Jack the Giant Killer by Geoffrey of Monmouth, of Corineus the Trojan
Jack the Giant Killer by Geoffrey of Monmouth, of Corineus the Trojan In the reign of the famous King Arthur, looks were the terror of all his neighbours. He there lived near the Land’s End of England, in dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the very top of the county of Cornwall, a worthy farmer, who the mountain, and used to wade over to the had an only son named Jack. Jack was a boy main land in search of his prey. When he came of a bold temper; he took pleasure in hearing near, the people left their houses; and after or reading stories of wizards, conjurers, giants, he had glutted his appetite upon their cattle, and fairies, and used to listen eagerly while his he would throw half-a-dozen oxen upon his father talked of the great deeds of the brave back, and tie three times as many sheep and knights of King Arthur’s Round Table. When hogs round his waist, and so march back to Jack was sent to take care of the sheep and his own abode. oxen in the fields, he used to amuse himself The giant had done this for many years, with planning battles, sieges, and the means and the coast of Cornwall was greatly hurt by to conquer or surprise a foe. He was above the his thefts, when Jack boldly resolved to destroy common sports of children; but hardly any him. He therefore took a horn, a shovel, one could equal him at wrestling; or, if he met pickaxe, and a dark lantern, and early in a long with a match for himself in strength, his skill winter’s evening he swam to the mount.
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