And in a voyage to Portugal

Two of his sons did die;

And, to conclude, himself was brought To want and misery:

He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven years came about,

And now at length this wicked act
Did by this means come out.

The fellow that did take in hand
These children for to kill,

Was for a robbery judg'd to die,
Such was God's blessed will:

Who did confess the very truth,
As here hath been display'd:
Their uncle having died in jail,
Where he for debt was laid.

You that executors be made,
And overseers eke,1

Of children that be fatherless,
And infants mild and meek,

Take you example by this thing,
And yield to each his right,
Lest God with such like misery
Your wicked minds requite.

1 Eke, also.

THE HISTORY OF JACK, THE GIANT-KILLER.

IN the reign of King Arthur, near the Land's End of England, in the county of Cornwall, there lived a wealthy farmer, who had an only son, known by the name of Jack. He was brisk, and of a lively, ready wit; so that whatever he could not perform by force and strength he completed by ingenious wit and policy. Never was any person heard of that could worst him; nay, the very learned he many times baffled by his cunning, sharp, and ready inventions.

In those days the Mount of Cornwall was kept by a huge and monstrous giant, eighteen feet in height and about three yards in compass, and of a fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the neighboring towns and villages. He lived in a cave in the midst of the mount, and he would not suffer any living creature to dwell near him. His feeding was upon other men's cattle, which often became his prey; for whenever he had occasion for food, he would wade over to the main land and seize whatever he could find. The people at his approach ran from their houses. Then he would take their cows and oxen, and make nothing of carrying over on his back half a dozen at a time; and as for their sheep and hogs, he would tie them round his waist like a bunch of candles. This he had practised for many years in Cornwall, which was much impoverished by him.

But one day Jack came to the town hall, where the magistrates were sitting in consultation about this giant, and asked them what reward they would give to any

person who would destroy him? They answered, “He should have all the giant's treasure in recompense. "Then I myself," quoth Jack, "will undertake the work."

He furnished himself with a horn, shovel, and pickaxe, and went over to the mount in the beginning of a dark winter's evening, where he fell to work. Before morning he had digged a pit two and twenty feet deep, and almost as broad, and had covered it over with long sticks and straws. Then he strewed a little of the mould upon it, and made it appear like plain ground.

This done, Jack placed himself on the side of the pit opposite the giant's house, just about the dawning of the day, and, putting his horn to his mouth, he blew tantivy, tantivy. This unexpected noise roused the giant, who came roaring towards Jack, crying out, "You incorrigible villain! are you come here to disturb my rest? You shall pay dearly for it. Satisfaction I will have, and it shall be this: I will take you whole and broil you for my breakfast." These words were no sooner out of his mouth than he tumbled headlong into the deep pit. His heavy fall made the very foundation of the mount to shake.

"Oh, giant," quoth Jack, "where are you now? Faith, you are in Lob's pound, where I will plague you for your threatening words. What do you think now of broiling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack?" Thus having tantalized the giant for a while, he gave him such a weighty knock upon the head with his pickaxe that he tumbled down, and, giving a most dreadful groan, died. This done, Jack threw the earth in upon him, and so buried him. Then he searched the cave and found a great quantity of treasure.

Now when the magistrates who employed him heard the work was over, they sent for him, declaring that he should henceforth be called, Jack, the Giant-Killer. And in honor thereof they presented him with a sword, together with an embroidered belt, on which these words were wrought in letters of gold:

Here's the right valiant Cornishman

Who slew the giant Cormoran.

The news of Jack's victory soon spread over all the western part of the land, so that another huge giant named Blunderbore, hearing of it, vowed to be revenged on Jack, if it ever was his fortune to light on him. This giant kept an enchanted castle in the midst of a lonesome wood. Now Jack, about four months after, walking near the borders of the said wood, in his journey towards Wales, grew weary, and therefore sat himself down by the side of a pleasant fountain where a dead sleep seized him. At this time the giant came there for water and found him, and by the lines written on his belt knew him to be Jack who had killed his brother giant. Therefore without making any words he threw him upon his shoulder to carry him to his enchanted castle.

Now as they passed through a thicket the rustling of the boughs awakened poor Jack, who finding himself in the clutches of the giant was strangely surprised. Yet it was but the beginning of his terror, for as they came within the first walls of the castle, he beheld the ground all covered with the bones and skulls of dead men. The giant told Jack that his bones should increase the number

that he saw. This said, he locked up poor Jack in an upper room, and left him there while he went to fetch another giant, living in the same wood, to share his pleasure in the destruction of their enemy.

Now while he was gone, dreadful shrieks and cries affrighted 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 likewise kill and torture you."

This dreadful noise so amazed poor Jack that he was ready to run distracted, when, going to the window, he saw afar off the giants coming together. "Now," quoth Jack to himself, "my death or deliverance is at hand.” Saying this, he took two strong cords which chanced to be in the room, and at one end of them made nooses. While the giants were unlocking the iron gate, he threw the rope over their heads, and, drawing the other ends across a beam, pulled with main strength until he had throttled them. He then tied the ends to the beam, and, sliding down by the rope, he came close to the heads of the helpless monsters and slew them with his sword. Thus he delivered himself from their intended cruelty. Afterwards he took the bunch of keys and unlocked the rooms. Upon strict search he found three fair ladies tied by the hair of their heads, and almost starved to death. They told Jack that their husbands had been slain by the giant, and they had been kept many days without food. "Sweet ladies," answered Jack, "I have destroyed this monster