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In the reign of King
Arthur, near the Land's End of England, in the County of Cornwall, there
lived a wealthy farmer, who had one only son, commonly known by the name
of Jack. He was brisk, and of a lively ready wit; so that whatever he
could not perform by strength, he completed by wit and policy. Never was
any person heard of that could worst him; nay the learned he baffled by
his cunning and ready inventions.
For instance, When he was no more than seven
years of age, his father sent him into the field to look after his oxen;
a country vicar, by chance one day coming across the field, called Jack,
and asked him several questions —in particular, How many commandments
were there? Jack told him there were nine.
The Parson replied, "There are ten."
"Nay," quoth Jack, "Master Parson, you are
out of that; it is true there were ten, but you broke one of them with
your own maid Margert!"
The Parson replied, "Thou art an arch wag.
Jack." Well, Master
Parson,"quoth Jack, "you have asked me one question, and I have answered
it; let me ask you another. Who made these oxen?"
The Parson replied, "God."
"You are out again," quoth Jack, "for God
made them bulls, but my father and his man Hobson made oxen of them."
The Parson, finding; himself fooled, trudged
away, leaving Jack in a fit of laughter.
In those days the mount of Cornwall was kept
by a huge and monstrous Giant, of twenty-seven feet high, and three
yards in compass. of a grim countenance, to the terror of all the
neighbouring towns. His habitation was a cave in the midst of the mount,
neither would he suffer any living creature near him; his feeding was
upon other men's cattle; for whensoever he had occasion for food, he
would wade over to the mainland, where he would furnish himself with
whatever he could find. For the people at his approach would forsake
their habitations; then he would take their cows and oxen, of which he
would make nothing to carry over his back half a-dozen at a time; and as
for sheep and hogs, he would tie them round his waist. This he had for
many years practised in Cornwall.
But one day Jack, coming to the Town Hall,
when the Magistrates were sitting in consternation about the Giant, he
asked what reward they would give to any person that would destroy him.
They answered, "He shall have all the
Giant's treasure in recompense."
Quoth Jack, "Then I myself will undertake
the work.'' Jack
furnished himself with a horn, a shovel, and a pick-axe, and over to the
mount he goes in the beginning of a dark winter evening, where he fell
to work, and before morning had digged a pit twenty-two feet deep and as
broad, and covered the same over with long sticks and straw; then
strewed a little mould upon it, so that it appeared like the plain
ground. This done,
Jack places himself on the contrary side of the pit, just about the
dawning of the day, when, putting his horn to his mouth, he then blew,
Tan Twivie, tan twivie. Which unexpected noise roused the Giant,
who came roaring towards Jack, crying out - "You incorrigible villain,
are you come hither to break my rest; you shall dearly pay for it;
satisfaction I will have, and it shall be this: I will take you wholly
and broil you for my breakfast."
Which words were no sooner out of his mouth
but he tumbled headlong into the deep pit, which heavy fall made the
very foundation of the mount to shake.
"Oh, Giant, where are you
now? Faith. yon are got into Lobbs Pond where I shall plague you
for your threatening words. What do you think now of broiling me for
your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack?"
Thus having tantalized
the Giant for a while, he gave him a most weighty knock on the crown of
his head with his pick-axe, so that he immediately tumbled down, gave a
most dreadful groan, and died. This done, Jack threw the earth in upon
him and so buried him; then going and searching the cave, he found a
great quantity of treasure.
Now, when the Magistrates who employed him
heard the work was over, they sent for him, declaring that he should be
called Jack the Giant Killer. And in honour thereof, they presented him
with a sword, together with a fine rich embroidered belt, on which these
words were wrought in letters of gold-
"Here's the right valiant Cornish man,
Who slew the Giant Cormillan."
The news of Jack's victory was soon spread;
when another huge Giant named Blunderboar, hearing of it, vowed to be
revenged on Jack, if ever it was his fortune to light upon him. This
Giant kept an enchanted castle, situated in the midst of a lonesome
wood. Now Jack, about four months after, walking near the borders of the
said wood on his journey towards Wales, grew weary, and therefore sat
himself down by the side of a pleasant fountain, where a deep sleep
suddenly seized on him, at which time the Giant, coming for water, found
him, and, by the line on his belt, knew him to be Jack that killed his
brother. and, without any words, threw him upon his shoulder to carry
him to his enchanted castle.
