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powerful a rival in the king’s favour; but his majesty perceiving their malice, was exceedingly angry with them, telling them at the same time, that he had rather lose the best baron in his kingdom, than the ingenuous foundling youth Valentino.
However, Valentine, to shew that he did not fear to undertake this dangerous enterprize, desired permission of his majesty to depart towards the forest, resolving either to conquer the wild man, or to leave his dead carcass to be devoured by wild boasts, with which the wood partly abounded. Accordingly having furnished himself with a very good horse and arms, after a day’s travel he arrived at the forest: it being in the evening, he tied his horse to a spreading tree, and got up therein, and slept there that night for his greater security.
Next morning early, he beheld the wild man traversing the forest in search of prey, and at length came to the tree where Valentine’s horse stood, which he wondered at. He began to scratch and claw, insomuch that the horse kicked at him with great fury. The wild man feeling the pain that the kicks caused him to suffer, he was about to tear him to pieces; which Valentine seeing from the tree, made signs to him, that he would come and fight him. So leaping down, and drawing his sword, he struck at him with great courage; but the wild man avoiding the stroke, caught hold of him by the arm, and threw him down upon the ground: and then taking the shield, which Valentine had dropped in the fall, ho beheld it right strangely, in regard of the divers colours thereon emblazoned.
Valentine being soro bruised, got up at last; then came running towards his brother, thinking to smite him with the sword; but Orson gave back, and running
