Chapter Vadius to Valjean of V by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Valentine [Legend], eldest son of sir Sampson Legend. He has a tendre for Angelica, an heiress whom he eventually marries. To prevent the signing away of his real property for the advance of £4000 in cash to clear his debts, he feigns to be mad for a time. Angelica gets the bond, and tears it before it is duly signed. —Congreve: Love for Love (1695).

(This was Betterton’s great part.)

Valentine (Saint), a Romish priest, who befriended the martyrs in the persecution of Claudius II., and was in consequence arrested, beaten with clubs, and finally beheaded (February 14, 270). Pope Julius built a church in his honour, near Pontê Molê, which gave its name to the gate Porta St. Valentini, now called “Porta del Popolo,” and by the ancient Romans “Porta Flaminia.”

(The 15th February was the festival of Februta Juno (Juno the fructifyer), and the Roman Church substituted St. Valentine for the heathen goddess.)

Valentine and Orson, twin sons of Bellisant and Alexander (emperor of Constantinople). They were born in a forest near Orleans. While the mother was gone to hunt for Orson, who had been carried off by a bear, Valentine was carried off by kind Pepin (his uncle). In due time, Valentine married Clerimond, the Green Knight’s sister.—Valentine and Orson (fifteenth century).

Valentine de Grey (Sir), an Englishman and knight of France. He had “an ample span of forehead, full and liquid eyes, free nostrils, crimson lips, well-bearded chin, and yet his wishes were innocent as thought of babes.” Sir Valentine loved Hero, niece of sir William Sutton, and in the end married her.—Knowles: Woman’s Wit, etc. (1838).

Valentinian [III.] , emper or of Rome (419, 425-455). During his reign, the empire was exposed to the invasions of the barbarians, and was saved from ruin only by the military talents of Aëtius, whom the faithless emperor murdered. In the year following, Valentinian was himself “poisoned” by [Petronius] Maximus, whose wife he had violated. He was a feeble and contemptible prince, without even the merit of brute courage. His wife’s name was Eudoxia.—Beaumont (?) and Fletcher: Valentinian (1617).

(Beaumont died 1616.)

Valentino, Margherita’s brother, in the opera of Faust e Margherita, by Gounod 1859).

Valère, son of Anselme who turns out to be don Thomas d’Al burci, a nobleman of Naples. During an insurrection, the family was exiled and suffered shipwreck. Valère, being at the time only seven years old, was picked up by a Spanish captain, who adopted him, and with whom he lived for sixteen years, when he went to Paris and fell in love with Elsie the daughter of Harpagon the miser. Here also Anselme, after wandering about the world for ten years, had settled down, and Harpagon wished him to marry Elise; but the truth being made clear to him that Valère was his own son, and Elise in love with him, matters were soon adjusted.—Molière: L’Avare (1667).

Valère, the “gamester.” Angelica gives him a picture, and enjoins him not to lose it on pain of forfeiting her hand. He loses the picture in play, and Angelica, in disguise, is the winner of it. After a time, Valère is cured of his vice and happily united to Angelica.—Mrs. Centlivre: The Gamester (1709).

Valeria, sister of Valerius, and friend of Horatia.—Whitehead: The Roman Father (1741).

Valeria , a blue-stocking, who delights in vivisection, entomology, women’s rights, and natural philosophy. —Mrs. Centlivre: The Basset Table (1706).