"Help, gracious lord!" they weeping said, And knelt, as it was meet;

"From Artoys 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 claimed 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 beseemed a virgin knight,
Who ne'er had fought a foe:

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

His unkemped hair all matted hung
His shaggy shoulders round;

His eager eye all fiery glowed,
His face with fury frowned.

Like eagles' talons grew his nails,-
His limbs were thick and strong;
And dreadful was the knotted oak
He bore with him along.

Soon, as Sir Valentine approached,
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 passing roe,

And leaps at once upon his throat,—
So sprung the savage foe.

So lightly leaped 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 raised his club,
And aimed a dreadful blow.

The watchful warrior bent his head,
And shunned 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 grasped 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 roared,
His eye-ball flashed with fire;
Each hairy limb with fury shook,
And all his heart was ire.

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

But soon the knight, with active spring,
O'erturned his hairy foe:

And now between their sturdy fists
Passed many a bruising blow.

They rolled 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 prevailed,
And won the well-fought field.

Then binding straight the conquered 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 II.

In high renown with prince and peer,
Now lived Sir Valentine;

His high renown with prince and peer
Made envious hearts repine.

It chanced, the King upon a day
Prepared a sumptuous feast,

And there came lords and dainty dames,
And many a noble guest.

Amid their cups, that freely flowed,
Their revelry and mirth,

A youthful knight taxed Valentine
With base and doubtful birth.

The foul reproach, so grossly urged,

His generous heart did wound;

And straight he vowed 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 pass;
At length, upon a moated lake,
They found a bridge of brass.

Beyond it rose a castle fair,

All 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 pass thereon, But straight their larum rung.

This quickly found the youthful pair,
Who boldly crossing o'er,

The jingling sound bedeaft their ears,
And rung from shore to shore.

Quick, at the sound, the castle gates
Unlocked and opened wide,

And straight a Giant, huge and grim,
Stalked forth with stately pride.

"Now yield you, caitiffs, to my will," He cried with hideous roar,

"Or else the wolves shall eat your flesh, And ravens drink your gore."

"Vain boaster!" said the youthful knight, "I scorn thy threats and theeI trust to force thy brazen gates, And set thy captives free."

Then putting spurs unto his steed,
He aimed a dreadful thrust;
The spear against the Giant glanced,
And caused the blood to burst.

Mad and outrageous with the pain,
He whirled his mace of steel,-

The very wind of such a blow

Had made the champion reel.

It haply missed; and now the knight
His glittering sword displayed,
And riding round with whirlwind speed,
Oft made him feel the blade.

As when a large and monstrous oak
Unceasing axes hew,

So fast around the Giant's limbs

The blows quick darting flew.