Then home rode the Abbot, of comfort so cold, Sad news, sad news, shepherd, I must give,- The first is, to tell him, there in that stead, The second, to tell him, without any doubt, Now cheer up, Sir Abbot,-did you never hear yet, Nay, frown not, if it hath been told unto me, I am like your Lordship as ever may be : Now horses and serving-men thou shalt have, Now welcome, Sir Abbot, the King he did say, And first, when thou seest me here in this stead, For thirty pence Our Saviour was sold For I think, thou art one penny worser than he. The King he laughed, and swore by St. Bittel, You must rise with the sun, and ride with the same, And then your Grace need not make any doubt, The king he laughed, and swore by St. Jone, Yea, that shall I do, and make your Grace merry- The king he laughed, and swore by the mass, I will make thee Lord Abbot this day in his place : Four nobles a week then, I will give thee, Thou hast brought him a pardon from good King John. PERCY. VALENTINE AND URSINE. THE common story of Valentine and Orson, was originally a translation from one of the oldest French romances, probably of the Thirteenth Century. It is likely that some facts were the groundwork, with a plentiful sprinkling of marvellous fable. In Dr. Percy's MS. was an old poem on this subject, in a very corrupt state, from which a few particulars were adopted by him, and the greater part of the rest taken from the prose story. WHEN Flora 'gins to deck the fields The King of France* that morning fair, To Artoy's forest prancing forth, Το grace his sports, a courtly train Of gallant peers attend; And with their loud and cheerful cries, The hills and valleys rend. * Afterwards called King Pepin; he reigned in the middle of the Eighth Century, and was the father of the great Charlemagne. Through the deep forest swift they pass, Through woods and thickets wild; When down within a lonely dell, They found a new-born child. The sudden sight surprised them all, At length the king himself drew near, And as he gazing stands, The pretty babe looked up and smiled, And stretched his little hands. Now, by the rood! King Pepin says, I wot he is of gentle blood, Go bear him home unto my court, In honour of this day. And look me out some cunning nurse, Well nurtured let him be; Nor aught be wanting that becomes, They look him out a cunning nurse, Thus grew the little Valentine, Beloved of king and peers; A wit beyond his years. But chief in gallant feats of arms That ere he grew to man's estate And now the early down began, A boon! boon! my gracious liege, The first adventure that befalls May be reserved for me. The first adventure shall be thine, Help, gracious lord! they weeping said, 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. |