Chapter II: A. Words of the same root are alliterative. 133: Torrent, on (4)

Thus the lady dwellith there, [1910]
Tyll that she delyu{er}d were
Of men~ children~ two;
In all poyntes they were gent, 1810
And like they were to s{ir} Torent;
For his love they sufferid woo. f. 106a.
The kyng said: âSo mut I thee,
Thou shalte in-to the see
With oute wordys moo. 1815
Euery kyngis dought{er} ffer and nere,
At the shaÆÆ they lere, [1920]
Ayen~ the law to do.â

[Linenotes:
1807. _Thus the_] so F. VII; _This_ MS.
1808. _Tyll_] so F. VII; om. MS.
1810. _all_] so F. VII; om. MS.]

(157)

[Sidenote:
She is led from his land. The Queen bewails her daughterâs fate.
Desonell is sent to sea.]

Gret ruth it was to se,
Whan they led that lady ffree 1820
Oute of her faders lond.
The quene wexid tho nere wood
For her doughter, that gentiÆÆ ffode,
And knyghtis stode wepand;
A cloth of silke gan they ta 1825
And p{ar}tyd it be-twene hem twa,
Therin they were wonde.
Whan~ they had shypped that lady y{i}ng, [1930]
An hunderid feÆÆ in sownyng
At Peron~ on~ the sond. 1830

[Linenotes:
1827. so F. VII; om. MS.
1828. _had sh._] so F. VII; _clepud_ MS.
_yeng_Â MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL IS SENT OUT TO SEA. SHE REACHES LAND.]

(158)

[Sidenote:
She prays to Christ for her children.]

Whan that lady was downe fall,
On Iesu Cryste dyd she call;
Down~ knelid that lady cle{n}e:
âRightfull god, ye me sende
Some good londe, on to lende, 1835
That my chyldren may crystonyd bene!â
She said, âKnyghtis and ladyes gent,
Grete weÆÆ my lord, s{ir} Torrent,
Yeff ye hym~ euer sene!â
The wynd Rose ayen~ the nyght, 1840
Fro lond it blew that lady bryght [1941]
Vppon the see so grene.

[Linenotes:
1831 f.] so F. VII; om. MS.
1833. _clene_] _clere_ MS.
1834 f.] so F. VII;
_Iesu Cryste, that com vp here
On this strond, as I wenyd_Â MS.
1836. _my ch._] so F. VII; _we_ MS.]

(159)

[Sidenote:
She and they reach land. Desonell stills her crying child,]

Wyndes and weders haue her drevyn~,
Ãat in a f{o}rest she is revyn~,
There wyld beestis were; 1845
The see was eb, and went her ffroo,
And lefte her and her children~ two f. 106b.
Alone with-oute ffere.
Her one child woke and be-gan~ to wepe,
The lady a-woke oute of her slepe 1850
And said: âBe stiÆÆ, my dere, [1951]
I{es}u Cryst hath sent vs lond;
Yf there be any cryston man~ nere hond,
We shaÆÆ haue som socoure here.â

[Linenote:
1844. _forest_] so F. VII; _ftrest_ MS.
_she is_] so F. VII; _be they_ MS.]

[Headnote: AÂ GRIFFIN CARRIES OFF ONE OF DESONELLâS BOYS.]

(160)

[Sidenote:
goes up a mountain,]

The carefuÆÆ lady was fuÆÆ blith, 1855
Vp to lond she went swith,
As fast as euer she myght.
Tho the day be-gan~ to spryng,
Foules a-Rose and mery gan syng
Delicious notys on~ hight. 1860
To a mowntayn went that lady ffree: [1961]
Sone was she warr~ of a Cite
With towrus ffeyre and bryght.
There fore, i-wys, she was fuÆÆ fayn~,
She sett her down~, as I herd sayn~, 1865
Her two children~ ffor to dight.

(161)

[Sidenote:
and finds an Arbour there. A Griffin carries off one of her boys.
She puts the other down,]

Vppon~ the low the lady ffound
An Erber wrought w{i}t{h} mann{us} hond,
With herbis, that were good.
A Grype was in~ the mowntayn~ wonne, 1870
A way he bare her yong son~ [1971]
Ou{er} a water fflood,
Over in to a wyldernes,
There seynt Antony ermet w{e}s,
There as his chapeÆÆ stode. 1875
The other child down~ gan~ she ly,
And on the ffoule did shoute & crye, f. 107a.
That she was nere hond wood.

[Linenotes:
1874. _was_ MS.
1876. _ly_] _lay_ MS.]

[Headnote: AÂ LEOPARD CARRIES OFF DESONELLâS 2ND BOY.]

(162)

[Sidenote:
and sorrows.]

Vp she rose ageyn~ the rough~,
With sorofuÆÆ hert and care Inough~, 1880
CarefuÆÆ of blood and bone . . . . . . . [1981]
She sye, it myght no better be,
She knelid down~ vppon~ her kne,
And thankid god and seynt Iohn~.

(163)

[Sidenote:
A leopard takes her other boy away.]

There come a libard vppon~ his pray, 1885
And her other child bare away,
She thankid god there
And his moder Mary bryght.
This lady is lefte alone ryght:
The sorow she made there . . . . . 1890

(164)

[Sidenote:
The King of Jerusalem sees the leopard and child.]

That she myght no further ffare: [1991]
âOf one poynt,â {she sayd}, âis my care,
As I do now vnderstond,
So my children~ crystenyd were,
Though they be with beest{es} there, 1895
Theyre liffe is in godd{us} hond.â
The kyng of Ierusalem~ had bene
At his brothers weddyng, I wene,
That was lord of aÆÆ that lond.
As he com homward on his way, 1900
He saw where the liberd lay [2001]
With a child pleyand.

[Linenote:
1892. _she s._] om. MS.]

(165)

[Sidenote:
Each child has one of Torrentâs rings. The Kingâs men kill the
Leopard,]

Torrent had yeve {her} ring{es} two,
And euery child had one of tho,
Hym~ with aÆÆ to saue. 1905
The kyng said: âBe Mary myld,
Yonder is a liberd w{i}t{h} a child,
A mayden~ or a knave.â
Tho men~ of armes theder went, f. 107b.
Anon~ they had theyre hors spent, 1910
Her guttys oute she Rave. [2011]
For no stroke wold she stynt;
TiÆÆ they her slew w{i}t{h} speris dynt,
The child myght they not haue.

[Linenote:
1903. _her_] _his lady_ MS.]

[Headnote: HE (LEOBERTUS) IS ADOPTED BY THE KING OF JERUSALEM.]

(166)

[Sidenote:
and take the Child to the King, who christens him âLeobertus,â]

Vp they toke the child y{i}ng 1915
And brought it be-ffore the kyng
And vndid the swathing band,
As his moder be-ffore had done,
A gold ryng they ffound sone,
Was closud in his hond. 1920
Tho said the kyng of Ierusalem~: [2021]
âThis child is come of gentiÆÆ teme,
Where euer this beest hym~ ffond.
The boke of Rome berith wytnes,
The kyng hym~ namyd Leobertus, 1925
That was hent in hethyn~ lond.

[Linenotes:
1915. _yong_ MS.
1923. _ffound_ MS.]

(167)

[Sidenote:
and takes him to Jerusalem.]

