HISTORY OF 
 
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 LONDON: T. GOODS, 30, AYLfESBURY-TTREIT, 
 CLERKENWELL. 
 
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 HISTORY OF 
 
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 LONDON : T, GO ODE, SO, AYBESBURY-fTREET, 
 CLERKEN'WELL. 
 
 Alto, 2. 'Joode, Melbourne, Port Phillip. 
 
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THE 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 AND 
 
 ORSON. 
 
 Pepin, King of France, had a sister, named 
 Bellisant, whose hand was demanded by several 
 kings and princes. Her choice fell on Alexander, 
 Emperor of Constantinople, who came to the 
 court of King Pepin to espouse her, and then es- 
 cort her home in state as his bride. 
 
 Alexander's Prime minister, and favourite, was 
 a selfish and cruel arch-priest, who, fearing the 
 lovely empress would soon usurp his influence 
 over the emperor, resolved to effect her destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 The emperor, being of a suspicious disposition, 
 the arch-priest worked upon it for some time, at 
 first ; and then one day, when the emperor was 
 alone, he entered his apartments, and said ; — 
 " Mighty king, may heaven guard your majesty 
 from the treacherous designs of your empress : 
 who, not content with faithlessness to your sacred 
 person, now seeks to destroy even your life," 
 
VALENTINE AND ORSON. 
 
 The emperor, implicitly believing the priest, 
 could not restrain his fury ; but rushing into his 
 wife's apartment, he in a savage manner, dragged 
 her about by the hair, exclaiming, " Base wretch ! 
 I am but too well informed of your infamous pro- 
 ceedings \" Then dashing her on the ground, he 
 left her, desiring her to prepare herself for death. 
 
 The empress having by the help of her atten- 
 dants, somewhat recovered, sought the emperor, 
 and falling on her knees thus addressed him, — 
 " Oh take pity on one who has ever faithfully 
 loved you ! I shall soon become a mother ; and I 
 implore your compassion on behalf of my child ! 
 let me be imprisoned until its birth ; and then, if 
 your anger be not appeased, do with me as you 
 please; but, oh! save my child ! The emperor 
 replied, "Perish, base woman, and the child of 
 your perfidy with you !" when the courtiers, see- 
 ing any further appeal would but increase his rage 
 removed Bellisaut from his presence. 
 
 Her faithful servant, Blandiman, now threw 
 himself at her feet, imploring her to leave her 
 barbarous husband, and suffer him to conduct her 
 to her brother's court, but she refused, as that 
 would imply a confession of guilt. 
 
 The emperor banished his queen, instead of 
 putting her to death, but furbade all persons, ex- 
 cept her faithful attendant, Blandiman, to assist 
 her, on pain of death. Thus accompanied, she 
 soon reached the forest of Orleans, when overcome 
 with fatigue, she sank on a couch made up of 
 withered leaves and moss, prepared by her devo- 
 ted servant,who then hastened away, to procure 
 
ALEtfTtNE AND ORSON 
 
 & 
 
 S ome assistance. During Blandrman * ^enee 
 the poor lady gave birth to two beautiful boys, 
 when iuftt as she was pressing them to her bosom 
 a huge bear rushed upon her, and snatching up 
 
 one of the babes in its mouth, darted off into the 
 thickest of the forest with it. The wretched 
 mother pursued, uttering the wildest shrieks, 
 until exhausted by terror, she fell into a swoon, 
 at the mouth of the monster's cave 
 
• VALENTINE AND ORSON. 
 
 It chanced that King Pepin was that day hunt- 
 ing in the forest, and passing near the spot where 
 the other infant laid, was surprised to see the lit- 
 tle beauty, who held out his tiny arms, as if to ask 
 for protection. "See, my lords," said King 
 Pepin, " this lovely infant appears to solicit my 
 favour ; I will adopt it as my own." He then 
 delivered the babe to one of the pages, who took 
 it to a nurse, and by the royal command, it re- 
 seived the name of Valentine. 
 
