Chapter II: A. Words of the same root are alliterative. 133: Torrent, on (3)

LytyÆÆ and mykyÆÆ, lese and more, 750
Wondyr on the hedd{es} thore,
That Torrent had browght whome.
{The} Lord{es} seyd âBe sen MyheÆÆ!
Syr kyng, but ye love hyme wyÆÆ,
To yow yt ys gret schame!â 755
Torent ordeynyd pryst{es} fyve, f. 90a.
To syng for hys squyerys lyve,
And menythe hym by name.
Therfor~ the lady whyt ase swane
To Torrant, here lord, sche went than~, 760
Here hert wase to hyme tane.

[Linenotes:
752. _browght_] _ho_ add. (!) MS.
753. _The_] om. MS.
_seyd_] _he_ add. MS.
_Myhell{e}_] _my her_, _r_ corrected to _lle_ with paler ink.
756. _prystes_] V add. (!) MS.]

[Headnote: AÂ PRINCE OF ARAGON WANTS TO WED DESONELL.]

(67)

[Sidenote:
The King of Aragon asks for Desonell for his youngest Son.]

Lettyrr{es} come ther w{ithalle}
To the kyng of PortynggaÆÆ,
To ax hys dowghttyr Derre,
Fro the kyng of Eragon~, 765
To wed her~ to hys yongeest son~,
The lady, that ys so clere.
For Torrent schuld not her~ haue,
{For} hyme fyrst he here gafe,
To the messenger~, 770
And hys {way} fast ageyn dyd pase,
Whyle Torrent an huntyng wase,
Ther of schuld he not be w{e}re.

[Linenotes:
762. _ther withalle_] _hetherward_ MS.
769. _For_] _To_ MS.
771. _way_] om. MS.
773. _ware_ MS.]

(68)

[Sidenote:
The Queen of Portugal wishes Torrent to have her.]

On a mornyng, ther ase he lay,
The kyng to the quene gan sey: 775
âMadame, for cherryte,
Thow art oftyn~ hold wyse;
Now woÆÆ ye teÆÆ me yow{r} deuyce,
How I may governe me:
The Ryche kyng hathe to me sent, 780
For to aske my dowghttyr gente
That ys so feyer~ and fre.â
âSyr,â sche Seyd, âso god me saue,
I Red yow let Torent her haue, f. 90b.
For best worthy ys he.â 785

[Linenotes:
775. _The (quene to the) kyng to the quene gan sey_Â MS.
779. _That how_ MS.
781. _aske_] _aseke_ MS.]

(69)

[Sidenote:
The King refuses.]

He sayd: âMadame, were that feyer~,
To make an erll{es} sone myn Eyer~?
I wiÆÆ not, by sen Iame!
There he hathe done maystr{es} thre,
Yt ys {hys} swerd, yt ys not he, 790
For Hatheloke ys ys name.â
âLord, he myght fuÆÆ wyÆÆ sped,
A knyght{es} dowghttyr wase hyme bed,
Ase whyt ase wall{es} b{a}ne;
And yf ye warne hyme DesoneÆÆ, 795
A{ll} that ther of here teÆÆ,
Ther of wyÆÆ speke schame.â

[Linenotes:
790. _hys_] om. MS.
794. _swalles_ (!) MS.
_bone_ MS.
796. _All_] _And_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE KING OF PORTUGALâS TREACHERY TO TORRENT.]

(70)

[Sidenote:
The false King of Portugal plots to have Torrent kild by another
Giant.]

âMadam, vnto thys tyd
There lythe a gyant here be-syd,
That many a man~ hathe slayne. 800
I schaÆÆ hyght hym my dowghttyr~ dere,
To fyght w{i}t{h} that fynd{es} fere,
Thus he holdythe hyme in~ trayne.
But I schaÆÆ make myn com{m}nant so,
That there schaÆÆ non w{i}t{h} hyme go, 805
{Neyther} squyer~ ne swayne.â
âSyr~,â sche seyd, âso mvt I the,
So sore be-stad hathe he be,
And wyÆÆ co{m}myn~ a-geyne!â

[Linenote:
806. _Neyther_] om. MS.]

(71)

[Sidenote:
He and his Queen go to Mass. Torrent sits at the head of a side
table.]

Tho the bell{es} be-gan to Ryng, 810
Vpe Rose that Ryche kyng,
And the lady {so fre},
And aftyr-ward they went to mase, f. 91a.
Ase the law of holy chyrge wase,
W{i}t{h} n{o}t{es} and solemnyte. 815
Trompettys on the waÆÆ gan blowe,
Knyght{es} semlyd on a Rowe,
Gret joy wase to see.
Torrent a syd bord began~,
The squyer{es} nexte hym than, 820
That good knyght{es} schuld be.

[Linenotes:
812. _so fre_] _in feree_ MS.
815. _nettes_ (!) MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT AGREES TO FIGHT FOR DESONELL.]

(72)

[Sidenote:
The King asks Torrent if heâll do a deed of arms for Desonell.]

Ase they sat a-mydd{es} the mete,
The kyng wold not foreget;
To Torrent the kyng gan sey,
He seyd: âTorrent, so god me saue, 825
Thow wold{es} fayne my dowghttyr haue
And hast lovyd her~ many a day.â
âYe, be trouthe,â seyd Torrent than~,
âAnd yf þ{a}t I were a Ryche man~,
Ryght gladly, p{ar} ma fay!â 830
âYf thow durst for her sake
A poynt of armys vndyrtake,
Thow broke her~ weÆÆ fore ay!â

[Linenotes:
822. _a_] so F. III; _the_ MS.
825. _saue_] so F. III; _sped_ MS.
830. _gladly_] so F. III; _glad_ MS.
831. _for h. s._] so F. III; _par ma fay_Â MS.
833. _broke_] so F. III; _breke_ MS.]

(73)

[Sidenote:
âYes,â says Torrent.]

âYe,â seyd Torrent, âar I ga,
Sekyrnes ye schaÆÆ me ma 835
Of yow{r} dowghttyr hend,
And aftyrward my ryghtys,
Be-fore XXVII knyght{es}.â . . . . . .
And aÆÆ were Torrent{es} frende.
âNow, good s{er}is,â gan Torrant sey, f. 91b. 840
âBere wittnes her of som Daye,
A-geyne yf god me send!â

[Linenotes:
834. _go_ F. III; _gan Rage_ MS.
835. _make_ MS.
839. _frenddes_ MS.]

(74)

[Sidenote:
âThen go to Calabria, and fight the Giant Slochys.â]

Torrent seyd: âSo mvt I the
Wyst I, where my jorney schold {be},
Thether I wolde me dyght.â 845
The kyng gaff hyme an answere:
âIn the lond of Calabur ther~
Wonnythe a gyant wyhte,
And he ys bothe strong and bold,
Slochys he hyght, I the told, 850
God send the that waye Ryght!â
Than quod Torrent: âHaue goo{d} day,
And, or I come a-geyn~, I schaÆÆ asay,
Whether the fynd can fyght.â

[Linenotes:
844. _be_] om. MS.
845. _wolde_] so F. III; om. MS.
848. _wyhte_] so F. III; _whyte_ MS.
851. _that w._] so F. III; _ways_ MS.
852. _good_] _goo_ MS.
853. Space left here for an initial letter of the largest size
in MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT STARTS TO FIGHT THE GIANT SLOCHYS.]

(75)

[Sidenote:
Torrent takes leave of Desonell, starts,]

Tho wold he no lenger~ a-byde, 855
He toke ys wey for to Ry{de}
On a sted of gret valewe.
In to a chambyr~ he g{as},
Hys leue of DesoneÆÆ he t{as},
Sche wepte, aÆÆ men myght Rewe; 860
He seyd: âLady, be styÆÆ!
I schaÆÆ come a-geyn th{e} tyÆÆ,
Thurrow helpe of Marry trewe.â
Thus he worthe on a stede.
In hys wey Cryst hyme sped, 865
Fore he yt no thyng knewe!

[Linenotes:
856. _Ryde_] _ryght_ MS.
858. _gas_] _gothe_ MS.
859. _tas_] _toke_ MS.
862. _the_] _than_ MS.]

