THE ARGUMENT.

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.