Part 6

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: AÂ PRINCE OF ARAGON WANTS TO WED DESONELL.]

(67)

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

Lettyrr{es} come ther w{ithalle} To the kyng of 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_Â 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_Â 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_Â 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_Â MS. 971. _thens_] _thus_ MS.]

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

(85)

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

Tho wold he no lenger~ a-byd, 975 But to the sytte gan he Ryde, As fast as he myght fare; Here barys 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_Â MS.]

(86)

[Sidenote: Torrent prays to Christ for help.]

Torrent in~ the storrope stod And p{ra}yd to god, þ{a}t dyed on Rode: ‘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. (!)Â MS. 991. _lothly_] om. MS. 995. _nobill chere_ MS. 998. _welle_] _were_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT CHALLENGES THE GIANT SLONGUS.]

(87)

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

Torrent hys spere a-say be-gane, Bothe schyld and spere than~, 1000 That they were sekyr and good. Aftyr þ{a}t, w{i}t{h} in a throwe, Hys good horne gane he blowe. The gyant sawe, wher~ he stodde: Slong{es} of Flonthus staryd than~; 1005 Quod Torrent: ‘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_ (!)Â 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_Â MS. 1030. _throw--ren_] _anon he toke to hym_Â 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_Â 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_Â MS. 1084. _my_] om. MS. 1086. _nor_] om. MS. 1091. _by s._] om. MS. 1092. _there_ MS.]

(95)

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

By the kyng of P{er}vens he gan gane, 1095 That he had oute {of preson} i-tane His son vppon a day. Gentilmen were blith and ffayn~, That he in helth was comyn~ agayn~, That they myght with hym~ play. 1100 There of herd he, s{er}tayn{le}, That 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)