Two squiers to the town~ gan~ flyng,
And a noryse to the child did bryng,
Hym~ to kepe ffrome gr{e}me.
He led it in~ to his own~ lond 1930
And told the quene, how he it ffond [2031]
By a water streme.
Whan~ the lady saw the ryng,
She said, with-oute lettyng:
âThis child is com~ of gentiÆÆ teme: 1935
Thou hast none heyre, thy lond to take,
For I{es}u love thou {sh}oldist hym~ make
Prynce of Ierusalem~.â

[Linenotes:
1929. _grame_ MS.
1937. _woldist_ MS.]

[Headnote: ST. ANTONY GETS THE FIRST BOY FROM THE GRIFFIN.]

(168)

[Sidenote:
St. Anthony sees the Griffin and Desonellâs first boy, whom the bird
lays at his feet.]

Now, in boke as we rede,
As seynt Antony aboute yede, 1940
Byddyng his orysoun~, [2041]
Of the gripe he had a sight, f. 108a.
How she flew in a fflight,
To her birdus was she boun~.
Be-twene her clawes she bare a child: 1945
He prayed to god and Mary myld,
On lyve to send it down~.
That man was weÆÆ with god aÆÆ-myÈt~,
At his fote gan~ she light,
That foule of gret renown~. 1950

(169)

[Sidenote:
St. Antony takes the boy to his Father, the King of Greece.]

Vp he toke the child th{e}re, [2051]
To his auter he did it bere,
There his chapeÆÆ stode.
A knave child there he ffond,
There was closud in his hond 1955
A gold ryng riche and good.
He bare it to the Cite grett,
There the kyng his fader {s}ett
As a lord of jentiÆÆ blood,
For he wold saue it ffro dede; 1960
A grype flew a-bove his hede [2061]
And cryed, as he were wood.

[Linenotes:
1951. _thare_ MS.
1954. _ffound_ MS.
1958. _sett_] _lett_ MS.]

(170)

[Sidenote:
The King sees his son Antony,]

This holy man~ hied hym~ tyte
To a Cite w{i}t{h} touris white,
As fast as he may. 1965
The kyng at the yate stode
And other knyght{es} and lordys good
To se the squiers play.
The kyng said: âBe Mary myld,
Yonder comyth Antony, my child, 1970
With a gryffon~ gay. [2071]
Som~ of his byrdus take hath he,
And bryngith hem~ heder to me!â
Gret ferly had thaye.

[Headnote: HE (ANTONY FITZ-GRIFFIN) IS ADOPTED BY THE KING OF GREECE.]

(171)

[Sidenote:
who asks him to adopt Desonellâs boy as his heir.]

The kyng there of toke good hede, f. 108b. 1975
And a-geyn~ his sonne he yede
And said: âWelcom~ ye be!â
âFader,â he said, âgod you saue!
A knave child ffound I haue,
Loke, that it be dere to the! 1980
Frome a greffon~ he was refte, [2081]
Of what lond that he is lefte,
Of gentiÆÆ blood was he:
Thou hast none heyre, thy lond to take,
For I{es}u love thy sonne hym~ make, 1985
As in the stede of me!â

(172)

[Sidenote:
The King of Greece agrees, and has the Boy baptized. The Boy is
christend Antony Fitzgriffin.]

The kyng said: âYf I may lyve,
Helpe and hold I shaÆÆ hym yeve
And receyve hym as my son~.
Sith thou hast this lond forsake, 1990
My riche londys I shaÆÆ hym~ take, [2091]
Whan he kepe them~ c{o}n~.â
To a ffont they hym yaue,
And crystonyd this yong knave;
Fro care he is wonne. 1995
The holy man yaue hym~ name,
That I{es}u shild hym~ ffrome shame:
Antony fice greffoun~.

[Linenote:
1992. _can_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL BEWAILS HER LOST CHILDREN.]

(173)

[Sidenote:
Desonell laments,]

âFader, than~ haue thou this ryng,
I ffound it on~ this swete thing, 2000
Kepe it, yf thou may: [2101]
It is good in euery {f}ight,
Yf god yeve grace, that he be knyght,
Be nyght {and} be day.â
Let we now this children~ dweÆÆ, 2005
And speke we more of DesoneÆÆ:
Her song was welaway. f. 109a.
God, that died vppon~ the Rode,
Yff grace, that she mete w{i}t{h} good!
Thus dispar{p}lid are thay. 2010

[Linenotes:
2002. _fight_] _sight_ MS.?
2004. _Other be_ MS.
_and_] _or forme of_ (!)Â MS.
2010. _disparlid_ MS.]

(174)

[Sidenote:
wanders among wild beasts,]

This lady walkyd aÆÆ alone [2111]
Amonge wyld bestis meny one,
Ne wanted she no Woo;
Anon~ the day be-gan to spryng,
And the ffoules gan to syng, 2015
With blis on euery bowÈe . . . . . . .

(175)

[Sidenote:
and bewails her lost children. Desonell flees from some hunters]

âByrdus and bestis, aye woo ye be!
Alone ye haue lefte me,
My children~ ye {have} slo{ne}.â
As she walkid than~ a-lone, 2020
She sye lordis on~ huntyng gone, [2121]
Nere hem~ she yede fuÆÆ sone.
This carfuÆÆ lady cried faste,
Than she herd this hornes blaste
By the yatis gone, 2025
But {ran} in to a wildernes,
Amongist beests that wyld w{e}s,
For drede, she shold be slone.

[Linenotes:
2018. _haue_] _a_ corrected out of _e_Â MS.
2019. _have sl._] _slough_ MS.
2026. _ran_] om. MS.
2027. _was_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL FLEES TO THE LAND OF NAZARETH.]

(176)

[Sidenote:
into the land of Nazareth.]

TiÆÆ it were vnder of the Day,
She went {fro} that wilsom~ way, 2030
In to a lond playn~. [2131]
The kyng of NaÈareth huntid there,
Among the hert{es}, that gentiÆÆ were;
There of she was fuÆÆ ffayn~ . . . . . . . . .

[Linenote:
2030. _fro_] _in_ MS.]

(177)

[Sidenote:
She sees the King,]

They had ferly, kyng and knyght, 2035
Whens she come, that lady bryght,
Dwelli{n}g here a-lone.
She said to a squier, that there stode:
âWho is lord of most jentiÆÆ blood?â
And he answerid her anon~: f. 109b. 2040
âThis ys the lond of NaÈareth, [2141]
Se, where the kyng gethe,
Of speche he is ffuÆÆ bone;
AÆÆ in gold couerid is he.â
âGramercy, s{ir},â said she, 2045
And nere hym~ gan~ she gone.

(178)

[Sidenote:
whose Lords greet her. Desonell says that her boys are dead, and she
is left alone.]

Lordys anon ageyn~ her yode,
For she was com~ of gentiÆÆ blood,
In her lond had they bene:
âGod loke the, lady ffree, 2050
What makist thou in this contre?â [2151]
âSir,â she said, âI wene,
Seynt Katryn~ I shold haue sought,
Wekyd weders me heder hath brought
In to this fforest grene, 2055
And aÆÆ is dede, I vnderstond,
Saue my selfe, that com~ to lond
With wyld beestis and kene.â

[Headnote: DESONELL IS WELCOMD BY THE QUEEN OF NAZARETH.]

(179)

[Sidenote:
She is taken to Nazareth, and welcomd by the Queen,]

âWelcom,â he said,â DesoneÆÆ,
By a tokyn~ I shaÆÆ the teÆÆ: 2060
Onys a stede I the sent. [2161]
Lady gent, ffeyre and ffree,
To the shold I haue wedid be,
My love was on~ the lent.â
Knyghtis and squiers, that there were, 2065
They horsid the lady there,
And to the Cite they went.
The quene was curtes of that lond
And toke the lady be the hond
And said: âWelcom, my lady gent! 2070

(180)

[Sidenote:
with whom she stays.]

