英语民间故事:《Jack the Giant Killer》

　　Jack continued his journey, and fell in before long with the son of King Arthur, who had come into Wales to deliver a lovely lady from a magician who held her captive. Jack offered his services and the prince was glad, of course, to accept them.

　　They came to the castle of a giant who had three heads, and by his own account could whip five hundred men. Jack told the prince to stay behind while he went to ask for lodging. He knocked loudly and the giant roared: "Who is there?" "Only your cousin Jack come with news," was the reply.

　　The giant, as Jack happened to know, had, so many cousins that he could not keep track of them, so he said: "Well, what news cousin Jack?" "Dreadful news, dear cousin," said Jack. "King Arthur is coming with ten thousand men to kill you."

　　The giant was really an awful coward; and, if he did have three heads, was not gifted with very much brains. When he heard this news he trembled so that his heads began to knock one another very hard, at which Jack could scarcely help laughing in his face-I should say in his faces.

　　"Oh dear! Oh dear! What shall I do?" said the giant. "I'll go and hide in the cellar until they are gone. Here are my key-cousin. Lock me in, and let me know when it is safe to come out.'

　　So off he went to hide, and Jack, after he had locked him up, led the prince in. They stayed all night, and in the morning Jack opened the giant's treasure-room, and helped the prince to a good share of the treasure, after which he started him on his way. Then he went and told his "cousin" that the coast was clear, and took great credit to himself for helping him to escape. The giant was very grateful, and told Jack that he would give him something precious for a reward. He brought forth a coat, a sword, and a pair of shoes, and said: "When you put on the coat no one can so you, the sword will cut through anything, and with the shoes you can run with the speed of the wind."

　　With the help of these useful articles, Jack and the prince soon found the magician, and overcame him, and set the lady free. The prince led her to his father's court, where he married her; while Jack, for his gallantry, was made a Knight of the Round Table.