§ 5. THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE EDITION.

As to the only MS. in which this romance has come down to us, I have

mentioned before that it is exceedingly corrupt; many conjectures, more

or less sure, were necessary in order to restore metre, rhyme, and

meaning; the greater part of them seemed worthy to be entered in the

text, the rest being offered in the notes. No attempt has been made to

introduce a uniform character of dialect, considering the quite

unsettled state of orthography in early times. The only exceptions are

where the sounds are fully determined by the rhyme. In general the

orthography of the MS. has been reproduced as accurately as possible.

The contractions used by the scribe are expanded and printed in italics.

At the beginning of a new period, or a proper name within the line,

capitals have been introduced. From l. 1200, where the numeration of my

text no longer coincides with that of Halliwell’s edition, the

line-numbers of the latter are added in brackets.

The fragments which I have added as an appendix to the text have been

consulted in all cases of difficulty, and proved of no little service in

correcting the blunders of the manuscript; they contain indeed a

somewhat better text than the MS., though they are by no means free from

clerical errors. A detailed comparison gives the following result:

In fifty-one lines the text of the fragments is evidently correcter than

the MS.:

_Fragments._

_Manuscript._

The kyng of Nazareth sent hym me,

Torent, I wot-saue hym on the. 466

The kyng of Portynggaƚƚ seyd, ‘So mot I the!

Torrent, I wet-saffe of the.

The kyng wolde fayne that he ded were,

And he wyst nat on what manere. 472

The kyng wolde fayne that he wer ded,

And hym wyst in what maner.

To Torent that was true as stele, 477

To Torrent trew ase styƚƚ,

In what londe that they brede. 487

In what lond they ne bred.

He bestrode a noble stede. 502

Tho he bestrod another stede.

Cf. 489, 498, 507-10, 512-15, 822, 825, 831, 833, 834, 837, 845, 848,

851, 929, 932, 933, 935, 947, 948, 951, 952, 958, 965, 968-70, 1807,

1808, 1810, 1827, 1828, 1831, 1834-36, 1844, 1854, 1866.

Forty-eight lines are coincident: 468, 470, 474, 479, 480, 486, 487,

495, 499, 501, 504, 505, 520, 823, 832, 842, 844, 846, 917, 918, 921,

922, 927, 928, 936, 938, 953, 957, 962, 1809, 1813-17, 1819-21, 1823,

1830, 1832, 1838, 1847, 1850, 1851-52, 1863, 1865.

In ninety-one lines it is doubtful which reading is to be considered as

the original one:

_Fragments._

_Manuscript._

As they walkyd by the ryvers syde. 469

Ase the went be the watyres syd.

Howe he myght hym shent. 473

How he schuld be schent.

The kyng sayde ‘what may this be?

Lorde, it is sent to me

For a faucon shene. 483-85

Syr, he seyd, what may thys be?

Loo, lord, come ner and see

Abowght a facon schene.

Than sayde the kyng vntrue,

‘And ye fynde hawes of great value,

Brynge me one with the! 492-94

And than seyd the kyng ontrew,

‘Yf thow get hawkys of great valew,

Bryng on of them to me!

Of thy dowghter hende. 836

Of yowr dowghttyr hend.

Cf. 467, 475, 476, 478, 481, 482, 488, 496, 497, 500, 506, 511, 516-20,

821, 824, 826, 827, 829, 830, 835, 838-41, 843, 847, 850, 919, 920, 923,

925-26, 930-31, 934, 937, 939, 940-43, 945, 946, 949, 950, 954, 955,

959, 960-61, 963, 964, 966, 967, 1811, 1812, 1818, 1822, 1825, 1826,

1829, 1837, 1840, 1842, 1843, 1845-46, 1848-49, 1853, 1855-62, 1864.

In eleven lines the text of the MS. is superior to that of the fragment:

_Fragments._

_Manuscript._

‘Ye, by my trouthe!’ sayd Torente. 828

‘Ye, be trouthe!’ seyd Torrent than.

Delycyous notes on hyghe. 944

Delycyous nottis on hyght.

Frowarde the se. 956

Froward the sytte.

Cf. 488, 503, 820, 849, 924, 1824, 1833, 1839.

As to the sixth fragment, 1014-36, and the beginning of the first (in

Halliwell’s edition the third), 462-64, in which, as above mentioned,

not much more than the rhyming words are preserved, they have nearly the

same relation to the MS. as the other ones.

In the following passages they correct the rhymes of the MS.: 1017,

1018, 1028, 1033. Coincident rhymes: 1014, 1015, 1019, 1026, 1027, 1032,

1034-36. Undecided: 1020, 1021, 1023-24, 1029-30, 462-64. The rhymes of

the MS. are preferable in ll. 1016, 1022, 1025, 1031.

I need only add, that all the discrepancies between the MS. and the

fragments, however numerous they may be, concern, for the most part,

things of little importance; they are caused especially by the frequent

change of synonymous terms, by the difference of expletive words and

phrases, the transposition of words, the change of tenses, and so on.

But as there is nowhere any essential difference to be traced, we may

conjecture with great probability that the early printed edition of the

romance was taken from a manuscript which was pretty nearly related to

the Manchester MS., though somewhat more correctly written.

I gladly take the present opportunity of acknowledging my very great

obligation to Prof. Koelbing, from whom I have received ample assistance

throughout the whole of this work. It would be absolutely impossible to

me entirely to discriminate his part from mine. He carefully revised the

introduction, notes, and the glossary, before they went to press, and

after they came from it, and he looked several times through the proofs

of the text. Nor am I less indebted to Mr. Joseph Hall at Manchester,

who not only kindly read the proofs of the text with the MS. in the

Chetham Library, but also contributed some valuable notes, which are

marked by his name. The Director has added the head-lines and

side-notes.

Torrent of Portyngale.

Here bygynneth a good tale f. 76a.

Of Torrente of Portyngale.

(1)

[Sidenote:

May God give us grace to win Heaven! I’ll tell you of a doughty

knight.]

+G+od, that ys worthy and Bold, _leaf_ 1]

Heuen~ and Erthe haue In hold,

Fyld, watyr, and wynde,

Yeve vse g{ra}ce hevyn~ to wyne,

And brynge vs owt off Dedly synne 5

And In thy s{er}uyse to Ende!

A stounde and ye woƚƚ lyst be-Dene,

Ale dowghtty men~ þ{a}t Euyr hathe b{e}n~,

Wher So that they lende,

I Schaƚƚ yow teƚƚ, ore I hense pase, 10

Off a knyght, þ{a}t Dowghtty wase,

In Rome ase clarkys ffynde.

[Linenote:

8. _byn_ MS.]

(2)

[Sidenote:

He dwelt in Portugal, and fought well when 18.]

In Portynggaƚƚ, that Ryche londe,

An Ereƚƚ that wase wonande,

That curtese wase and {wyght}; 15

Sone aftyr he had a sone,

The feyerest þ{a}t on fot myght gon,

Tyrrant, men seyd, he hyght.

Be tyme he wase XVIII yer~ old,

Of dedd{es} of armys he wase bold, 20

To felle bothe kyng and knyght;

And now com{m}ythe dethe appon a day

And takythe hys father~, ase I yow sey,

For God ys most of myght.

[Linenotes:

15. _wyght_] _Dowghtty_ MS.

21. _felle_] first _l_ above the line MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT LOVES DESONELL.]

(3)

[Sidenote:

The King gives Torrent an earldom, and he falls in love with the

King’s daughter Desonell,]

The kyng of Portynggaƚƚ wase fayne, 25

To-warde hym he takythe Torrayne,

That Dowghtty ys in~ dedde;

And ther he fesomnyd in~ hys hond

A good Eyrldom in~ that lond,

Bothe forest and {fede}. f. 76b. 30

The kyng hathe a dowghttyr {whyte} ase {fame},

Dys{o}ne{ll} wase her name,

Worthyest in wede.

When Torrent had of her~ a syght,

More he lovyd that swet{e} wy{gh}t 35

Than~ aƚƚ ys fathyrys l{e}de.

[Linenotes:

30. _fede_] _Downe_ MS.

31. _whyte ase fame_] _feyer ase flowyr_ MS.

32. _Dyscenys_, MS.

35. _swete_] _swet_, MS.

_wyght_] _wyte_ MS.

36. _lede_] _londe_ MS.]

(4)

[Sidenote:

and for her, unhorses many knights.]

For love of thys lady Deyr~

In dede of armys far and nere

Aventorr{es} gan he take

W{i}t{h} heve tymbyr and ovyr-Ryde, 40

Ther myght no man~ hys dent a-bydde,

But to the Erthe he them str{a}ke.

Her father and other knyghtt{es} mo

Had farly, how he Ryd soo,

And on a day to hyme spake, 45

He Seyd: ‘Torrent, howe may thys byne,

That thow Dysp{i}syst thes knyghtt{es} kene

And ordurr{es} non woƚƚ take?’

[Linenotes:

39. _A ventorres_ MS.

42. _stroke_ MS.

47. _dysplesyst_ MS.]

(5)

[Sidenote:

The King knows that Torrent loves his daughter,]

Torrent sayd: ‘So mvt I the,

An other sayment woƚƚ I {s}ee, 50

Ore I take ordor of knyght.’

