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 many 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 off the two Giants coming, "Now," quoth Jack
to himself, "my death or deliverance is at hand."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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