Now, as they passed through a thicket, the
ruffling of the boughs awaked poor Jack, who, finding himself in the
clutches of the Giant. was strangely surprised; for, at the entering;
within the first walls of the castle, he beheld the ground all covered
with bones and skulls of dead men, the Giant telling Jack that his bones
would enlarge the number that he saw. This said, he brought him into a
large parlour. where he beheld the bloody quarters of some who were
lately slain, and in the next room were more hearts and livers, which
the Giant, in order to terrify Jack, told him "That men's hearts and
livers were the choicest of his diet, for he commonly ate them with
pepper and vinegar, and he did not question but his heart would make him
a dainty bit." This said, he locks up poor Jack in an upper room, while
he went to fetch another Giant living in the same wood, that he might
partake in the destruction of poor Jack.
Now. while he was gone, dreadful shrieks and
cries affrighted poor Jack, especially a voice which continually cried
"Do what you can to get away,
Or you'll become the Giant's prey
He's gone to fetch his brother, who
Will kill and likewise torture you."
This dreadful noise so amazed poor Jack. he
was ready to run distracted; seeing from the window afar of! the two
Giants coming, "Now," quoth Jack to himself, "my death or deliverance is
at hand." There
were strong cords in the room by him, of which he takes two, at the end
of which he makes a noose, and, while the Giant was unlocking the gate,
he threw the ropes over each of the heads, and drawing the other end
across the beam, he pulled with all his strength until he had throttled
them; and then fastening the rope to the beam, turning; towards the
window he beheld the two giants to be black in their faces. Sliding down
by the rope, he came close to their heads, where the helpless Giants
could not defend themselves: and drawing out his sword, slew them both,
and delivered himself from their intended cruelty; then taking out a
bunch of keys, he unlocked the rooms, where he found three fair ladies
tied by the hair of their heads. almost starved to death. who told him
that their husbands were slain by the Giant, and that they were kept
many days without food, in order to force them to feed upon the flesh of
their husbands.
"Sweet ladies," quoth Jack, "I have destroyed this monster and his
brutish brother, by which I have obtained your lilberties." This said,
he presentecl them with the keys of the castle, and so proceeded on his
journey to Wales.
Jack, having but very little money, thought it prudent to make the best
of his way by travelling; as fast as he could; but, losing his road. was
benighted, and could not get a place of entertainment until he came to a
valley placed between two hills, where stood a large house in a lonesome
place. He took courage to knock at the gate, and to his great surprise
there came forth a monstrous Giant, having two heads; yet he did not
seem so fiery as the others had been, for he was a Welsh Giant, and what
he did was by secret malice; for. Jack telling his condition, he bid him
welcome, showing him a room with a bed in it, whereon he might take his
night's repose: therefore, Jack undressed himself, and, as the Giant was
walking to another apartment, Jack heard him muttering forth these words
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."
"Sayest thou so," quoth Jack; "this is like
your Welsh tricks, yet I hope to be cunning enough for you." Then,
getting out of bed, he put. a billet in his stead. and hid himself in a
corner of the room; and, in the dead time of the night, the Welsh giant
came with his great knotty club, and struck several blows upon the bed
where Jack had laid the billet, and then returned to his own chamber
supposing he had broken all the bones in his body.
In the morning, Jack gave him hearty thanks
for his lodging.
The Giant said to him, "How have you rested? Did you not feel something
in the night?"
"Nothing," quoth Jack, "but a rat which gave me three or four slaps with
her tail." Soon
after the Giant arose and went to breakfast with a bowl of hasty
pudding, containing nearly four gallons, giving Jack the like quantity,
who, being loath to let the Giant know he could not eat with him, got a
large leathern bag, putting it very artfully under his loose coat, into
which he secretly conveyed his pudding, telling the Giant he could show
him a trick; then, taking a large knife, he ripped open the bag, which
the Giant supposed to be his belly, when out came the hasty pudding, at
which the Welsh Giant cried, "Cotplut, hur can do dat trick hurself."
Then, taking his sharp knife, he ripped up
his own belly from the bottom to the top, and out dropped his tripes and
trolly bags, so that he fell down for dead. Thus Jack outwitted the
Giant, and proceeded on his journey.
About this time King
Arthur's son only desired of his father to furnish him with a certain
surn of money that he might go and seek his fortune in Wales, where a
beautiful lady lived, whom he heard was possessed with seven evil
spirits; but the King, his father, advised him utterly against it, yet
he would not he persuaded of it; so he granted what he requested, which
was one horse loaded with money, and another for himself to ride on.