Tho he sware be hevyn kyng,

Ther wase told hym a wondyr-thyng~

In hys chambyr to nyght:

‘For~ the love of my doughter dere 55

Thow makyst good far and nere

In~ Dedde of armys bryght;

And wyt thow wyƚƚ, so god me saue,

Thow schalt her~ wyne, yf thow her haue,

Be thow neuyr so wy{g}ht!’ 60

[Linenotes:

50. _And_ MS.

_see_] _bee_ MS.

60. _wyght_] _wyttht_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE KING ASKS TORRENT TO FIGHT A GREEK GIANT.]

(6)

[Sidenote:

and asks him if, for her sake, he’ll fight]

Torrent sayd: ‘Be Marry dere,

And I were off armyse clere, f. 77a.

Yowr Dowghttyr me leve were.’

The kyng seyd: ‘Yf yt be soo,

Ore VII yere be a-go, 65

More schaƚƚ we here:

Durst thow, for my dowghttyr sake,

A poynt of armys for to take

W{i}t{h}-owt helpe of fere?’

Than seyd Torrant: ‘So god me sped, 70

W{i}t{h} anny man~ that syttythe on stede

Other far ore nere!’

[Linenotes:

61. _Marry_] _e_ corrected into _y_.

65. _a-go_] _a gone_, _ne_ struck out, MS.]

(7)

Ther-of the kyng~ for tene wax wode:

‘Yf thow wylt make thy body good,

Be trew and hold thy cont{ena}nce . . . . . . . 75

Tho seyd Torrant: ‘So god me sped ere!

And I wyst, in~ what sted they were,

Fore no man~ wold I cha{u}nce.’

[Linenotes:

75. _contnnce_ MS.

78. _chaunce_] corrected out of _change_ MS.]

(8)

[Sidenote:

a Giant in the Greek sea.]

‘In to the Grek{es} see a mylle

Ther ly{v}ythe a gyant {in an} yle, 80

Fuƚƚ Euyƚƚ thow dourst hyme stond.

My fayer~ forest{es} fellythe downe he

And Ryche castell{es} in~ that contre,

No ston lettythe he stond.’

[Linenote:

80. _lyvythe_] _lyghttythe_ MS.

_in an yle_] _mauyle_ MS.]

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

(9)

[Sidenote:

Torrent agrees to fight]

+T+errent sayd: ‘Be Marre bryght, 85

Yt ys gret sorrow that he hathe syght,

The devyƚƚ of heƚƚ hym blynd!’

The {kyng} sayd: ‘P{ar} la-more de dewe,

Thow darryst fuƚƚ evyƚƚ w{i}t{h} thy Ey hym sewe,

He wold feƚƚ the w{i}t{h} hys wynde.’ 90

‘Now, be my trowthe,’ seyd Torrent than~,

‘Ase I ame a jentylman~,

Yf I may hym fynd,

Won fot woƚƚ I not fro hym pase,

Thow he be stronger~ than Samson~ wase, f. 77b. 95

Or anny man~ of {hys} kynd!’

[Linenotes:

86. _he_] written above the line, MS.

88. _kyng_] _knyght_ MS.

96. _hys_] om. MS.]

(10)

[Sidenote:

the Giant Begonmese, and sets out.]

Hys squyerys, they mornyd s{a}re,

W{i}t{h}-owt fere that he schold fare

To that gret iorney,

W{i}t{h} the gyant heygh for to fyght. 100

Be-gon~-mese that gyant hyght,

That fyndd{es} f{e}re for aye.

To arme hyme Torrant g{a}s,

Hys good stede w{i}t{h} hym he ta{s},

W{i}t{h} owt squyer~ that Day. 105

He takythe leve at lorddys hend,

And on hys wey gan he wynd,

For hym aƚƚ they p{ra}y.

[Linenotes:

97. _sore_ MS.

102. _fare_ MS.

103. _gas_] _goos_ MS.

104. _tas_] _takythe_ MS.

108. _pray_] _prayd_ MS.]

(11)

[Sidenote:

Desonell knows not that it is for love of her. God give Torrent

victory!]

Lytyƚƚ wyst Desoneƚƚ that jente,

For whos love that he went 110

To fyght w{i}t{h} that knave.

Now god, that Dyed appon a Rode,

Strengithe hym bothe bone and blod,

The fyld for to haue!

He that schaƚƚ wend soche a wey, 115

Yt were nede for hym to p{ra}y,

That I{es}u hym schuld saue.

Yt ys in~ the boke of Rome,

Ther was no knyght of kyrstendome,

That jorney Durst crave. 120

[Headnote: TORRENT SEES THE GIANT SLEEPING.]

(12)

[Sidenote:

After 6 days’ ride he sees the Giant asleep.]

VI days Rydythe he

By the cost of the feyer~ see,

To seke the gyant kene.

By the cost as he Rode, f. 78a.

In a forest longe and brode 125

And symly wase to se{n}e,

Hey sperrys ther he fonde

And gret olyvys growonde

Coverd in~ levys {grene}.

Sone wase he ware, ase y yow say, 130

Vppon a movnteyn~ ther he laye

On slepe, ase I wene.

[Linenotes:

123. _seke_] _ches_, struck out, _seke_ written over with paler ink.

126. _see_ MS.

129. _grene_] _smale_ MS.]

(13)

[Sidenote:

He prays for Christ’s help.]

Torrent, on kne knelyd he

And be-sowght J{es}u so fre,

That bowght hym w{i}t{h} hys blod: 135

‘Lord, ase thow dyd {r}yght for Mar{y},

Let me nev{er} take velony

And gef me of thy fode!

Sertt{es}, yf I hym slepyng~ slone,

Manfuƚƚ Ded were yt none 140

For my body, be the Rode.’

Tho Terrant blewe hys bugeƚƚ bold,

To loke that he a-wake wold,

And sythe ner~ hyme Rode.

[Linenote:

136. _ryght_] _lyght_ written above the line with paler ink.

_mare_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT WAKES THE GIANT BEGONMESE.]

(14)

[Sidenote:

As Torrent can’t wake the Giant with his bugle,]

So fast a-slepe he wase browght, 145

Hys hornys blast a-woke hyme nowght,

He swellyd ase dothe the see.

Torrent saw, he woƚƚ not wake,

He Reynyd hys sted vnto a stake,

Ase a jentyƚƚ man~ {so fre}. 150

So hy, he say, wase the movnteyne,

Ther mygh{t} no horse wynd hym~ a-geyn~

But yf he nowyd wold be; f. 78b.

Thowe the wey neuyr~ so wykkyd w{a}re,

On hys wey gan he fare, 155

In~ gret p{er}ayƚƚ went hee.

[Linenotes:

150. _so fre_] _in fere_ MS.

151. _say_] _sayd_ MS.

152. _mygh_ (!) MS.

154. _were_ MS.]

(15)

[Sidenote:

he stirs him up with his spear, and makes him wild.]

Torent went to that movnte{y}n~,

He put hys spere hyme a-geyne,

‘A-Ryse, fellow!’ gan he saye;

‘Who made the so bold here to dweƚƚ, 160

My lord{es} frethe thus to feƚƚ?

A-mend{es} the be-hovythe to pay.’

The gyant Rysythe, ase he had byn~ wod,

And Redyly by hyme stode,

Be-syd hyme on a lay, 165

And seyd: ‘S{er}tes, yf I leve,

Soche a wed I woƚƚ the geff,

To meve the Euyr~ and ay.’

[Linenote:

157. _movnten_ MS.]

(16)

[Sidenote:

The fight begins.]

Thow the chyld were neuyr~ so y{i}nge,

The fynd{es} spere sparrythe hyme no-thyng~ 170

I{n} the holtt{es} h{a}ree;

Who had fare and nere byne,

And neu{er} had of fytyng syn~,

He myght a lernyd th{a}re.

The gyant, the fyrst stroke to hym he cast, 175

His good schyld aƚƚ to-brast,

In schevyr{es} spred wase {ya}re;

Tho covd he no bett{ur} R{e}d,

But stond styƚƚ, tyƚƚ one were ded;

The gyant lefte hym th{a}r. 180

[Linenotes:

169. _yonge_ MS.

171. _In_] _Ihū_ (!) MS.

_horee_ MS.

173. _seyn_ MS.

174. _there_ MS.

175. _to hym_] written above the line.

177. _there_ MS.

178. _he no_] _not he_ MS.

_Ryd_ MS.

180. _ther_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE GIANT BURSTS HIMSELF ON A ROCK.]

(17)

[Sidenote:

Torrent grips the Giant; they both fall, and roll down the mountain.

The Giant bursts]

Torrent vndyr hys spryt he spre{n}t

And a-bowght the body he hyme hente, f. 79a.

As far as he myght last.

‘A! fellow, wylt thow so?’

And to the grownd gan they goo, 185

Of the movnteyn~ bothe downe they pas{t}.

Ase the boke of Rome tellys,

They tornyd XXXII {ellys},

In armys walloyng fast.