(76)

[Sidenote:
and rides to the Castle of the King of Provyns.]

He toke hym a Redy wey,
Thurrow P{er}vy{n}s he toke the wey,
As hys Iorney feÆÆ. f. 91a.[T2]
TyÆÆ the casteÆÆ Be the See, 870
An hy stret heldythe hee,
Ther the kyng {dyd} dwell{e}.
To the porter he gan seye:
âWynd in~, fellow, I the p{ra}y,
And thy lord than t{e}ÆÆ, 875
P{ra}y hym, on won nyght in~ hys sale
To harburrow Torrent of PortynggaÆÆ,
Yf y{t} Bee ys wiÆÆ!â

[Linenotes:
868. _pvys_ MS.
871. _And_ MS.
872. _dyd dw._] _dwellyd_ MS.
875. _tyll_ MS.
878. _Yf ys wille to Bee_ MS.]

[Footnote T2: There are two folios 91 in the MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT A GUEST OF THE KING OF PROVYNS.]

(77)

[Sidenote:
The King of Provyns welcomes Torrent, and]

The porter~ Dyd hys com{m}andment,
To the kynge he ys wente 880
And knelyd vppon~ ys kne:
âGod blyse þe, lord, In thy sale!
Torrent of Portynggale
Thus sendythe me to the;
He p{ra}ythe yow, yf ye myght, 885
To harburrow hym thys won~ nyght,
Yf yow{r} wiÆÆ yt bee.â
The kyng swere be hym, þ{a}t dyed on tre:
âThere ys no man~ in~ crystyante
More welcome to me!â 890

(78)

[Sidenote:
feeds him. Torrentâs sword is his only Squire.]

The kyng a-Rose and to the gat yod,
Lord{es} and other~ knyg{htes} good,
That were glad of hys com{m}yng.
In to the hale he hyme browght,
Ryche met spare they nowght, 895
Be-fore Torrent fore to bryng.
âSyr,â sayd the kyng, âI p{ra}y the, f. 91b.
Where be thy men off armys free,
That w{i}t{h} the schuld {leng}?â
âSyr, to a lord I mvst Ryde, 900
My squyer hongythe be my syde,
No man schaÆÆ w{i}t{h} me wend.â

[Linenotes:
892. _knyges_ MS.
899. _leng_] _wynd_ MS.]

(79)

[Sidenote:
Torrent says he has to fight in Calabria.]

âS{yr},â seyd the kyng, âI p{ra}y the,
Where schaÆÆ thy ded of armys bee,
Yf yt be thy wyÆÆ?â 905
âS{yr},â he seyd, âvttyrly,
At Calabur, sekyrly,
I ame aÆÆ Redy ther tyÆÆ
W{i}t{h} a squyer, þ{a}t wiÆÆ can Ryde;
Fast be the see Sydde 910
Schuld we pley ow{ur} fyle;
And wot ye wyÆÆ and vndyrstond,
Ther schaÆÆ no knyght come nere hond
Fore dred of dentt{es} yÆÆ.â

[Headnote: TORRENT IS OFFERD A PRINCESS OF PROVYNS.]

(80)

[Sidenote:
The King of Provyns warns him against the terrible Giant there,]

The kynge seyd: âBe godd{es} ore, 915
I Rede, þ{a}t þ{ou} come not th{o}re,
Fore why, I wyÆÆ the seye:
Meche folke of that contre
Come hether~ for~ sokor~ of me,
Bothe be nyght and day; 920
There ys a gyant of gret Renowne,
He dystrowythe bothe sete and towyn~
And aÆÆ Ã¾{a}t euyr~ he may;
And ase the boke of Rome dothe teÆÆ,
He wase get of the deweÆÆ of heÆÆ, 925
As hys moder on slepe lay.â

[Linenotes:
915. _kynges_ (!) MS.
916. _there_ MS.
922. _sete_] second _e_ corr. out of _a_Â MS.]

(81)

[Sidenote:
and offers him his Daughter and 2 Duchies instead. Torrent says he
must keep his troth.]

The kyng Seyd: âBe seynt Adryan~, f. 92a.
I Rede, a nother JentyÆÆ mane
Be there and haue the gre:
I haue a dowghttyr, þ{a}t ys me dere, 930
Thow schalt here wed to thy fere,
And, yf yt thy wyll be,
Two duchyes in {l}onde
I wille geve here in~ hande.â
âG{ra}marcy, syr,â sayd he, 935
âW{i}t{h} my tonge so haue I wrowght,
To breke my day than wiÆÆ I nowght,
Nedys me behovythe ther to bee.â

[Linenotes:
929. _the_] so F. IV; om. MS.
_degre_ MS.
932. So F. IV; om. (!) MS.
933. _londe_] _honde_ F. IV; om. MS.
935. _syr s. h._] so F. IV; _seyd he thane_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT ARRIVES IN CALABRIA.]

(82)

[Sidenote:
He starts,]

âIn godd{es} name,â the kyng gane sayne,
âI{es}u send the wiÆÆ a-geyne, 940
Lord so mekyÆÆ of myghte!â
Menstrell{es} was them a-monge,
Trompett{es}, harpys, and myrre songe,
Delycyous nottis on hyght.
When tyme was, to bed they wente; 945
On the morrow Rose Torrente
And toke leve of kyng and knyght
And toke a Redy weyye,
Be a see syd as yt laye,
God send hym gatt{es} Ryght! 950

[Linenotes:
947. _of_] so F. IV; _on_ MS.
948. _toke_] so F. IV; _to_ MS.]

(83)

[Sidenote:
reaches Calabria, and hears of the Giant.]

A hye stret hathe he nome,
In to Calabur he ys come
W{i}t{h} in~ to days ore III;
Soo come ther~ folk{es} hym a-geyne,
Fast folloyng w{i}t{h} cart and wayne, 955
Fro-ward the sytte.
âDere god!â seyd Torrent nowe,
âLeve folk{es}, what Eyllythe yow,
Soo fast fore to flee?â
âThere ys a gyante here be-syde, 960
In ale thys covntre fare and wyde
No mane on lyve levythe hee.â f. 92b.

[Linenotes:
951. _nome_] so F. V; _none_ MS.
952. _come_] so F. V; _gone_ MS.
958. _yow_] _nowe_ add. (!) MS.]

(84)

[Sidenote:
The Giant Slongus is in Hungary;]

âDere god,â sayd Torrant thane,
âWhere schaÆÆ I fynd that lo{th}ly man~?â
Ther they answerd hym anone: 965
âIn a castyÆÆ be-syd the see,
Slongus, soo hyght hee,
Many a man had he slone.
We wot wiÆÆ wher he doth ly:
Be-fore the cyte of Hungry; 970
He wiÆÆ not th{en}s gone,
TyÆÆ he haue the Ryche kyng~
To hys p{re}sone for to bryngg,
To be lord of hyme self a-lone.â

[Linenotes:
964. _lothly_] so Hall.; _lovely_ MS.
965. _anone_] so F. V; _a geyne_ MS.
968. _slone_] so F. V; _slaylne_ (!) MS.
969. _doth ly_] so F. V; _ys_ MS.
970. _cyte_] so F. V; _knyghthod_ MS.
_Hungry_] so F. V; _Hongrys_Â MS.
971. _thens_] _thus_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT FINDS THE GIANT SLONGUS IN HUNGARY.]

(85)

[Sidenote:
he has broken the City gates, and slain 50 men.]

Tho wold he no lenger~ a-byd, 975
But to the sytte gan he Ryde,
As fast as he myght fare;
Here barys feÆÆ and broke downe,
And the gatt{es} of gret Renowne
Stondyng~ aÆÆ baree. 980
Men of armys stond hyme a-geyne,
Mo than fyfty had he slayne
W{i}t{h} gryme woundd{es} and sare.
When Torrent of hym had a syght,
Thowe DesoneÆÆ be neuyr~ so bryght, 985
He will Reue hym hys chaff{a}r~.

[Linenote:
986. _hym_] _m_ corr. out of _s_. MS.
_chaffer_Â MS.]

