"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 pass 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 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, 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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