Yt tellythe in~ the boke of Rome, 190

Euyr~ ase the gyant a-boue come,

Hys gutt{es} owt of hys body {brast}.

[Linenotes:

181. _sprent_] _spred_ MS.

186. _they past_] _gan they pase_ MS.

188. _ellys_] _tymys_ MS.

192. _brast_] _Rane_ MS.]

[[spre{n}t _italicized as shown_]]

(18)

[Sidenote:

open against a big stone.]

At the fot of the movnteyn~

Ther lay a gret Ragyd ston~, s{er}teyn~,

Yt nyhed ys schuldyr bon~ 195

And also hys Ryght syd,

Ther to that gyant feƚƚ that tyd,

Ase {I} herd in~ Rome . . .

[Linenotes:

197 put before 196. MS.

198. _I_] _he_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT THANKS GOD FOR HIS VICTORY.]

(19)

[Sidenote:

Torrent stabs the Giant,]

Thorrow hyme, that mad man~,

Torrent sone a-bovyn~ wane 200

And fast he gan {him quelle}

W{i}t{h} a knyffe feyer~ and bryght;

Torrent, w{i}t{h} aƚƚ hys myght

Ther-w{i}t{h} he gard hyme dweƚƚ.

[Linenotes:

199. after _Thorrow_, _of_ has been scraped out.

201. _him quelle_] _warke_ MS.

203. _hys_] _h_ corrected out of _m_ MS.]

(20)

[Sidenote:

and then thanks Christ.]

Torent knelyd on hys kne, 205

To I{es}u Cryst p{ra}yd he,

That hathe thys world to wyld:

‘Lord, lovyd, evyr lovyd thowe be,

The feyer~ fyld thow hast lent Me,’

--Vpp bothe hys hand{es he} held-- f. 79b. 210

‘Aƚƚ onely w{i}t{h}-owt any knaue

Of the fynd the maystry to haue,

Of hym to wyn the fyld.’

Now ys ther none other to say,

Of hyme he wane the fyld þ{a}t day; 215

I p{ra}y God hyme schyld.

[Linenotes:

210. _he_] om. MS.

213. _wyn_] _wynd_, _d_ erased MS.

214. _to_ written above the line, MS.

215.

_Now ys ther non other say

Of hyme to wyne the fyld þat day_ add. (!) MS.]

(21)

[Sidenote:

He sees the sea, and goes to it. Torrent finds the Giant’s castle,]

Torrent went vppe a-geyne

To the movnt, ase I gan sayne,

The lond{es} to se far and nere;

In the see a myle, hyme thoȝt, 220

An hold wase Rychyly wrowt,

In that lond wase not here perre.

The see wase Ebbyd, I yow sey,

Torrent thether toke the way,

Werry aƚƚ thow he were; 225

And ther he fownd Ryche w{on}ys,

Towrr{es} Endentyd w{i}t{h} presyos stonys,

Schynyng ase crystaƚƚ clere.

[Linenote:

219. _to se_ written above the line.]

[Headnote: TORRENT GOES TO THE GIANT’S CASTLE.]

(22)

[Sidenote:

guarded by a lion and lioness.]

T{wo} gattys off yron~ ther he fond,

Ther in~ Torrent gan wonde, 230

A nyght{es} Rest there in~ {to} ta;

And at the hale dore ther wase

A lyon~ & a lyonasse,

Ther men be-twene them twa

Fast Etyng~, ase ye may here; 235

Crystyñ {man} thow {he} were,

Hys browys {wexe} bl{a}, f. 80a.

And wit yow wiƚƚ, lord god yt wote,

He durst goo no fote,

Lest they wold hyme sl{a}. 240

(23)

[Sidenote:

He hears a lady sighing within.]

+T+orrant stod and be-held,

And p{ra}yd to god, that ale may wyld,

To send hyme harborrow good.

Sone hard he w{i}t{h}in a whalle

The syghyng of a lady smalle, 245

Sche weppte, as sche were wod;

Sche mornyd sore and sayd: ‘Alas,

That Euyr~ kyng{es} dowghttyr wase

Ou{er}-come of so jentyƚƚ blod,

For now ame I holdyn~ here 250

In lond w{i}t{h} a fynd{es} fere!’

Torrent hard, wher he stod.

[Linenotes:

226. _wonys_] _wayes_ MS.

229. _Two_] _The_ MS.

231. _to ta_] _he take_ MS.

234. _twa_] _twayne_ MS.

236. _man_] _thow_ (!) MS.

_he_] _they_ MS.

237. _wexe bla_] _be gan to blowe_ MS.

240. _sle_ MS.

244. _whalle_] with paler ink corrected from _whyle_.

245. _syghyng_] with paler ink corrected from _syngyng_.]

[Headnote: TORRENT WANTS TO ENTER THE GIANT’S CASTLE.]

(24)

[Sidenote:

Torrent asks for a night’s lodging in the Castle.]

’Dere god,’ seyd Torrant than~,

‘Yff ther be anny crystyn~ man~

In thys hold of ston~, 255

That woƚƚ, for the love of god of myght,

Harbourrow a jentylman~ thys nyght,

For I ame but on~!’

‘Seynt Marry,’ seyd that lady clere,

‘What crystyn~ man~ axithe harburrow here?’ 260

Nere hym sche gothe a-non.

‘I wold harburrow the fuƚƚ fayne,

But a gyant wyƚƚ the slayne.’

To hym sche mad here mone.

[Linenotes:

259. _clere_] _e_ corrected out of _r_ MS.

261. _sche gothe anon_] _a non sche gothe_ MS.]

[[‘Dere god,’ _open quote invisible_]]

(25)

[Sidenote:

The Lady says the Giant will kill him.]

‘Say me now, fayer~ lady, {belyve}, f. 80b. 265

Who owte {of} thys plase schaƚƚ {me dryve},

Thes tourr{es}, that are so bryght?’

Ther sche Seyd: ‘Be hevyn~ kyng~,

Here ys a gyant Dwellyng,

That meche ys of myght. 270

Be my trowthe, and he the see,

Were ther~ XX lyvys in~ the,

Thy dethe than wyƚƚ he dyght.

I{es}u cryst yef me g{ra}ce

To hyd the in~ some preve plase 275

Owt of the fynd{es} syght! . . . . .

[Linenotes:

265. _bel._] om. MS.

266. _of_] om. MS.

_me dryve_] _hyght_ MS.

267. _so_] _feyer and_ add. MS.

271. _the_] _thow_, _w_ erased and _e_ changed into _o_, MS.

273. _They_ (!) MS.

275. _hyd_] corrected from _hyde_.]

[[Linenote 271: _all “e” and “o” printed as shown_]]

(26)

[Sidenote:

The Lady takes Torrent past the Lions, into the Castle.]

‘Euyr~ me thynkythe be thy tale,

The song of the burd{es} smale

On slepe hathe hyme browght.’

‘Ye,’ seyd Torrent, ‘ore he be wakyn~, 280

I schaƚƚ the teƚƚ soche a tokyn~,

Of hym thow haue no thowght!

But woldd{es} thow for thy gentry

Do the lyonnys downe lye,

That they nyee me nowght?’ 285

By the hande sche gan{n}e hym ta

And led hyme in~ be{tw}e them twa;

Ryght ase sche wold, they wrowght.

[Linenotes:

277. _thy_] _my_ erased and _thy_ written above the line.

283. _thy_] _th_ corrected from _m_.

_gentry_] _gentre_, _e_ corrected from _y_.

285. _nyee_] first _e_ above the line.

286. _hande_] _d_ corrected from _e_.

_tane_ MS.

287. _bewte_ MS.

_twayne_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS TAKEN INTO THE GIANT’S CASTLE.]

(27)

[Sidenote:

He tells her he has kild the Giant.]

The lady wase neuyr~ so a-drad,

In to the hale sche hym lad, 290

That lemyred ase gold bryght;

Sche byrlyd whyt wyne and Rede: f. 81a.

‘Make vse myrre a-geyne ow{re} Dedd,

I wot wiƚƚ, yt ys so dyght!’

‘Be my trowthe!’ seyd Torrent, 295

‘I wole be thy warrant,

He comythe not here thys nyght.

On soche a slepe he ys browght,

Aƚƚ men of lyve wakythe hym nowght,

But onely god{es myght}.’ 300

[Linenote:

300. _godes myght_] _gode a lone_ MS.]

(28)

[Sidenote:

She tells him of Prince Verdownys, and 4 Earls’ sons in the Giant’s

prison.]

Blythe then wase that lady jent,

For to on-harnes Torrent,

That dowghtty wase and bold;

‘For sothe,’ sche seyd, ‘I wot wher ys

The kyng{es} sone {Verdownys}, 305

Fast put in hold

In a dongon~, that ys dym;

Fowyre good Eryll{es} sonnys be w{i}t{h} hyme

Ys fet in~ fere and fold.

The gyant wan theme in~ a tyde, 310

Ase they Rane be the watyr syd,

And put them in~ preson~ cold.

[Linenote:

305. _Verdownys_] _of pvense_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT FREES A PRINCE AND 4 EARLS’ SONS.]

(29)

[Sidenote:

Torrent breaks open the prison,]

‘In an yron~ cage he hathe them done.’

