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 mutter 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 heavy blows upon the head 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, "Cotsplut,
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 bowels,
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 sum 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 be 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account