gentlemen, who were fathers to some of those captives who
had been freed by Jack from the dungeon of the giants. As soon as they
heard that he was the person who had done such wonders, they pressed round
him with tears of joy, to return him thanks for the happiness he had caused
to them. After this the bowl went round, and every one drank to the health
and long life of the gallant hero. Mirth increased, and the hall was filled
with peals of laughter and joyful cries. But, on a sudden, a herald, pale
and breathless with haste and terror, rushed into the midst of the company,
and told them that Thundel, a savage giant with two heads, had heard of
the death of his two kinsmen, and was come to take his revenge on Jack;
and that he was now within a mile of the house; the people flying before
him like chaff before the wind. At this news the very boldest of the guests
trembled; but Jack drew his sword, and said: "Let him come, I have a rod
for him also. Pray, ladies and gentlemen, do me the favour to walk into
the garden, and you shall soon behold the giant's defeat and death." To
this they all agreed, and heartily wished him success in his dangerous
attempt. The knight's house stood in the middle of a moat, thirty feet
deep and twenty wide, over which lay a drawbridge. Jack set men to work
to cut the bridge on both sides, almost to the middle; and then dressed
himself in his coat of darkness, and went against the giant with his sword
of sharpness. As he came close to him, though the giant could not see him,
for his invisible coat, yet he found some danger was near, which made him
cry out:
"Fa, fe, fi, fo, fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman;
Let him be alive, or let
him be dead,
I'll grind his bones to make
me bread."
"Say you so my friend?" said
Jack, "you are a monstrous miller indeed." "Art thou," cried the giant,
"the villain that killed my kinsmen? Then I will tear thee with my teeth,
and grind thy bones to powder." "You must catch me first," said Jack; and
throwing off his coat of darkness, and putting on his shoes of swiftness,
he began to run; the giant following him like a walking castle, making
the earth shake at every step.
Jack led him round and round
the walls of the house, that the company might see the monster; and to
finish the work Jack ran over the drawbridge, the giant going after him
with his club. But when the giant came to the middle, where the bridge
had been cut on both sides, the great weight of his body made it break,
and he tumbled into the water, and rolled about like a large whale. Jack
now stood by the side of the moat, and laughed and jeered at him, saying:
"I think you told me, you would grind my bones to powder. When will you
begin?" The giant foamed at both his horrid mouths with fury, and plunged
from side to side of the moat; but he could not get out to have revenge
on his little foe. At last Jack ordered a cart rope to be brought to him.
He then drew it over his two heads, and by the help of a team of horses,
dragged him to the edge of the moat, where he cut off the monster's heads;
and before he either eat or drank, he sent them both to the court of King
Arthur. He then went back to the table with the company, and the rest of
the day was spent in mirth and good cheer. After staying with the knight
for some time, Jack grew weary of such an idle life, and set out again
in search of new adventures. He went over the hills and dales without meeting
any, till he came to the foot of a very high mountain. Here he knocked
at the door of a small and lonely house; and an old man, with a head as
white as snow, let him in. "Good father" said Jack, "can you lodge a traveller
who has lost his way?" "Yes," said the hermit, "I can, if you will accept
such fare as my poor house affords." Jack entered, and the old man set
before him some bread and fruit for his supper. When Jack had eaten as
much as he chose, the hermit said, "My son, I know you are the famous conqueror
of giants; now, on the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle, kept
by a giant named Galligantus, who, by the help of a vile magician, gets
many knights into his castle, where he changes them into the shape of beasts.
Above all I lament the hard fate of a duke's daughter, whom they seized
as she was walking in her father's garden, and brought hither through the
air in a chariot drawn by two fiery dragons, and turned her into the shape
of a deer. Many knights have tried to destroy the enchantment, and deliver
her; yet none have been able to do it, by reason of two fiery griffins
who guard the gate of the castle, and destroy all who come nigh. But as
you, my son, have an invisible coat, you may pass by them without being
seen; and on the gates of the castle, you will find engraved, by what means
the enchantment may be broken."
Jack promised, that in the
morning, at the risk of his life he would break the enchantment: and after
a sound sleep he arose early, put on his invisible coat, and got ready
for the attempt. When he had climbed to the top of the mountain, he saw
the two fiery griffins; but he passed between them without the least fear
of danger; for they could not see him because of his invisible coat. On
the castle gate he found a golden trumpet, under which were written these
lines:
"Whoever can this trumpet
blow,
Shall cause the giant's overthrow."
As soon as Jack had read
this, he seized the trumpet, and blew a shrill blast which made the gates
fly open and the very castle itself tremble. The giant and the conjurer
now knew that their wicked course was at an end, and they stood biting
their thumbs and shaking with fear. Jack, with his sword of sharpness,
soon killed the giant. The magician was then carried away by a whirlwind
and every knight and beautiful lady, who had been changed into birds and
beasts, returned to their proper shapes. The castle vanished away like
smoke and the head of the giant Galligantus was sent to King Arthur. The
knights and ladies rested that night at the old man's hermitage, and next
day they set out for the court. Jack then went up to the king, and gave
his majesty an account of all his fierce battles. Jack's fame had spread
through the whole country; and at the king's desire, the duke gave him
his daughter in marriage, to the joy of all the kingdom. After this the
king gave him a large estate; on which he and his lady lived the rest of
their days, in joy and content. |
