Click in the field, then press CTRL+C to copy the HTML code
<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=539606" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Jack o' the Cudgel</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">Part I</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Twas in the famous town of Windsor, on a fine summer morn,<br>Where the sign of Windsor Castle did a tavern adorn;<br>And there sat several soldiers drinking together,<br>Resolved to make merry in spite of wind or weather. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And old Simon the landlord was at the head of the table,<br>Cutting slices of beef as quick as he was able;<br>And one of the soldiers was of rather superior rank,<br>And on his dress trinkets of gold and silver together did clank. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">He was a free companion, but surly and hard,<br>And a soldier of fortune, and was named Croquard;<br>And he had all the appearance of his martial calling,<br>But on this particular morning he was rudely bawling. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">So the other soldiers laughed, for their spirits felt gay,<br>And they applauded his jokes, and let him have his own way,<br>Because he could command as desperate a gang of men as any in the world,<br>So many a joke and slur at the soldiers he hurled. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And the mirth increased as the day wore on,<br>And Croquard didn't seem the least woe-begone;<br>But, as he was trolling out a very merry song,<br>A wandering minstrel sat down beside him, and thought it no wrong. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">By my troth, shouted Croquard, Come here, minstrel,<br>And give us a stave of love or war, which is my will:<br>But the minstrel didn'-t appear to comply with this request,<br>And he tried to withdraw, as he thought it was best. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Ho ! didst thou hear me, varlet? then Croquard did cry:<br>Oh! gentle sir, replied the minstrel, I cannot with your wish comply;<br>Believe me, I sing best to the ladies at the court,<br>And, in doing so, find it more profitable sport. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">What, varlet! cried Croquard, Dost thou refuse me?<br>By heaven, proud cur, you shall see<br>And feel the weight of my hand before you are much older:<br>Then he instantly sprang up, and seized the minstrel by the shoulder. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the youth began to tremble, and seemed terrified to death,<br>And appeared ready to faint for the want of breath;<br>While Croquard shook him roughly, just like an ugly whelp,<br>And he looked from one to another, imploring help </div><div style="margin:10px 0">At this moment a youth observed what was going on,<br>And he cried out to Croquard, Inhuman monster, begone!<br>Leave the minstrel, thou pig-headed giant, or I'll make you repent,<br>For thou must know my name is Jack, and I hail from Kent. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then Croquard relaxed his hold of the minstrel boy,<br>Which caused the minstrel's heart to leap with joy;<br>As Jack placed himself before Croquard the giant,<br>And stood on his guard with a stout oak cudgel defiant. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the fist of the giant descended in a crack,<br>But Jack dealt Croquard a heavy blow upon the back<br>With his cudgel, so that the giant's hand fell powerless down by his side,<br>And he cursed and roared with pain, and did Jack deride. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the giant tried to draw his sword for to fight,<br>But Jack danced around him like a young sprite,<br>And struck him a blow with his cudgel upon the back of the head,<br>And from the effects of the blow he was nearly killed dead. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then down sank the carcase of the giant to the ground,<br>While the soldiers about Jack did quickly gather round;<br>And Jack cried, Ha! lie thou there overgrown brute,<br>And defiantly he spurned Croquard's body with his foot. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">There, lad, cried Vintner Simon, thou hast shown English spirit to-day,<br>By chastising yon overbearing giant in a very proper way;<br>So come, my lad, and drink a flagon of my very best sack,<br>For you handled your cudgel well, and no courage did lack. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then no sooner had our hero finished his goblet of sack,<br>He cried, Go and fetch the minstrel back;<br>For the giant by this time had fled far away,<br>Therefore the minstrel's tender heart need not throb with dismay. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the minstrel was brought back without delay,<br>Which made Jack's heart feel light and gay,<br>And the minstrel thanked Jack for saving him on that eventful day,<br>So the soldiers drank to Jack's health, and then went away. