belonged to the
giant Blanderon. Over the principal gate were these verses:--

"Within this castle lives the scourge of kings;
A furious giant, whose unconquer'd power
The Georgian monarch in subjection brings,
And keeps his daughters prisoners in his tower:
Seven damsels fair this monstrous giant keeps,
That sing him music while he nightly sleeps.

"His sword of steel a thousand knights have felt,
Who for these maidens' sakes have lost their lives;
Yet, though on many knights he hath death dealt,
This most inhuman giant still survives.
Let simple passengers take heed in time,
When up this mountain height they thoughtless climb.

"But knights of worth, and men of noble mind,
If any chance to travel by this tower,
That for these maidens' sake will be so kind
To try their strength against the giant's power,
Shall have a maiden's prayer, both day and night,
To prosper them with good successful fight."

These lines were placed there by the power of the good fairy of Asia,
and were unseen by the Giant, or he would not, it is presumed, have
allowed them to remain. They so encouraged the valiant Knight, that,
resolving to liberate the ladies, he struck so mighty a blow on the gate
of the castle, with the pommel of his sword, that it sounded like a clap
of the loudest thunder.

On hearing it, Blanderon, who had been asleep, started up, and came
forth to the gate with a huge oak-tree in his hand, which he flourished
about his head as if it had been a light battle-axe, in a loud voice
comparing the Knight's spear to a bulrush, and threatening to hurl him
and his Squire down the side of the mountain.

"Words without deeds are mere empty things," retorted the Knight. "Try
what you can do."

And giving his steed to his Squire to hold, he drew his trusty falchion,
and stood ready to receive the onslaught of his huge antagonist.
Blanderon, however, flourished his oak so furiously that Saint Anthony
had to jump here and there with the greatest activity to avoid his
strokes.

Now the very earth seemed to shake; now the castle-walls resounded with
the blows. The Knight relaxed not a moment in his efforts, for he saw
that the Giant was stout; and as the sun's heat was very great, he
panted more and more till the moisture from his brows ran down into his
eyes, and almost blinded him. Observing this, the Knight plied him with
his battle-axe more vigorously than before, till he was compe