âLady, thou art welcom~ here, [2171]
As it aÆÆ thyn~ own~ were, f. 110a.
AÆÆ this ffeyre contree!â
âOf one poynt was my care,
And my two children~ crystonyd ware, 2075
That in wood were reft ffro me.â
âWelcom art thou, DesoneÆÆ,
In my chamber for to dweÆÆ,
Inough there in shaÆÆ ye see!â
Leve we now that lady gent, 2080
And speke we of s{ir} Torrent, [2181]
That was gentiÆÆ and ffre.

[Linenote:
2076. _in_] _the_ add. MS.]

[[âWelcom art thou... _open quote invisible_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT HEARS OF THE EXILE OF DESONELL AND HER BOYS.]

(181)

[Sidenote:
Sir Torrent wonât stop in Norway, but goes back to Portugal.]

The kyng of Norway is fuÆÆ woo,
That s{ir} Torent wold wend hym ffro,
That doughty was and bold: 2085
âSir,â he said, âabyde here
And wed my dought{er}, that is me dere!â
He said, in no wise he wold.
He shipped oute of the kyng{es} sale
And Ryved vp in~ Portingale 2090
At another hold. [2191]
Whan~ he herd teÆÆ of DesoneÆÆ,
Swith on sownyng there he feÆÆ
To the ground so cold.

(182)

[Sidenote:
The false King Calamond of Portugal tells him that Desonell and her
2 Boys were sent out to sea.]

The fals kyng of Portingale, 2095
Sparid the yatis of his sale
For Torent the ffree;
He said: âBe Mary clere,
Thou shalt no wyfe haue here,
Go sech her in~ the see! 2100
With her she toke whelpis two, [2201]
To lerne to row wold she go.â
âBy god, thou liest,â quod he,
âKyng Colomand, here my hond!
And I be knyght levand, f. 110b. 2105
I-quytt shaÆÆ it be!â

(183)

[Sidenote:
Torrent gathers an army. Torrentâs knights]

Torent wold no lenger byde,
But sent letters on euery side
With fforce theder to hye.
Theder com oute of Aragon~ 2110
Noble knyght{es} of gret renown~ [2211]
With grett chevalrye.
Of P{er}vyns and Ca{l}aber also
Were doughty knyght{es} meny moo,
They come aÆÆ to that crye. 2115
Kyng Calomond had no knyght,
That with s{ir} Torent wold fyght,
Of aÆÆ that satt hym~ bye.

[Linenote:
2113. _Calaber_] _Cababer_ (!) MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SENDS THE KING OF PORTUGAL TO DROWN.]

(184)

[Sidenote:
and he are let into the chief City of Portugal, and resolve to send
the false King to sea]

There wold none the yatis deffend,
But lett s{ir} Torent in wend 2120
With his men~ euerychone. [2221]
Swith a counseÆÆ yede they to,
{To} what deth they wold hym do,
For he his lady had slone.
âLordis,â he said, âhe is a kyng, 2125
Men may hym~ nether hede ne h{i}ng.â
Thus said they euerychone.
They ordenyd a shipp aÆÆ of tree
And sett hym~ oute in~ to the see,
Among the wawes to gone. 2130

[Linenotes:
2123. _To_] om. MS.
2126. _hing_] _heng_ MS.]

(185)

[Sidenote:
in a boat full of holes.]

Gret lordis of that lond [2231]
Assentid to that com{n}and,
That hold shold it be.
In the havyn~ of Portyngale,
There stode shippes of hede vale 2135
Of Irun and of tree. f. 111a.
A bote of tre they brought hym be-fforn~,
FuÆÆ of holis it was born~,
HowseÆÆ and shryfte {wold} he.
Sir Torent said: âBe seynt Iohn~, 2140
Seth thou gaue my lady none, [2241]
No more men~ shaÆÆ do the!â

[Linenotes:
2132. _comland_ MS.
2138. _boryn_ MS.
2139. _wold_] _had_ MS.]

[[com{n}and _printed as shown: error for âcom{m}andâ?_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS MADE KING OF PORTUGAL.]

(186)

[Sidenote:
The false king Calamond is drownd, and Torrent is made King of
Portugal,]

The shipp-men~ brought s{ir} Colomond
And sent hym fforth within~ a stound
As ffar as it were. 2145
Wott ye weÆÆ and vnderstond,
He come never ayen to lond,
Such stormes ffound he there.
Gret lordys of renown~
Be-toke s{ir} Torent the crown~ 2150
To reioyse it there. [2251]
Loo, lordys of euery lond:
Falshode wyÆÆ haue a foule end,
And wyÆÆ haue euermore.

(187)

[Sidenote:
but he gives the land up to the Queen, and resolves to go to the
Holy-Land.]

Sir Torent dwellid thare 2155
Fourty days in moche care,
Season~ for to hold;
Sith he takith two knyght{es},
To kepe his lond and his right{es},
That doughty were and bold. 2160
âMadam~,â he said to the quene, [2261]
âHere than shaÆÆ ye lady bene,
To worth as ye wold.â
He purveyd hym~ anon~,
To wend ouer the see fome, 2165
There god was bought and sold.

[Linenote:
2161. _He said madam_ MS.]

(188)

[Sidenote:
His arms are 3 silver ships on an azure field. For love of Desonell,
Torrent leaves Portugal.]

And ye now wiÆÆ liston~ a stound,
How he toke armes of kyng Calomond, f. 111b.
Listonyth, what he bare.
O{n} asure, as ye may see, 2170
With sylu{er} shippes thre, [2271]
Who so had be thare.
For DesoneÆÆ is love so bryght,
His londis he takyth to a knyght,
And sith he is {boun} to fare. 2175
âPortyngale, haue good day
For Sevyn~ yere, p{ar}maffay,
P{ar} aventure som~ dele m{a}re!â

[Linenotes:
2170. This line begins with a big initial letter.
_Off_ MS.
2175. _boun_] _home_ MS.
2178. _more_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT TAKES THE CITY OF QUARELL.]

(189)

[Sidenote:
He besieges the City of Quarell for 2 years, and then takes it.]

Sir Torent passid the Grekys flood
In to a lond both riche and good, 2180
FuÆÆ evyn~ he toke the way [2281]
To the {cite} of QuareÆÆ,
As the boke of Rome doth teÆÆ,
There a soudan~ lay.
There he smote and set adown~ 2185
And yaue asaute in to the town,
That w{i}ÆÆ the storye say.
So weÆÆ they vetelid were,
That he lay there two yere,
Sith in~ the town~ went they. 2190

[Linenotes:
2182. _cite_] _see_ MS.
2187. _well_ MS.
_says_ MS.
2190. _And sith in to_ MS.]

(190)

[Sidenote:
He has its inhabitants kild, and shares its booty among his men.]

And tho s{ir} Torent ffound on~ lyve, [2291]
He comaundid with spere and knyffe
Smertely dede to be;
He said: âWe haue be here
Moche of this two yere 2195
And onward on~ the thr{e}.â
AÆÆ the good, that s{ir} Torent wan~,
He p{ar}tid it among his m{a}n~,
Syluer, gold and ffee;
And sith he is boun to ride f. 112a. 2200
To a Cite there be-syde, [2301]
That was worth such thre.