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And when King Edward III. heard what Jack had done,<br>He sent for Jack o' the Cudgel, the noble Saxon,<br>And he made him his page, and Jack uttered not a word,<br>But he unwillingly gave up the cudgel for the honour of the sword. </div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br>Part II</div><div style="margin:10px 0">After the battle of Calais, King Edward returns to fair England,<br>And he invited his nobles to a banquet most grand,<br>That the like hadn't been in England for many a day;<br>And many of the guests invited had come from far away. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The large hall of Windsor Castle was ablaze with light,<br>And there sat King Edward and his Queen, a most beautiful sight-<br>To see them seated upon two thrones of burnished gold;<br>And near the King sat Jack o' the Cudgel, like a warrior bold. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And when the banquet was prepared, King Edward arose,<br>And said, My honoured guests, I have called you together for a special purpose!<br>To celebrate our victories so gloriously achieved in France<br>By my noble and heroic troops at the charge of the lance. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And now, since the war in France with us is o'er,<br>And Edward, our son, about to marry the lady he does adore,<br>The most amiable and lovely Countess of Kent;<br>Therefore, I hope they will happy live together and never repent. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then King Edward took the Countess by the hand, and said,<br>Come, Edward, take your bride by the hand, and don't be afraid;<br>And do not think, my beloved son, that with you I feel wroth,<br>Therefore, take the Countess by the hand, and plight your troth. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the Prince arose and took the fair Countess by the hand,<br>As King Edward, his father, had given the royal command;<br>Then he led the Countess Joan to the foot of the throne,<br>Then King Edward and his Queen welcomed the Countess to their palatial home. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the Prince unto his father said, I must not forget whatever betide,<br>That to Sir Jack o' the Cudgel I do owe my bride;<br>Because he rescued her from the hands of a fierce brigand,<br>Therefore 'twould be hard to find a braver knight in fair England. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then a cheer arose, which made the lofty hall to ring,<br>As Jack advanced towards the throne, on the motion of the King;<br>Then Jack fell on one knee before King Edward,<br>Then said the Monarch, Arise, brave youth, and I will thee reward. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Sir Jack, I give thee land to the value of six hundred marks<br>In thine own native county of Kent, with beautiful parks,<br>Also beautiful meadows and lovely flowers and trees,<br>Where you can reside and enjoy yourself as you please. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And remember, when I need your service you will be at my command,<br>Then Jack o' the Cudgel bowed assent, and kissed King Edward's hand;<br>Then the Countess Joan took a string of rarest pearls from her hair,<br>And placed the pearls around Jack's neck, most costly and rare. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the tumult became uproarious when Jack received the presentation,<br>And he thanked the Lady Joan for the handsome donation;<br>Then all the ladies did loudly cheer, and on Jack smilingly did fan,<br>And Sir Walter Manny cried aloud, Sir Jack, you are a lucky man. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the mirth increased, and louder the applause,<br>And the Countess Joan asked, after a pause,<br>Tell me who has gained the love of the Knight o' the Cudgel;<br>Then Jack replied, My lady, you know her right well. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">She is the lovely daughter of noble John of Aire,<br>Then, replied the Countess, she is a lovely creature, I must declare;<br>And I hope the choice that you have made won't make you grieve,<br>Then Jack kissed the Countess's hand, and took his leave. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And he wended his way to his beautiful estate in Kent,<br>And many a happy day there he spent;<br>And he married the lovely daughter of John of Aire,<br>And they lived happy together, and free from all care.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=William+Topaz+McGonagall">William Topaz McGonagall</a><div class=q>
<img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share">
<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=539606" data-title="Jack o' the Cudgel de William Topaz McGonagall" data-description="Part I

'Twas in the famous town of Windsor, on a fine summer morn,
Where the sign of Windsor Castle did a tavern adorn;
And there sat several soldiers drinking together,
Resolved to make merry in spite of wind or weather. 

And old Simon the land..."></div>
</div>
</div>