Then the truth dawned on him ; and , crushing the table between his hands , he turned to the chamberlain , who , bewildered and half-frightened , was wondering how to get away . ` Tell your false king that to-morrow I will destroy his castle as easily as I have broken this table . ' The chamberlain hastened back to the palace , and gave the king Jack 's message , at which he laughed more than before , and called all his courtiers to hear the story . But they were not quite so merry when they woke next morning and beheld ten thousand horsemen , and as many archers , surrounding the palace . The king saw it was useless to hold out , and he took the white flag of truce in one hand , and the real table in the other , and set out to look for Jack . ' I committed a crime , ' said he ; ` but I will do my best to make up for it . Here is your table , which I own with shame that I tried to steal , and you shall have besides , my daughter as your wife ! ' There was no need to delay the marriage when the table was able to furnish the most splendid banquet that ever was seen , and after everyone had eaten and drunk as much as they wanted , Jack took his bag and commanded a castle filled with all sorts of treasures to arise in the park for himself and his bride . At this proof of his power the king 's heart died within him . ` Your magic is greater than mine , ' he said ; ` and you are young and strong , while I am old and tired . Take , therefore , the sceptre from my hand , and my crown from my head , and rule my people better than I have done . ' So at last Jack 's ambition was satisfied . He could not hope to be more than king , and as long as he had his cornet to provide him with soldiers he was secure against his enemies . He never forgave his brothers for the way they had treated him , though he presented his mother with a beautiful castle , and everything she could possibly wish for . In the centre of his own palace was a treasure chamber , and in this chamber the table , the cornet , and the bag were kept as the most prized of all his possessions , and not a week passed without a visit from king John to make sure they were safe . He reigned long and well , and died a very old man , beloved by his people . But his good example was not followed by his sons and his grandsons . They grew so proud that they were ashamed to think that the founder of their race had once been a poor boy ; and as they and all the world could not fail to remember it , as long as the table , the cornet , and the bag were shown in the treasure chamber , one king , more foolish than the rest , thrust them into a dark and damp cellar . For some time the kingdom remained , though it became weaker and weaker every year that passed . Then , one day , a rumour reached the king that a large army was marching against him .
Vaguely he recollected some tales he had heard about a magic cornet which could provide as many soldiers as would serve XXXXX conquer the earth , and which had been removed by his grandfather to a cellar .
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