Thus he went forth without any attendants.
Now, after several days' travel, he came to
a market town in Wales, where he beheld a large concourse of people
gathered together; the Kings son demanded the reason of it, and was told
that they had arrested a corpse for many large sums of money which the
deceased owed when he died. The King's son replied, "It is a pity that
creditors should be so cruel; gobury the dead, and let his creditors
come. to my lodging, and their debts shall he discharged." Accordingly,
they came in great numbers, so that he left himself moneyless.
Now, Jack the Giant Killer being there and
seeing the generosity of the King's son, he was taken with him, and
desired to be his servant: it was agreed upon the next morning, when
riding out at the town-end, the King's son turning to Jack, said. "I
cannot tell how I will subsist in my intended journey."
"For that," quoth Jack, ''take you no care;
let me alone, I warrant you we will not starve."
Now Jack, having a spell in his pocket,
which served at noon for a refreshment, when done they had not one penny
left betwixt them. The afternoon they spent in travel and discourse till
the sun began to grow low, at which time the King's son said, "Jack,
since we have no money, Where can we think to lodge this night?"
Jack replied, "We'll do well enough, for I
have an uncle living within two miles of this; he is a monstrous Giant
with three heads: he will fight five hundred men in armour, and make
them to fly before hills."
"Alas" saith the King's son, "what shall we
do there: he will certainly chop us both up at one mouthful!"
"It is no mattter for that," quoth Jack: ''I
will go before and prepare the way for you; tarry here."
He waits, and Jack rides full speed. When he
came to the castle, he knocked with such a force that he made all the
neighbouring hills to resound. The Giant, with a voice like thunder,
roared out, "Who's there? "
Jack answered, "None but your own cousin
Jack. Dear uncle, heavy news, God wot."
"Prithee, what heavy news can come to me? I
am a Giant with three heads, and besides thou knowest I can fight five
hundred men."
"But," quoth Jack, "here's the King's son coming with one thousand men
to kill you." "Oh!
Jack, this is heavy news indeed; I have a large vault underground, where
I will hide myself, and thou shalt lock, bolt, and bar me in, and keep
the keys till the King's son is gone."
Jack, having secured the Giant, he returned
and fetched his master. They were both heartily merry with the wine and
other dainties which were in the house; so that night they rested in
very pleasant lodgings, whilst the poor uncle, the Giant, lay trembling
in the vault underground.
Early in the morning, Jack furnished his
master with a supply of gold and silver, and set him three miles forward
on his journey, concluding he was then pretty well out of the smell of
the Giant, and then returned to let his uncle out of the hole, who asked
Jack what he would give him in reward, since his castle was not
demolished. "Why,''
quoth Jack. "I desire nothing but the old Coat and Cap, together with
the old rusty Sword and Slippers, which are at your bed-head."
"Jack, thou shalt have them, and pray keep
them for my sake, for they are things of excellent use. The Coat will
keep you invisible, the Cap will furnish you with knowledge. the Sword
cuts asunder whatever you strike, and the Shoes are of extraordinary
swiftness, these may be serviceable to you, and therefore pray take them
with all my heart."
Jack takes them. thanking his uncle, and
follows his master.
Jack, having overtaken his mister, soon
after arrived at the lady's house, who, finding the King's son to be a
suitor, prepared a banquet for him, and, being ended, she wiped his
mouth with her napkin, saying. "You must show this to-morrow or lose
your head." and she put it safely into her bosom.
The King's son went to bed sorrowful, but
Jack's Cap of knowledge instructed him how to obtain it. In the middle
of the night, she called upon her familiar spirit to carry her to
Lucifer. Jack put on his Coat of darkness, with his Shoes of swiftness,
and was there as soon as she: by reason of his Coat they could not see
him. When she entered the place, she gave the handkerchief to old
Lucifer, who laid it carefully upon a shelf, from whence Jack brought it
to his master, who showed it to the lady the next day.
The next night she
saluted the King's son, telling him he must show her to-morrow morning
the lips that she kissed last this night, or lose his head.