(86)

[Sidenote:
Torrent prays to Christ for help.]

Torrent in~ the storrope stod
And p{ra}yd to god, þ{a}t dyed on Rode:
âLord, ase thow schalt ale wyld at wyle,
Gyff me g{ra}ce to wyn the fyld, 990
That thys {lothly} fynd hym yeld
A-non to me tyÆÆ!
A man schaÆÆ But onnys Dyee, f. 93a.
I wiÆÆ fyght, whiÆÆ I may Dryee.â
He mad cher~ nobyÆÆ. 995
When he had I{es}u p{ra}yd of g{ra}ce,
He wyscheyd hyme a batteÆÆ plase,
Ther as hym lyst we{ll}e.

[Linenotes:
990. _wynd_ (!) MS. _vndyr nethe spere and schyld_ add. (!)Â MS.
991. _lothly_] om. MS.
995. _nobill chere_ MS.
998. _welle_] _were_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT CHALLENGES THE GIANT SLONGUS.]

(87)

[Sidenote:
Torrent blows his horn. The Giant Slongus, of Flonthus,]

Torrent hys spere a-say be-gane,
Bothe schyld and spere than~, 1000
That they were sekyr and good.
Aftyr þ{a}t, w{i}t{h} in a throwe,
Hys good horne gane he blowe.
The gyant sawe, wher~ he stodde:
Slong{es} of Flonthus staryd than~; 1005
Quod Torrent: âYf thow be a gentyÆÆ man~
Or come of gentyÆÆ blod,
Let thy beytyng and thy Ermyght be,
And come prove thy strenghe on me,
Therfor I sowght the, be the Rodde.â 1010

[Linenote:
1008. _Let be thy b. a. t. erm._ MS.]

(88)

[Sidenote:
says heâll wring Torrentâs nose. His Crook is 13 ft. long.]

The gyant sayd: âBe the Roode,
DeweÆÆ of heÆÆ send the fode,
Hether to seche me:
By the nose I schaÆÆ the wryng,
Thow berdles gadlyng~, 1015
That aÆÆ heÆÆ schaÆÆ thow see!â
The wey than to hym he toke
And on hys bake he bare a croke,
Wase X fot long and thre;
And thow he neu{er} so gret w{a}r~, 1020
Torrent thowght not fare to fare,
TyÆÆ wone of them ded bee. f. 93b.

[Linenotes:
1011. _sayd_] written above the line.
1017. _he_] so F. VI; om. MS.
1018. _he_] _her_ MS.
_croke_] so F. VI; _creke_ (!)Â MS.
1020. _were_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SLAYS THE GIANT SLONGUS OF FLONTHUS.]

(89)

[Sidenote:
Torrent charges, pierces the Giantâs eye,]

Thoo wold Torrent no lenger~ byd,
TyÆÆ the theff gan he Ryde,
Ase fast ase euyr~ he may. 1025
The theff had non ey but on~,
Soche sawe I neu{er} none,
{Ne}yther~ be nyght {nor} be day.
Thurrow godd{es} helpe and sent Awsden~
The spere {throw ye and herne gan ren}. 1030
God send hym the Ryght wey;
Than the theff be-gane to Rore.
AÆÆ that in~ the sytte wore,
Ouyr~ the wallys they laye.

[Linenotes:
1024. _the_] _f_ add. (!) MS.
1028. _Blyther_ (!) MS.
_nor_] so F. VI; _and_Â MS.
1030. _throw--ren_] _anon he toke to hym_Â MS.
1033. _wore_] so F. VI; _were_ MS.]

(90)

[Sidenote:
then spears him throâ the body,]

Thow the fynd{es} ey were owte, 1035
Fast he leyd hym a-bowte
AÆÆ Ã¾{a}t somyrr{es} nyght;
He set ys backe to an hyÆÆ,
That Torrent schuld not come hym tyÆÆ,
So meche þ{a}t theff covd of fyght. 1040
He bled so sore, I vndyrstond,
Hys croke feÆÆ owt of hys hond,
Hys dethe to hyme ys dyght.
Torrent to hyme Rane w{i}t{h} a spere,
Thurrow the body he gan hym bere, 1045
Thus helpe hym god of myght.

[Linenote:
1040. _þat_] þe add. MS.]

[[_Printed þ with superscript e_]]

(91)

[Sidenote:
and kills him. Torrent preserves the Giantâs head.]

AÆÆ that in~ the sytte were,
Mad fuÆÆ nobiÆÆ chere,
That thys fynd wase Dedde.
Forthe they Ran w{i}t{h} stavys of tre, f. 94a. 1050
Torrent seyd: âSo mvt I the,
Kepe hole hys hed!
Yf yt be broke, so god me sped,
Yt ys wyÆÆ the worse to lede.â
They dyd ase {he} h{e}m b{e}d{e}, 1055
Mo than thre hunderd on a throng
Yt ys solas Euyr~ a-mong
Whan that he was dede.

[Linenotes:
1047. _That alle_ MS.
1054. _lede_] _Rede_, struck out and _lede_ added in paler ink.
1055. _That seson they_ MS.
_he hem_] _hyme_ (!) MS.
_bede_] _bad_Â MS.
1057 _put before_ 1056 MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT GOES TO THE CASTLE OF GIANT SLONGUS.]

[[Linenote 1056-57: _âMSâ printed in italics_]]

(92)

[Sidenote:
The King of Calabria feasts him,]

Than~ the kyng of Calaber ayen~ hym went,
Torrent be the hond he hent, 1060
To the haÆÆ he gan~ hym lede
And comaundid squiers t{w}o,
Of h{ys} harnes for to do
And cloth hym~ in another wede.
Waytes on the waÆÆ gan blowe, 1065
Knyghtis assemled on a Rowe,
And sith to the deyse they yede;
âSir,â quod the kyng, âof whens are ye?â
âOf Portingale, sir,â said he,
âI com heder, to sech my de{de}.â 1070

[Linenotes:
1062. _two_] _tho_ MS.
1063. _hys_] _her_ MS.
1070. _deth_ MS.]

(93)

[Sidenote:
and takes him to the Giantâs Castle. The King of Calabria gives
Torrent the Giantâs castle,]

FuÆÆ curtesly the kyng gan say
{To} Torrent on the oþ{ur}e day:
âWyÆÆ ye wend with me
A lituÆÆ here be-side to passe,
There as the Geaunt{es} dwelling was 1075
His man{er} now for to see?â
To the casteÆÆ gan~ they gone,
Richer saw they never none,
Better myght none be.
âSir,â he said, âbe god aÆÆ-myÈt~, 1080
For thou hym~ slew, þat it dight,
I vouche it saue on the,

[Linenotes:
1072. _To T._] _Torrent said_ MS.
1081. _it_] _is_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT HEARS THAT DESONELL IS TO WED A KING.]

(94)

[Sidenote:
and an Earldom. The Castleâs name is Cardon.]

âI yeve {yt} the, s{ir}, of my {h}ond, f. 94b.
And there-to, an erledome of {my} lond,
For soth, ye shaÆÆ it haue; 1085
Omage thou shalte none {nor} ffyne,
But euer more to the and thyne,
Frely, so god me saue!â
Lordys, and ye liston wold,
What was clepud the riche hold: 1090
The casteÆÆ of Cardon~, {by sawe}.
Two days or thre dwellith he th{a}re
And sith he takythe {leve} to ffare,
Both at knyght and knave.

[Linenotes:
1083. _yt_] om. MS.
_of_] _alle_ add. MS.
_hond_] _lond_Â MS.
1084. _my_] om. MS.
1086. _nor_] om. MS.
1091. _by s._] om. MS.
1092. _there_ MS.]

(95)

[Sidenote:
Torrent hears that Desonell is to marry a strange King.]

By the kyng of P{er}vens he gan gane, 1095
That he had oute {of preson} i-tane
His son vppon a day.
Gentilmen were blith and ffayn~,
That he in helth was comyn~ agayn~,
That they myght with hym~ play. 1100
There of herd he, s{er}tayn{le},
That DesoneÆÆ wedid shold be
With an vncouth Ray.
And listonyth, lordis, of a chaunce,
Howe he lefte his countenaunce 1105
And takyth hym~ armes gay!

