Jack the Giant-Killer

When good King Arthur reigned, there lived a farmer who had one only son called Jack. He was brisk and very smart, so nobody or nothing could worst him.

In those days, the country was kept by a huge giant. He was eighteen feet in height and about three yards round the waist, of a fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the neighbouring towns and villages. He lived in a cave in the midst of the Mount, and whenever he wanted food he would go and furnish himself with whatever came in his way. Everybody at his approach ran out of their houses while he seized on their cattle. The Giant could carry a dozen oxen on his back at a time, and as for their sheep and hogs, he would tie them round his waist. He had done this for many years, so that all the people were in despair.

One day, Jack came to the town-hall when the magistrates were sitting in council about the Giant. He asked, “What reward will be given to the man who kills the Giant?” “The giant’s treasure,” they said, “will be the reward.” Jack said, “Then let me undertake it.”

So he got a horn, shovel, and axe, and went over to the Mount in the beginning of a dark winter’s evening, when he began to work. Before morning, he had dug a pit twenty-two feet deep and nearly as broad, covering it over with long sticks and straw. Then he strewed a little mould over it, so that it appeared like plain ground. Jack then sat on the opposite side of the pit, farthest from the Giant’s lodging, and just at the break of day, he put the horn to his mouth and blew very hard.

This noise roused the Giant, who rushed from his cave, crying, “Hey you, have you come here to disturb my rest? You shall pay dearly for this. I will have satisfaction! I will take you whole and broil you for breakfast.”

He had no sooner uttered this than he tumbled into the pit and made the very foundations of the Mount to shake. “Oh, Giant,” said Jack, “where are you now? I can’t believe your threatening words: what do you think now of broiling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack?” Then he gave him a very weighty knock with his axe on the very crown of his head and killed him on the spot.

Jack then filled up the pit with earth and went to search the cave, where he found much treasure. So he became rich and happy even more.

The House in the Lake

E. Leamy

Once upon a time there lived in a little house an old fisherman and his son. The house was built on stakes and a platform high above the water of the lake.

In the evening Enda lay on the platform, watching the sunset. Suddenly he saw an otter swimming towards him, with a little trout in his mouth. When the otter came up to where Enda was lying, he threw the trout on the platform, almost at Enda’s feet, and then went away.

Enda took the little trout in his hand and said:

“I won’t keep you, poor thing! I’ll send you back to your family.”

And saying this, he dropped the little trout into the lake.

Well, when the next evening Enda was lying again outside the house. Once more the otter came and threw the little trout almost into his hands.

Enda did not know what to do. He saw that it was the same little trout the otter had brought him the night before, and he said:

“Well, I gave you a chance last night. I’ll give you another.”

And he dropped the trout into the lake. It touched the water and changed into a beautiful, milk-white swan. Soon it swam away. And Enda just couldn’t believe his eyes. All the night he lay awake thinking of the swan.

In the morning he took his boat and went further to find the swan. Day after day he looked for her, and every evening he lay outside the house and watched the waters. One night, when there was the full moon, he saw the swan coming to him. When the swan came close, it spoke to Enda in his own language:

“Get into your boat, Enda, and follow me,” said she, and turned round and sailed away.

Enda jumped into the boat and went after the swan, until she came to where the shadows of the mountains lay deepest on the lake. Then the swan rested, and when Enda came up to her:

“Enda,” said she, “I am Mave, the daughter of the king of Erin. My cruel stepmother put a spell on me and turned me into a trout. But, thanks to you, I am now a snow-white swan. And I can speak but only for one hour on the first night of every full moon. Enda, I will always be a swan, but you can break the spell.”

“I’ll do anything I can for you. O princess!” said Enda. “But how can I break the spell?”

“You can do so,” said the swan, “only if you get the perfumed water that fills the golden bowl. It is in the palace of the fairy queen.”

“And how can I get that?” said Enda.

“Well,” said the swan, “you must dive into the lake, and walk, until you come near the lake dragon. He protects the fairy queen’s palace.”

“I can dive like a fish,” said Enda; “but how can I walk under the water?”

“You can do it,” said the swan, “if you get the water-dress and a crystal helmet.”

“And where can I find them?”

“They are in the water-palace,” said the swan, “May luck and joy go with you,” said the swan. “I have to warn you that there will be dangers on your way.”

“I am ready to face all dangers, princess,” said Enda.

She bowed and sailed away.

He went home by his boat and got ready for the journey. Early in the morning he took the road to the water-palace.

When he reached the banks of the river he saw a little woman. She was dressed in red and was standing there before him.

“You are welcome, Enda,” said she. “Now wait a second, and the water-dress and crystal helmet will be ready for you.”

And, having said this, the little woman took some flowers and threw them in the river. A lot of fairies came jumping up through the water, and they brought the water-dress, a crystal helmet and a shining spear. They laid them down upon the bank at Enda’s feet, and then disappeared.

“Now, Enda,” said the fairy woman, “you can walk under the water with this water-dress. The spear will help you to meet the dangers. But remember, you have to be brave.”

Enda thanked her, then he put on his helmet, the water-dress, and took the spear in his hand, and dived in to the water. He went down and down until he touched the bottom. Then he walked along and didn’t know where he was going. Suddenly he heard a horrible noise.

After a few more steps he found himself face to face with the dragon of the lake, who protected the palace of the fairy queen. Great was the fight between Enda and the dragon! Enda went on until he came to a door in the rocks. The door flew open. Enda passed through, and the door closed behind him.