 Scarcely had the page galloped off when the 
 king met Blandiman, and demanded what news 
 from Constantinople, when hearing that the arch- 
 priest had accused his royal sister of plotting the 
 emperor's death, he declared his belief in its 
 truth, and blamed the emperor for sparing her 
 life, adding, u Let her beware how she comes into 
 my power." 
 
 Blandiman now sought his mistress, whom he 
 found half distracted with her accumulated mise- 
 ries. She related to him the birth and dreadful 
 loss of her infant, and learning her brother's 
 unjust wrath against her, resolved to take shelter 
 in a monastery. 
 
 The bear that carried away the infant, took it 
 to her cave, and laid it before her young ; the 
 cubs, however, instead of devouring it, fondled it 
 which the old one perceiving, gave it suck and 
 the child grew strong and hearty. As he in- 
 creased in size and strength, he ranged the forest 
 attacking the wild beast with such fury, that they 
 dare not approach the cave in which he continued 
 
VALENTINE AND ORSON 7 
 
 to reside with the old bear till his eighteenth 
 year, when his strength was so amazing, and the 
 terror he caused in all the country round, so 
 great, that his renown spread all over France.' He 
 was called Orson, from having been nurtured by 
 a bear. 
 
 Valentine, meanwhile, had been brought up 
 with the king's daughter, Eglantine, to whom 
 he was passionately attached. He was highly 
 accomplished and brave, having greatly distin- 
 guished himself against the Saracens whom he 
 conquered ; and the favours showered on him ex- 
 citing the hatred of the king's sons, Henry and 
 Haufrey, they plotted to destroy him. A petition 
 from the peasants, praying protection against 
 Orson, being shortly after presented to the king, 
 he issued a proclamation in which he offered a' 
 thousand marks of gold to whoever should bring 
 Orson, dead or alive, on which Henry told his 
 royal sire, that he thought no one so qualified to 
 undertake this hazardous enterprise as the found- 
 ling Valentine, adding, " and perhaps, if he 
 conquers the savage, you will reward him with 
 the hand of our sister, Eglantine." The kina 
 seeing their envy, frowned displeasure ; but Va- 
 lentine, hinting that the advice was given in the 
 hope of encompassing his death, declared that it 
 concerned his honor, and he would brave the 
 danger willingly, to preserve it unsullied. 
 
 At the first dawn of morning, Valentine arose 
 and putting on his armour, took a shield, po- 
 lished like a mirror, and having arrived at 
 the forest, he climbed a high tree near the 
 
 i- 
 
g VALENTINE AND ORSON 
 
 bear's cave. Presently he luard Orson, who 
 had a buck with him which he had just killed 
 come roaring by; and he could not help ad- 
 miring the beauty of his make, and his agility, 
 wishing it were possible to tame him He then 
 tore off the branch of- a tree, and threw it a. 
 Orson, who, looking up, uttered a turious howl 
 and darted up the tree like lightning. Valen- 
 tine descended, and Orson, seeing him on the 
 ground, rushed down, when Valentine, holding 
 up his shield, Orson, evidently surprised and de- 
 lighted, beheld his own image. Valentine then 
 lowered the shield, when Orson, tearing up a 
 huge tree by the roots, attacked him, and a 
 dreadful fight ensued, Orson receiving many 
 wounds. The bear, hearing Orson's cries, now 
 rushed forth, when Valentine aimed a blow, 
 which would have killed her, had not Orson 
 rushed forward and throwing one arm round its 
 neck, with supplicating gestures seemed to beg 
 that he would not hurt her. Valentine, in token 
 of kindness, then offered Orson some grapes, and 
 a bottle of strong liquor, which he no sooner 
 tasted, then he gave them to the bear, throwmg 
 his arms round her whilst she devoured them, 
 and she uttering a gentle growl, to express her 
 satisfaction. The strong liquor, however, soon 
 caused her death ; on which Orson stood for a few 
 moments motionless, supposing her to be only 
 asleep ; he then endeavoured to rouse her, but 
 finding all his efforts ineffectual, his grief was 
 scarcely to be described, uttering the most 
 piercing shrieks and moans. At length, ap- 
 
VALENTINE AND ORSON 
 
 proaching Valentin^ he made signs that he would 
 now become his ; and tears running down his 
 cheeks meanwhile, he suffered him to bind his 
 hands, and then followed him. 
 