[Linenotes:
2196. _thrid_ MS.
2198. _men_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT TAKES ANOTHER CITY, AND GOES TO ANTIOCH.]

(191)

[Sidenote:
Torrent then besieges another heathen City for 6 years. All its folk
die of hunger.]

There he stode and smote adown~
And leyd sege to the town~,
Six yere there he lay. 2205
By the VI yere were aÆÆ done,
With honger they were aÆÆ slone,
That in the Cite lay.
{The} Soudan sent to s{ir} Torent than~,
With honger that thes people be slan, 2210
AÆÆ the folke of this Cite; [2311]
âYf ye thinke here to lye,
Ye shaÆÆ haue wyne and spycery,
I-nough is in this contre.â

[Linenotes:
2209. _The_] _A_ MS.
2209-14 put before 2203-8 MS.
2210. _slayn_ MS.
2211. _thes_ MS.]

(192)

[Sidenote:
Torrent kills the Sultan,]

Now god do his soule mede! 2215
On the soudan~ he had a dede
Vppon~ euery good ffryday.
I{es}u sent hym strengith I-nough~,
With dynt of sword he hym slough~,
There went none quyk away. 2220
Down knelid that knyght [2321]
And thankid god with aÆÆ his myÈt~:
So ought he weÆÆ to say.
The Cite, that s{ir} Torent was yn~,
Worldely goodis he left ther yn~, 2225
To kepe it nyght and day.

(193)

[Sidenote:
goes to Antioch, and fights every good Friday.]

Sith he buskyd hym~ to ride
In to a lond there be-syde, f. 112b.
Antioche it hight.
Sevyn~ yere at the Cite he lay 2230
And had bateÆÆ euery good ffryday, [2331]
Vppon~ the SarÈins bryght;
And be the VII yere were gone,
The child, that the liberd had tane,
Found hym his fiÆÆ off ffyght . . . . . . 2235

[Linenote:
2230-32 put before 2227-29 MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENTâS SON LEOBERTUS FIGHTS AGAINST HIM.]

(194)

[Sidenote:
The King of Jerusalem sends 50,000 knights,]

The kyng of Ierusalem~ herd teÆÆ
Of this lord good and feÆÆ,
How doughtyly he hym bare.
Vppon~ his knyght{es} can he caÆÆ,
âOrdeyn~ swith among you aÆÆ, 2240
For no thing that ye spare!â [2341]
They buskyd hem oute of the land,
The nombre off ffyfty thousa{n}d,
Ageyn Torent ffor to ffare . . . .

[Linenote:
2243. _thousaid_ MS.]

(195)

[Sidenote:
and his adopted son Leobertus (Torrentâs second boy)]

The kyng of Ierusalem said thus: 2245
âMy dere son, Liobertus,
That thou be bold and wight!
Thou shalt be here and defend the lond
From that fals trayto{r}s hond
And take the ordre of a knyght.â 2250
He yaue hym armes, or he did passe: [2351]
Right as he ffound was,
O{n} gold he bare bryght
A liberd of asure bla
A child be-twene his armes twa: 2255
Woo was her, that {se} it {my}ght!

[Linenotes:
2246. _Liobertious_ MS.
2253. _On_] _Of_ MS.
2254. _blay_ (!) MS.
2255. _tway_ MS.
2256. _ffulle woo_ MS.
_se it m._] _it ought_ MS.]

(196)

[Sidenote:
against Torrent. Torrentâs son Leobertus captures him.]

Sir Torent wold no lenger abyde,
But thederward gan~ he ride;
And to the feld were brought
Two knyght{es}, that were there in stede; f. 113a. 2260
Many a man did they to blede, [2361]
Such woundis they wrought.
There durst no man com~ Torent nere,
But his son, as ye may here,
Though he knew hym nought. 2265
AÆÆ to nought he bet his shild,
But he toke his fader in the feld,
Though he there of eviÆÆ thought.

[Headnote: TORRENT IS IMPRISOND IN JERUSALEM.]

(197)

[Sidenote:
Torrent is taken to Jerusalem]

Whan~ s{ir} Torent was takyn~ than~,
His men fled than~, euery man~, 2270
They durst no lenger abyde. [2371]
Gret ruth it was to be hold,
How his sword he did vp-hold
To his son~ that tyde.
To Ierusalem~ he did hym~ lede, 2275
His actone and his other wede,
AÆÆ be the kyngis side;
âSir,â he said, âhaue no care,
Thou shalte lyve and welfare,
But lower ys thy pryde!â 2280

(198)

[Sidenote:
and thrust into prison, where his son Leobertus hears him lament a
whole year.]

Fro that s{ir} Torent was h{o}m brought, [2381]
Doughty men~ vppon~ hym~ sought,
And in preson~ they hym~ thro{ng}e.
His son above his hede lay,
To kepe hym~ both nyÈt and day, 2285
He wist weÆÆ, that he was strong.
Thus in p{re}son as he was,
Sore he siÈed and said alas,
He couth none other songe.
Thus in bondys they held hym thare f. 113b. 2290
A twelfmonyth and som dele mare, [2391]
The knyght thought ffuÆÆ long.

[Linenotes:
2281. _hom_] _hem_ MS.
2283. _And and_ (!) MS.
_throuÈe_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENTâS SON ASKS FOR HIS FATHERâS FREEDOM.]

(199)

[Sidenote:
Torrent appeals to God who once enabled him to kill Dragons and
Giants.]

In a mornyng as he lay,
To hym selfe gan~ he say:
âWhy lye I thus alone? 2295
God, hast thou forsakyn~ me?
AÆÆ my truste was in the,
In lond where I haue gone!
Thou gave me myÈt ffor to slee
Dragons two other thre 2300
And giauntes meny one, [2401]
And now a man~ in wekid lond
Hath myn~ armo{ur} and stede in~ hond:
I wold, my liffe were done!â

[Linenote:
2299. _flee_ MS.!]

(200)

[Sidenote:
His son Leobertus hears him, and promises to get him freed.]

His son herd hym~ say soo 2305
And in his hert was fuÆÆ woo,
In chamber there he lay;
âSir,â he said, âI haue thy wede,
There shaÆÆ no man reioyse thy stede,
Yf so be, that I may. 2310
By oure lady seynt Mary, [2411]
Here shalt thou no lenger lye,
Nether be nyÈt~ ne be day;
As I am~ Curtesse and hend,
To the kyng I shaÆÆ wend, 2315
And ffor thy love {hym} pray!â

[Linenotes:
2313. _Nether be day ne be nyÈt_ MS.
2316. _ffor thy love and pray this nyÈt_ MS.]

(201)

[Sidenote:
Leobertus asks the King of Jerusalem for Torrent. The King of
Jerusalem grants Torrent to his elder son,]

On~ the morow whan~ he Rose,
The prynce to the kyng gose
And knelid vppon~ his knee;
âSir,â he said, âffor godd{us} sonne, f. 114a. 2320
The knyght, that lieth in the dungeon~, [2421]
Ye wold graunt hym~ me!
I hard hym say be hym~ alone,
Many Geaunt{es} had he slone
And dragons II or thre.â 2325
The kyng said: âBe my ffay,
Be warr~, he scape not away;
I vouch hym saue on the!â

[Headnote: TORRENT IS FREED, AND HONOURD IN JERUSALEM.]

(202)

[Sidenote:
who frees him from prison, thoâ still fettering him.]

