"But all forewearied, weak, and spent,
I quickly swooned away:

And there beneath the greenwood shade
Long time I lifeless lay.

"At length the knight brought me relief,
And rais'd me from the ground
But neither of my pretty babes
Could ever more be found.

And while in search we wander'd far,
We met that gyant grim;

Who ruthless slew my trusty knight,
And bare me off with him.

"But charm'd by heav'n, or else my griefs,

He offer'd me no wrong;

Save that within these lonely walls

I've been immur'd so long."

Now, surely, said the youthful knight,
You are lady Bellisance,

Wife to the Grecian Emperor :
Your brother's king of France.

For in your royal brother's court
Myself my breeding had;
Where oft the story of your woes
Hath made my bosom sad.

If so, know your accuser's dead,
And dying own'd his crime;

And long your lord hath sought you out,
Thro' every foreign clime.

And when no tidings he could learn
Of his much-wronged wife;

He vow'd thenceforth within his court
To lead a hermit's life.

Now heaven is kind; the lady said;
And dropt a joyful tear :

Shall I once more behold my lord?
That lord I love so dear?

But madam, said sir Valentine,

And knelt upon his knee :

Know you the cloak what wrapt your babe,

And pulling forth the cloak of gold,
In which himself was found;
The lady gave a sudden shriek,
And fainted on the ground.

But by his pious care reviv'd,
His tale she heard anon;
And soon by other tokens found
He was indeed her son

But who's this hairy youth? she said:
He much resembles thee:
The bear devour'd my younger son,
Or sure that son were he.

Madam, this youth with bears was bred, And rear'd within their den.

But recollect ye any mark

To know your son again?

Upon his little side, quoth she,
Was stampt a bloody rose.

Here, lady, see the crimson mark
Upon his body grows!

Then clasping both her newfound sons She bath'd their cheeks with tears: And soon towards her brother's court Her joyful course she steers.

What pen can paint king Pepin's joy,
His sister then restor❜d!
And soon a messenger was sent
To chear her drooping lord.

Who came in late with all his peers, To fetch her home to Greece; Where many happy years they reign'd In perfect love and peace.

To them sir Ursine did succeed
And long the scepter bare,
Sir Valentine he stay'd in Fra
And was his uncle's heir.

Distressed ladies to relieve
He travell❜d many a day,
In honour of the Christian faith,
Which shall endure for aye.

In Coventry some time did dwell
A knight of worthy fame,
High steward of this noble realme;
Lord Albret was his name.

He had to wife a princely dame,
Whose beauty did excell.

This virtuous lady, being with child,
In sudden sadness fell.

For thirty nights no sooner sleep
Had clos'd her wakeful eyes,
But, lo! a foul and fearful dream
Her fancy would surprize:

She dreamt a dragon fierce and fell
Conceiv'd within her womb;
Whose mortal fangs her body rent
Ere he to life could come.

All woe-begone, and sad was she;
She nourisht constant woe :
Yet strove to hide it from her lord,
Lest he should sorrow know.

In vaine she strove; her tender lord,
Who watch'd her slightest look,
Discover'd soon her secret pain,
And soon that pain, partook.

And when to him the fearful cause
She weeping did impart,

With kindest speech he strove to heal
The anguish of her heart.

Be comforted, my lady dear,
Those pearly drops refrain;
Betide me weal, betide me woe,
I'll try to ease thy pain.

And for this foul and fearful dream,
That causeth all thy woe,

Trust me I'll travel far away

Then giving many a fond embrace,
And shedding many a teare,
To the weird lady of the woods,
He purpos'd to repaire.

To the weird lady of the woods,
Full long and many a day,

Thro' lonely shades and thickets rough
He winds his weary way.

At length he reach'd a dreary dell
With dismal yews o'erhung;

Where cypress spred its mournful boughs,
And poisonous nightshade sprung.

No chearful gleams here pierc'd the gloom,
He heard no chearful sound;

But shrill night-ravens' yelling scream,
And serpents hissing round.

The shriek of fiends and damned ghosts
Ran howling thro' his ear;

A chilling horror froze his heart,
Tho' all unus'd to fear.

Three times he strives to win his way,
And pierce those sickly dews:
Three times to bear his trembling corse
His knocking knees refuse.

At length upon his beating breast
He signs the holy crosse;
And, rouzing up his wonted might,
He treads th' unhallow'd mosse.

Beneath a pendant craggy cliff,
All vaulted like a grave,
And opening in the solid rock,

He found the inchanted cave.

An iron gate clos'd up the mouth,
All hideous and forlorne;
And, fasten'd by a silver chain,
Near hung a brazed horne.

Their offering up a secret prayer,

Three times he blowes amaine :

Three times a deep and hollow sound