Torrent went thether~ sone:

‘Are ye yet levand?’ 315

The kyng{es} sone askyd than~,

Yf ther were anny crysten man~,

‘Wold bryng vse ow{t} of bond?’

‘Lord,’ he seyd, ‘god aƚƚmyght,

I had levyr on a Day to fyght, f. 81b. 320

Than aƚƚ my fathyrys lond.’

W{i}t{h} an iryn~ maƚƚ styff and strong~

He brake vpe an yron~ dore or longe,

And sone the keyes he fond.

[Linenotes:

318. _owt_] _ow_ (!) MS.

323. _or longe_] added in paler ink.]

(30)

[Sidenote:

and frees the 5 youths. They sup.]

Owt he toke thys chyldyryn~ fyve, 325

The feyrest that were on lyve,

I-hold in~ anny sted.

The lady wase fuƚƚ gl{e}d,

Sche byrlyd whyt wyn~ and Redd,

And sethyn~ to soper sone they yed. 330

‘Lord{es},’ he seyd, ‘syn yow are her~,

I Red yow make Ryght good cher~,

For now ys aƚƚ thy nede.’

Thus he covyrd owt of care.

God, that sofryd wondd{es} s{a}re, 335

Grante vse weƚƚ to sped!

[Linenotes:

325. _chyld._] a _v_ struck out, follows.

328. _glad_ MS.

335. _sore_ MS.

336. _well{e} to sped_] _to sped welle_ MS.]

[Headnote: THEY ALL CHOOSE THEIR HORSES TO RIDE AWAY.]

(31)

[Sidenote:

Torrent freed Prince Verdownys, Lords Torren, Jakys, and Amyas, and

Princess Eleanor.]

Lordd{es}, and ye wol lythe,

The chyldyr namys I woƚƚ teƚƚ blythe,

Here kyn, how they were me told;

The kyng{es} sone, that dowghtty {ys}, 340

Wase clepyd Verdownys,

That dowghtty wase and bold,

And an Eryll{es} son, that hyght Torren~,

A nother Iakys of Berweyne,

The forthe was Amyas bold. f. 82a. 345

The kyng{es} dowghttyr of Gales lond,

Elyoner~, I vndyrstond,

That worthy wase in hold,

[Linenotes:

337. after _wol_, _be_ struck out MS.

340. _ys_] _wase_ MS.

346-348 put before 343-345, MS.]

(32)

[Sidenote:

She takes Torrent to his chamber, and then all of them to the

stable, where each chooses a horse.]

In to hys chambyr sche hyme led,

Ther gold and syluyr wase spred, 350

And asur~, that wase bl{o};

In yron ther he gan stond,

Body and armys {al sch}y{n}and,

In~ powynt to trusse and goo.

In to a stabyƚƚ sche hym led, 355

Eche toke a fuƚƚ feyer~ sted,

They were {redy} to goo;

And wote ye weƚƚ and vndyrstond,

Had the gyant be levand,

They had not p{ar}tyd soo. 360

[Linenotes:

351. _blo_] _blewe_ MS.

353. _al sch._] _lygand_ (!) MS.

354. _trusse_] corrected from _truste_.

357. _redy_] om. MS.

358. _wote_] with paler ink corrected from _what_.

359. _Had_] corrected out of _han_.

_byn_ follows, almost entirely erased.

_gyant_] _t_ corrected from _d_.]

(33)

[Sidenote:

Torrent feeds the lions on the Giant’s body, and puts his head on a

horse.]

They woƚƚ not to bed gan{ge},

Tyƚƚ on the morrow the Day spronge,

Thus a wey to ffare.

Torrant sperryd the gattys, i-wyse,

Aƚƚ that he lyst he clepyd hys, 365

The keys and thyng he bare.

The lyon{s that was} at the dore

Wase led to her~ mayst{er} that wase befor~,

{O}n hym thay fed them {ya}r{e},

Vpp won of the horse, that wase ther~ levyd, 370

{O}n hym thei trussyd the gyantt{es} he{ve}d.

Thus helpt hym god th{a}r~.

[Linenotes:

361. _gange_] _gan_ MS.

_ll{e} on the_ struck out, follows.

366. _keys_] _e_ written with paler ink above the line.

367. _lyons that was_] _lyone_ MS.

369. _Vn_ (!) MS.

_hym_] _y_ corrected out of _e_ MS.

_thay_] corrected from _that_.

_yare_] _ther_ MS.

371. _Vn_ (!) MS.

_thei_] _i_ written above the line.

_hed_ MS.

372. _ther_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT RETURNS TO PORTUGAL.]

(34)

[Sidenote:

He goes back to Portugal.]

But ore III wek{es} wer~ com{m}yn~ to End,

To Portynggaƚƚ gan he wend,

Ther~ ase the kyng gan {lend}; 375

The porter~ sawe {hym} ther he stood,

He fled a wey, ase he were wod,

Flyngyng ase a fynd. f. 82b.

‘Syr kyng,’ he seyd, ‘be godd{es} dede,

Torrant bryngythe a devyƚƚ ys hed, 380

Ther w{i}t{h} he woƚƚ yow present.’

Desoneƚƚ seyd: ‘Porter~, be styƚƚ!’ . . .

In hys walke ther ase he went.

[Linenotes:

373. _wer{e}_] _ther_, struck out, and _were_ written over.

375. _lend_] _lye_ MS.

376. _sawe h. th._] _ther sawe he_ MS.]

(35)

[Sidenote:

The King and his Lords are afraid of the lions. Torrent kisses the

King of Portugal.]

The kyng to the gatys gan pase,

Gret lord{es} that ther wase, 385

Bothe knyght{es} and squyerr{e},

Lord{es} wase fuƚƚ sore a-dred

Fore the lyonys, þ{a}t he had,

They durst not come hyme ner~.

The kyng seyd: ‘I wyƚƚ {the} kysse, 390

Durst I for~ thy best{es}, Iwysse.’

Torrent dyd them ly ther~,

And kyssyd the kyng w{i}t{h} joy and blyse;

And aftyr, other lord{es} of hys,

And aftyr, ladys {clere}. 395

[Linenotes:

386. _squyerres_ MS.

390. _the_] _hym_ MS.

395. _aftyr_] _other_ add. (!) MS.

_clere_] _jent_ MS.]

[Headnote: VERDOWNYS’S FATHER IS TOLD OF HIS SAFETY.]

(36)

[Sidenote:

The King of Provyns is glad of his son Verdownys’s safety]

Messengyr{es} {went} the weye,

To the kyng of P{ro}vyns to sey,

Hys sone ys owt of hold:

‘Yyng Torrent of Portynggaƚƚ

Hathe browght hym owt of balle 400

And slayne the jeyant bold.’

Lytyƚƚ and mykyƚƚ þ{a}t ther wer~,

Aƚƚ they mad good cher f. 83a.

Her~ prynse fayne se wold.

The kyng {seyd}: ‘So mot I the, 405

I woƚƚ geff the towynnys thre

For~ the tall{es} thow hast me told.’

[Linenotes:

396. _went_] _to_ (!) MS.

397. after _Provyns_ _I_ MS.

399. _Yoyng_ MS.

405. _kyng seyd_] _kynges messengere_ MS.

405-7 put before 402-4.]

(37)

[Sidenote:

and promises Torrent gifts. The King of Gales offers Torrent his

daughter.]

Tha{n seyd} they, tha{t} to Gales yede,

Yeftys to {take} were h{e}m no ned,

Then {Ver}downys had they. 410

Ase they seyłyd on a tyde,

At Perrown~ on the see syd

. . . . . . . . . . .

The kyng of P{ro}vy{n}se seyd: ‘So mot I the,

Yftles schaƚƚ they not be, 415

That dare I sothely sey.’

The kyng of Gales proferd hym feyer~:

‘Wed my dowghttyr and myn Eyer~,

When so euyr~ thow may! . . . . .

[Linenotes:

408. _Than--that_] _That they than_ MS.

_Gales_] with paler ink corrected from _Calles_.

_yede_] corrected from _went_.

409. _take_] om. MS.

_hym_ MS.

410. _Then Downys_ MS.

417. _gales_] _g_ with paler ink corrected from _c_.]

[[seyłyd _printed as shown, with line through single “l”_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT GETS WELAND’S SWORD ADOLAKE.]

(38)

[Sidenote:

The King of Provyns gives Torrent his Sword made by Weland,]

The kyng of Perve{n}se seyd: ‘So mot I the, 420

Thys seson~ yeftles schaƚƚ thow not be,

Haue here my Ryng of gold,

My sword, that so wyƚƚ ys wrowyt;

A bett{er} than~ yt know I nowght

W{i}t{h} in~ crystyn~ mold; 425

Yt ys ase glemyrryng ase the glase,

Thorrow Velond wroght yt wase,

Bettyr ys non~ to hold.

I have syne sum tyme in~ lond,

Whoso had yt of myn~ hond, 430

Faw{e} the{y were} I-told.’

[Linenotes:

429. _Loke thou hold yt with full{e} hond_, add. MS.

431. _I fawght therfore I told_ MS.]

(39)

[Sidenote:

and named Adolake. A fortnight’s Feast is held.]