 Valentine took his way towards the palace, fol- 
 lowed by crowds, anxious to see this celebrated 
 wonder; but when he came to the gate of the 
 palace, the porter, affrighted, barred it and fled 
 Valentine made a sign to Orson, who tearing u* 
 a huge stone post, battered the gate to pieces' 
 which so alarmed the king and the princess, that 
 they would have fled for safety had not Valentine 
 called to them, and assured them that Orson 
 was no longer a savage ; on which the king per- 
 mitted him to be brought, and the whole court 
 were delighted at him, especially when, on Valen- 
 tine's making signs, he kissed the hand of the fair 
 Princess Eglantine. 
 
 Soon after, a herald from the Duke of Acqui- 
 tan summonsed all true k&ights to avenge the 
 cause of the Lady Fezon, whom the Green 
 Knight held in captivity, proclaiming, that who- 
 ever conquered him should receive her hand in 
 marriage. 
 
 This knight was so famous, that all except 
 Valentine refused to engage with him, and the 
 princess resolved, if possible, to save him by 
 combatting the Green Knight herself, contrived 
 to steal his armour, whilst he slept, and galk^ed 
 off. Valentine hearing this when he awoke, set 
 out, attended by Orson, and arrived just as'she 
 was almost overpowered, when he rushed with 
 fury on the Green Knight, who, demanding a 
 
» VALENTINE AND ORSON. 
 
 parley, said, " Brave Knight, in pity to thy 
 youth, I tell thee, unless thou canst remove yon- 
 der shield thou ne'er canst conquer me." Valen- 
 tine flew to it, but could not stir it, when the 
 
 Green Knight exclaimed, "Know that none 
 living can subdue me, except he was suckled 
 by a wild beast," Valentine ran to Orson, who 
 seizing the enchanted shield, instantly loosened 
 
VALENTINE AND ORSON If 
 
 it, and it fell to the ground. The Green Knight 
 sprang upon Orson, but lie dashed him to the 
 ground, and would Qiave destroyed him, but for 
 Valentine. Thus subdued, he said, This is a 
 mystery ; haste to my brother's castle, where the 
 Brazen Head will explain to you who my con- 
 queror is." They proceeded thither at once, 
 finding the castle guarded by two lions, who, at 
 Orson's approach, crouched down, when a dwarf 
 came forth and conducted them to the Brazen 
 Head, which then spoke as follows ; — 
 
 " Thou Valentine the brave, art son to the Em- 
 peror Alexander, by Bellisant, his queen, who was 
 unjustly banished ; and the wild man, Orston, is 
 thy brother. You were both born in the forest 
 of Orleans; you was found, and brought up by 
 your uncle, King Pepin, but Orson was stolen, 
 and nurtured by a bear. Proceed home, where 
 you will find your hapless mother, and as soon 
 as she embraces your brother, his speech will be 
 given to him." * 
 
 The Brazen Head then fell; the castle tot- 
 tered ; darkness enshrouded them ; and when the 
 light was restored, no traces of the castle were to 
 be seen. Then, having embraced each other, 
 they proceeded to the couTt of France. 
 
 The wicked arch priest, on his death bed, con- 
 fessed he had basely slandered the empress, when 
 the emperor set off for France, and releasing hei 
 from the monastery, they repaired to the palacs 
 of her brother, who, together with her husband, 
 implored her forgiveness 
 
 The noble youths now presented themselves 
 
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 12 
 
 VALENTINE AND ORSON 
 
 and no sooner had the empress thrown her arms 
 round Orson than speech was given to him ; when 
 the Duke of Acquitain, taking his hand presented 
 him to the Lady Fezon as her future husband, 
 and King Pepin, at the same time, joined the 
 hands of Valentine and the Princess Eglantine. 
 
 Splendid preperations were immediately set on 
 foot for the celebration of their nuptials, and no- 
 thing was to be heard throughout the empire for 
 a considerable time, but feasts and balls, fire- 
 works and illuminations, with every other kind of 
 gorgeous and magnificent entertainment and re- 
 joicing. 
 
 F1KIS. 
 

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