[Linenotes:
1098. _leve_] _the way_ MS.
1096. _of preson_] om. MS.
1101. _sertayn_ MS.
1103. _vnc._] _a_ add. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS KNIGHTED. DESONELL IS MARRIED.]

(96)

[Sidenote:
The King of Provyns knights Torrent.]

By-fore the kyng he feÆÆ on kne:
âGood lord,â he said, âfor charite,
Yeve me order of knyght!
I wott weÆÆ, leryd are ye, 1110
My lordys doughter shaÆÆ wed be
To a man~ off myght.â
âSir,â he said, âI trow, she mone f. 95a.
To the prynce off Aragon~,
By this day sevynnyght. 1115
Swith,â he seith, âthat this be done,
That thou be there and wyn~ thy shone,
Gete the armes bryght.â

[Linenotes:
1110. _ye are leryd_ MS.
1111. _be wed_ MS.
1115 and 1118 have changed their place in the MS.]

(97)

[Sidenote:
Torrent has an azure shield with a gold squire on it; and a grinning
dragon of gold on the crest of his helmet.]

Sir Torrent ordenyth hym a sheld,
It was ryche in euery ffeld, 1120
Listonyth, what he bare:
O{n} aÈure a squier off gold,
Richely bett on mold;
Listonyth, what he ware:
A dragon~ lying hym be-syde, 1125
His mouth grennyng fuÆÆ wyde,
AÆÆ ffyghtyng as they were;
The creste, that on his hede shold stond,
Hit was aÆÆ gold shynand,
Thus previd he hym~ there. 1130

[Linenote:
1122. _On_] _of_ MS.]

(98)

[Sidenote:
He hears that Desonellâs marriage is certain.]

Lordys assembelid in sale,
WeÆÆ mo than I haue in tale,
Or ellis gret wonder were.
There herd {he} teÆÆ ffor certan~,
That DesoneÆÆ wed shold be than~, 1135
That was hym selfe ffuÆÆ dere.
And whan~ he herd of that ffare,
Wors tydingis than were thare,
Might he none gladly here . . . . . . .

[Linenote:
1134. _he_] _l_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT CHALLENGES THE PRINCE OF ARAGON.]

(99)

[Sidenote:
Torrent rides into the Hall where Desonell is, and challenges any
one to fight him for her.]

He wold not in passe, 1140
TiÆÆ {at} the myd mete was
The kyng and meny a knyght;
As they satt at theyre {mete} glade,
In at the haÆÆ dur {he} rade
In armes ffeyre and bryght, f. 95b. 1145
With a squier, that is ffre;
Vp to the lady ryduth he,
That rychely was i-dight.
âLordys,â he said, âamong you aÆÆ
I chalenge thre coursus in the haÆÆ, 1150
{Or} Delyuer {her} me with right!â

[Linenotes:
1141. _at_] om. MS.
1143. _mete_] om. MS.
1144. _he_] _they_ MS.
1151. _Delyuer it me_ MS.]

(100)

[Sidenote:
The Prince of Aragon accepts,]

The kyng of Aragon~ sett her bye,
And he defendid her nobely:
âI wyÆÆ none delyu{er} the.â
His son said: âSo muste I thryve, 1155
There shaÆÆ no man just for my wiffe;
But yf youre wyÆÆ it be,
For her love did I never no dede,
I shaÆÆ to day, so god me spede:
Be-hold and ye shaÆÆ se.â 1160
âAlas!â said DesoneÆÆ the dere,
âFuÆÆ longe may I sitt here,
Or Torrent chalenge me.â

(101)

[Sidenote:
and the lists are made ready. Torrent unhorses the Prince of
Aragon,]

Trumpett{es} blew in the prese,
Lordys stond on {the grese}, 1165
Ladyes lay ou{er} and be-held.
The prynce and Torrent th{e}n
Eyther to other gan ren~,
Smertely in that ffeld;
Torrent sett on hym~ so sore, 1170
That hors and man down~ he bore,
And aÆÆ to-sheverd his sheld.
So they tombelid aÆÆ in ffere,
That afterward of VII yere
The prynce none armes myght weld. 1175

[Linenote:
1165. _the grese_] _reugis_ or _rengis_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT BEATS THE PRINCE OF ARAGON.]

(102)

[Sidenote:
and he is carried indoors.]

Torrent said: âSo god me saue,
Other two coursus wyÆÆ I haue, f. 96a.
Yf ye do me law of lond.â
Gret lordys stond styÆÆ,
They said nether good ne yÆÆ 1180
For tynding of his hond.
The prynce of Aragon~ in they barr~
With lituÆÆ worshipp and sydes sare,
He had no fote on ffor to stond.
Thus thes lordys justid aye; 1185
Better {they} had to haue be away,
Suche comffort there he ffond.

[Linenotes:
1167. _than_ MS.
1186. _they_] _he_ MS.
1187. _ffound_ MS.]

(103)

[Sidenote:
At dinner, Torrent lays Slongusâs head on the table.]

He wold not in passe,
TiÆÆ they at myd mete was,
On the other day at none. 1190
His squiers habite he had,
Whan~ he to the deyse yad,
With oute couped shone,
And the hede on~ the bord he laid:
âLo, s{ir} kyng, hold this,â he said, 1195
âOr ellis wroth we anon~!â
They sett stiÆÆ at the bord,
None of hem spake one word,
But ryght that he had done.

[Linenote:
1198. _They spake nether ylle ne good_ add. (!)Â MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT CLAIMS DESONELL, AND HALF PORTUGAL.]

(104)

[Sidenote:
Torrent proclaims the promise of the King of Portugal to give him
Desonell, and half Portugal, if he slew Slongus.]

Torrent at the syde bord stode: 1200
âLystonyth, lordyng{es}, gentiÆÆ of blood,
For the love of god aÆÆ-myght:
The kyng heyght me his doughter dere,
To ffyght with a ffendys ffere,
That wekyd was and wight, 1205
To wed her to my wyffe,
And halffe his kyngdome be his liffe,
And after his days aÆÆ his ryght. [1209]
Lokyth, lordys, you among, f. 96b.
Whether he do me ryght or wrong!â 1210
Tho waried hym~ both kyng & knyght.

[Linenote:
1211. _&_] _ky_, struck out, add. MS.]

(105)

[Sidenote:
The King of Aragon says his son has wedded Desonell. He will be
revenged on the King of Portugal.]

Tho said the kyng of Aragon, i-wys:
âTorrent, I wiste no thing of thys,
A gret maister arte thou!â
The kyng sware be seynt Gryffen~: 1215
âWith a sword thou shalte her wynne,
Or thou haue her nowe:
For why, my son to her was wed,
Gret lordys to churche her led, [1220]
I take wittnes of aÆÆ you.â 1220
âKyng Calamond, haue good day,
Thou shalt i-bye it, and I may,
To god I make avowe.â

[Linenote:
1220. _you alle_ MS.]

(106)

[Sidenote:
To settle the quarrel, the Emperor suggests a fight between 2
Champions.]

The Emp{er}oure of Rome ther was,
Be-twene thes kyng{es} gan~ he passe 1225
And said: âLordys, as sone,
This squier, that hath brought this hede,
The kyng had wend he had be dede,
And a-venturly gan~ he gone: [1230]
I rede you take a day of {ryghtes}, 1230
And do it vppon~ two knyght{es},
And let no man~ be sl{o}n~!â
Gret lordys, that were thare,
This talis lovid at that fare
And ordenyd tha{t} anon~. 1235

[Linenotes:
1230. _ryghtes_] _Restys_ MS.
1232. _slayn_ MS.
1235. _that_] _than_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS TO FIGHT THE GIANT CATE.]

(107)

[Sidenote:
The King of Aragon sends to the giant Cate to fight Torrent]

To the kyng {the thoght} com~ was,
To send vnto Sathanas
For a geaunt, that hight Cate,
For to make hym~ knyght to his hond [1240]
And sease hym~ in aÆÆ his lond; 1240
The messingere toke the gate. f. 97a.
Gret othes he sware hym than~,
That he shold ffyght but w{i}t{h} one man~,
And purvey hym he bad
Iryn stavis two or thre, 1245
For to ffyght with Torent ffre,
Though he there of ne w{a}tt.

