I sing the deeds of famous Jack,
The doughty Giant Killer hight;
How he did various monsters “whack,”
And so became a gallant knight.
In Arthur's days of splendid fun
( His Queen was Guenever the Pliant ),—
Ere Britain's sorrows had begun;
When every cave contained its giant;
When griffins fierce as bats were rife;
And till a knight had slain his dragon,
At trifling risk of limbs and life,
He did n't think he'd much to brag on;
When wizards o'er the welkin flew;
Ere science had devised balloon;
And‘ twas a common thing to view
A fairy ballet by the moon;—
Our hero played his valiant pranks;
Earned loads of kudos, vulgo glory,
A lady, “tin,” and lots of thanks;—
Relate, oh Muse! his wondrous story.