Original Size -- Medium-Size
Jack Surprised Once in the Way
I.
Now, as Jack was a lion, and hero of rhymes,
His exploit very soon made a noise in the "Times;"
All over the west
He was fêted, caressed,
And to dinners and soirees eternally pressed:
Though't is true Giants did n't move much in society,
And at "twigging" were slow,
Yet they could n't but know
Of a thing that was matter of such notoriety.
Your Giants were famous for esprit de corps;
And a huge one, whose name was O'Blunderbore,
From the Emerald Isle, who had waded o'er,
Revenge, "by the pow'rs!" on our hero swore.
II.
Sound beneath a forest oak
Was a beardless warrior dozing,
By a babbling rill, that woke
Echo—not the youth reposing.
What a chance for lady loves
Now to win a "pair of gloves!"
III.
"Wake, champion, wake, be off, be off;
Heard'st thou not that earthquake cough!
That floundering splash,
That thundering crash?
Awake!—oh, no,
It is no go!"
So sang a little woodland fairy;
'T was O'Blunderbore coming
And the blackguard was humming
The tune of "Paddy Carey."