Goe bear him home unto my court With all the care ye may: Let him be christen'd Valentine, 35 In honour of this day:
And look me out some cunning nurse; Well nurtur'd let him bee; Nor ought be wanting that becomes A bairn of high degree. 40
They look'd him out a cunning nurse; And nurtur'd well was hee; Nor ought was wanting that became A bairn of high degree.
Thus grewe the little Valentine 45 Belov'd of king and peers; And shew'd in all he spake or did A wit beyond his years.
But chief in gallant feates of arms He did himself advance, 50 That ere he grewe to man's estate He had no peere in France.
And now the early downe began To shade his youthful chin; When Valentine was dubb'd a knight, 55 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 mee. 60
The first adventure shall be thine; The king did smiling say. Nor many days, when lo! there came Three palmers clad in graye.
Help, gracious lord, they weeping say'd; 65 And knelt, as it was meet: From Artoys forest we be come, With weak and wearye feet.
Within those deep and drearye woods There wends a savage boy; 70 Whose fierce and mortal rage doth yield Thy subjects dire annoy.
'Mong ruthless beares he sure was bred; He lurks within their den: With beares he lives; with beares he feeds; 75 And drinks the blood of men.
To more than savage strength he joins A more than human skill: For arms, ne cunning may suffice His cruel rage to still:
Up then rose sir Valentine, And claim'd that arduous deed. Go forth and conquer, say'd the king, And great shall be thy meed.
Well mounted on a milk-white steed, 85 His armour white as snow; As well beseem'd a virgin knight, Who ne'er had fought a foe;
To Artoys forest he repairs With all the haste he may; 90 And soon he spies the savage youth A rending of his prey.
His unkempt hair all matted hung His shaggy shoulders round: His eager eye all fiery glow'd: 95 His face with fury frown'd.
Like eagles' talons grew his nails: His limbs were thick and strong; And dreadful was the knotted oak He bare with him along. 100
Soon as sir Valentine approach'd, He starts with sudden spring; And yelling forth a hideous howl, He made the forests ring.