The prynce in to the p{re}son went,
Torent by the hond he hent 2330
Oute of his bondys cold; [2431]
To the casteÆÆ he brought hym sone
And light ffettouris did hym~ vppon~,
For brekyng oute off hold.
The kyng said: âBe my ffaye, 2335
And he euer scape away,
FuÆÆ dere he shaÆÆ be sold!â
âSir,â he said, âp{ar}maffay,
We wyÆÆ hym~ kepe, and we may:
There of be ye bold!â 2340

[Linenote:
2331. _And toke hym oute_ MS.]

(203)

[Sidenote:
Torrent dines with the King, and promises to teach his son Leobertus
spearcraft.]

For he was curtes knyght & free, [2441]
At the mete sett was he
By the kyng at the deyse.
âSir, thou haste i-bene
At Iustis and at tornement{es} kene, 2345
Both in warr~ and in peas:
Sith thy dwelling shaÆÆ be here,
{I pray}, that thou woldist my son~ lere,
Hys Tymber ffor to asay.â
âSir,â he said, âI vnderstond, 2350
Affter the maner off my lond f. 114b. [2451]
I shaÆÆ, with outen {delay}.â

[Linenotes:
2348. _I pray_] om. MS.
2352. _delay_] _lese_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT JOUSTS WITH HIS ELDER SON, AND OTHERS.]

(204)

[Sidenote:
The jousts at Jerusalem. Torrentâs son Leobertus breaks 3 shafts on
his Father.]

The casteÆÆ court was large w{i}t{h} in~,
They made ryngis ffor to Ren~,
None but they alone. 2355
Euery of hem to oþ{ur}e R{a}de:
Feyrer Tur{na}ment{es} than they made,
Men sye never none.
The prynce in armes was fuÆÆ preste,
Thre shaftys on~ his fader he breste, 2360
In shevers they gan gone. [2461]
Sir Torent said: âSo mvt I thee,
A man of armes shaÆÆ thou be,
Stalworth of blood and bone!â

[Linenotes:
2356. _Rode_ MS.
2357. _Turmentes_ MS.]

(205)

[Sidenote:
The jousts last 6 weeks. A Feast is held.]

Harroldys of armes cryed on~ hight, 2365
The prynce and that other knyght
No more juste shaÆÆ thay;
But lordys of other lond,
Euery one to other ffond,
And sith went theyre way. 2370
Sixe wekys he dwellid there, [2471]
TiÆÆ that aÆÆ delyu{er}d were,
That in the Cite {lay}.
Tho they held a gestonye,
With aÆÆ man{er} of mynstralsye, 2375
TyÆÆ the Sevynth day.

[Linenote:
2373. _lay_] _were_ MS.]

(206)

[Sidenote:
Torrent is declared victor. The King of Jerusalem promises to
support Torrent.]

Lordis with aÆÆ other thing
Toke leve at the kyng,
Home theyre ways to passe.
That tyme they yaue Torent the floure 2380
And the gre with moch honowre, f. 115a. [2481]
As he weÆÆ worthy was.
The kyng said: âI shaÆÆ the yeve
Liffe and lyvelode, whiÆÆ I lyve,
Thyn armo{ur}, as it was.â 2385
Whan he sye ffeyre ladyes wend,
He thought on her, that was so hend,
And sighed and said: âAlas!â

[Headnote: DESONELL IS TOLD OF TORRENTâS VICTORY.]

(207)

[Sidenote:
The King of Nazareth]

The kyng of NaÈareth home went,
There that his lady lent, 2390
In his own~ lede. [2491]
âSir,â she said, âffor godd{us} pite,
What gentilman~ wan~ the gre?â
He said, âSo god me spede,
One of the ffeyrest knyghtis, 2395
That slepith on~ som{er} nyght{es}
Or walkyd in wede;
He is so large of lym~ and lith,
AÆÆ the world he hath justid with,
That come to that dede.â 2400

(208)

[Sidenote:
tells Desonell that the Victor (Torrent) has an armd Giant as his
crest.]

âGood lord,â said DesoneÆÆ, [2501]
âFor godd{us} love ye me teÆÆ,
What armes that {h}e bare!â
âDamyseÆÆ, also muste I the,
Syluer and asure beryth he, 2405
That wott I weÆÆ thare.
His Creste is a noble lond,
A Gyaunt with an~ hoke in~ hond,
This wott I weÆÆ, he bare.
He is so stiff at euery stoure, 2410
He is prynce and victoure, [2511]
He wynneth the gree aye where. f. 115b.

[Linenote:
2403. _he_] _ye_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT AND HIS 2 SONS GO TO A JOUSTING.]

(209)

[Sidenote:
The Victor is a Knight of Portugal. The King of Nazareth proclaims a
Jousting.]

Of Portyngale a knyght he ys,
He wanne the town~ of Raynes
And the Cite of Quarell{e}; 2415
At the last jurney that was sett,
The prynce, my broders son~ {he mett},
And in his hond he ffeÆÆ.
The prynce of Grece leth nere
There may no juster be his pere, 2420
For soth as I you teÆÆ: [2521]
A dede of armes I shaÆÆ do crye
And send after hym~ in hye.â
Blith was DesoneÆÆ.

[Linenotes:
2415. _Quarellis_ MS.
2416. _that_] _he_ add. MS.
2417. _he m._] _was gatt_ MS.]

(210)

[Sidenote:
The King of Jerusalem sends Torrent and his elder son Leobertus
to it. The King of Greece brings the younger son, Antony
Fitzgriffin.]

This dede was cried ffar and nere, 2425
The kyng of Ierusalem did it here,
In what lond that it shold be.
He said: âSone, anon right
Dight the and thy cryston~ knyght,
For sothe, theder wiÆÆ we.â 2430
Gret lordys, that herith this crye, [2531]
Theder come richely,
Everyman~ in his degre.
The kyng of Grece did {make hym boun},
With hym~ come Antony ffyÈ greffon~, 2435
With moche solempnite . . . . . . .

[Linenote:
2434. _make hym b._] _assigne_ MS.]

(211)

[Sidenote:
The Jousting is for a lady.]

âThe kyng of NaÈareth sent me,
That there shold a justynge be
Of meny a cryston~ knyght,
And aÆÆ is ffor a lady clere, 2440
That the justyng is cryed ffar and nere, f. 116a. [2541]
Of men~ of armes bryght.â
Gret joye it was to here teÆÆ,
How thes kyng{es} w{i}t{h} the knyghtis feÆÆ
Come and semled to that ffyght. 2445

[Linenote:
2445. _semlend_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE JOUSTS AT NAZARETH BEGIN.]

(212)

[Sidenote:
Many folk come to the jousts. They sup and sleep,]

There come meny another m{o}n~,
That thought there to haue to done,
And than~ to wend her way.
Whan~ they come to the casteÆÆ gent,
A RoaÆÆ ffyght, verament, 2450
There was, the sothe to say. [2551]
Trompes resyn~ on the waÆÆ,
Lordys assembled in the haÆÆ,
And sith to souper yede thay.
They were recevid w{i}t{h} rialte, 2455
Euery man~ in his degre,
And to her logyng went her way.

[Linenote:
2446. _man_ MS.]

(213)

[Sidenote:
rise, hear Mass, and dine, then mount,]

The lordys Rosyn aÆÆ be-dene
On the morow, as I wene,
And went masse ffor to here. 2460
And ffurthermore w{i}t{h}-oute lent [2561]
They wesh and to mete went,
For to the ffeld they wold there.
After mete anon~ right
They axid hors and armes bryght, 2465
To hors-bak went thay in ffere.
Knyghtis and lordys reuelid aÆÆ,
And ladyes lay ou{er} the casteÆÆ waÆÆ,
That semely to se were.