"Ah'' replied he. "if you kiss none but mine
I will." "It is
neither here nor there," said she; "if you do not, death's your
portion." At
midnight. she went as before, and was angry with Lucifer for letting the
handkerchief go. ' But now,'' said she, "I will be too hard for the
King's son, for I will kiss thee, and he's to show thy lips." Jack,
standing near him with his Sword of sharpness, cut of the devil's head,
and brought it under his invisible Coat to his master, who was in bed,
and laid it at the end of his bolster. In the morning when the lady came
up, he pulled it out by the horns and showed her the devil's lips, which
she kissed last.
Thus, having answered her twice, the enchantment broke, and the evil
spirits left her, at which time she appeared a beautiful and virtuous
creature. They were married next morning in great pomp and solemnity,
and returned with a numerous company to the Court of King Arthur where
they were received with the greatest joy and loud acclamations. Jack,
for the many and great exploits he laid done for the good of his
country, was made one of the Knights of the Round Table.
Jack, having resolved not to be idle, humbly
requested of the King to fit him with a horse and money to travel;
"for," said he, ''there are many Giants alive in the remotest parts of
the kingdom, to the unspeakable damage of your Majesty's liege subjects;
wherefore, may it please your Majesty to give me encouragement to rid
the realm of those cruel and devouring monsters of nature, root and
branch." Now, when
the King had heard these noble propositions, and had duly considered the
mischievous practices of those bloodthirsty Giants. he immediately
granted what Jack requested and, being furnished with all necessaries
for his progress, he took his leave of King Arthur, taking with him the
Cap of knowledge. Sword of sharpness, Shoes of swiftness, and likewise
the invisible Coat, the better to perfect and complete the dangerous
enterprises that lay before him.
Jack travelled over vast hills and
mountains, when at the end of three days he came to a large and spacious
wood, where on a sudden he heard dreadful shrieks and cries: where on a
sudden, casting his eves around. he beheld a Giant rushing along with a
worthy knight and his fair lady, whom he held by the hair of their heads
in his hands; wherefore he alighted from his horse, and then putting on
his invisible Coat, under which he carried his Sword of sharpness, he
came up to the Giant, and, though he made several passes at him, yet he
could not reach the trunk of his body, by reason of his height, though
he wounded his thighs in several places; but at length, giving a
swinging stroke, he cut off both his legs just below the knee, so that
the trunk of his body made the ground to shake with the force of his
fall, at which the knight and the lady escaped. Then had Jack time to
talk with him, and, setting this foot upon his neck, said, "You savage
and barbarous wretch, I am come to execute upon you the just reward of
your villainy." And with that running him through and through, the
monster sent forth a hideous groan. and yielded up his life, while the
noble knight and virtuous lady were joyful spectators of his sudden
downfall and their own deliverance.
This being done, the courteous knight and
his fair lady returned him hearty thanks for their deliverance, but also
invited him home, there to refresh himself after the dreadful encounter,
as likewise to receive ample reward, by way of gratitude for his good
service. "No,"
quoth Jack, "I cannot be at ease till I find out the den which was this
monster's habitation."
The knight hearing this, waxed sorrowful,
and replied, "'Noble stranger, it is too much to run a second risk, for
this monster lived in a den under yon mountain, with a brother of his,
more fierce than himself; therefore, if you go thither and perish in the
attempt, it will be the heartbreaking of both me and my lady. Let me
persuade you to go with us."
"Nay," gaoth Jack, "if there were twenty I
would shed the last drop of my blood before one of them should escape my
fury, but when I have finished this task, I will come and pay my
respects to you." So, taking directions to their habitation, he mounted
his horse, and went in pursuit of the deceased Giant's brother.
Jack had not rode past a mile before he
carne in sight of the cave's mouth, at the entrance of which he beheld
the other Giant sitting upon a huge block of timber, with a knotty iron
club by his side, waiting for his brother's return with his cruel prey;
his goggle eyes appeared like terrible flames of fire, his countenance
grins and ugly, and his cheeks appeared like a couple of large flitches
of bacon; the bristles of his head seemed to resemble rods of iron wire;
his locks hung down on his broad shoulders like curled stakes.
Jack alighted from his horse, and put him
into a thicket then with his Coat of darkness he came near to behold his
figure, and said. ''Oh! are you there? It will not be long before I take
you by the beard."
The Giant could not see him by reason of his invisible Coat: so Jack
fetching a blow at his head with his sword of sharpness, and missing
somewhat of his aim, cut of the Giant's nose, whose nostrils were wider
than a pair of ,jack-boots; the pain was terrible, he put up his hand to
feel for his nose, and when he could not find it he raved and roared
louder than thunder and though he turned up his large eves, he could not
see from whence the blow came, nevertheless, he took up his iron-headed
club and began to thrash about him like one stark mad.
