JACK THE GIANT KILLER. By Percival Leigh The Author Of "The Comic Latin Grammar." With Illustrations by JOHN LEECH 1853 [Illustration: 013] {001} THE ARGUMENT. I sing the deeds of famous Jack, The doughty Giant Killer hight; How he did various monsters "whack," And so became a gallant knight. In Arthur's days of splendid fun (His Queen was Guenever the Pliant),-- Ere Britain's sorrows had begun; When every cave contained its giant; When griffins fierce as bats were rife; And till a knight had slain his dragon, At trifling risk of limbs and life, He did n't think he'd much to brag on; {002} When wizards o'er the welkin flew; Ere science had devised balloon; And 'twas a common thing to view A fairy ballet by the moon;-- Our hero played his valiant pranks; Earned loads of _kudos, vulgô_ glory, A lady, "tin," and lots of thanks;-- Relate, oh Muse! his wondrous story. OF GIANTS IN GENERAL. A Giant was, I should premise, A hulking lout of monstrous size; He mostly stood--I know you 'll laugh-- About as high as a giraffe. His waist was some three yards in girth: When he walked he shook the earth. His eyes were of the class called "goggle," Fitter for the scowl than ogle. His mouth, decidedly carnivorous, Like a shark's,--the Saints deliver us! He yawned like a huge sarcophagus, For he was an Anthropophagus, And his tusks were huge and craggy; His hair, and his brows, and his beard, were shaggy. {003} I ween on the whole he was aught but a Cupid, And exceedingly fierce, and remarkably stupid; His brain partaking strongly of lead, How well soe'er he was off for head; Having frequently one or two Crania more than I or you. He was bare of arm and leg, But buskins had, and a philabeg; Also a body-coat of mail That shone with steel or brazen scale, Like to the back of a crocodile's tail; A crown he wore, And a mace he bore That was knobbed and spiked with adamant; It would smash the skull Of the mountain bull, Or scatter the brains of the elephant. His voice than the tempest was louder and gruffer-- Well; so much for the uncouth "buffer." JACK'S BIRTH, PARENTAGE, EDUCATION, AND EARLY PURSUITS.