(214)

[Sidenote:
and begin to joust. Torrentâs 2 sons joust. The younger, Antony,
unhorses his brother Leobertus.]

Than~ eueryman toke spere in~ hond, 2470
And euerych to other ffond, [2571]
Smert boffett{es} there they yeld. f. 116b.
The prynce of Ierusalem~ and his brother,
Eueriche of hem~ Ran to other~
Smertely in the feld . . . . . . . . 2475
Though~ Antony ffygryffon~ yonger were,
His brother Leobert{us} he can down~ bere;
Sir Torent stode and be-held.

[Linenotes:
2471. _ffound_ MS.
2472. _there th. y._] _they yeldyd there_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT AND HIS SONS JOUST. HE IS VICTOR.]

(215)

âBe my trouth,â said Torent thanne,
âAs I am~ a cryston~ man 2480
I-quytt shaÆÆ it be.â [2581]
Torent be-strode a stede strong
And hent a tymber gret and long,
And to hym~ rode he.

[Linenote:
2483 put before 2482 MS.]

(216)

[Sidenote:
Torrent rides down his younger son. He and his sons are the best
jousters.]

Torrent to hym rode so sore, 2485
That he to the ground hym~ bare,
And let hym~ lye in~ the {bent}.
There was no man~ hyÈe ne lowe,
That myght make Torent to bowe
Ne his bak to bend. 2490
They justyd and turneyd there, [2591]
And eueryman~ ffound his pere,
There was caught no dethis d{e}nt.
Of aÆÆ the Justis, that there ware,
Torent the floure a way bare 2495
And his sonnys, {verament}.

[Linenotes:
2485 f.:
_Torrent so sore to hym rode,
That he bare hym to the ground_Â MS.
2487. _bent_] _ffeld_ MS.
2493. _dynt_ MS.
2496. _ver._] _in that tyde_ MS.]

(217)

[Sidenote:
Desonell greets Torrent, and swoons.]

And on~ the morow, whan~ it was day,
Amonge aÆÆ the lordys gay,
That worthy were, {par de},
DesoneÆÆ wold no lenger lend, 2500
But to s{ir} Torent gan~ she wend [2601]
And knelid on her kne.
She said: âWelcom~, my lord s{ir} Torent!â
âAnd so be ye, my lady gent!â f. 117a.
In sownyng than feÆÆ she. 2505
Vp they cou{er}yd that lady hend,
And to mete did they wend
With joye and solempnite.

[Linenotes:
2499. _par de_] _in wede_ MS.
2502. _And on her kne she knelid_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL GREETS TORRENT. HER BEAUTY.]

(218)

[Sidenote:
All go to Dinner.]

Dame DesoneÆÆ be-sought the kyng.
That she myght, with oute lesyng, 2510
Sytt with Torent alone. [2611]
âYes, lady, be hevyn~ kyng,
There shaÆÆ be no lettyng;
Worthy is he, be seynt Iohn~!â
Tho they washid and went to mete, 2515
And rially they were sett
And s{er}uid worthely, {echone}.
Euery lord in~ the haÆÆ,
As his state wold be-ffaÆÆ,
Were couplid with ladyes {schone}. 2520

[Linenotes:
2514. _ffor welle worthy_ MS.
2517. _echone_] _verament_ MS.
2520. _schone_] _gent_ MS.]

(219)

[Sidenote:
Desonell is the fairest lady. The Kings of Jerusalem and Greece go
to the]

But of aÆÆ ladyes, that were there sene, [2621]
So ffeire myght there none bene
As was dame DesoneÆÆ. . . . . . . .
Thes two kyngis, that doughty ys,
To the Cite come, i-wys, 2525
With moche meyne {emell}.

[Linenote:
2526. _emell_] om. MS.]

(220)

[Sidenote:
King of Nazarethâs Castle. Desonell sits by Torrent.]

To the casteÆÆ they toke the way,
There the kyng of NaÈareth lay,
With hym~ to speke on high~.
At none the quene ete in~ the haÆÆ, 2530
Amongist the ladyes ou{er} aÆÆ, [2631]
That couth moche curtesye.
DesoneÆÆ wold not lett,
By s{ir} Torent she her sett,
There of they had {envye} . . . . . . 2535

[Linenote:
2535. _envye_] _wonder_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL FINDS HER TWO SONS BY TORRENT.]

(221)

[Sidenote:
She tells the Lords how her Father sent her and her 2 Boys to sea;]

Whan~ eyther of hem other be-held,
Off care no thyng they ffeld, f. 117b.
Bothe her hert{es} were blithe.
Gret lordys told she sone,
What poyntes he had for her done, 2540
They be-gan to be blithe; [2641]
And how her {fader} in the see did her do,
With her she had men~ childre two;
They waried hym~ feÆÆ sithe.
âSir kyng, in this wildernes, 2545
My two children~ fro me revid w{e}s,
I may no lenger hem~ hide.

[Linenotes:
2542. _fader_] om. MS.
2546. _was_ MS.]

(222)

[Sidenote:
and how one was carried off by a Griffin, and the other by a
Leopard. Leobertus and Antony are these boys.]

âThe knyght yaue me ryng{es} two,
Euerich of hem~ had one of thoo,
Better saw I never none. 2550
A Gryffon~ bare the one away, [2651]
A liberd the other, p{ar}maffay,
Down~ by a Roche of stone.â
Than~ said the kyng of Ierusalem~:
âI ffound one by a water streme, 2555
He levith w{i}t{h} blood & bone.â
The kyng of Grece said: âMy brother,
Antony my son~ brought me anoþ{ur}e.â
She saith: âSoth, be seynt Iohn~?â

[Linenote:
2556. _levith_] _yet_ add. MS.]

[[âThe knyght yaue me... _open quote invisible_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT INVITES 3 KINGS TO PORTUGAL.]

(223)

[Sidenote:
Torrentâs 2 Sons kneel and ask his blessing. He rejoices in them and
their Mother,]

The kyng said: âSith it is so, 2560
Kys ye youre fader bo, [2661]
And axe hym~ his blessyng!â
Down~ they knelid on~ her knee:
âThy blessing, ffader, for charite!â
âWelcom~, children~ y{i}ng!â 2565
Thus in armes he hem~ hent,
A blither man~ than~ s{ir} Torent
Was there none levyng; f. 118a.
It was no wonder, thouÈe it so were;
He had his wiffe and his children~ there, 2570
His joye be-gan~ to spryng. [2671]

[Linenotes:
2561. _bothe_ MS.
2565. _yong_ MS.]

(224)

[Sidenote:
and thanks the Kings for taking care of them. He asks the Kings to
Portugal.]

Of aÆÆ the justis, that were thare,
A way the gre his sonnys bare,
That doughty were in dede.
Torent knelid vppon~ his knee 2575
And said: âGod yeld you, lordys ffree,
Thes children~ that ye haue ffed:
Euer we wiÆÆ be at youre wiÆÆ,
What jurney ye wiÆÆ put vs tyÆÆ,
So I{es}u be oure spede, 2580
With that the kyng thre [2681]
In to my lond wiÆÆ wend w{i}t{h} me,
For to wreke oure stede.â

(225)

[Sidenote:
All agree to go. Their ships arrive at Portugal.]

