Part 8 (2/2)
”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, following 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 Jack, 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 draw-bridge, 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 a.s.sembly of knights and ladies, who gave a shout when they saw the giant despatched. 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 n.o.ble knights and ladies, set off in search of new adventures. Through many woods and groves he pa.s.sed, 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 conjurer, 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 charion 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 destroy them as they see them; but you, being furnished with an invisible coat, may pa.s.s them undiscovered, where, on the gates of the castle, you will find engraven in characters the means 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 laid 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 pa.s.sed 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, but he blew the trumpet, at which the foundation of the castle trembled, and the giant, with the conjurer, 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, at one blow with his sword of sharpness, cut off his head. The conjurer 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 a vast strength and bigness, vanished away like a cloud, whereon 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 rung through the court, and; as a reward of his services, 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 n.o.ble house, with a large estate, where he and his lady pa.s.sed their days in great joy and happiness.
SIMPLE SIMON'S MISFORTUNES
AND HIS
WIFE MARGERY'S CRUELTY
WHICH BEGAN
_The very next Morning after their Marriage._
CHAPTER I.
_An Account of Simon's Wedding, and his Wife's Behaviour the Day after their Marriage._
Simon, the subject of our ensuing discourse, was a man very unfortunate many years after marriage, not only by crosses, but by the cruelty of Margery his severe wife--his wedding day being the best he saw in seven years after, for then he had all his friends about him. Rough Ralph the Fiddler and Will the Piper were appointed to make him and his guests merry.
Singing, dancing, and good feasting attended the day, which being ended, this loving couple went to bed, where their friends all left them.
But the morning was ushered in with a mighty storm, only because Simon put on his roast-meat clothes.
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