The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, May 1883Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
History
The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, May 1883
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
One morning, as Orlando was going to visit Ganimed, he saw a man lying
asleep on the ground, and a large green snake had twisted itself
about his neck. The snake, seeing Orlando approach, glided away among
the bushes. Orlando went nearer, and then he discovered a lioness
lie couching, with her head on the ground, with a cat-like watch,
waiting till the sleeping man awaked (for it is said that lions will
prey on nothing that is dead or sleeping). It seemed as if Orlando
was sent by Providence to free the man from the danger of the snake
and lioness: but when Orlando looked in the man’s face, he perceived
that the sleeper, who was exposed to this double peril, was his own
brother Oliver, who had so cruelly used him, and had threatened to
destroy him by fire; and he was almost tempted to leave him a prey to
the hungry lioness: but brotherly affection and the gentleness of his
nature soon overcame his first anger against his brother; and he drew
his sword, and attacked the lioness, and slew her, and thus preserved
his brother’s life both from the venomous snake and from the furious
lioness; but before Orlando could conquer the lioness, she had torn one
of his arms with her sharp claws.
While Orlando was engaged with the lioness, Oliver awaked, and
perceiving that his brother Orlando, whom he had so cruelly treated,
was saving him from the fury of a wild beast at the risk of his own
life, shame and remorse at once seized him, and he repented of his
unworthy conduct, and besought with many tears his brother’s pardon for
the injuries he had done him. Orlando rejoiced to see him so penitent,
and readily forgave him; they embraced each other; and from that hour
Oliver loved Orlando with a true brotherly affection, though he had
come to the forest bent on his destruction.
The wound in Orlando’s arm having bled very much, he found himself
too weak to go to visit Ganimed, and therefore he desired his brother
to go, and tell Ganimed, “whom,” said Orlando, “I in sport do call
my Rosalind,” the accident which had befallen him. Thither then
Oliver went, and told to Ganimed and Aliena how Orlando had saved his
life; and when he had finished the story of Orlando’s bravery, and
his own providential escape, he owned to them that he was Orlando’s
brother, who had so cruelly used him; and then he told them of their
reconciliation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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