They graunted that there was,
Gret lordys more and lesse, 2585
Bothe knyght and squiere;
And with DesoneÆÆ went
Al the ladyes, that were gent,
That of valew were.
Shippis had they stiff and strong, 2590
Maistis gret and sayles long, [2691]
Hend, as ye may here,
And markyd in to Portingale,
Whan~ they had pullid vp her sayÆÆ,
With a wynd so clere. 2595

[Headnote: TORRENT, DESONELL, AND THEIR SONS, GO TO PORTUGAL.]

(226)

[Sidenote:
The Queen]

The riche quene of that lond
In her casteÆÆ toure gan stond
And be-held in~-to the see.
âSone,â she said to a knyght,
âYonder of shippis I haue a sight, f. 118b. 2600
For sothe, a grett meyne.â [2701]
The quene said: âVerament,
I se the armes of s{ir} Torent,
I wott weÆÆ, it is he.â
He answerid and said tho: 2605
âMadam, I wiÆÆ, that it be so,
God gefe grace, that it so be!â

[Linenote:
2605-7 put before 2602-4 MS.]

(227)

[Sidenote:
welcomes Torrent and his friends, and swoons when she sees her
daughter Desonell.]

A blither lady myÈt none be,
She went ageyn hym~ to the see
With armed knyght{es} kene. 2610
Torent she toke by the hond: [2711]
âLordys of vncouth lond,
Welcom muste ye bene!â
Whan she sye DesoneÆÆ,
Swith in~ sownyng she feÆÆ 2615
To the ground so {gr}ene.
Torent gan~ her vp ta:
âHere bene her children~ twa,
On lyve thou shalt hem see{ne}!â

[Linenotes:
2616. _grene_] _kene_ MS.
2619. _see_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT WEDS DESONELL. HIS SONS MADE HEIRS OF KINGS.]

(228)

[Sidenote:
Torrent holds a great feast, and weds Desonell.]

In the CasteÆÆ of Portyngale 2620
A-Rose trumpes {of} hede vale, [2721]
To mete they went on~ hye.
He sent letters ffar and nere;
The lordys, that of valew were,
They come to that gestonye. 2625
The Emp{er}oure of Rome,
To that gestonye he come,
A noble knyght on~ hyÈe.
Whan~ aÆÆ thes lordys com w{e}re,
Torrent weddid that lady clere, 2630
A justyng did he crye. [2731]

[Linenotes:
2621. _of_] om. MS.
2629. _ware_ MS.]

(229)

So it ffeÆÆ vppon a day, f. 119a.
The kyng of Ierusalem~ gan say:
âSir, thy sonne I ffound
Lying in a libert{es} mouth, 2635
And no good he ne couth,
Dede he was nere hond:
Wold thou, that he dwellid w{i}t{h} me,
TiÆÆ that I dede be,
And sith reioyse my lond?â . . . . . . 2640

(230)

[Sidenote:
He gives his son Leobertus as heir to the King of Jerusalem; and his
son Antony as heir to the King of Greece. Torrent is elected
Emperor.]

Be fore lordys of gret renown~, [2741]
Torent gaue hym~ his son~ . . . . . . . .
The kyng of Grece said: âS{ir} knyght,
I yeff thy son aÆÆ my right
To the Grekys flood: 2645
Wouch thou saue, he dweÆÆ w{i}t{h} me?â
âYea, Lord, so mut I thee,
God yeld you aÆÆ this good!â
For s{ir} Torent was stiff in stoure,
They chose hym ffor Emp{er}oure, 2650
Beste of bone and blood. [2751]

[Linenote:
2645. _flood_] _I plight_ add. MS.]

[[_stanza printed with indentation as shown_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS MADE EMPEROR. HE DIES.]

(231)

[Sidenote:
Torrent gives his 2 Sons a Sword each. He lies in a fair Abbey.]

Gret lordys, that there were,
Fourty days dwellith there,
And sith they yode her way;
He yaue his sonnys, as ye may here, 2655
Two swerdys, that were hym~ dere,
Ech of hem~ one had they.
Sith he did make vp-tyed
Chirchus and abbeys wyde,
For hym~ and his to praye. 2660
In Rome this Romans berith the crown~ [2761]
Of aÆÆ kerpyng of Renown~:
He leyth in a feire abbey.

[Linenotes:
2654. _And sith her way they yode_ MS.
2663. _leyth_] _in Rome_ add. MS.]

(232)

[Sidenote:
May Christ grant us Heaven!]

Now I{es}u Cryst, that aÆÆ hath wrought,
As he on the Rode vs bought, f. 119b. 2665
He geve hvs his blessing,
And as he died for you and me,
He graunt vs in blis to be,
{Lesse and mare, both old and ying!} Amen.

[Linenote:
2669. _Oute of this world whan~ we shalle wend_Â MS.]

Explicit Torent of Portyngale.

THE FRAGMENTS.

I.[F1]

[Footnote F1: In Halliwellâs edition III.]

[_The King of Portugal plots Torrentâs death._]

[Sidenote:
Desonell gives Torrent a Horse which the King of Nazareth had sent
her.]

[T] . . . est hym vp . . . . 462
. . . . . chent be for to fle
. . . . . ly ivyll he gone 464
The kynge of Nazareth sent hym me,
Torent, I wot-saue hym on the,
For better loue I none!â 467

[Sidenote:
The King treacherously asks Torrent to get Desonell a Falcon]

Afterwarde vpon a tyde,
As they walkyd by the ryvers syde,
The kynge and yonge Torent, 470
This lorde wolde fayne, that he dede were
And he wyst nat, on what manere,
Howe he myght hym shent. 473
A fals letter made the kynge
And made a messangere it brynge,
On the ryuer syde as they went, 476
To Torent, that was true as stele,
If he loued Dyssonell wele,
Gete hir a faucon gent. 479

Torent the letter began to rede,
The kynge came nere and lystened,
As thoughe he it neuer had sene. 482
The kynge sayde, âwhat may this be?â
âLorde, it is sent to me
For a faucon shene; 485

[Sidenote:
from the Forest of Magdalen.]

I ne wote, so God me spede,
In what londe that they brede.â
The kynge sayde, âas I herde sayne, 488
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
In the forest of Maudelayne 491

[Headnote: FRAG. 2. TORRENT GOES TO THE FOREST OF MAUDELAYNE.]

II.[F2]

[Footnote F2: In Halliwellâs edition II.]

[Sidenote:
Torrent agrees to do it.]

Than sayde [the] kyn[g] vntrue, 492
âAnd ye fynde haw[k]es of great value,
Brynge me one with the!â 494
Torent sayd: âso God me saue,
Yf it betyde, that I any haue,
At your wyll shall they be.â 497

[Sidenote:
He rides]

To his squyer bade he thare,
After his armoure to fare,
In the felde abode he; 500
They armed hym in his wede,
He bestrode a noble stede
. . . . . . . . . . 503

[Sidenote:
to the Forest of Magdalen, gets separated from his Squire,]

Torent toke the way agayne
Unto the forest of Maudelayne,
In a wylsome way; 506
Berys and apes there founde he
And wylde bestys great plente
And lyons, where they lay. 509
In a wode, that is tyght,
It drewe towarde the nyght.
By dymmynge of the day 512
Lysten, lordes, of them came wo,
He and his squyer departed in two,
Carefull men then were they. 515

At a shedynge of a rome
Eyther departed other frome,
As I vnderstande. 518
Torent taketh a dolefull way
Downe into a depe valay,
. . . . . . . . . . 521

[Headnote: FRAG. 3. TORRENT IS TO FIGHT THE CALABRIAN GIANT, SLOGUS.]

