Part 7

[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. (!)Â MS.]

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

(104)

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

Torrent at the syde bord stode: 1200 ‘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]

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

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

(108)

[Sidenote: on an island for half Portugal.]

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

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

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

(109)

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

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

(110)

[Sidenote: Torrent prays for Christ’s help,]

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

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

(111)

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

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

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

(112)

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

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

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

(113)

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

Sir Torent said, as he was wonne, He thankid I{es}u, Maryes son~, [1310] That kyng, that sent hym myȝt~; He said: ‘Lordys, for charite, 1310 A bote that ye send to me, It is nere hand nyght!’ They Reysed a gale w{i}t{h} a sayƚƚ, The Geaunt to lond for to trayƚƚ, Aƚƚ men wonderid on that wight. 1315 Whan that they had so done, They went to s{ir} Torent fuƚƚ sone And shipped that comly knyght. [1320]

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

(114)

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

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

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

(115)

[Sidenote: The King of Portugal acknowledges Torrent,]

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

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

(116)

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

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

[Headnote: TORRENT BEGETS TWINS ON DESONELL.]

(117)

[Sidenote: Torrent passes a night with Desonell.]

Torent said: ‘So muste I the, 1355 Sith it wyƚƚ no better be, I cord with that assent!’ After mete, as I you teƚƚ, [1360] To speke with mayden~ Desoneƚƚ, To her chamber he went. 1360 The damyseƚƚ so moche of pride Set hym on~ her bed-syde, And said: ‘Welcom~, verament!’ Such gestenyng he a-right, That there he dwellid aƚƚ nyȝt~ 1365 With that lady gent. f. 99a.

(118)

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

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

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

(119)

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

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

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

(120)

[Sidenote: leaves 2 gold rings with her,]

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

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

(121)

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

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

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

(122)

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

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

[Linenote: 1424. _kest_] _sett_ MS.]

(123)

[Sidenote: Torrent resolves to land.]

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

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

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

(124)

[Sidenote: Torrent and his knights arm.]

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

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

(125)

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

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

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

(126)

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

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

[Linenote: 1465 put before 1464 MS.]

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

(127)

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

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

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

(128)

[Sidenote: Torrent rides up to 2 Dragons.]

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

[Linenote: 1490. _thare_] _that_ MS.]

(129)

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

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

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

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

(130)

[Sidenote: and then kills the second.]

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

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

(131)

[Sidenote: He sees a Castle.]

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

[Linenote: 1525. _wish_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT BEFORE THE NORSE GIANT’S CASTLE.]

(132)

[Sidenote: Torrent rides to the Norse Giant’s castle gates.]

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

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

(133)

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