[Linenotes:
1236. _the thoght_ om. MS.
1247. _wott_ MS.]

(108)

[Sidenote:
on an island for half Portugal.]

Than take counseÆÆ kyng and knyght,
On lond that he shold not ffyght, [1250]
But ffar oute in the see, 1250
In an yle long and br{a}d;
A gret payn~ there was made,
That holdyn~ shold it be.
Yf Cate slow Torent, that ffre ys,
Halfe Portyngale shold be his, 1255
To spend with dedys ffre;
And yf s{ir} Torrent myght hym ou{er}-com~,
He shold haue halfe Aragon~,
Was better than suche thre. [1260]

[Linenotes:
1248. _couns._] _of_ add. MS.
1251. _brod_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE GIANT CATE, AND TORRENT, GO TO THE ISLAND.]

(109)

[Sidenote:
The Giant Cate comes to an Island.]

The Gyaunt shipped in a while 1260
And sett hym~ oute in an yle,
That was grow both grene and gay.
Sir Torrent com~ prekand on a stede,
Richely armed in his wede;
âLordyngys,â gan he say, 1265
âIt is semely ffor a knyght,
Vppon a stede ffor to ffyght.â
They said sone: âNay,
He is so hevy, he can not ryde. [1270]
Torrent said: âEviÆÆ mut he be-tyde, 1270
Falshode, woo worth it aye!â

(110)

[Sidenote:
Torrent prays for Christâs help,]

âSir, takyth houseÆÆ and shrefte!â f. 97b.
To god he did his hondys lifte,
And thankid hym of his sond:
âI{es}u Cryste, I the praye, 1275
Send me myght and strengith this day
A-yen~ the ffend to stond!â
To the shipp s{ir} Torent went,
With the grace, god had hym sent, [1280]
That was never ffayland; 1280
AÆÆ the lordys of that contre,
Frome Rome vnto the Grekys se,
Stode and be-held on lond.

[Linenotes:
1278. This line begins with a big initial letter.
_Torent_] _yode_, struck out, add. MS.
1283. _On lond stode and be held_ MS.]

(111)

[Sidenote:
and lands in the Island too. The Giant knocks Torrentâs staff out of
his hand,]

Whan s{ir} Torrent in to the Ile was brought,
The shipmen~ lenger wold tary nought, 1285
But hied hem sone ageyn~;
The Giaunt said: âSo must I the,
Sir, thou art welcom to me,
Thy deth is not to layn~!â [1290]
The ffirste stroke to hym he yaue, 1290
Oute of his hand flew his staff:
That thefe was fuÆÆ fayn~.
Tho s{ir} Torent went nere Cate, . . . . .
He thought, he wold hym~ haue slayn~.

[Headnote: TORRENT KILLS THE GIANT CATE WITH COBBLE-STONES.]

(112)

[Sidenote:
and runs into the sea. Torrent shies cobble-stones at him, kills
him,]

The theff couth no better wonne, 1295
In to the see rennyth he sone,
As faste as he myght ffare.
Sir Torrent gaderid cobled stonys, [1300]
Good and handsom ffor the nonys,
That good and round w{a}re; 1300
Meny of them to hym~ he caste,
He threw stonys on hym so faste,
That he was sad and s{a}re.
To the ground he did hym feÆÆ, f. 98a.
Men~ myght here the fend yeÆÆ 1305
Halfe a myle and m{a}re.

[Linenotes:
1298. _gad._] _good_ add. MS.
1300. _were_ MS.
1303. _sore_ MS.
1306. _more_ MS.]

(113)

[Sidenote:
and he is towd ashore. Torrent is shipt to the mainland.]

Sir Torent said, as he was wonne,
He thankid I{es}u, Maryes son~, [1310]
That kyng, that sent hym myÈt~;
He said: âLordys, for charite, 1310
A bote that ye send to me,
It is nere hand nyght!â
They Reysed a gale w{i}t{h} a sayÆÆ,
The Geaunt to lond for to trayÆÆ,
AÆÆ men wonderid on that wight. 1315
Whan that they had so done,
They went to s{ir} Torent fuÆÆ sone
And shipped that comly knyght. [1320]

[Headnote: TORRENT WINS DESONELL, LANDS, AND A CITY.]

(114)

[Sidenote:
Torrent is awarded Desonell, territory, and the City of Cargon.
Desonell is divorst from the Prince of Aragon.]

The emp{er}oure of Rome was there,
{The kynges} of P{er}vens and of Calabere yare, 1320
And other two or thre.
They yaue s{ir} Torent, that he wan,
Both the Erth and the woman~,
And said, weÆÆ worthy was he.
Sir Torent had in Aragon~ 1325
The riche Cite of Cargon~
And aÆÆ that riche contre;
Archbeshoppes, as the law feÆÆ, [1330]
Dep{ar}tid the prynce and DissoneÆÆ
With gret solempnite. 1330

[Linenotes:
1320. _The kynges_] om. MS.
1321. _other_] _kynges_ add. MS.
_or_] _the_ add. MS.]

(115)

[Sidenote:
The King of Portugal acknowledges Torrent,]

For s{ir} Torent the fend did faÆÆ,
Gret lordys honoured hym~ aÆÆ
And for a doughty knyght hym~ tase;
The kyng said: âI vnderstond,
Thou hast fought ffor my dought{er}
& my lond, f. 98b. 1335
And weÆÆ wonne her thou hase.â
He gaue to s{aint} Nycholas de Barr~
A grett Erldome and a {si}marr~ [1340]
That abbey of hym {tas}
For I{es}us love, moch of myght, 1340
That hym helpith day & nyght,
Whan~ he to the batteÆÆ {gas}.

[Linenotes:
1337. _saint_] _sir_ MS.
1338. _simarr{e}_] _marr_ MS.
1339. _tas_] _redith_ MS.
1342. _gas_] _yode_ MS.]

(116)

[Sidenote:
and the Queen is glad. The King of Portugal bids Torrent wait 6
months and a day for Desonell.]

Lordys than~ at the laste,
Echone on theyre way paste,
And euery man~ to his. 1345
The quene of Portingale was ffayn~,
That s{ir} Torent was com agayn~
And thankyd god of this. [1350]
Than said the kyng: âI vnderstond,
Thou hast fought for my dought{er} & my lond, 1350
And art my ward, i-wys,
And I wyÆÆ not ageyn~ the say;
But abyde halfe yere and a day,
And broke her weÆÆ with blis!â

[Headnote: TORRENT BEGETS TWINS ON DESONELL.]

(117)

[Sidenote:
Torrent passes a night with Desonell.]

Torent said: âSo muste I the, 1355
Sith it wyÆÆ no better be,
I cord with that assent!â
After mete, as I you teÆÆ, [1360]
To speke with mayden~ DesoneÆÆ,
To her chamber he went. 1360
The damyseÆÆ so moche of pride
Set hym on~ her bed-syde,
And said: âWelcom~, verament!â
Such gestenyng he a-right,
That there he dwellid aÆÆ nyÈt~ 1365
With that lady gent. f. 99a.

(118)

[Sidenote:
The King of Norway begs him to come and fight a Giant there.]

Sir Torent dwellid thare
Twelffe wekys and mare, [1370]
TiÆÆ letters com hym tiÆÆ
Fro the kyng of Norway; 1370
For I{es}us love he did hym p{r}aye,
Yf it were his wyÆÆ,
He shold com as a doughty knyght,
With a Geaunt for to ffyght,
That wyÆÆ his londys spyÆÆ; 1375
He wold hym yeve his doughter dere
And halfe Norway ffar and nere,
Both be hold and be hyÆÆ. [1380]

[Headnote: TORRENT SAILS TO FIGHT A NORWEGIAN GIANT.]

