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 him."
"Alas!" saith the King's son, "what shall we do there; he will certainly
chop us both up at one mouthful!"
"It is no matter 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."
"O! 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 master, 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 familial-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 off 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 had 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; whereupon, casting his eyes 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 his 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," quoth 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 came 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 grim 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 snakes. 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 off 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 eyes, 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 dispatch 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 plentifully. 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 in which was engraven by curious art,
the picture of the Giant dragging a distressed knight and his 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 cut 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 would 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
affords, 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:--
_Whoever 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 away by a whirlwind.
Thus was the enchantment broken, and every knight and lady, who had been
transformed into birds and beasts, 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 conveyed 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.
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.
Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in a village. She was
such a nice little girl that her grandmother was very fond of her, and
made her a little red cloak with a hood. So everybody called her Little
Red Riding Hood.
One day when her mother was baking, she said: "I hear your poor
grandmother is ill in bed. You shall go across the forest and see how
she is, and take her this cake and a pot of butter." Little Red Riding
Hood was delighted to go, though it was rather a long walk. So she took
the basket with the cakes and butter on her arm, and set off.
No sooner had she got well into the forest, than a wolf came by that
road. "Good morning, Red Riding Hood," said the wolf; "where are you
going?"
Now, Red Riding Hood did not know that it is dangerous to stop and speak
to wolves, and she only thought him a nice respectable wolf who knew
manners. So she made a curtsey, and said:
"I'm going to see grandmother, because she's ill; and I am taking her a
cake and a pot of butter."
"Where does your grandmother live?" asked the wolf.
"In a cottage quite by itself, across the forest," said Red Riding Hood.
"Well, good morning," said the wolf. "If I were you, I would stop for a
while, and pick some wild flowers to make a posy for your grandmother."
Red Riding Hood thought this would please her granny very much, and the
wolf trotted away.
As soon as he was out of her sight, he galloped away to the old woman's
cottage, and knocked.
"Who's there?" asked the old woman, in a feeble voice.
"Little Red Riding Hood," said the wolf, imitating a little girl's
voice. "Mother has sent you a cake and a pot of butter.
"Lift up the latch and walk in," said the grandmother; "I'm ill in bed,
and can't come to the door."
So the wolf lifted the latch and sprang in, and gobbled up the poor old
grandmother in a moment. Then he put on her nightgown and nightcap, got
into bed, and pulled up the bedclothes. Presently Red Riding Hood came
and knocked at the door.
"Who's there?" asked the wolf, imitating the grandmother's voice.
"Little Red Riding Hood. Mother has sent you a cake and a pot of
butter."
"Lift up the latch and walk in," said the wolf, and Red Riding Hood
entered.
The wolf had got down so far under the bedclothes that nothing of him
could be seen but the top of his nightcap.
"How hoarse you are, Granny!" said Red Riding Hood.
"That's because I've got such a bad cold, my dear," said the wolf. "It's
getting late, so you must undress and come to bed."
When Red Riding Hood got into bed, she saw the wolf's ears sticking out
from under the nightcap. "What great ears you've got, Granny!" she said.
"All the better to hear with, my dear!" said the wolf.
"And what great arms you've got, Granny!"
"All the better to hug with, my dear!"
"But, Granny, what great eyes you've got!"
"All the better to see with, my dear!"
"But, Granny, what great teeth you've got!" said Red Riding Hood, who
began to feel frightened.
"All the better to eat you, my dear!" shouted the wolf. And the wicked
beast jumped up, and ate her all up at a mouthful.
As it got dusk, Red Riding Hood's mother began to get very anxious
because she had not come back, for as she had never thought Red Riding
Hood would stop and pick flowers in the forest, she had expected her
home by sunset, and had said nothing about her stopping at her
grandmother's for the night. So when her husband came home, she said:
"I'm afraid something has happened to Red Riding Hood. I sent her to her
grandmother's this morning, and she has never come back. You must go and
look for her; and take your lantern and your axe, for fear of wolves."
So Red Riding Hood's father took his lantern and axe, and asked a friend
to go with him across the forest.
When they got to the grandmother's cottage, it was quite dark. They
knocked, and the wolf called out:
"Lift up the latch and walk in," for he thought he would make another
meal off whoever it was. But when he saw the two men enter, one with the
axe and the other with the lantern, he began to feel horribly
uncomfortable, especially as he could not run away quickly, because he
was so fat from eating the grandmother and Red Riding Hood. Red Riding
Hood's father saw in a minute what had happened, and he flung his axe at
the wolf and cut him open. Immediately the grandmother and Red Riding
Hood jumped out of the wolf's inside, and the wolf made straight up the
chimney.
"I think we've got him now," said Red Riding Hood's father: "make up the
fire, Granny, and we'll put on the big porridge-pot full of hot water,
and some savoury soup in it to smell nice."
So they made up the fire, and put on the great pot, full of hot water,
and then they poured some soup into it; and when it boiled, the savoury
smell went up the chimney.
"_Aughrr!_" said the wolf; "how nice that smells; I feel quite hungry
again." So he put his head and forelegs into the chimney as he stood on
the roof, and, as he bent further in to catch the smell, all of a sudden
he lost his balance, and fell headlong down the chimney, and into the
great pot, and was killed.