The Book of Brave Old Ballads Part 19

All in a scarlet kercher laid Of silk so fine and thin: A golden mantle wrapt him round Pinn'd with a silver pin.

The sudden sight surpris'd them all; The courtiers gather'd round; They look, they call, the mother seek; No mother could be found.

At length the king himself drew near, And as he gazing stands, The pretty babe look'd up and smil'd, And stretch'd his little hands.

Now, by the rood, king Pepin says, This child is pa.s.sing fair: I wot he is of gentle blood; Perhaps some prince's heir.

Go bear him home unto my court With all the care ye may: Let him be christen'd Valentine, In honour of this day:

And look me out some cunning nurse; Well nurtur'd let him be: Nor aught be wanting that becomes A bairn of high degree.

They look'd him out a cunning nurse, And nurtur'd well was he; Nor aught was wanting that became A bairn of high degree.

Thus grew the little Valentine, Belov'd of king and peers; And show'd in all he spake or did A wit beyond his years.

But chief in gallant feats of arms He did himself advance, And ere he grew to man's estate He had no peer in France.

And now the early down began To shade his youthful chin; When Valentine was dubb'd a knight, That he might glory win.

A boon, a boon, my gracious liege, I beg a boon of thee!

The first adventure that befalls May be reserv'd for me.

The first adventure shall be thine, The king did smiling say.

Nor many days, when lo! there came Three palmers clad in gray.

Help, gracious lord, they weeping said; And knelt, as it was meet: From Artois forest we be come, With weak and weary feet.

Within those deep and dreary woods There wends a savage boy; Whose fierce and mortal rage doth yield Thy subjects dire annoy.

'Mong ruthless bears he sure was bred; He lurks within their den: With bears he lives, with bears he feeds, And drinks the blood of men.

To more than savage strength he joins A more than human skill: For arms, no cunning may suffice His cruel rage to still:

Up then rose sir Valentine, And claim'd that arduous deed.

Go forth and conquer, said the king, And great shall be thy meed.

Well mounted on a milk-white steed, His armour white as snow; As well beseem'd a virgin knight, Who ne'er had fought a foe:

To Artois forest he repairs With all the haste he may; And soon he spies the savage youth A rending of his prey.

His unkempt hair all matted hung His s.h.a.ggy shoulders round: His eager eye all fiery glow'd: His face with fury frown'd.

Like eagle's talons grew his nails: His limbs were thick and strong; And dreadful was the knotted oak He bare with him along.

Soon as sir Valentine approach'd, He starts with sudden spring; And yelling forth a hideous howl, He made the forests ring.

As when a tiger fierce and fell Hath spied a pa.s.sing roe, And leaps at once upon his throat; So sprung the savage foe.

So lightly leap'd with furious force The gentle knight to seize: But met his tall uplifted spear, Which sunk him on his knees.

A second stroke so stiff and stern Had laid the savage low; But springing up, he rais'd his club, And aim'd a dreadful blow.

The watchful warrior bent his head, And shunn'd the coming stroke; Upon his taper spear it fell, And all to shivers broke.

Then lighting nimbly from his steed, He drew his burnished brand: The savage quick as lightning flew To wrest it from his hand.

Three times he grasp'd the silver hilt; Three times he felt the blade; Three times it fell with furious force; Three ghastly wounds it made.

Now with redoubled rage he roar'd; His eye-ball flash'd with fire; Each hairy limb with fury shook; And all his heart was ire.

Then closing fast with furious gripe He clasp'd the champion round, And with a strong and sudden twist He laid him on the ground.

But soon the knight, with active spring, O'erturn'd his hairy foe: And now between their st.u.r.dy fists Pa.s.sed many a bruising blow.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VALENTINE AND URSINE.]

They roll'd and grappled on the ground, And there they struggled long: Skilful and active was the knight; The savage he was strong.

But brutal force and savage strength To art and skill must yield: Sir Valentine at length prevail'd, And won the well-fought field.

Then binding straight his conquer'd foe Fast with an iron chain, He ties him to his horse's tail, And leads him o'er the plain.

To court his hairy captive soon Sir Valentine doth bring; And kneeling down upon his knee, Presents him to the king.

With loss of blood and loss of strength, The savage tamer grew; And to sir Valentine became A servant tried and true.

And 'cause with bears he erst was bred, Ursine they call his name; A name which unto future times The Muses shall proclaim.

PART THE SECOND.

In high renown with prince and peer Now liv'd sir Valentine: His high renown with prince and peer Made envious hearts repine.

It chanc'd the king upon a day Prepar'd a sumptuous feast: And there came lords and dainty dames, And many a n.o.ble guest.

Amid their cups, that freely flow'd, Their revelry, and mirth, A youthful knight tax'd Valentine Of base and doubtful birth.

The foul reproach, so grossly urg'd, His generous heart did wound: And straight he vow'd he ne'er would rest Till he his parents found.

Then bidding king and peers adieu, Early one summer's day, With faithful Ursine by his side, From court he took his way.

O'er hill and valley, moss and moor, For many a day they pa.s.s; At length, upon a moated lake,[132]

They found a bridge of bra.s.s.

Beyond it rose a castle fair, Y-built of marble stone: The battlements were gilt with gold, And glittered in the sun.

Beneath the bridge, with strange device, A hundred bells were hung; That man, nor beast, might pa.s.s thereon, But straight their larum rung.