(119)

[Sidenote:
Torrent gives all his land to the King for Desonell;]

Sir Torent said: âSo god me saue,
I-nough to lyve vppon I haue, 1380
I wyÆÆ desire no more;
But it be, for I{es}u is sake
A poynt of armes for to take,
That hath helpid me be-ffore.
I yeve the here oute of my hond 1385
To thy doughter aÆÆ my lond,
Yf that I end th{o}re.â
And whan~ he toke his way to passe, [1390]
Mo than ffyfty with hym was,
That fals to hym~ w{o}re. 1390

[Linenotes:
1387. _there_ MS.
1390. _were_ MS.]

(120)

[Sidenote:
leaves 2 gold rings with her,]

+S+yr Torent to the lady went,
FuÆÆ curtesly and gent: . . . . .
âDesoneÆÆ, haue good day!
I muste now on my jurnay,
A kyngis lond for to fend. 1395
Thes gold ryng{es} I shaÆÆ yeve the,
Kepe {them} weÆÆ, my lady ffre,
Yf god a child vs send!â [1400]
She toke the ryngis with moche care, f. 99b.
Thries in sownyng feÆÆ she thare, 1400
Whan she saw, that he wold wend.

[Linenotes:
1393. _Denoselle_ MS.
1397. _them_] om. MS.]

(121)

[Sidenote:
and goes on board ship with his steed and armour. Torrent gets to
Norway.]

Shipp and takyÆÆ they dight,
Stede and armo{ur} ffor to ffyght
To the bote they bare.
Gentilmen~, that were hend, 1405
Toke her leve at theyre frend,
With hym ffor to fare.
Kyng Colomond, is not to layn~, [1410]
He wold, that he cam nev{ur}e agayn~;
There fore god yeff hym~ care! 1410
So within the ffyfty dayes
He Come in to the lond of Norways,
Hard Contre ffound he thare.

[Headnote: TORRENT REACHES NORWAY, AND HEARS OF A GIANT.]

(122)

[Sidenote:
The shipmen tell him of a Giant.]

Thus s{ir} Torrent, for soth, is fare,
A noble wynd droffe hym~ thare, 1415
Was blowyng oute of the weste.
Of the Coste of Norway they had a sight . . . [1419]
Of sayling they were aÆÆ preste.
So ffeyre a wynd had the knyght,
A lituÆÆ be-ffore the mydnyght 1420
He Rode be a foreste.
The shipmen said: âWe be shent;
Here dwellith a geaunt, verament,
On his lond are we {kest}!â

[Linenote:
1424. _kest_] _sett_ MS.]

(123)

[Sidenote:
Torrent resolves to land.]

The maistershipm{o}n~ said: âNowe 1425
I Rede, we take down~ sayle & Rowe,
While we haue this tyde. [1430]
Sir,â he said, âbe god aÆÆmyght,
The giant lieth euery nyght
On~ the mowntayn~ here be-syde; 1430
My lord the kyng wyÆÆ not ffyght, f. 100a.
TiÆÆ he of you haue a sight,
On you ys aÆÆ his pryde!â
Sir Torrent said: âHere my hond!
Sith we be ryven on this lond, 1435
To nyght wyÆÆ I ryde.â

[Linenotes:
1425. _maistershipmen_ MS.
1429. _lieth_] _here_ add. MS.
1434. _Torerent_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT LANDS IN THE FOREST OF BRASILL.]

(124)

[Sidenote:
Torrent and his knights arm.]

Sir Torent armyd hym~ anon [1440]
And his knyght{es} euerychone
With sheld and spere in hond.
The shipmen~ said: âAs mut I thryve, 1440
I Rede, that euery man~ other shryve,
Or that we go to the lond.â
Sir Torent said: âAs god me spede,
We wiÆÆ firste se that ffede,
My lord was never f{ail}and! 1445
Gentilmen, ma{k}e chere good,
For I{es}u love, that died on Rood, [1450]
He wiÆÆ be oure waraunt!â

[Linenotes:
1445. _fleand_ MS.
1446. _make_] _made_ MS.]

(125)

[Sidenote:
They reach the Forest of Brasill. The coward knights flee to the
ship, and leave Torrent alone.]

In a forest can~ they passe,
Of BrasiÆÆ, saith the boke, it was, 1450
With bowes brod and wyde.
Lyons and berys there they ff{a}nd
And wyld best{es} aboute goand,
Reysing on euery side.
Thes men~ of armes, w{i}t{h} trayn~ 1455
To the shipp they flew agayn~
In to the see at that tyde; [1460]
Fast from land row they be-gan~,
A-bove they left that gentilman~,
With wyld beestis to haue kyde. 1460

[Linenotes:
1451. _bowes_] _browes_ MS.
1452. _ffound_ MS.
1460. _k_ corrected out of _r_.]

(126)

[Sidenote:
False tales of Torrent are told to the King of Norway.]

The shipmen~ of the same lond
Ryved vp, I vnderstond,
In another lond off hold. f. 100b.
To the chamber they toke the way,
There the kyng hym~ selfe lay, 1465
And fals talis hym~ told . . . . . .
For he wold not the geaunt abyde, [1470]
For aÆÆ this contrey feyre and wyde,
ThouÈ he yeff it hym wold.

[Linenote:
1465 put before 1464 MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT COMES ON 2 DRAGONS IN A VALLEY.]

(127)

[Sidenote:
The King of Norway wants Torrent to come.]

âSir kyng, ye haue youre selfe 1470
Erlis {doughty be} ten~ or twelfe,
Better know I none:
Send youre messingeris ffar and wyde,
For to ffeÆÆ the geaunt{es} pride,
That youre doughter hath tane.â 1475
âI had lever to haue that knyght;
With hym~ is grace of god aÆÆmyÈt~,
To be here at his bane.â [1480]
FuÆÆ lituÆÆ wist that riche kyng
Of s{ir} Torrent{es} ryding 1480
In the forest aÆÆ alone.

[Linenotes:
1471. _doughty be_] om. MS.
1476. _that_] _ky_, struck out, add. MS.]

(128)

[Sidenote:
Torrent rides up to 2 Dragons.]

ThorouÈ helpe of god that w{i}t{h} hym was,
Fro the wyld bestis gan~ he passe
To an hye hyÆÆ.
A lituÆÆ while be-fore the day 1485
He herd in a valey
A dynnyng and a yeÆÆ. [1490]
Theder than~ riduth he,
To loke, what thing it myÈt be,
What adventure tha{re} be-feÆÆ. 1490
It were two dragons stiff and strong,
Vppon~ theyre lay they sat and song,
Be-side a depe weÆÆ.

[Linenote:
1490. _thare_] _that_ MS.]

(129)

[Sidenote:
Torrent prays to Christ, spears the first Dragon;]

Sir Torent said thanne
To god, that made man~ f. 101a. 1495
And died uppon~ a tree:
âLord, as thou mayst aÆÆ weld, [1500]
Yeve me grace, to wyn~ the feld
Of thes ffendys on{fre}!â
Whan he had his p{r}ayers made, 1500
Pertely to hem~ he Rade
And one thorouÈ oute bare he.
Thus sped the knyght at his comyng
Thorough the helpe of hevyn~ kyng:
Lord, lovid muste thou be! 1505

[Linenotes:
1499. _onfre_] _ontrewe_ MS.
1502. _he bare_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT KILLS THE 2 DRAGONS, AND SEES A CASTLE.]

(130)

[Sidenote:
and then kills the second.]

The other dragon wold not flee, . . . . .
But sho{w}ith aÆÆ his myght; [1510]
He smote ffire, that lothely thing,
As it were the lightnyng,
Vppon~ that comly knyght. 1510
There fore s{ir} Torent wold not lett,
But on~ the dragon) fast~ he bett
And over-come that foule wight.
Tho anon the day sprong,
Fowles Rose, mery they song, 1515
The sonne a-Rose on hyÈ{t}.

[Linenotes:
1507. _shotith_ MS.
1516. _hyÈe_ MS.]

(131)

[Sidenote:
He sees a Castle.]

