During the reign of the good King Arthur in the county of Cornwall, on Cape Land's End, there lived a peasant and this peasant had an only son named Jack. Jack was a clever guy and so smart that no one could compete with him in anything.
In those days, on an island called Cornwall Mountain, lived a terrible giant - Cormoren. He was eighteen feet tall, three yards in circumference, and had a monstrous face. He was so fierce and menacing that all the surrounding towns and villages trembled before him. Kormoren lived in a cave, in the very heart of the mountain, and when he wanted to eat, he wandered across the water to the mainland and grabbed everything that came to hand. Seeing him, people left their homes and ran in all directions. The giant caught their cattle - he did not care to drag half a dozen bulls on his back at a time, and he simply strung sheep and pigs on his belt, like a bunch of tallow candles. For many years he was the menace of all Cornwall and drove the inhabitants to complete despair.
And so a council was convened in the city hall to decide how to deal with the giant, and it so happened that Jack went there and asked:
- What reward will the one who kills Kormoren receive?
- All the giant's treasures! - they answered Jack.
- Then entrust this matter to me! - he said.
He got himself a horn, a pick and a spade, and as soon as the dark winter evening had fallen, he reached Cornwall Mountain and set to work. Before morning had come, he had already dug a hole twenty-two feet deep and twenty feet across, covered it with long branches and straw, and sprinkled earth on top so that it seemed like it was just a level place. Jack sat down on the edge of the pit, away from the Giant’s dwelling, and when daylight broke, he put his horn to his lips and began to play a merry gallop. The giant woke up and ran out of the cave screaming:
- Oh, you scoundrel! How dare you disturb my peace? I won't stand for this! Well, you'll pay me dearly! I'll catch you and fry you whole for breakfast!
But before the giant had time to shout out these threats, he fell into a hole - here even the Cornish mountain began to shake.
- What, giant, got caught? - Jack shouted to him. “Now you’ll go straight to hell!” There you will get it for your threats. How about you fry me for breakfast? Maybe you can enjoy yourself better than others, why do you need poor Jack?
Having mocked the giant, Jack hit him on the top of the head with all his might with a heavy pickaxe and killed him outright. Then he filled the hole with earth and went to look for Kormoren’s cave. I found a cave, and in it - a pile of treasures!
The city magistrate learned about Jack's feat and announced to everyone that from now on Jack should be called:
Jack the Giant Slayer
And he granted Jack a sword and a belt, on which the words were embroidered in gold:
This Cornish youth is brave
He defeated Kormoren.
The news of Jack's victory soon spread throughout Western England, reaching another giant, Blandebore, and he swore revenge on Jack at the first meeting. Blandebor owned an enchanted castle that stood in the middle of a dense forest.
And about four months later, Jack went to Wales and walked along the edge of this forest. He was very tired, sat down to rest near a cheerful spring, and fell into a deep sleep. And while he was sleeping, Blandebor himself came to the spring for water; I saw Jack, read the inscription on his belt and immediately recognized that it was Jack the Giant Slayer. Without thinking twice, the giant put Jack on his shoulders and dragged him to his castle.
On the way he had to make his way through the thicket, and the noise of the branches woke Jack up. Jack was very frightened when he realized that he had fallen into the clutches of a giant; but the worst was yet to come!
When Blandebor entered his castle, Jack saw that everything around was strewn with human bones. And the giant also said that a little later Jack’s bones would be lying around here. Then Blandebor locked poor Jack in a huge room, and he himself went after another giant - his brother, who lived in the same forest - to feast on the young man with him.
Jack waited and waited, then went to the window and saw two giants in the distance: they were walking towards the castle.
“Well,” Jack thought, “now I’ll either die or be saved!” Then he noticed that there were strong ropes lying in the corner of the room. So Jack took two ropes, tied a secure loop at the end of each, and while the giants were unlocking the iron door, he threw the loops around their necks, threw the ends of the ropes over the beam and pulled down with all his might. The giants gasped. Jack let go of the ropes, drew his sword, and stabbed both brothers. Then he took Blandebor's keys and unlocked all the rooms with them. In the rooms he found three beautiful girls; they were tied to each other by the hair and starved to death.
- Beautiful ladies! - Jack told them. “I killed the monster and his cruel brother.” You are free!
Then Jack handed the girls all the keys and went on his way to Wales.
Jack was in a hurry and walked very quickly, but got lost. Night found him on the road, and there was no housing nearby. Finally, Jack wandered into a hollow and saw a large house. I gathered my courage and knocked on the gate. And then, to his amazement, a huge giant with two heads came out of the house.
