"What fairy aids you?" asked the Princess.
"Only my wish to serve you," Charming replied.
"Alas!" said the Princess, "I cannot marry until Galifron, the giant,
is dead. Because I would not take him for my husband, he persecutes my
subjects and lays waste my land."
"Princess, I will bring back the giant's head to you or die in your
defense," bravely declared Charming.
The Princess and all the people tried to dissuade him, but he mounted
his horse and rode off, accompanied only by his little dog, Frisk. He
traveled straight to the giant's castle. All about it were strewn the
bones of Galifron's victims. Inside the castle the giant was singing
in a terrible voice:
"Little children I love to eat;
Their bones are tender, their flesh is sweet.
I do not care, I eat so many,
If their hair be straight, or if they haven't any."
Charming called out loudly in reply:
"Be not so boastful, Galifron,
Till you've met a knight, who
May be good to feed upon,
But is here to fight you."
The giant appeared at the door, club in hand. When he saw Charming
fearlessly awaiting him, he came toward him in a terrible rage. But
before he could wield his club, a raven lit on his head and pecked at
his eyes, so that he dropped his weapon and was at Charming's mercy.
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