"Nay," quoth Jack, "if you be for that
sport, then I will dispatcvh you quickly for fear of an accidental
blow." Then Jack
makes no more to do, but runs his sword up to the hilt in the Giant's
fundament, where he left it sticking for a while, and stood himself
laughing, to see the Giant caper and dance with the sword in his body,
crying out, "I shall die with the gripping of my guts."
Thus did the Giant continue raving; for an
hour or more, and at length fell down dead.
This being done, .Jack cut off both the
Giants' heads, and sent them to King Arthur by a waggoner whom he hired
for the purpose.
Jack having dispatched these two Monsters, resolved to enter the cave in
search of the Giants' treasure. He passed through many turnings and
windings, which led him at length to a room paved with freestone, at the
upper end of which was a boiling caldron; on the right hand stood a
large table, where the Giants used to dine. Then he came to an iron
gate, where was a window secured with bars of iron, through which he
looked, and beheld a vast many captives, who, seeing; Jack. said, "Young
man, art thou come to be one among us in this miserable den?"
"Nay," quoth Jack, "I hope I shall not tarry
long here; but what is the meaning of your captivity?"
"Why," said one of them, "we have been taken
by the Giants, and here we are kept till they have a feast, then the
fattest among us is slaughtered for their devouring jaws. It is not long
since they took three of us for the purpose."
"Say you so," quoth Jack; ''well, I have
given them both such a dinner that it will be long enough ere they need
any more. You may believe me, for I have slain them both, and as for
their monstrous heads, I sent them to the court of King Arthur. as
trophies of my victory."
Then leading them to the aforesaid room, he
placed them round the table, and set before them two quarters of beef,
also bread and wine, so that they feasted there very plentiftully.
Supper being ended, they searched the Giants' coffers, where, finding a
vast store of gold, Jack divided it equally among them. They all
returned him hearty thanks for their treasure and miraculous
deliverance. That night they went to their rest, and in the morning they
arose and departed. to their respective places of abode, and Jack to the
knight's house.
Jack mounted his horse, and by his direction he came to the knight's
house, where he was received with all demonstrations of joy, by the
knight and his lady, who, in respect to Jack, prepared a feast which
lasted for many days, inviting all the gentry in the adjacent parts. He
presented him with a ring of gold on which was engraven by curious art,
the picture of the Giant dragging a distressed knight and fair
lady by the hair of the head.
Now there were five aged gentlemen who were
fathers to some of those miserable captives whom Jack had set at
liberty; who immediately paid him their venerable respects. and the
smiling bowl was passed
round in honour of the victorious conqueror, but during their mirth, a
dark cloud appeared, which daunted the assembly.
A messenger brought the dismal tidings of
the approach of one Thunderfold, a huge Giant with two heads; who,
having heard of the death of his kinsmen, the above-named Giants, was
come in search of Jack, to be revenged on him for their terrible
downfall, and was within a mile of the knight's seat, the people flying
before him from their habitations.
When they had related this, Jack said, "Let
him come, I am prepared with a tool to pick his teeth, and you,
gentlemen and ladies, walk forth into the garden, and you shall be the
joyful spectators of this monstrous Giant's death."
To which they consented, wishing him good
fortune in that great enterprise.
The situation of the knight's house was in a
small island encompassed with a vast moat thirty feet deep, and twenty
feet wide, over which lay a drawbridge. Wherefore Jack employed two men
to out it on both sides, and then dressing himself in his Coat of
darkness. putting on his Shoes of swiftness. he marched against the
Giant, with his Sword of sharpness ready drawn. When he came close up,
the Giant could not see Jack, by reason of his invisible Coat.
Nevertheless, he was sensible of approaching danger, which made him cry
out:- "Fe, Fi, Fo,
Fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman.
Be he living„ or be he dead.
I'll grind his bones to mix my bread."
"Sayest thou so," quoth Jack. "Then thou art
a monstrous miller. But how if I serve thee as I did the two Giants of
late, I should spoil your practice for the future?"
At which time the Giant spoke with a voice
as loud as thunder. "Art thou that villain which destroyed my kinsmen?
Then I will tear thee with my teeth, and suck thy blood, I will grind
thy bones to powder."
"Catch me first," quoth Jack. And he threw
off his Coat of darkness that the Giant might see him, and then ran from
him as through fear.