Torent of the day was fuÆÆ blithe, [1520]
And of the valey he did hym~ swith,
As fast as euer he may.
To a mowntayn~ he rode ryght, 1520
Of a casteÆÆ he had a sight
With towrys hyÈe and gay . . . . . .
He come in to an hyÈe strete,
Few folke gan~ he mete,
To wis hym~ the way. 1525

[Linenote:
1525. _wish_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT BEFORE THE NORSE GIANTâS CASTLE.]

(132)

[Sidenote:
Torrent rides to the Norse Giantâs castle gates.]

To the gatys tho he R{a}de;
FuÆÆ craftely they were made f. 101b.
Of Irun~ and eke of tree. [1531]
One tre stonding there he ffond:
Nyne oxen~ of that lond 1530
Shold not drawe the tre.
The Giaunt wrought vp his w{a}ÆÆ
And laid stonys gret and smaÆÆ:
A lothely man~ was he.
âNow,â quod Torrent, âI {n}ot, whare, 1535
My squiers be ffro me to fare,
Euer waried th{ey} be! [1540]

[Linenotes:
1526. _rode_ MS.
1529. _ffound_ MS.
1532. _welle_ MS.
1535. _wot_ MS.
1537. _they_] _thou_ MS.]

(133)

[Sidenote:
He considers what he shall do, and resolves to fight.]

âLord god, what is beste,
So I{es}u me helpe, Est or Weste,
I Can not Rede to {say}. 1540
Yf I to the shipp fare,
No shipmen~ ffynd {I} thare;
It is long, sith they were away.
Other wayes yf I wend,
Wyld bestis wyÆÆ me shend: 1545
Falshede, woo worth it aye!
I ffyght here, I{es}u, for thy sake; [1560]
Lord, to me kepe thou take,
As thou best may!â

[Linenotes:
1540. _say_] _done_ MS.
1542. _And no_ MS.
_I_] om. MS.]

(134)

[Sidenote:
He baits his steed. The Norse Giant prepares to fight.]

Down~ light this gentiÆÆ knyght, 1550
To Rest hym~ a lituÆÆ wight,
And vnbrydelid his stede
And let hym~ bayte on~ the ground,
And aventid hym~ in~ that stound,
There of he had gret nede. 1555
The Gyaunt yode and gaderid stone
And sye, where the knyght gan~ gone, [1570]
AÆÆ armed in dede; f. 102a.
And wot ye weÆÆ and not wene,
Whan eyther of hem had other sene, 1560
Smertely {they} rerid her dede.

[Linenotes:
1553. _bayte_] _hym_ add. MS.
1561. _they_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT GETS ASSURANCE FROM HEAVEN.]

(135)

[Sidenote:
Torrent prays to Christ, and is cheerd by a voice from Heaven.]

For that s{ir} Torent had hym sene,
He worth vppon his stede, I wene,
And I{es}u prayd{e} he tiÆÆ:
âMary son~, thou here my bone, 1565
As I am~ in venturus s{t}ad come,
My jurnay {to} fuÆÆ-ffyÆÆ!â [1580]
A voys was fro hevyn~ sent
And said: âBe blith, s{ir} Torent,
And yeve the no thing yÆÆ, 1570
To ffyght with my lordys enemy:
Whether that thou lyve or dye,
Thy mede the quyte he wyÆÆ!â

[Linenotes:
1566. _sad_ MS.
1567. _to_] _than_ MS.
1573. _He wylle quyte the thy mede_ MS.]

(136)

[Sidenote:
The Giant advances against Torrent.]

Be that the giaunt had hym dight,
Cam~ ageyn~ that gentiÆÆ knyght, 1575
As bold as eny bore;
He bare on~ his nek a croke, [1590]
Woo were the man~, that he ou{er}toke,
It was twelfe ffote and more.
âSir,â he said, âffor charite, 1580
Loke, curtes man~ that thou be,
Yf thy wyÆÆ ware:
I haue so fought aÆÆ this nyght
With thy II dragons wekyd and wight,
They haue bett me fuÆÆ sore.â 1585

[Headnote: THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT, WOUNDS TORRENT.]

(137)

[Sidenote:
The Giant says heâll punish Torrent for killing his 2 Dragons and
his Brother Cate.]

The Geaunt said: âBe my fay,
Wors tyding{es} to me this day [1600]
I myght not goodly here.
Thorough the valey as thou cam~,
My two dragons hast thou slan~, 1590
My solempnite they were. f. 102b.
To the I haue fuÆÆ good gate;
For thou slow my brother Cate,
That thou shalte by fuÆÆ dere!â
Be-twene the giaunt and the knyght 1595
Men myght se buffett{es} right,
Who so had be there. [1610]

[Linenote:
1590. _slayne_ MS.]

(138)

[Sidenote:
The Giantâs crook cuts through Torrentâs shield to his flesh, and
sticks there.]

Sir Torent yaue to hym~ a brayd;
He levid that the aungeÆÆ said,
Of deth yaue he no{ught}. 1600
In to the brest he hym~ bare,
His spere hede lefte he thare,
So eviÆÆ was hitt {bythought}.
The Giaunt hym ayen~ smate
Thorough his sheld and his plate, 1605
In to the flesh it sought;
And sith he pullith at his croke, [1620]
So fast in to the flesh it toke,
That oute myÈt he gete it nought.

[Linenotes:
1600. _nought_] _no dynt_ MS.
1603. _byth._] _mynt_ MS.]

(139)

[Sidenote:
Torrent throws his shield and the Giantâs crook into the water. The
Giant goes in after them and is drowned.]

On hym~ he hath it broke, 1610
Glad pluckys there he toke,
Set sadly and s{a}re.
Sir Torent stalworth satt,
Oute of his handys he it gatt,
No lenger dwellid he th{a}re. 1615
In to the water he cast his sheld,
Croke and aÆÆ to-geders it held, [1630]
Fare after, how so euer it ffare.
The Geaunt folowid w{i}t{h} aÆÆ his mayn~,
And he come never quyk agayn~: 1620
God wold, that so it ware.

[Linenotes:
1612. _sore_ MS.
1615. _there_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SLAYS THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT.]

(140)

[Sidenote:
Torrent rides to the Giantâs castle,]

Sir Torent bet hym~ there, f. 103a.
TiÆÆ that this fend did were,
Or he thens wend.
On hym had he hurt but ane, 1625
Lesse myght be a mann{us} bane,
But god is fuÆÆ hend: [1640]
Thorough grace of hym, that aÆÆ shaÆÆ weld,
There the knyght had the feld,
Such grace god did hym~ send. 1630
Be than it nyed nere hand nyÈt~,
To a casteÆÆ he Rode right,
AÆÆ nyght there to lend.

[Linenote:
1626. _But lesse_ MS.]

(141)

[Sidenote:
and finds a fair Lady there. Torrent asks for a nightâs lodging.]

In the casteÆÆ found he nought,
That god on the Rode bought; 1635
High vppon~ a toure,
As he caste a side lokyng, [1650]
He saw a lady in her bed syttyng,
White as lylye ffloure;
Vp a-Rose that lady bryght, 1640
And said: âWelcom~, s{ir} knyght,
That fast art in stoure!â
âDamyseÆÆ, welcom~ mut thou be!
Graunt thou me, for charite,
Of one nyghtis so{i}oure!â 1645

[Linenote:
1645. _socoure_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IN THE GIANT WERAUNTâS CASTLE.]

(142)

[Sidenote:
The Lady says the Giant Weraunt will kill him.]

âBy Mary,â said that lady clere,
âMe for-thinkith, that thou com~ here, [1660]
Thy deth now is dight;
For here dwellith a geaunt,
He is clepud Weraunt, 1650
He is {to} the deviÆÆ be-taught.
To day at morn~ he toke his croke,
Forth at the yat{es} the way he toke,
And said, he wold haue a draught; f. 103b.
And here be chambers two or thre, 1655
In one of hem I shaÆÆ hide the,
God the saue ffrome harmes right!â [1670]

[Linenotes:
1650. _Weraunt_] _weraumt_ (?) MS.
1651. _to_] _of_ MS.]

(143)

[Sidenote:
Torrent tells her to come and see the Giant.]

