conquers the savage with his sword, you will not VALEN-

think it then too much to reward him with the ao

hand of our sister Eglantine.’

Valentine saw through the malicious design of
the king’s sons; and the king himself wished to
protect him, and advised him not to encounter
such an enemy.

‘Pardon me, my liege,’ replied Valentine; ‘it con-
cerns my honour that I go. I will encounter this
danger, and every other, rather than not prove
myself worthy of your majesty’s favour and pro-
tection. To-morrow I will depart for the forest at
break of day.’

When the Princess Eglantine heard of Valentine’s
determination, she sought to turn him from his
purpose; but finding him inflexibly resolved to
attack the wild man, she adorned him with a
scarf, embroidered by her own hands, and then
retired to her chamber to pray for his safety.

At the first dawn of morning Valentine arose, put
on his armour, and with his shield polished like a
mirror, he departed for the forest. On his arrival
there, he alighted, tied his horse to a tree, and
penetrated into the thickest part of the wood in
search of Orson.

He wandered about a long time in vain; till
coming near the mouth of a large cave, he thought
that might be the hiding-place of the wild man.
Valentine then climbed a high tree near the cave;
and scarcely was he seated among the branches,
before he heard Orson’s roar in the forest. Orson
had been hunting, and came with a swift pace,
bearing upon his shoulders a buck he had killed.
Valentine could not help admiring the beauty of
his person, the grace and freedom of his motions,

and his appearance of strength and agility. He

felt a species of affection for the wild man, and
wished it were possible to tame him without
having recourse to weapons. Valentine now tore

41

NE AND
RSON