VALENTINE AND ORSON. 469

thus addressed the emperor: “ Alas! my lord, take pity on one
who never harboured an evil thought against your person or
dignity. I shall soon become a mother, and I implore your
compassion in behalf of my child. Let me be imprisoned in
some tower till the time of its birth ; and then, if your anger be
not appeased, do with me what pleaseth you; but, oh! save
my child.” The hard-hearted emperor, bewitched with the
false tales of the insidious priest, answered, “ Perish thou and
thy child, basest of women! Thy child will be to me no joy,
but rather great dishonour.”

‘The courtiers, perceiving that nothing could mitigate the rage
of the emperor, removed Bellisant from his presence. Her faith-
ful servant, Blandiman, now threw himself at her feet, exclaim-
ing, “Ah! madam, quit this barbarous monarch, and suffer me
to conduct you to your brother the good king Pepin. Innocent
and noble lady, follow my counsel ; for if you stay here the
emperor will bring you toashameful death.” —* No, Blandiman,”
the queen replied, “I must not follow thy advice: should I
steal privately from the court, it might be said I had fled know=
ing myself to be guilty, Believe me, I had rather die the most
cruel death, than bear the blame of that of which I am inno-
cent.” The emperor, still loving his queen, could not bring
himself to pronounce the sentence of her execution ; yet, as the
base high-priest continually irritated his mind with false aceu-
sations against her, he resolved to banish her from his domi-
nions, and immediately commanded her to quit Constantinople.
At the same time he published an edict forbidding all persons,
on pain of death, to assist or succour the unfortunate lady,
allowing her no other attendant than her servant Blandiman,
whom she had brought with her from France. Sentence being
thus pronounced, the queen and Blandiman hastened away. AS
she passed through the city, she was met by multitudes of