Tho wase Torrent blythe and glad,

The good swerd ther he had,

The name wase Adolake.

A gret mayne{re}y let he make {ryght} 435

That lest aƚƚ a fortnyght,

Who so wiƚƚ hys met take. f. 83b.

Euyry man toke ys leve, ase {I} yow say,

Hom-ward to wend ther wey,

Eu{er}y man ys Rest to take. 440

Tyƚƚ yt be-feƚƚ vppon a day,

Ase they went be the wey,

The kyng to hys dowghttyr spake:

[Linenotes:

435. _mayn._] _mayne let_, with paler ink corrected into _mayney_.

_ryght_] om. MS.

438. _I_] om. MS.

440. _to take ys Rest_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL GIVES TORRENT A WHITE CHARGER.]

(40)

[Sidenote:

The King of Portugal tells Desonell that Torrent kild the Giant for

love of her.]

‘Ye schaƚƚ take hed of a jeentyƚƚ man~,

A feyer~ poynt for~ yow he wane, 445

Desoneƚƚ, at the last.’

’Syr,’ sche seyd, ‘be hevyn kyng,

Tyƚƚ ye me told, I knewe no thyng,

For who ys love yt wase.’

‘Desoneƚƚ, so mvt I the, 450

Yt wase for the lowe of the,

That he trovylld so fast.

I warne yow, dowghttyr, be the Rode,

Yt ys for yow bothe good,

Ther to I Red yow tr{a}st.’ 455

[Linenote:

455. _trust_ MS.]

[[‘Syr,’ sche seyd, _open quote invisible_]]

(41)

[Sidenote:

She gives Torrent a white steed which the King of Nazareth had sent

her.]

Forthe sche browght a whyt sted,

As whyt as the flowyr in~ med,

Ys fytte blac ase slo{n}.

‘Leman~, haue here thys fole,

That dethe ys dynt schalt þ{o}u not {thole}, 460

Whyƚƚ thow setty{s}te hyme appon~,

And yf thow had p{ersew}yd be

And hadyst ned fore to fle,

Fast for to gone.

The kyng of Nazareth sent hym me, 465

Torrent, I wet-saffe hym on the,

For bett{er} love may I none.’ f. 84a.

[Linenotes:

458. _slo_ MS.

460. _thole_] _haue_ MS.

461. _settythe_ MS.

462. _p’revyd_ (!) MS.

465. So Fragm. I (F. I);

_The kyng of Portynggalle seyd: ‘So mot I the_ MS.

466. _hym on_] so F. I; _of_ MS.]

(42)

[Sidenote:

The King treacherously asks Torrent to get Desonell a Falcon]

Aftyr-ward vppon a tyd,

Ase the went be the watyr{es} syd,

The kyng and yong Torrent, 470

The kyng wold fayne, that he ded wer~,

And he wyst, in~ what maner~,

How he schuld be schent;

A false lettyr mad the kyng

And dyd messengyr{es} forthe yt bryng, 475

On the Rever~, ase they went,

To Torrent, that was trew ase styƚƚ,

Yf he love Desoneƚƚ wyƚƚ,

Get her a facon~ jent.

[Linenotes:

471. _ded wer{e}_] so F. I; _were ded_ MS.

472. _he_] so F. I; _hym_ MS.

477. _that was_] so F. I; om. MS.]

[Headnote: THE FALSE KING OF PORTUGAL DECEIVES TORRENT.]

(43)

[Sidenote:

from the Forest of Magdalen.]

Torrent the lett{er} be-gan~ to Red, 480

The kyng lestyned & nere yed,

Ase he yt nevyr ad s{e}ne.

‘Syr,’ he seyd, ‘what may thys be,

Loo, lord, come ner~ and see,

A-bowght a facon~ schene? 485

I ne wot, so god me sped,

In what lond that they bred.’

The kyng answerd: ‘I wene,

In the forrest of Mavdeleyn~,

Ther be hawk{es}, ase I herd seyne, 490

That byn of lenage {cl}en~.’

[Linenotes:

482. _syne_ MS.

487. _that_] so F. I; om. MS.

_they_] _ne_ add. (!) MS.

489. _Mavd._] so F. I; _Mavdlen_ MS.

491. _clen~_] _gene_ MS.]

(44)

[Sidenote:

He agrees to do it. Torrent rides]

And than seyd the kyng on-trew:

‘Yf thow get hawkys of gret valew,

Bryng on of them to me!’

Torrent Seyd: ‘So god me saue, f. 84b. 495

Yf yt be-tyd, that I may haue,

At yow{r} wyƚƚ they schal be.’

Hys squyere bode he th{a}r~,

Aftyr hys armor~ for to far~,

In the fyld byddythe he. 500

They armyd hym in~ hys wed,

Tho he be-strod a noble sted,

And forthe than Rod hee.

[Linenote:

498. _squyere_] so F. II; _squyeres_ MS.

_there_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT FINDS A DRAGON IN THE FOREST.]

(45)

[Sidenote:

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

+T+orrent toke the wey a-geyn~

In to the forest of Mawdleyn~, 505

In the wyld-some way;

Berys and apes there founde he,

And wylde bestys great plente,

And lyons where they lay.

In a wod that wase tyght, 510

Yt Drew nere-hand nyght

By dymmynge of the Day,

Harkyn, lord{es}, {to} them came wo,

He and hys squyer~ p{ar}tyd in two,

Carfuƚƚ men then were they. 515

[Linenotes:

502. _noble_] so F. II; _nothere_ MS.

507-509: so F. II:

_Berrys he sawe stondyng

And wyld bestes ther goyng,

Gret lyonys ther he fond._ MS.

510: _tyght_] so F. II; _thyke_ MS.

512: _By d._] so F. II; _And ine the Dawnyng_ MS.

513: _to--wo_] so F. II;

_to_] of F. II.

_what I schalle sey_ MS.

514: _in two_] so F. II; _they_ MS.

515: _men--they_] so F. II; _they were that Day_ MS.]

(46)

[Sidenote:

and comes on a Dragon.]

At the schedyng of a Rome

Eche p{ar}tyd other frome,

For sothe, ase I vndyrstond.

Torrent toke a dulful wey

Downe in~ a depe valey 520

Be-syd a weƚƚ strong.

A lytyƚƚ be fore mydnyght

Of a dragon he had syght,

That grysly wase to {fond};

He had hym nowght to were, 525

But hys schyld and hys spere, f. 85a.

That wase in~ hys squyer{es} hond.

[Linenote:

524. _fond_] _syght_ MS.]

[Headnote: A DRAGON ATTACKS TORRENT.]

(47)

[Sidenote:

Torrent prays to Christ to be his help.]

Torrent knelyd on hys kne,

To I{es}u Cryst p{ra}yd he:

‘Lord, mykyƚƚ of myght, 530

Syne I wase in~ meche care,

Let me nevuyr~ owt of {t}hys world far~,

Tyƚƚ I haue take o{rd}er of knyght.

Ase I ame falsely hether~ sent,

Wyld-som weyes haue I went, 535

W{i}t{h} fynd{es} for to fyght.

Now, I{es}u, for thy holy name,

Ase I ame but man~ a-lone,

Than~ be my helpe to nyght!’

[Linenotes:

532. _thys_] _hys_ (!) MS.

533. _haue_] _or_ add. (!) MS.

_order_] _othere_ (!) MS.]

(48)

[Sidenote:

The Dragon’s tail is 7 yards long,]

Ase Torrent I{es}u gan~ p{ra}y, 540

He herd the dragon~, ther he lay

Vndyr-nethe a clo{w};

Of an{d} on he wase stronge,

Hys tayle wase VII yerd{es} long,

That aftyr hyme he dr{o}we; 545

Hys wyngg{es} wase long and wyght,

To the chyld he toke a flyght

W{i}t{h} an howge sw{ow}e;

Had he nether~ schyld ne spere,

But p{ra}yd to god, he schold hyme were, 550

For he wase in dred i-nowe.

[Linenotes:

542. _clow_] _colod_ or _colvd_, _l_ corrected from _d_, MS.

543. _and_] _an_ MS.

545. _drewe_ MS.

548. _swowe_] _swayne_ (!) MS.

551. _inowthe_ MS.]

(49)

[Sidenote:

and has a fiery head on it. Torrent cuts 4 ells off the Dragon’s

tail;]

On the tayle an hed ther~ wase,

That byrnyd Bryght as anny glase, f. 85b.

In fyer whan {yt} was dyght;

A-bowght the schyld he lappyd yt ther~, 555

Torrent the bowght a-sondyr schere

Thurrow the g{ra}ce of god almyght.

As the boke of Rome telly{s},

Of hys taylle he cut IIII ell{es}

W{i}t{h} hys swerd so bryght. 560

Than cryed the lothely thyng,

That aƚƚ the daƚƚ be-gan to Ryng,

That hard the gyant wyght.

[Linenotes:

554. _yt_] _he_ MS.

558. _Tellys_] _tellythe_ MS.

563. _That the gyant hard wyght_ MS.]

[[f. 85b. _Text has anomalous “fol.”_]]

[Headnote: TORRENT KILLS THE DRAGON.]