However, he did not seem as fierce as the other giants. After all, he was a Welsh giant, and he did evil to people on the sly, pretending to be their friend. Jack asked to spend the night, and the giant took him to the bedroom. And in the middle of the night, Jack heard his master muttering in the next room:
Even if you lay down on my bed,
You can't get out of that bed
The dubye will dance along it!
- So that's what you're up to! - Jack whispered. - I recognize your Welsh tricks! But I'll outsmart you!
Then Jack jumped out of bed, put a log on it, and hid in the corner. Late at night, the Welsh giant entered the room and began to pound the bed with a heavy club. He was sure that he had crushed all of Jack’s bones, but the next morning Jack came out of his corner and, grinning, thanked the owner for the overnight stay.
-Did you rest well? - the giant asked him. - Maybe something bothered you last night?
- Not really! - Jack answered. “But a rat hit me with its tail a couple of times.”
The giant marveled. Then he took Jack to breakfast and placed in front of him a pound bowl of flour pudding. Jack didn't want to admit that he couldn't eat that much. So he hid a large leather bag under his jacket and, while he was eating, quietly put the pudding into it, and after breakfast he told the giant that he would now show him a miracle. I took a knife and ripped open the bag - the whole pudding fell out!
- Damn it! - cried the giant. - Such a miracle and we can show you!
He grabbed a knife, ripped open his belly and immediately fell dead.
And at this very time, the only son of King Arthur asked his father for a lot of money; he wanted to try his luck in Wales, where there lived a beauty possessed by seven evil spirits. The king tried his best to dissuade his son, but in vain. Finally he had to give in, and the prince set off with two horses - he rode on one, and on the other he carried a pack of money.
A few days later, the prince entered a Welsh city and saw a large crowd in the square. He asked the people why they had gathered, and they answered that they were guarding the dead man - they were not allowing him to be buried, because he owed them a lot of money during his lifetime. The prince marveled at the hard-heartedness of the lenders and said:
- Go bury him, and let the creditors come to me - I will pay them everything in full.
Here the prince was besieged by so many people that by evening only two pence remained of all his money.
At this time, Jack the Giant Slayer was passing through the city. The prince's generosity pleased him, and the young man asked to serve him. The prince agreed to take Jack, and the next morning they set off together. As they were leaving the city, an old woman called out to the prince. She said:
“It’s been seven years since the deceased borrowed two pence from me.” Please pay me as you paid others!
The prince reached into his pocket, pulled out the last of his money and gave it to the woman. True, Jack still had a few coins left, but the travelers spent them on lunch that same day and both found themselves penniless.
Just before sunset the king's son said:
-Where should we spend the night, Jack? After all, we don’t have money.
To this Jack replied:
- There will be a place to stay for the night, my lord! My uncle lives two miles from here - a huge, scary giant with three heads. He doesn't care to fight five hundred armored warriors and scatter them like flies!
“Well,” said the prince, “then we have nothing to do with him!” The giant will swallow us in one fell swoop. What is there! After all, you and I can fit in the hollow of his rotten tooth!
- Nonsense! - Jack objected. “I’ll go ahead and prepare a meeting for you.” Stay here and wait until I return!
And Jack rode on at full speed. He drove up to the castle gates and knocked so loudly that his knock echoed from all the surrounding hills. And the giant thundered in response with a thunderous voice:
-Who's there?
Jack said:
- It's me, your poor nephew Jack.
The giant asked:
“What news does my poor nephew Jack bring?”
- God knows, they are bad, dear uncle! - Jack answered.
- But, but! - said the giant. - Is it possible to bring me bad news? After all, I am the Three-Headed Giant. I, as you know, go out to fight against five hundred warriors in armor, and they fly away from me in all directions, like straw in the wind.
“Yes, but here comes the king’s son with a whole thousand armed warriors!” - said Jack. “They want to kill you and destroy all your property!”
- That's it, nephew Jack! - said the giant. - Well, this is really bad news! I’ll run and hide, and you lock me with a lock, a bolt and a bolt, and keep the keys with you until the prince gets out of here.
Jack locked the giant and went after the prince. In the castle, the travelers had fun to their heart's content, but the poor giant lay in the dungeon and shook with fear.
The next morning, Jack stocked up early on gold and silver for his master and advised him to go three miles ahead - after all, the giant could not smell the prince three miles away. Then Jack returned and released his uncle from the dungeon.
- How can I reward you for saving my castle from destruction? - asked the giant.
