Canto XX

John marched ahead into tlhe forest's heart.
The sights he met of which no counterpart
He e'er throughout the wide, wide world had faced,
Made him indeed to look at things amazed.
There was— for instance— here and there a tree
So high, the crown thereof John could not see,
With leaves so big, that one was big enough
To furnish for a grown man's cloak the stuff.

And the mosquitoes grew here to a size,
As if winged oxen flitted 'neath the skies,
John had enough to do and without rest
He minced the beasts with which that wood

was blessed.

And then the crows! Oh, my! Were they not big!
He saw one sitting on a far-off twig, —
At least two miles away as John allowed, —
And yet, that crow looked like a big black cloud.

He sauntered thus a-wondering, when lo!
A something makes a deep darkness to grow.
This something was a mighty big, black fort,
The giant king's own favorite resort.

I'll not exaggerate, the doors were great,
As big as. — well — I can not even state,
The doors must have been big, — you'll guess

with ease, —
A giant king can not through small doors squeeze

Himself. John was amazed. He said: I see
The outside here is grand, what then must be
The inside, which to view now is my plan."
Not thinking of the dangers which he ran

He oped the door. The king and his — God knows
How many sons — just dined. Do you suppose
You know what was their meal? You'll never guess.
Some mighty chunks of rocks had been their mess.

When to the dining party John came near,
He thought: "I do not think I shall dine here".
The giant king — as if his thoughts had. read—
Goodnaturedly? Maliciously? though said:
''As long as yon are here, come then and eat
These rocks here are a good-enough square treat.
If you refuse of our meal to partake
Of you yourself our desert-dish will make.

John did not know if what the king here spoke
Was meant in earnest or was but a joke
He stepped up and then promptly made reply:
"I never ate such meal. I can't deny,

But you having invited me, I'll try
To be like one of you and gratify
My hunger with the rocks. Now if you please
Break off that rock for me a goodly- piece."

The king broke off a piece. Five pounds it weighed
At least, and gave to John. "Be not afraid"
He said, "Of this small doughnut take a bite
Next course 's a dumpling, — if your teeth are right.

"'Tis I who'll make you bite! To bite the' dust!
You'll nevermore on man stone-dinners thrust!"
With that John raised the stone and at the king
He let it fly, while loud his voice doth ring.

The aim was good, the giant king is slain,
To right and left is spattering his brain.
John laughs aloud: "You will not entertain
Your visitors at stone dinners again."

The giants were heartbroken at the sight
Of their king's death and in their sorry plight
Began to weep, — mid sobs their loss bewail,
Each tear-drop of theirs would have filled a pail.

The oldest then addressed our Childe John thus:
Our Lord-King! We implore you pardon us,
Our loyal serfdom we are offering,
But spare our lives and we make you our King!"
"We all assent to what our brother said,
We are your vassals, you are our chosen head,
Oh! do not punish us, we'll faithful be!"
Such was the frightened giants' piteous plea.

Said John: 'Tis well! Henceforth I am your king,
To one, condition I however bring
Your close attention. List! I can't remain
Here with you. I leave one of you to reign

Here in my place, I don't care who it is,
But let distinctly understood be this:
If I your services shall ever want
You must all reach" be. I count upon 't."

The oldest giant said then to the king:
"We pledge our fealty! This little thing-
Here take, a fife it is, its voice will call
Most promptly to your aid us giants all."

John put the fife into his bag, not e'en
A-thinking of the triumph which had been
His share. Amidst "God bless you"s and

"good byes"
He wanders from the land of his allies."