fo yas 9

One of the Giants wounded,
Has fallen in the mire;

Jack steals out for a moment,
To see him safe expire.

Jack’s blade now longs for conquest,
To slay a foe or two;

He’s seen—his wish is granted—
His way he must fight through.

His young, brave spirit’s dauntless ;
He dashes all aside,

Wounding and killing numbers:
But he is sorely tried.

How shall he ever enter,
See at secret door, her

Whom his fond heart still fights for,
His beloved Flora ?

A rush of many foemen !
When from the palisade,
With teeth and claws uplifted,
Cats rush down to his aid.

The enemy seems yielding,
When suddenly they turn,
And with a cry come forward,
The horrid witch to burn.

But see, the garden engine
Is pump’d up by the witch ;
But lo! in place of water,
It sends forth boiling pitch.
Their terror is tremendous,
The victory is complete ;
The Giants and their menials,
Half scalded, all retreat.

 

Next foe whom Jack encountered
Is a Giant double-faced ;

Two heads upon his shoulders, _
Which back to back were placed.

You cannot get behind him,
For both sides are before ;
His knees are double-jointed—
His match you never saw.

At times he sang a duet,
Most beautiful to hear ;

But when the two heads quarrelled
*Twas frightful and yet queer.

With four feet on his two legs,
He never need turn round ;

| No chance has he for sitting,

But lies upon the ground.

With stout clubs in his strong hands,
Two large mouths to supply,
This monster was a foeman,
Of whom all men fought shy.
But Jack and his friend Hedgehog
Have started on their course,
Resolved him to exterminate,
By stratagem or force.

At night they reach the castle,
And enter unperceived :

| Now Jack had killed his brother,

For whom the Giant grieved.

Jack hid behind a curtain,
Hears many a mournful sigh ;

‘I saw the young wretch stick him,
I saw him bleed and die!