Torrent of Portyngale Part 20

'Sir, takyth housell and shrefte!' f. 97b.

To G.o.d 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 s.h.i.+pp s{ir} Torent went, With the grace, G.o.d had hym sent, [1280]

That was never ffayland; 1280 All 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 s.h.i.+pmen~ 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 full 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 s.h.i.+es 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 fell, f. 98a.

Men~ myght here the fend yell 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 ash.o.r.e. Torrent is s.h.i.+pt to the mainland.]

Sir Torent said, as he was wonne, He thankid I{es}u, Maryes son~, [1310]

That kyng, that sent hym my?t~; 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 sayll, The Geaunt to lond for to trayll, All men wonderid on that wight. 1315 Whan that they had so done, They went to s{ir} Torent full sone And s.h.i.+pped 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, well worthy was he.

Sir Torent had in Aragon~ 1325 The riche Cite of Cargon~ And all that riche contre; Archbeshoppes, as the law fell, [1330]

Dep{ar}tid the prynce and Dissonell 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 fall, Gret lordys honoured hym~ all 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 well 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 battell {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 G.o.d 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 wyll not ageyn~ the say; But abyde halfe yere and a day, And broke her well with blis!'

[Headnote: TORRENT BEGETS TWINS ON DESONELL.]

(117)

[Sidenote: Torrent pa.s.ses a night with Desonell.]

Torent said: 'So muste I the, 1355 Sith it wyll no better be, I cord with that a.s.sent!'

After mete, as I you tell, [1360]

To speke with mayden~ Desonell, To her chamber he went. 1360 The damysell so moche of pride Set hym on~ her bed-syde, And said: 'Welcom~, verament!'

Such gestenyng he a-right, That there he dwellid all ny?t~ 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]

Till letters com hym till Fro the kyng of Norway; 1370 For I{es}us love he did hym p{r}aye, Yf it were his wyll, He shold com as a doughty knyght, With a Geaunt for to ffyght, That wyll his londys spyll; 1375 He wold hym yeve his doughter dere And halfe Norway ffar and nere, Both be hold and be hyll. [1380]

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