Page 56 - Jack e il fagiolo magico

drinking. When supper was ended, the Giant desired
his wife to bring him his hen. A very beautiful hen
was then brought, and placed upon the table before
him. Jack's curiosity was very great to see what
would happen: he observed that every time the Giant
said "lay," the hen laid an egg of solid gold. The Giant
amused himself a long time with the hen, meanwhile
his wife went to bed. At length the Giant fell asleep
by the fireside, and snored like the roaring of a
cannon. At daybreak, Jack finding the Giant not likely
to be soon roused, crept softly out of his hiding-
place, seized the hen, and ran off with her.
He met with some difficulty in finding his way out of
the house, but at last he reached the road in safety,
without fear of pursuit: he easily found the way to
the bean-stalk, and descended it better and quicker
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