- What’s there! - Jack answered. - I don’t need anything. Just give me your worn jacket, hat, and even the old rusty sword and night shoes that are lying under your bed.
- You don’t know what you’re asking for! - said the giant. “After all, these are my most precious treasures.” Once you put on a jacket, you will become invisible. The hat will tell you everything you want to know. The sword will cut into pieces anything you hit with it. And the shoes will take you wherever you want in the blink of an eye. But so be it! You have served me well. I give you from the bottom of my heart everything you ask for!
Jack thanked his uncle, took the gifts and left.
He quickly caught up with his master, and soon they arrived at the house of the beauty the prince was looking for. And she found out that the prince had come to ask for her hand, and she treated him to glory. After the feast, the beautiful lady announced to the prince that she wanted to give him a task. She wiped her lips with a handkerchief and said:
“Tomorrow morning you must show me this very scarf.” Otherwise, your head won't be blown off!
And she hid the handkerchief on her chest. The prince went to bed in great anxiety. But Jack's omniscient hat told them how to get the handkerchief.
At midnight, the beauty called her spirit friend and told him to take her to Lucifer. And Jack put on an invisible jacket and running shoes and rushed to Satan after the beauty. She entered the satanic abode and immediately gave her handkerchief to Lucifer, who put it on the shelf. Jack immediately grabbed the handkerchief and brought it to his master. And in the morning the prince showed the scarf to the beautiful lady and thereby saved his life.
That day the lady kissed the prince and said that in the morning he should show her the lips that she had kissed the previous night. Otherwise, don’t blow his head off!
- Okay, I'll show you! - answered the prince. - Just promise not to kiss anyone else but me!
“Be that as it may,” said the beauty, “if you do not follow my order, death awaits you.”
At midnight she again went to Lucifer and scolded him for not taking care of her handkerchief.
“Well, this time,” said the beauty, “I will not give mercy to the prince!” Let me kiss you, and let him show me your lips!
And kissed Satan. But as soon as she left, Jack cut off Lucifer’s head, hid it under an invisibility jacket and took it to his master.
In the morning, the prince lifted Satan's head by the horns and showed it to the beauty. And immediately the obsession dissipated; The evil spirit left the beautiful lady, and she appeared before the prince in all her glory.
The next day they got married and soon left for the court of King Arthur. There, Jack was knighted by the Round Table for all his great deeds.
After some time, Jack again went in search of giants. He had not gone far when he saw a cave. At the entrance to it, a giant sat on a wooden block with a knotted cast-iron club at his side. The giant's wide eyes burned with fire, his ugly face was fierce, his cheeks looked like pork hams, and his beard bristled like iron rods. His hair fell over his powerful shoulders like writhing snakes, like hissing vipers.
Jack jumped off his horse, put on his invisibility jacket and went to the giant, muttering to himself:
- Yeah, there you are! Well, before you even blink an eye, I’ll grab you by the beard!
The giant did not see Jack, because he was wearing an invisibility jacket. And so Jack crept up to the monster and hit him on the head with his sword, but missed and cut off his nose instead of his head. The giant roared as if thunder had thundered, and began waving his cast-iron club in a fury. But Jack ran behind him and drove his sword into his back up to the hilt. The giant fell to the ground dead. Then Jack cut off his head and sent it along with the head of another giant - his brother - to King Arthur. And for this they had to hire a driver and put their heads on the cart.
Then Jack decided to go into the giant's cave and look for his treasures there. For a long time he walked along long passages and passages and finally reached a large room paved with rough stone. In the depths of this room there was a boiling cauldron, and to the right of it a huge table - at this table the giant always dined. A window with an iron grill opened into the next room. Jack looked into it and saw a huge crowd of unfortunate prisoners. They noticed Jack and shouted:
- Oh, young man, will you really have to die with us in this terrible den?
“Yes,” Jack answered. - But tell me, why are you locked up?
“They keep us here until the giants want to eat,” answered one prisoner, “and then they cut off the fattest one of us.”
- Okay, nothing to say! - Jack responded.
He immediately unlocked the gate and released all the captives. They rejoiced, just as death row inmates rejoice when they receive a pardon.
Then Jack searched the giants' chests, divided the gold and silver equally among the captives, and finally led them to a nearby castle, where they feasted and made merry, celebrating their liberation.
But suddenly, in the midst of the fun, a messenger brought the news that the two-headed giant Thunderdell had heard about the death of his relatives and had arrived from the northern valleys to take revenge on Jack; that he is now only one mile from the castle and that all the surrounding residents are running away from him in all directions. But Jack was not at all afraid.
