Part 4

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_Â 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_Â 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_Â 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_Â 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.]

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[Sidenote: and frees the 5 youths. They sup.]