It was very cold there. At some distance in front of him he noticed a large dark object. He thought it was a rock, but he looked at it closely and it was someone huge and alive. And it was growing bigger and bigger every moment. Enda stood amazed at the sight, and the creature jumped upon him, Enda hit the monster with the spear. It entered between the monster’s eyes, and then it disappeared. Enda continued his journey. At last he came to a wood. Soon he heard the sound of fairy music, and there he found the fairies dancing around their queen.

“You are welcome, Enda,” said the queen. “Take off your water-dress and crystal helmet. You do not need them here. I know what you have come for, Enda,” said the queen. “For the golden cup. Follow me to the palace.”

Enda saw on a green hill before him the snow-white palace of the fairy queen. When she entered the palace, they passed through a crystal hall. The room was lighted by a single star. The queen seated herself upon the throne, and her fairies gave her a golden wand.

The queen waved the wand three times, and Enda found himself in his boat on the lake.

For a moment he thought it had been a dream. but there in the boat before him were the crystal helmet, and the water-dress, and the gleaming spear… and the golden bowl of perfumed water! He looked around and saw the snow-white swan swimming to him. Enda put out his hands and lifted her in. He poured the perfumed water from the golden bowl on the swan, and the Princess Mave in all her beauty stood before him.

“Enda,” she said; “leave your the water-dress and the crystal helmet here.”

Six fairies jumped up from the water and took the helmet and dress with them into the waters.

Then Enda and the princess came to a deep forest. Suddenly they heard the music of hounds and the cries of huntsmen. Crashing towards them they saw a wild boar. Enda pushed the princess behind him and took his spear. The boar came close to him and he hit it. The wild animal fell dead at his feet, and the dogs rushing up began to tear it to pieces. The princess fainted at the sight. In a moment the king of Erin appeared with his huntsmen. The king saw the princess – it was his daughter Mave.

“My darling daughter, I thought you were dead,” said he, “and now you are here. You’re so beautiful! But say who is the champion who killed the wild boar?”

The princess blushed like a rose as she said:

“His name is Enda, father. He has brought me back to you.”

The king was so happy that he decided to have a big feast.

“It is my daughter, Mave, she came back to me,” said the king to his knights. And they bowed to the lady.

“And there stands the champion who has brought her home,” said the king, pointing to Enda.

The knights looked at Enda, and bowed, but in their hearts they were jealous of the champion. They saw he was already a favorite of the king’s.

The procession reached the palace, a lot of people came to see the trophies after the hunt. The queen, Mave’s cruel stepmother, came up to greet the king. But when she saw the Princess Mave, who she thought was at the bottom of the lake under the spell, she cried, and fainted.

The king jumped from his horse, lifted her up and carried her in his arms to her room. He didn’t know she was a wicked witch. But she died that very night. After which Princess Mave told her father about her stepmother. She told him the whole story of how Enda had broken the spell, and of all the dangers. The king asked his knights to gather.

“And now,” said the king, “I want my daughter to be married to this noble man. And if you, my knights, have anything to say against it, speak.”

The princess threw her white arms around her father’s neck, and said:

“I want to be his wife.”

One of his Druids said: “O King of Erin, the man is not a knight. He has never fought in a battle.”

Congal, the bravest of them all, stepped out from the ranks, and said:

“They tell the truth, O king! He is not a battle champion yet. I challenge him to fight any one of us.”

The face of the princess became as white as a lily, but the color returned to her cheeks when she heard Enda’s voice.

“It is true, O king!” said he, “that I have never used my spear in battle yet. I have risked my life already for your daughter’s sake. I would face death a thousand times for the chance of winning her for my bride. I challenge the boldest of you all.”

The king was happy to hear such brave words of Enda.

“It is well,” said the king; “tomorrow we’ll have a great battle. Knights, name your boldest champion.”

Loud cries of “Congal! Congal!” answered the king’s speech.

“I’m ready, O king!” answered Congal.

“It is well,” said the king. “But now we’ll have a feast.”

At the feast that night the princess sat beside the king, and Enda beside the princess. And the bards sang songs of love and battle.

When the feast was over Enda went to his room dreaming of the Princess Mave. Congal went to his room too, but not to sleep or dream. The Druid came to him with his golden wand. All night long the Druid was charming the shield and spear and helmet of Congal for tomorrow’s battle.

But while Enda lay dreaming of the Princess Mave, the little fairy woman who gave him the water-dress, and crystal helmet, and shining spear, flew into his room. She put beside his bed a silver helmet and a silver shield. And she flew out as quietly as she came.

When the morning came, Enda couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the silver shield and helmet. He was waiting for the hour of battle. He put on the helmet, fastened the shield upon his left arm, took the spear in his right hand, and stepped out bravely to the fight. Two champions approached each other until they met right in front of the throne.

They bowed to the king and the Princess Mave. The king gave the signal, and they flashed like lightning in the air, and in a second Congal’s spear had broken against Enda’s shield. Congal fell senseless on the ground.

The nobles and chiefs could hardly realize that in that single second their bravest champion was beaten.

And then the king said:

“Bards, nobles, and chiefs of Erin, Enda is a battle champion. Do you have anything to say against it?”

And no answer came.

He asked Enda to come up and placed the lady’s hand in his. All the people cheered, now they believed that Enda could marry the Princess. Never since that day, although a thousand years have passed, was there in all the world a brighter wedding than the wedding of Enda and the Princess Mave.