(50)

[Sidenote:

and while its Giant-owner is getting ready to help it,]

The gyant seyd: ‘I vndyrstond,

There ys sum crystyn~ man~ nere hond, 565

My dragon here I cry.

By hym, that schope bothe watyr~ and lond,

Aƚƚ that I can se be-fore me stond,

Dere schaƚƚ they a-bye!

Me thynkythe, I here my dragon~ schowt, 570

I deme, ther be svme dowghtty man~ hym a-bowght,

I trow, to long I ly.

Yf I dweƚƚ in my pyƚƚ of ston~,

And my cheff-fost{er} were gone,

A false mayst{er} were I!’ 575

[Linenote:

574. _foster_] _st_ corr. out of _t_.]

(51)

[Sidenote:

Torrent kills it. Torrent’s Squire]

Be the gyant wase Redy dyght,

Torrent had slayne the dragon~ Ryght;

Thus gan god hyme scheld.

To the mownteyne he toke the wey

To Rest hyme, aƚƚ that day, 580

He had myst{er}, to be kyld.

Tyƚƚ the day be-gan to spryng, f. 87a.[T1]

Fowllys gan myrre to syng

Bothe in~ frethe and in feld.

Leve we now of Torrent th{o}re 585

And speke we of thys squyer~ more:

I{es}u hys sole fro heƚƚ shyld!

[Linenotes:

581. _kyllyd_ MS.

585. _there_ MS.]

[Footnote T1: There is no f. 86 in the paging of the MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT’S SQUIRE IS MET BY A GIANT.]

(52)

[Sidenote:

rides all night in a wood,]

Hys squyer~ Rod aƚƚ nyght

In a wod, that wase fuƚƚ tyght,

W{i}t{h} meche care and gret fare, 590

For to seke hys lord Torrent,

That wy{ght}ly wase frome hyme sent,

And he wyst nevyr~ whethyr ne wh{a}r~.

He Durst neuyr~ cry ne schuot,

For wy{l}d best{es} were hym a-bowght 595

In~ the holtt{es} h{a}re;

A lyty{l} whyƚƚ be-fore the day

He toke in~ to a Ryde-wey

Hyme self to meche care.

[Linenotes:

592. _wysly_ MS.

593. _wher_ MS.

595. _wyld_] _wyd_ MS.

596. _hore_ MS.

597. _lyty_ MS.]

(53)

[Sidenote:

till he finds a highway,]

Forthe he Rod, I vndyrstond, 600

Tyƚƚ he an hey wey fond,

W{i}t{h}-owtyn~ any Del{ite},

Also fast ase he myght fare,

Fore berrys and apys, þ{a}t ther w{a}re,

Lest they wold hym byght. 605

The sone a-Rose and schone bryght,

Of a castyƚƚ he had a syght,

That wase bothe feyer~ and whyte . . . .

[Linenotes:

602. _Delite_] _delay_ MS.

604. _were_ MS.]

(54)

[Sidenote:

and is met by a Giant. The Giant cuts Torrent’s Squire into 4

quarters.]

The gyant h{i}m se, & ny yed,

And seyd: ‘Fellow, so god me sped, 610

Thow art welcom to me: f. 87b.

What dost thow here in my forest?’

‘Lord, to seke an hawkys nest,

Yff yt yow{r} wyl be.’

‘The be-hovythe to ley a wede.’ 615

To an oke he hym led:

Gret Ruthe yt wase to se.

In IIII q{uar}ter{es} he hym dr{o}we,

And eu{er}y quarter vppon a bowe;

Lord, soche weys toke hee! 620

[Linenotes:

609. _hem_ MS.

618. _drewe_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS ATTACKT BY THE GIANT ROCHENSE.]

(55)

[Sidenote:

Torrent finds these,]

Ase Torrent in~ the movnteyn~ dyd ly,

Hym thowght, he hard a Reufuƚƚ cry;

Gret fere ther hyme thowght.

‘Seynt Marre,’ seyd the chyld so f{re},

‘Wher euyr~ my jentyƚƚ squyer~ myght be, 625

That I w{i}t{h} me to wod browght?

On he dyd hys harnes a-geyne

And worthe on hys sted, s{er}teyne,

And thetherward he sowght.

And wot yow wyƚƚ, I vndyrstond, 630

In fowre quartyr{es} he hym fownd,

For other wyse wase yt nowght.

[Linenotes:

624. _fre_] _fer_ MS.

630. _wot_] _w_ add. (!) MS.]

(56)

[Sidenote:

and is attackt by this giant Rochense.]

The gyant lenyd to a tre

And be-hyld Torrent so free,

For sothe, ase {I} yow seye. 635

Thys fend wase ferly to fyght,

Rochense, seythe the boke, he hyght,

Ther wase a dredfuƚƚ fraye.

To the chyld than~ gan he smyght:

‘A theff, yeld the asttyt, 640

As fast as thow may!’ f. 88a.

‘What,’ seyd Torrent, ‘art thow wood?

God, that Dyed on the Rood,

Geff the evyƚƚ happe thys day!’

[Linenote:

635. _I_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT FIGHTS THE GIANT ROCHENSE.]

(57)

[Sidenote:

Torrent’s steed is kild. He drives the Giant back]

He Rawght Torrent soche a Rowght, 645

Hys stedd{es} brayne he smot owte,

So mykyƚƚ he be-gan~.

Torrent tho a good sped

Ase fast a-bowte an eche {yede};

Ase swefte ase he myght, {he} R{a}n. 650

He gathyred svm of hys gere,

Bothe hys schyld and hys spere;

Nere hym yod he than~.

Bacward than be a browȝ

Twenty fote he gard hyme goo, 655

Thus erthe on hym he wane.

[Linenotes:

649. _yede_] _went_ MS.

650. _he Ran_] _Ryne_ MS.]

(58)

[Sidenote:

into a deep glen, where he stands in water.]

Yt solasyd Torrant th{e}n~,

When he sawe hyme bacward r{e}n

Downe be a movnteyn~ of Perowne,

Stomlyng thurrow frythe and fen~, 660

Tyƚƚ he com to a depe {glen},

Ther myght non hym s{t}ere.

Torrent wase glad and folowyd fast,

And hys spere on hyme he brast,

Good Adyloke yed hyme nere. 665

The fynd in~ the watyr stod,

He fawte a-geyn, ase he were wod,

Aƚƚ þe day in~ fere.

[Linenotes:

657. _than_ MS.

658. _ren_] _Rond_ (!) MS.

661. _glen_] _thorne_ MS.

662. _stere_] _schere_ MS.

668. _þe_] _the_ add. (!) MS.]

(59)

[Sidenote:

Torrent prays God for help. Jesus freshens up Torrent.]

Tho nere hond wase the day gone, f. 88b.

Torrent wase so werry than~ 670

That on hys kne he kneld:

‘Helpe, god, that aƚƚ may!

Desoneƚƚ, haue good day!’

Fro hym he cest hys schyld.

I{es}u wold not, he were slayne, 675

To hym he sent a schowyr~ of Rayne,

Torrent fuƚƚ wyƚƚ yt keld.

The fynd saw, he wase ny mate,

Owt of the watyr he toke the gate,

He thowght to wyne the fyld. 680

[Linenotes:

671. _knelyd he_ MS.

677. _kelyd_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SLAYS THE GIANT ROCHENSE.]

(60)

[Sidenote:

The Giant attacks again. Torrent runs him thro’ the heart, cuts his

head off,]

Thoo wase Torrent ffresse and good;

Nere the fynd sore he stod,

Cryst hym saue and see!

The fynd fawt w{i}t{h} an yron~ staff,

The fyrst stroke, to hym he gaffe, 685

He brast hys schyld on thre.

Torrent vndyr hys staff Rane,

To the hart he baryd hym than~,

And lothely cry gane he.

To the g{r}ownd he feƚƚ ase tyght, 690

And Torrent gan hys hed of-smyght,

And thus he wynnythe the gre.

[Linenote:

690. _gownd_ MS.]

(61)

[Sidenote:

finds him 24 ft. long, and goes to his Castle.]

Torrent knelyd on the grownd

And thankyd god þ{a}t ylke stownd,

That soche g{ra}ce hyme send. 695

Thus II journeys in thys woo

W{i}t{h} hys hand{es} slow {he} gyantys too,

That meny a man~ hathe schent. f. 89a.

Torrent forthe frome hyme þan yod,

And met hyme XXIIII fotte, 700

Ther he lay on the bent.

Hedles he left hym there,

Howt of the fyld the hed he bare

And to the casteƚƚ he went.]

[Linenote:

697. _he_] _II_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE SWORD AND STEED OF GIANT ROCHENSE.]

(62)

[Sidenote:

Torrent goes to the Giant’s Castle, and finds a splendid sword,]

To thys casteƚƚ he gan far~; 705

Ther fond he armor~ and other~ g{a}re,

A swerd, that wase bryght.

To the towre he toke the wey,

Ther the gyant{es} bed lay,

That Rychyly wase dyght. 710

At the bedd{es} hed he fond

A swerd, worthe an Erllys lond,

That meche wase of myght.