III.[F3]

[Footnote F3: In Halliwellâs edition VI.]

[_The King of Portugal sends Torrent to be kild by the Giant Slogus._]

[Sidenote:
Torrent sits at the head of a side table. The King asks Torrent if
heâll]

. . . . . . . . . . . . 819
And the good squyres after h[ym],
That knyghtes sholde be. 821
As they were a-myddes theyr . . .
The kynge wolde not forgete,
To Torente than sayd he, 824

[Sidenote:
do a deed of arms for Desonell.]

He sayd: âso god me saue,
Fayne thou woldest my dough[ter haue],
Thou hast loued her many a d[aye].â 827
âYe, by my trouthe,â sayd Torente,
âAnd I were a ryche man,
Ryght gladly by my faye.â 830
âIf thou durst for her sake
A poynte of armes vndertake,
Thou broke her vp for ay.â 833

[Sidenote:
âYes,â says Torrent.]

âYe,â sayde he, âor I go,
Sykernes thou make me so
Of thy doughter hende. 836
Ye and after all my ryghtes
By VII score of hardy knyghtesâ
Al they were Torentes frende. 839
âNow, good lordes, I you praye,
Bere wytnes of this day
Agayne yf god me sende!â 842

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

Torente sayd, âso may I the,
Wyst I, where my jorney shold [be],
Thyder I wolde me dyghte.â 845
The kyng gaue hym an answ[e]re,
âIn the londe of Caleb[e]re
There wonneth a gyaunte wygh[hte] 848
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Slogus he hyght as I the tolde,
God sende the that waye ryghte!â 851

[[_all lines indented as shown_]]

[Headnote: FRAG. 4. TORRENT WILL NOT GIVE UP HIS GIANT-FIGHT.]

IV.[F4]

[Footnote F4: In Halliwellâs edition V.]

[_Torrent is offerd a Princess of Provyns._]

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

. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
For why I wyll the saye, 917
Moche folke of that countre
Cometh heder for socoure to me,
Bothe by nyghte and by daye. 920
There is a gyaunte of grete renowne,
He destroyeth bothe cyte and towne
And all that he may. 923
As bokes of rome tell,
He was goten with the deuyll of hell,
As his moder slepynge lay.â 926

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

The kynge sayde, âby Saynt Adryan,
I rede, a nother gentylman
Be there and haue the degre. 929
I haue a doughter, that me is dere,
Thou shalte wedde her to thy fere,
And yf it thy wyll be, 932
Two duchyes in honde
I wyll gyue her in londe.â
âGramercy, syr,â sayd he, 935
âWith my tonge I haue so wrought,
To breke my day wyll I nought,
Nedes me behoueth there to be.â 938

[Sidenote:
Torrent starts,]

âOn Goddes name,â the kynge gan sayne,
âIe{s}u brynge the saffe agayne,
Lorde, moche of myght!â 941
Mynstralsy was them amonge,
With harpe, fedyll and songe,
Delycyous notes on hygh[t]e. 944
Whan it was tyme, to bed they wente,
And on the morowe rose Torente
And toke leue of kynge and knyght 947
And toke a redy way.

[Headnote: FRAG. 5. TORRENT HEARS OF THE CALABRIAN GIANT, SLOGUS.]

Fragment V.[F5]

[Footnote F5: In Halliwellâs edition IV.]

By the se syde as it lay,
God sende hym gatys ryght! 950

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

An hye waye hath he nome,
Into Calabre is he come
Within two dayes or thre. 953
So he met folke hym agayne,
Fast comynge with carte and wayne
Frowarde the se. 956
âDere God,â sayd Torente now,
âGood folke, what eyleth you,
That ye thus fast fle?â 959
âThere lyeth a gyaunte here besyde,
For all this londe brode and wyde
No man on lyue leueth he.â 962

âDere God,â sayd Torente then,
âWher euer be that fendes den?â
They answered hym anone: 965
âIn a castell in the see,
Slogusâ they sayd âhyght he,
Many a man he hath slone. 968

[Sidenote:
The Giant Slogus is in Hungary.]

We wote full well, where he doth ly
Byfore the cyte of Hungry,â
. . . . . . . . . . 971

[Headnote: FRAG. 6. TORRENT FIGHTS A GIANT. DESONELL HAS TWINS.]

VI.[F6]

[Footnote F6: Printed in _Englische Studien_, VII. p. 347Â f.]

[_Torrent fights the Giant._]

[Sidenote:
The giant says heâll wring Torrentâs nose. His Crook is 13 ft. long.
Torrent charges, pierces the Giantâs eye, and makes him roar.]

. . . . . . all the wrynge, 1014
. . . . . . . . lynge
. . . . . . . . . thou the 1016
. . . . . . . . he toke,
. . . . . . . . bare a croke
. . . . . . . . te longe and thre 1019
. . . . . . ever so longe were
. . . . . . . . had no fere
. . . . yd darste thou come nere 1022
. . . . . nte nolengre a-byde
. . . . . nte wolde he ryde
. . . . ghte. 1025
. . . . one eye but one,
. . . . . . neuer none,
. . . nor by nyght. 1028
. . . . lpe of god of heuen,
. . . . . herin euen,
. . . . . . . . . . . . 1031
. . . . gan to rore,
. . . . the cyte wore,
. . . ay. 1034
. . . . es eyen were oute
. . . . . . . . boute
. . . . . . . . . . . 1037

[[_all line-initial dots are printed as shown; for the most
accurate reproduction, use a fixed-pitch font_]]

[Headnote: FRAG. 7. DESONELL AND HER TWINS ARE SENT TO SEA.]

VII.[F7]

[Footnote F7: In Halliwellâs edition I.]

[_Desonell bears twins. All are sent out to sea. They reach land._]

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

Thus the lady dwelled there, 1807
Tyll that she delyuered were
Of men chyldren two. 1809
Of all poyntes were they gent,
Lyke were they to Sir Torent,
For his loue suffred they wo. 1812
The kynge sayd, âso mote I the,
Thou shalt into the se
Without wordes mo. 1815
Every kynges doughter fer and nere
At the they shall lere,
Agaynst right to do!â 1818

[Sidenote:
She is led from his land. The Queen bewails her daughterâs fate.]

Great ruthe it was to se,
Whan they led that lady fre
Out of hir faders lande. 1821
The quene, hir moder, was nere wode
For hir doughter, that gentyll fode,
Knyghtes stode wepynge.[F8] 1824

[Footnote F8: wepande.]

[Sidenote:
Desonell is sent to sea.]

A clothe of sylke toke they tho,
And departed it bytwene the chyldren two,
Therin they were wonde. 1827
Whan they had shypped that gentyll thynge,
Anone she fell in swownynge
At Peron on the sonde. 1830
Whan that lady was downe fall,
On Iesu Cryste dyd she call.
To defende hir with his honde: 1833

[Sidenote:
She prays to Christ for her children.]

âRightfull God, ye me sende
Some good londe on to lende,
That my chyldren may crystened be[n].â 1836
She sayd, âladyes fayre and gent,
Great well my lorde Sir Torent,
Yf euer ye hym se[n]!â 1839
The wynde arose on the myght,
Fro the londe it blewe that lady bryght
Into the se so grene. 1842

[Headnote: FRAG. 7. DESONELL AND HER TWINS REACH LAND.]

[Sidenote:
Desonell and her twin babes reach land. She stills her crying
child,]