âCertayn~,â tho said the knyght,
âThat theffe I saw to nyght,
Here be-side a sla{d}e. 1660
He was a ferly freke in ffyght,
With hym faught a yong knyght,
Ech on other laid good l{a}de;
Me thought weÆÆ, as he stode,
He was of the fend{us} blood, 1665
So Rude was he made.
Dame, yf thou leve not me, [1680]
Com~ nere, and thou shalt se,
Which of hem ab{a}de.â

[Linenotes:
1660. _slate_ or _flate_ MS.
1663. _lode_ MS.
1669. _abode_ MS.]

(144)

[Sidenote:
The Norwegian Princess sees the Giantâs corpse, and praises his
slayer.]

Blith was that lady bryght 1670
For to se that {selly} sight:
With the knyght went she.
Whan she cam, where the Geaunt lay,
âSir,â she said, âp{ar}maffay
I wott weÆÆ, it is he. 1675
Other he was of god aÆÆ-myght
Or seynt George, oure lady knyÈt~, [1690]
That there his bane hath be.
Yf eny cryston~ man smyte hym down~,
He is worthy to haue renown~ 1680
Thorough oute aÆÆ crystiaunte.â

[Linenote:
1671. _selly_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT RESCUES THE PRINCESS OF NORWAY.]

(145)

[Sidenote:
She tells Torrent that her Father gave her, as his ransom, to the
Giant.]

âI haue wonder,â said the knyght,
âHow he gate the, lady bryght,
Fro my lord the kyng.â
âSir,â she said, âverament, f. 104a. 1685
As my fader on huntyng went
Erly in a mornyng, [1700]
For{e} his men pursued a dere,
To his casteÆÆ, that stondith here,
That doth my hondys wryng, 1690
This Giaunt hym toke, wo he be!
For his love he gevith hym~ me,
He wold none other thinge.â

[Linenote:
1688. _For_ MS.]

(146)

Forth she brought bred and wyne,
Fayn~ he was for to dyne . . . . . . 1695
This knyght made noble chere,
Though that he woundid were [1710]
With the Geaunt strong.

(147)

[Sidenote:
Torrent takes her away. Torrent longs for Desonell. The Norwegian
Princess sees her Father.]

Sir Torrent dwellid no lenger thare,
Than~ he myÈt away fare 1700
With that lady bryght.
âNow, I{es}u, that made heÆÆ,
Send me on lyve to DesoneÆÆ,
That I my trouth to plight!â
Tho sye they be a forest syde 1705
Men~ of armes ffaste ride
On coursers comly dight. [1720]
The lady said: âSo mvst I thee,
It is my fader, is com for me,
With the Geaunt to ffyght.â 1710

[Headnote: TORRENT IS WELCOMD BY THE KING OF NORWAY.]

(148)

[Sidenote:
Torrent is recognised]

An harood said anon~ right:
âYon I se an armed knyght,
And no squier, but hym~ one:
He is so {big} of bone & blood,
He is the Geaunt, be the Rode!â 1715
Som~ seith, he riduth vppon~.
âNay,â said the kyng, âverament, f. 104b. [1820]
It is the knyght, that I after sent,
I thanke god and seynt Iohñ,
For the Geaunt slayn~) hath he 1720
And wonne my dought{er}, weÆÆ is me!
AÆÆ his men are {a}t{o}ne!â

[Linenotes:
1714. _big_] _long_ MS.
1722. _at._] _tane_ MS.]

(149)

[Sidenote:
and welcomd by the King of Norway. His wounds are drest.]

Wott ye weÆÆ, with Ioy and blis
Sir Torent there recevid ys,
As doughty man~ of dede. 1725
The kyng and other lordys gent
Said, âWelcom~, s{ir} Torent, [1830]
In to this vncouth {thede}!â
In to a state they hym~ brought,
Lechis sone his woundis sought; 1730
They said, so god hem spede,
Were there no lyve but ane,
His liffe they wyÆÆ not vndertane,
For no gold ne ffor mede.

[Linenote:
1728. _thede_] _lond_ MS.]

[Headnote: PRINCESS GENDRES. TORRENT STAYS A YEAR IN NORWAY.]

(150)

[Sidenote:
The Princess claims Torrent as her husband.]

The lady wist not or than~, 1735
That he was hurt, that gentilman~,
And sith she went hym tyÆÆ; [1840]
She sought his wound{us} and said thare:
âThou shalte lyve and welfare,
Yf the no-thing evyÆÆ! 1740
My lord the kyng hath me hight,
That thou shalt wed me, s{ir} knyght,
The fforward ye to fulle ffyÆÆ.â
âDamyseÆÆ, loo here my hond:
And I take eny wyffe in this lond, 1745
It shaÆÆ be at thy wyÆÆ!â

(151)

[Sidenote:
Her name is Gendres. Torrent stays 12 months in Norway.]

Gendres was that ladyes name. [1850]
The Geaunt{es} hede he brought hame,
And the dragons {he brought}. f. 105a.
Mene myght here a myle aboute, 1750
How on the dede hedys they did shoute,
For the shame, that they hem~ wrought,
Both with dede and with tong
Fyfte on the hedys dong,
That to the ground they sought. 1755
Sir Torrent dwellid thare
Twelfe monythis and mare, [1860]
That ffurther myÈt he nought.

[Linenotes:
1749. _he br._] _also_ MS.
1752. _they_] _had_ add. MS.]

(152)

[Sidenote:
The King of Norway sends Torrentâs false Squires to sea, where all
drown, save one.]

The kyng of Norway said: âNowe,
Fals thevis, woo worth you, 1760
Ferly soteÆÆ were ye:
Ye said, the knyght wold not com~:
Swith oute of my kyngdome,
Or hangid shaÆÆ ye be!â
His squiers, that fro hym~ fled, 1765
With sore strokys are they spred
Vppon the wanne see, [1870]
And there they drenchid euery man~,
Saue one knave, that to lond cam~,
And woo be-gone is he. 1770

[Headnote: DESONELL IS NEAR CHILD-BEARING.]

(153)

[Sidenote:
He takes the news to the King of Portugal, and tells Desonell that
Torrent is in Norway.]

The child, to lond that god sent,
In Portyngale he is lent,
In a riche town~,
That hat{h} hight be her day,
And euer shaÆÆ, as I you say, 1775
The town~ of Peron~.
By-fore the kyng he hym sett, [1880]
âFuÆÆ weÆÆ thy men~, lord, the grett,
And in the see {did} they drown.â
DesoneÆÆ said: âWhere is Torent?â 1780
âIn Norway, lady, verament.â f. 105b.
On sownyng feÆÆ she down~.

[Linenotes:
1774. _hatt_ (!) MS.
1778. _the_] _they_ MS.
1779. _did_] _are_ MS.
_drowned_ MS.]

(154)

[Sidenote:
She swoons, and folk see she is big with child. The King of Portugal
declares heâll send Desonell and her Bastard to sea.]

As she sownyd, this lady myld,
Men myÈt se tokenyng of her child,
Steryng on~ her right syde. 1785
Gret Ruth it was to teÆÆ,
How her maydens on~ her feÆÆ, [1890]
Her to Couer and to hide.
Tho the kyng said: âMy dought{er}, do way!
By god, thy myrth is gone for aye, 1790
Spousage wyÆÆ thou none {bi}de!
There fore thou shalt in to the see
And that Bastard with-in the,
To lerne you ffor to ride.â

[Linenote:
1791. _bide_] _lede_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL BEARS TWINS TO TORRENT.]

(155)

[Sidenote:
His Earls and the Queen pray for mercy for Desonell.]

Erlis and Barons, that were good, 1795
By-fore the kyng knelid and stode
For that lady free. [1900]
The quene, her moder, on knees feÆÆ,
âFor I{es}u is love, that harood heÆÆ,
Lord, haue mercy on~ me! 1800
That ylke dede, that she hath done,
It was with an Erlis sonne,
Riche man~ i-nough is he;
And yf ye wyÆÆ not let her lyve,
Right of lond ye her yeve, 1805
TiÆÆ she delyu{er}d be!â

(156)

[Sidenote:
She is delivered of 2 male children like Torrent. Her Father says
she shall be sent out to sea.]