On the pomeƚƚ yt wase wret,

Fro a prynce yt wase get, 715

Mownpolyardn{us} he hyght.

[Linenote:

706. _gere_ MS.]

(63)

[Sidenote:

and a noble white steed. With the heads of the Giant and Dragon,

Torrent]

The sarten {to sey} w{i}t{h}-owt lese,

A scheff-chambyr~ he hym ches,

Tyƚƚ on the morrow day.

To the stabuƚƚ tho he y{e}d, 720

There he fond a nobyƚƚ sted,

Wase comely whyt and grey.

The gyantt{es} hed gan he take,

And the dragonnys wold he not forsake,

And went forthe on hys wey. 725

He left mor~ good in that sale

Than wase w{i}t{h} in~ aƚƚ Portynggaƚƚ, f. 89b.

Ther ase the gyant laye.

[Linenotes:

717. _to sey_] om. MS.

718. _he_] _sche_ MS.

_chesys_ (!) MS.

720. _yod_ MS.]

(64)

[Sidenote:

rides back to Portugal. Torrent gives the King the Giant’s and

Dragon’s heads instead of a Falcon,]

Tho he Rod bothe Day and nyght,

Tyƚƚ he come to a casteƚƚ bryght, 730

Ther ys lord gan dweƚƚ.

The kyng ys gone to the gate,

Torrent on kne he fond ther at,

Schort taƚƚ for to teƚƚ.

‘Haue thow thys in~ thyn~ hond: 735

No nother hawkys ther I fond

At Mawdlenys weƚƚ.’

The kyng {quod}: ‘Ase so haue I blyse,

Torrent, I trow, sy{bb}e ys

To the deweƚƚ of heƚƚ! . . . . 740

[Linenotes:

738. _quod_] om. (!) MS.

739. _sybbe_] _sylke_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IS LOVED BY DESONELL.]

(65)

[Sidenote:

and says the Giant Rochense was Slogus of Fuolles.]

‘Here be syd dwellythe won on lond,

Ther ys no knyght, {hy}s dynt may stond,

So stronge he ys {in dede}!’

‘Syr~,’ he sayd, ‘fore sen Iame,

What ys the gyant{es} name, 745

So Euyr good me sped?’

‘Syr~,’ he seyd, ‘so mvt I the,

Slogus of Fu{o}ll{es}, thus hyte hee,

That wyt ys vndyr wede.’ . . . . . .

[Linenotes:

742. _knyght hys_] _knyghtes_ MS.

743. _in d._] _on grond_ MS.]

(66)

[Sidenote:

Desonell gives her heart to Torrent.]

Lytyƚƚ and mykyƚƚ, lese and more, 750

Wondyr on the hedd{es} thore,

That Torrent had browght whome.

{The} Lord{es} seyd ‘Be sen Myheƚƚ!

Syr kyng, but ye love hyme wyƚƚ,

To yow yt ys gret schame!’ 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: A 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 Portynggaƚƚ,

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

‘Madame, for cherryte,

Thow art oftyn~ hold wyse;

Now woƚƚ ye teƚƚ 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.’

‘Syr,’ sche Seyd, ‘so god me saue,

I Red yow let Torent her haue, f. 90b.

For best worthy ys he.’ 785

[Linenotes:

775. _The (quene to the) kyng to the quene gan sey_ MS.

779. _That how_ MS.

781. _aske_] _aseke_ MS.]

(69)

[Sidenote:

The King refuses.]

He sayd: ‘Madame, were that feyer~,

To make an erll{es} sone myn Eyer~?

I wiƚƚ 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.’

‘Lord, he myght fuƚƚ wyƚƚ sped,

A knyght{es} dowghttyr wase hyme bed,

Ase whyt ase wall{es} b{a}ne;

And yf ye warne hyme Desoneƚƚ, 795

A{ll} that ther of here teƚƚ,

Ther of wyƚƚ speke schame.’

[Linenotes:

790. _hys_] om. MS.

794. _swalles_ (!) MS.

_bone_ MS.

796. _All_] _And_ MS.]

[Headnote: THE KING OF PORTUGAL’S TREACHERY TO TORRENT.]

(70)

[Sidenote:

The false King of Portugal plots to have Torrent kild by another

Giant.]

‘Madam, vnto thys tyd

There lythe a gyant here be-syd,

That many a man~ hathe slayne. 800

I schaƚƚ hyght hym my dowghttyr~ dere,

To fyght w{i}t{h} that fynd{es} fere,

Thus he holdythe hyme in~ trayne.

But I schaƚƚ make myn com{m}nant so,

That there schaƚƚ non w{i}t{h} hyme go, 805

{Neyther} squyer~ ne swayne.’

‘Syr~,’ sche seyd, ‘so mvt I the,

So sore be-stad hathe he be,

And wyƚƚ co{m}myn~ a-geyne!’

[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 waƚƚ 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 he’ll 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: ‘Torrent, so god me saue, 825

Thow wold{es} fayne my dowghttyr haue

And hast lovyd her~ many a day.’

‘Ye, be trouthe,’ seyd Torrent than~,

‘And yf þ{a}t I were a Ryche man~,

Ryght gladly, p{ar} ma fay!’ 830

‘Yf thow durst for her sake

A poynt of armys vndyrtake,

Thow broke her~ weƚƚ fore ay!’

[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_ MS.

833. _broke_] so F. III; _breke_ MS.]

(73)

[Sidenote:

‘Yes,’ says Torrent.]

‘Ye,’ seyd Torrent, ‘ar I ga,

Sekyrnes ye schaƚƚ me ma 835

Of yow{r} dowghttyr hend,

And aftyrward my ryghtys,

Be-fore XXVII knyght{es}.’ . . . . . .

And aƚƚ were Torrent{es} frende.

‘Now, good s{er}is,’ gan Torrant sey, f. 91b. 840

‘Bere wittnes her of som Daye,

A-geyne yf god me send!’

[Linenotes:

834. _go_ F. III; _gan Rage_ MS.

835. _make_ MS.

839. _frenddes_ MS.]

(74)

[Sidenote:

‘Then go to Calabria, and fight the Giant Slochys.’]

Torrent seyd: ‘So mvt I the

Wyst I, where my jorney schold {be},

Thether I wolde me dyght.’ 845

The kyng gaff hyme an answere:

‘In 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!’

Than quod Torrent: ‘Haue goo{d} day,

And, or I come a-geyn~, I schaƚƚ asay,

Whether the fynd can fyght.’

[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 Desoneƚƚ he t{as},

Sche wepte, aƚƚ men myght Rewe; 860

He seyd: ‘Lady, be styƚƚ!

I schaƚƚ come a-geyn th{e} tyƚƚ,

Thurrow helpe of Marry trewe.’

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 feƚƚ. f. 91a.[T2]

Tyƚƚ the casteƚƚ Be the See, 870

An hy stret heldythe hee,

Ther the kyng {dyd} dwell{e}.

To the porter he gan seye:

‘Wynd in~, fellow, I the p{ra}y,

And thy lord than t{e}ƚƚ, 875

P{ra}y hym, on won nyght in~ hys sale

To harburrow Torrent of Portynggaƚƚ,

Yf y{t} Bee ys wiƚƚ!’

[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:

‘God 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} wiƚƚ yt bee.’

The kyng swere be hym, þ{a}t dyed on tre:

‘There ys no man~ in~ crystyante

More welcome to me!’ 890

(78)

[Sidenote:

feeds him. Torrent’s 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.

‘Syr,’ sayd the kyng, ‘I p{ra}y the, f. 91b.

Where be thy men off armys free,

That w{i}t{h} the schuld {leng}?’

‘Syr, to a lord I mvst Ryde, 900

My squyer hongythe be my syde,

No man schaƚƚ w{i}t{h} me wend.’

[Linenotes:

892. _knyges_ MS.

899. _leng_] _wynd_ MS.]

(79)

[Sidenote:

Torrent says he has to fight in Calabria.]

‘S{yr},’ seyd the kyng, ‘I p{ra}y the,

Where schaƚƚ thy ded of armys bee,

Yf yt be thy wyƚƚ?’ 905

‘S{yr},’ he seyd, ‘vttyrly,

At Calabur, sekyrly,

I ame aƚƚ Redy ther tyƚƚ

W{i}t{h} a squyer, þ{a}t wiƚƚ can Ryde;

Fast be the see Sydde 910

Schuld we pley ow{ur} fyle;

And wot ye wyƚƚ and vndyrstond,

Ther schaƚƚ no knyght come nere hond

Fore dred of dentt{es} yƚƚ.’

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

(80)

[Sidenote:

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

The kynge seyd: ‘Be godd{es} ore, 915

I Rede, þ{a}t þ{ou} come not th{o}re,

Fore why, I wyƚƚ 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 aƚƚ þ{a}t euyr~ he may;

And ase the boke of Rome dothe teƚƚ,

He wase get of the deweƚƚ of heƚƚ, 925

As hys moder on slepe lay.’

[Linenotes:

915. _kynges_ (!) MS.

916. _there_ MS.

922. _sete_] second _e_ corr. out of _a_ MS.]

(81)

[Sidenote:

and offers him his Daughter and 2 Duchies instead. Torrent says he

must keep his troth.]

