Torrent of Portyngale Part 23

1561. _they_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT GETS a.s.sURANCE FROM HEAVEN.]

(135)

[Sidenote: Torrent prays to Christ, and is cheerd by a voice from Heaven.]

For that s{ir} Torent had hym sene, He worth vppon his stede, I wene, And I{es}u prayd{e} he till: 'Mary son~, thou here my bone, 1565 As I am~ in venturus s{t}ad come, My jurnay {to} full-ffyll!' [1580]

A voys was fro hevyn~ sent And said: 'Be blith, s{ir} Torent, And yeve the no thing yll, 1570 To ffyght with my lordys enemy: Whether that thou lyve or dye, Thy mede the quyte he wyll!'

[Linenotes: 1566. _sad_ MS.

1567. _to_] _than_ MS.

1573. _He wylle quyte the thy mede_ MS.]

(136)

[Sidenote: The Giant advances against Torrent.]

Be that the giaunt had hym dight, Cam~ ageyn~ that gentill knyght, 1575 As bold as eny bore; He bare on~ his nek a croke, [1590]

Woo were the man~, that he ou{er}toke, It was twelfe ffote and more.

'Sir,' he said, 'ffor charite, 1580 Loke, curtes man~ that thou be, Yf thy wyll ware: I haue so fought all this nyght With thy II dragons wekyd and wight, They haue bett me full sore.' 1585

[Headnote: THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT, WOUNDS TORRENT.]

(137)

[Sidenote: The Giant says he'll punish Torrent for killing his 2 Dragons and his Brother Cate.]

The Geaunt said: 'Be my fay, Wors tyding{es} to me this day [1600]

I myght not goodly here.

Thorough the valey as thou cam~, My two dragons hast thou slan~, 1590 My solempnite they were. f. 102b.

To the I haue full good gate; For thou slow my brother Cate, That thou shalte by full dere!'

Be-twene the giaunt and the knyght 1595 Men myght se buffett{es} right, Who so had be there. [1610]

[Linenote: 1590. _slayne_ MS.]

(138)

[Sidenote: The Giant's crook cuts through Torrent's s.h.i.+eld to his flesh, and sticks there.]

Sir Torent yaue to hym~ a brayd; He levid that the aungell said, Of deth yaue he no{ught}. 1600 In to the brest he hym~ bare, His spere hede lefte he thare, So evill was. .h.i.tt {bythought}.

The Giaunt hym ayen~ smate Thorough his sheld and his plate, 1605 In to the flesh it sought; And sith he pullith at his croke, [1620]

So fast in to the flesh it toke, That oute my?t he gete it nought.

[Linenotes: 1600. _nought_] _no dynt_ MS.

1603. _byth._] _mynt_ MS.]

(139)

[Sidenote: Torrent throws his s.h.i.+eld and the Giant's crook into the water. The Giant goes in after them and is drowned.]

On hym~ he hath it broke, 1610 Glad pluckys there he toke, Set sadly and s{a}re.

Sir Torent stalworth satt, Oute of his handys he it gatt, No lenger dwellid he th{a}re. 1615 In to the water he cast his sheld, Croke and all to-geders it held, [1630]

Fare after, how so euer it ffare.

The Geaunt folowid w{i}t{h} all his mayn~, And he come never quyk agayn~: 1620 G.o.d wold, that so it ware.

[Linenotes: 1612. _sore_ MS.

1615. _there_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SLAYS THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT.]

(140)

[Sidenote: Torrent rides to the Giant's castle,]

Sir Torent bet hym~ there, f. 103a.

Till that this fend did were, Or he thens wend.

On hym had he hurt but ane, 1625 Lesse myght be a mann{us} bane, But G.o.d is full hend: [1640]

Thorough grace of hym, that all shall weld, There the knyght had the feld, Such grace G.o.d did hym~ send. 1630 Be than it nyed nere hand ny?t~, To a castell he Rode right, All nyght there to lend.

[Linenote: 1626. _But lesse_ MS.]

(141)

[Sidenote: and finds a fair Lady there. Torrent asks for a night's lodging.]

In the castell found he nought, That G.o.d on the Rode bought; 1635 High vppon~ a toure, As he caste a side lokyng, [1650]

He saw a lady in her bed syttyng, White as lylye ffloure; Vp a-Rose that lady bryght, 1640 And said: 'Welcom~, s{ir} knyght, That fast art in stoure!'

'Damysell, welcom~ mut thou be!

Graunt thou me, for charite, Of one nyghtis so{i}oure!' 1645

[Linenote: 1645. _socoure_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IN THE GIANT WERAUNT'S CASTLE.]

(142)

[Sidenote: The Lady says the Giant Weraunt will kill him.]

'By Mary,' said that lady clere, 'Me for-thinkith, that thou com~ here, [1660]

Thy deth now is dight; For here dwellith a geaunt, He is clepud Weraunt, 1650 He is {to} the devill be-taught.

To day at morn~ he toke his croke, Forth at the yat{es} the way he toke, And said, he wold haue a draught; f. 103b.

And here be chambers two or thre, 1655 In one of hem I shall hide the, G.o.d the saue ffrome harmes right!' [1670]

[Linenotes: 1650. _Weraunt_] _weraumt_ (?) MS.

1651. _to_] _of_ MS.]

(143)