used to shun the cave where he continued to live VALEN-
with the old bear, who loved him with extreme TINE AND
fondness. He passed eighteen years inthis kind ORSON
of life, and grew to such wonderful strength,
that he was the terror of the neighbouring
country. The name of Orson was given to him,
because he was nurtured by a bear; and the re-
nown of this wild man spread over all France.
He could not speak, and uttered no other sounds
than a wild kind of growl to express either his
anger or his joy. King Pepin often entertained
a great desire to see this wild man of the woods;
and one day rode with his retinue into the forest
of Orleans in hopes of meeting him. The king
left his train at some distance, rode on, and
passed near the cave which Orson inhabited.
On hearing the sound of horses’ feet, the wild
man rushed upon the king, and would have
strangled him in an instant but for a valiant
knight, who galloped up and wounded Orson with
his sword. Orson then quitted the king, and,
running furiously upon the knight, caught him
and his horse and overthrew both. The king,
being quite unarmed, could not assist the knight,
but rode away to call the attendants to his rescue.
However, before they arrived on the spot, the
unfortunate knight was torn to pieces, and Orson
had fled to the thickest part of the forest, where,
notwithstanding all their endeavours, they could
not discover him. The noise of this adventure
increased every one’s terror of the wild man, and
the neighbouring villages were nearly abandoned
by their inhabitants.

Valentine, in the meanwhile, had been educated
in all kinds of accomplishments. with the king’s
two sons and his fair daughter, Eglantine.
Nothing could exceed the fondness of the young
people for each other; indeed, there was nevera
lovelier princess than Eglantine, or a more brave

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