Page:Famous history of Valentine & Orson (1).pdf/4

 come quick upon her, she dismissed the ’squire to seek her a midwife, and sat down under a great tree expeeting his arrival: but ere he returned, she was delivered of two lovely ehildren; one of which was conveyed away by a she-bear, which she being desirous to retrieve, pursued on her hands and knees leaving the other to the protection of heaven. But see what happened ere she returned again from her fruitless pursuit. King Pepin being a hunting in the forest, came to the tree where she left the other infant: so causing it to be taken up, he ordered one of his ’squires to put it to a nurse, who, when he grew up, called his name Valentine. Blandiman at length came back, and instead of finding his mistress, found her brother, the king of Franee, at the tree, to whom he declared all that happened; and how his sister was banished, through the false suggestions of the accursed arch-priest; which, when king Pepin heard he was greatly enraged against the lady Bellifant, saying, the emperor had been too favourable to her, in not killing her. And so leaving Blandiman, he returned with his nobles towards Paris; but the lady Bellifant, after having long followed the bear to no purpose, returned towards the place where she laid the other babe down: but great was her sorrow, when Blandiman told her ho had seen her brother Pepin, but as to the child, he could tell nothing of it: and having comforted her all he could for the loss of both her ehildren, they went to the sea-side, took shipping, and arrived at the castle of the giant Ferragus, in Portugal.

Now all this while tho bear did nourish the infant among her young ones, who at length grew up to a wild hairy man, doing mischief to all that passed through the forest, insomuch that he was dreaded by the inhabitants of the adjaeent towns