The Giant, with glaring eyes, followed after
like a walking castle. making the earth to shake at every step. Jack led
him a dance three or four times round the moat, that the ladies and
gentlemen might take a full view of this huge monster who followed him,
but could not overtake him by reason of his Shoes of swiftness.
At length Jack took over the bridge, the
Giant with full speed pursuing after him, with his iron club. But coming
to the middle of the drawbridge, the weight of his body, and the most
dreadful steps which he took, it broke down, and he tumbled into the
water, where he rolled and wallowed like a whale.
Jack standing at the side of the moat
laughed at the Giant, and said, "You would grind my bones to powder; you
have water, pray, where is your mill?"
The Giant foamed to hear him scoffing at
that rate, though he plunged from place to place in the moat.
Jack at length got a cart
rope and cast it over the Giant's two heads, with a slip knot, and by
the help of horses he dragged him out again, nearly strangled, before he
let him loose. He cut off both his heads with his Sword of sharpness, in
the view of all the assembly of knights and ladies, who gave a shout
when they saw the Giant dispatched. Then before he would either eat or
drink, he sent these heads also to the court of King Arthur.
After some mirth and pastime, Jack, taking
leave of the noble knights and ladies, set off in search of new
adventures. Through many woods and groves he passed, till coming to the
foot of a high mountain late at night, he knocked at the door of a
lonesome house, at which a man, with a head as white as snow, arose and
let him in.
"Father,'' said Jack, "have you any entertainment for a benighted
traveller that has lost his way?"
"Yes," said the old man, "if thou wilt
accept of such as my poor cottage afford, thou shalt be welcome.
Jack returned him thanks, they sat together,
and the old man began to discourse as follows. "Son, I am sensible thou
art the great conqueror of Giants, and it is in thy power to free this
place; for, there is an enchanted castle, kept by a monstrous Giant.
named Galligantus, who, by the help of a conjuror, betrays knights and
ladies into this strong castle, where, by magic art, they are
transformed into sundry shapes but above all, I lament the misfortune of
a Duke's daughter, whom they fetched from her father's garden, carrying
her through the air in a chariot drawn by fiery dragons. She was
immediately transformed into the shape of a White Hind. Many knights
have endeavoured to break the enchantment for her deliverance, yet none
could accomplish it, by reason of two Griffins, who are at the entrance
of the castle gate, who destroys them as they see them; but you, being
furnished with an invisible Coat, may pass them undiscovered: where, on
the gates of the castle, you will find engraven in characters, the means
by which the enchantment may be broken."
Jack gave him his hand, with a promise that
in the morning he would break the enchantment and free the lady.
Having refreshed themselves with a morsel of
meat, they lay down to rest. In the morning Jack arose, and put on his
invisible Coat, his Cap of knowledge, and Shoes of swiftness, and so
prepared himself for the dangerous enterprise.
Now. when he had ascended the mountain, he
discovered the two fiery Griffins. He passed between them, for they
could not see him by reason of his invisible Coat. When he had got
beyond them, he found upon the gate a golden trumpet, hung in a chain of
fine silver, under which were engraven:—
Whosoever shall this trumpet blow,
Shall soon the Giant overthrow,
And break the black enchantment straight,
So all shall be in happy state.
Jack had no sooner read this inscription
than he blew the trumpet, at which the foundation of the castle
trembled, and the Giant, with the Conjuror, were tearing their hair,
knowing their wicked reign was at an end. At which time the Giant was
stooping to take up his club, Jack, by one blow with his Sword of
sharpness, cut off his head. The Conjuror mounted into the air,
and was carried by a whirlwind. Thus was the enchantment broken and
every knight and lady, who had been transformed into birds and beast
returned to their proper shapes and the castle, though it seemed to be
of vast strength and bigness, vanished away like a cloud; whereupon
universal joy appeared among the released knights and ladies. This being
done, the head of Galligantus was carried to the court of King Arthur.
The next day, having refreshed the knights
and ladies at the old man's habitation, Jack set forward to the court of
King Arthur. with those knights, and ladies whom he delivered.
Coming to His Majesty, his fame rang through
the court; and, as a reward for his service, the Duke bestowed his
daughter in marriage to Jack. The whole kingdom was filled with joy at
the wedding. After which the King bestowed upon him a noble house, with
a large estate, where he and his lady passed their days in great joy and
happiness. |