“If he tries to come here, I’ll count all his teeth!” And I ask you, gentlemen, to go out into the garden and watch how the giant Thunderdell will be killed!
The castle stood on an island surrounded by a ditch thirty feet deep and twenty feet wide. The ditch was filled with water, and they crossed it on a drawbridge.
And so Jack hired people to cut the bridge from the sides almost to the very middle. Then he put on an invisibility jacket and confronted the giant with a sharp sword in his hands. The giant did not see Jack, but smelled him and shouted:
Fi-fi-fo-fam!
I can smell the British spirit there!
Whether he's dead or alive,
This will be my breakfast!
- Oh, that's how it is! - said Jack. - What a glutton you are!
And the giant shouted again:
- So it was you, scoundrel, who killed my relatives?! Now I will tear you to pieces with my teeth, suck the blood out of you, and grind your bones into powder!
- Catch me first! - Jack answered and threw off his invisibility jacket so that the giant could see him.
Then he put on his running shoes and ran away. And the giant chased after him, and it seemed as if some castle had moved from its place and the earth itself was shaking under his every step.
Jack made the giant chase him for a long time - he wanted to amuse the ladies and gentlemen. Then he decided that it was time to end the game, and easily ran up onto the bridge. The giant rushed after him at full speed with a club in his hands. But before he could get to the middle, the bridge collapsed under a heavy load, and the giant fell headfirst into the water and began tossing and floundering in it like a whale. And Jack stood near the ditch and made fun of him. But no matter how angry the giant was, hearing Jack’s ridicule, no matter how much he thrashed about in the water, he was unable to get out of the ditch to settle accounts with the enemy.
Finally, Jack grabbed the reins, threw them over the giant’s heads and, with the help of a team of horses, pulled him ashore, then cut off both heads with his sharp sword and sent them to King Arthur.
Jack spent some time in celebrations and entertainment, and then again left the beautiful ladies and knights and went in search of adventure. Jack made his way through many forests until he finally came to the foot of a high mountain. And there, late at night, I saw a lonely house. He knocked on the door, and an old man with hair as white as snow opened it.
“Father,” Jack told him, “let him spend the night!” I got lost and night found me on the road.
- Come in, come in! - answered the old man. “Welcome to my miserable little hut.”
Jack came in, they sat down next to each other, and the old man spoke as follows:
“My son, I see from the inscription on your belt that you are the great Giant Slayer.” So listen, my son! At the top of this mountain stands an enchanted castle. It is owned by the giant Galligantua. With the help of an old sorcerer, the giant lures knights and ladies to him and uses magic spells to transform them into different creatures. But I am especially saddened by the fate of the Duke’s daughter. They grabbed her in her father's garden and carried her away in a burning chariot drawn by fire-breathing dragons. She was locked in the castle and turned into a white doe. Many knights tried to dispel the magic spell and free the girl, but no one succeeded - two terrible griffins sit at the castle gates, and they destroy everyone who comes close. But you, my son, will pass by them unseen. And on the castle gates you will see an inscription carved in large letters. She will tell you how to dispel witchcraft.
Jack thanked the old man and promised that in the morning he would try to free the duke's daughter, even if it cost him his life.
The next morning Jack got up, put on his invisibility jacket, a magic hat, and running shoes and prepared for battle.
As soon as he reached the top of the mountain, he immediately saw fire-breathing griffins. But he walked past them without fear - after all, he was wearing an invisibility jacket. On the gate of the castle, a golden trumpet hung on a silver chain, and below it were carved the words:
Who will blow a trumpet of gold,
That terrible castle will break its spell;
The fierce giant will die,
And happiness will come to people again.
As soon as Jack read these lines, he blew into the trumpet, and the huge castle shook to its very foundation, and great confusion seized the giant and the sorcerer. They began to bite their elbows and tear out their hair, sensing that the end of their evil power would soon come!
Suddenly the giant bent down for his club, but then Jack took off his head with one blow, and the sorcerer rose into the air, and the whirlwind carried him away.
The evil spell has dissipated. Everyone that had been turned into birds and animals became people again, and the castle disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Jack, as always, sent the head of the giant Galligantua to the court of King Arthur, and the next day he himself went there along with the knights and ladies whom he had freed.
As a reward for faithful service, the king persuaded the duke to give his daughter to honest Jack.
They got married, and the whole kingdom rejoiced at their wedding. And then the king gave Jack a magnificent castle with rich lands, and Jack lived there with his wife for the rest of his days in love and harmony.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru