"Don't," begged the knight, "now don't, sir, pray, Nor run another risk to-day; Yon mount o'erhangs the monster's lair, And his big brother waits him there, A brute more savage than himself; Then lay your courage on the shelf." "No!" Sir Jack answered, "if I do, May I be hanged! Now, mark me, you! Were there twice ten in yonder hole, Ere sinks behind yon crag the sun, The gory head of every one Before my feet should roll! Farewell--I 'll call as I come back." "Adieu," the knight replied; "Alack! I had forgotten; here's my card." "Thank you," said Jack, and "bolted hard." VII. Away, away, to the mountain cave, Rides Jack at a spanking trot; No Knight of the Poll-axe, all so brave, Could have distanced him I wot! {040} The Gorgon's head you ne'er have seen-- Nor would it much avail, To marble ears, Ï rather ween, The bard to sing his tale. But oft the Saracen's, I know, Hath horrified your sight On London's famous Hill of Snow, Which is n't often white. Such was the visage, but four times its size, With a trunk to match, that our champion spies. By the mouth of the cave on a chopping-block sitting, Grinding his teeth and his shaggy brows knitting, Was the Giant;--and rolling his terrible eyes Like portentous meteors, they Glimmered, glowed, and flashed away; His cheeks and nose were fiery too; Like wire on his chin the bristles grew; And his tangled locks hung down his back, Like the legs of a Brobdignag spider so black; Ready, the thickest skull to crack That ever county member wore, His iron club beside him lay. He was in a terrible way, For he voted his brother's not coming a bore. VIII. The hero, Jack, dismounts to dress-- What was his toilet you may guess; {041} So may I be ever dight When I bow me for the fight. IX. Like a cliff o'er ocean lowering, Or some old and cross curmudgeon Waiting, dinnerless, in dudgeon, Sits the Giant glumly glowering. Hears he not a whisper say, "So there you are, old rascal, eh? " Hears he not a step approaching, Though he may n't the comer see? No; like rogue by streamlet poaching, Creeps Jack near him stealthily. [Illustration: 071] X. As when some school-boy--idle thief-- With double-knotted handkerchief, What time his comrade stooping low, With tightened skin invites the blow; With sundry feints, delays to smite, And baulks, to linger out delight; So Jack, with thorough-going blade, Stood aiming at the Giant's head.