The kyng Seyd: ‘Be seynt Adryan~, f. 92a.

I Rede, a nother Jentyƚƚ 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.’

‘G{ra}marcy, syr,’ sayd he, 935

‘W{i}t{h} my tonge so haue I wrowght,

To breke my day than wiƚƚ I nowght,

Nedys me behovythe ther to bee.’

[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,]

‘In godd{es} name,’ the kyng gane sayne,

‘I{es}u send the wiƚƚ a-geyne, 940

Lord so mekyƚƚ of myghte!’

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.

‘Dere god!’ seyd Torrent nowe,

‘Leve folk{es}, what Eyllythe yow,

Soo fast fore to flee?’

‘There ys a gyante here be-syde, 960

In ale thys covntre fare and wyde

No mane on lyve levythe hee.’ 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;]

‘Dere god,’ sayd Torrant thane,

‘Where schaƚƚ I fynd that lo{th}ly man~?’

Ther they answerd hym anone: 965

‘In a castyƚƚ be-syd the see,

Slongus, soo hyght hee,

Many a man had he slone.

We wot wiƚƚ wher he doth ly:

Be-fore the cyte of Hungry; 970

He wiƚƚ not th{en}s gone,

Tyƚƚ he haue the Ryche kyng~

To hys p{re}sone for to bryngg,

To be lord of hyme self a-lone.’

[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_ 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 feƚƚ and broke downe,

And the gatt{es} of gret Renowne

Stondyng~ aƚƚ 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 Desoneƚƚ be neuyr~ so bryght, 985

He will Reue hym hys chaff{a}r~.

[Linenote:

986. _hym_] _m_ corr. out of _s_. MS.

_chaffer_ 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:

‘Lord, 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 tyƚƚ!

A man schaƚƚ But onnys Dyee, f. 93a.

I wiƚƚ fyght, whiƚƚ I may Dryee.’

He mad cher~ nobyƚƚ. 995

When he had I{es}u p{ra}yd of g{ra}ce,

He wyscheyd hyme a batteƚƚ plase,

Ther as hym lyst we{ll}e.

[Linenotes:

990. _wynd_ (!) MS. _vndyr nethe spere and schyld_ add. (!) 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: ‘Yf thow be a gentyƚƚ man~

Or come of gentyƚƚ blod,

Let thy beytyng and thy Ermyght be,

And come prove thy strenghe on me,

Therfor I sowght the, be the Rodde.’ 1010

[Linenote:

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

(88)

[Sidenote:

says he’ll wring Torrent’s nose. His Crook is 13 ft. long.]

The gyant sayd: ‘Be the Roode,

Deweƚƚ of heƚƚ send the fode,

Hether to seche me:

By the nose I schaƚƚ the wryng,

Thow berdles gadlyng~, 1015

That aƚƚ heƚƚ schaƚƚ thow see!’

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,

Tyƚƚ 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_ (!) MS.

1020. _were_ MS.]

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

(89)

[Sidenote:

Torrent charges, pierces the Giant’s eye,]

Thoo wold Torrent no lenger~ byd,

Tyƚƚ 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.

Aƚƚ that in~ the sytte wore,

Ouyr~ the wallys they laye.

[Linenotes:

1024. _the_] _f_ add. (!) MS.

1028. _Blyther_ (!) MS.

_nor_] so F. VI; _and_ MS.

1030. _throw--ren_] _anon he toke to hym_ MS.

1033. _wore_] so F. VI; _were_ MS.]

(90)

[Sidenote:

then spears him thro’ the body,]

Thow the fynd{es} ey were owte, 1035

Fast he leyd hym a-bowte

Aƚƚ þ{a}t somyrr{es} nyght;

He set ys backe to an hyƚƚ,

That Torrent schuld not come hym tyƚƚ,

So meche þ{a}t theff covd of fyght. 1040

He bled so sore, I vndyrstond,

Hys croke feƚƚ 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 Giant’s head.]

Aƚƚ that in~ the sytte were,

Mad fuƚƚ nobiƚƚ chere,

That thys fynd wase Dedde.

Forthe they Ran w{i}t{h} stavys of tre, f. 94a. 1050

Torrent seyd: ‘So mvt I the,

Kepe hole hys hed!

Yf yt be broke, so god me sped,

Yt ys wyƚƚ the worse to lede.’

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_ MS.

1057 _put before_ 1056 MS.]

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

[[Linenote 1056-57: _“MS” 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 haƚƚ 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 waƚƚ gan blowe, 1065

Knyghtis assemled on a Rowe,

And sith to the deyse they yede;

‘Sir,’ quod the kyng, ‘of whens are ye?’

‘Of Portingale, sir,’ said he,

‘I com heder, to sech my de{de}.’ 1070

[Linenotes:

1062. _two_] _tho_ MS.

1063. _hys_] _her_ MS.

1070. _deth_ MS.]

(93)

[Sidenote:

and takes him to the Giant’s Castle. The King of Calabria gives

Torrent the Giant’s castle,]

Fuƚƚ curtesly the kyng gan say

{To} Torrent on the oþ{ur}e day:

‘Wyƚƚ ye wend with me

A lituƚƚ here be-side to passe,

There as the Geaunt{es} dwelling was 1075

His man{er} now for to see?’

To the casteƚƚ gan~ they gone,

Richer saw they never none,

Better myght none be.

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘be god aƚƚ-myȝt~, 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 Castle’s name is Cardon.]

‘I yeve {yt} the, s{ir}, of my {h}ond, f. 94b.

And there-to, an erledome of {my} lond,

For soth, ye shaƚƚ it haue; 1085

Omage thou shalte none {nor} ffyne,

But euer more to the and thyne,

Frely, so god me saue!’

Lordys, and ye liston wold,

What was clepud the riche hold: 1090

The casteƚƚ 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_ 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 Desoneƚƚ 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 feƚƚ on kne:

‘Good lord,’ he said, ‘for charite,

Yeve me order of knyght!

I wott weƚƚ, leryd are ye, 1110

My lordys doughter shaƚƚ wed be

To a man~ off myght.’

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I trow, she mone f. 95a.

To the prynce off Aragon~,

By this day sevynnyght. 1115

Swith,’ he seith, ‘that this be done,

That thou be there and wyn~ thy shone,

Gete the armes bryght.’

[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} aȝure a squier off gold,

Richely bett on mold;

Listonyth, what he ware:

A dragon~ lying hym be-syde, 1125

His mouth grennyng fuƚƚ wyde,

Aƚƚ ffyghtyng as they were;

The creste, that on his hede shold stond,

Hit was aƚƚ gold shynand,

Thus previd he hym~ there. 1130

[Linenote:

1122. _On_] _of_ MS.]

(98)

[Sidenote:

He hears that Desonell’s marriage is certain.]

Lordys assembelid in sale,

Weƚƚ mo than I haue in tale,

Or ellis gret wonder were.

There herd {he} teƚƚ ffor certan~,

That Desoneƚƚ wed shold be than~, 1135

That was hym selfe ffuƚƚ 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

Tiƚƚ {at} the myd mete was

The kyng and meny a knyght;

As they satt at theyre {mete} glade,

In at the haƚƚ 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.

‘Lordys,’ he said, ‘among you aƚƚ

I chalenge thre coursus in the haƚƚ, 1150

{Or} Delyuer {her} me with right!’

[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:

‘I wyƚƚ none delyu{er} the.’

His son said: ‘So muste I thryve, 1155

There shaƚƚ no man just for my wiffe;

But yf youre wyƚƚ it be,

For her love did I never no dede,

I shaƚƚ to day, so god me spede:

Be-hold and ye shaƚƚ se.’ 1160

‘Alas!’ said Desoneƚƚ the dere,

‘Fuƚƚ longe may I sitt here,

Or Torrent chalenge me.’

(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 aƚƚ to-sheverd his sheld.

So they tombelid aƚƚ 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: ‘So god me saue,

Other two coursus wyƚƚ I haue, f. 96a.

Yf ye do me law of lond.’

Gret lordys stond styƚƚ,

They said nether good ne yƚƚ 1180

For tynding of his hond.

The prynce of Aragon~ in they barr~

With lituƚƚ 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 Slongus’s head on the table.]

He wold not in passe,

Tiƚƚ 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:

‘Lo, s{ir} kyng, hold this,’ he said, 1195

‘Or ellis wroth we anon~!’

They sett stiƚƚ at the bord,

None of hem spake one word,

But ryght that he had done.

[Linenote:

1198. _They spake nether ylle ne good_ add. (!) 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

‘Lystonyth, lordyng{es}, gentiƚƚ of blood,

For the love of god aƚƚ-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 aƚƚ his ryght. [1209]

Lokyth, lordys, you among, f. 96b.

Whether he do me ryght or wrong!’ 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:

‘Torrent, I wiste no thing of thys,

A gret maister arte thou!’

The kyng sware be seynt Gryffen~: 1215

‘With 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 aƚƚ you.’ 1220

‘Kyng Calamond, haue good day,

Thou shalt i-bye it, and I may,

To god I make avowe.’

[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: ‘Lordys, 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~!’

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]