Torrent of Portyngale Part 24

[Sidenote: Torrent tells her to come and see the Giant.]

'Certayn~,' tho said the knyght, 'That theffe I saw to nyght, Here be-side a sla{d}e. 1660 He was a ferly freke in ffyght, With hym faught a yong knyght, Ech on other laid good l{a}de; Me thought well, as he stode, He was of the fend{us} blood, 1665 So Rude was he made.

Dame, yf thou leve not me, [1680]

Com~ nere, and thou shalt se, Which of hem ab{a}de.'

[Linenotes: 1660. _slate_ or _flate_ MS.

1663. _lode_ MS.

1669. _abode_ MS.]

(144)

[Sidenote: The Norwegian Princess sees the Giant's corpse, and praises his slayer.]

Blith was that lady bryght 1670 For to se that {selly} sight: With the knyght went she.

Whan she cam, where the Geaunt lay, 'Sir,' she said, 'p{ar}maffay I wott well, it is he. 1675 Other he was of G.o.d all-myght Or seynt George, oure lady kny?t~, [1690]

That there his bane hath be.

Yf eny cryston~ man smyte hym down~, He is worthy to haue renown~ 1680 Thorough oute all crystiaunte.'

[Linenote: 1671. _selly_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT RESCUES THE PRINCESS OF NORWAY.]

(145)

[Sidenote: She tells Torrent that her Father gave her, as his ransom, to the Giant.]

'I haue wonder,' said the knyght, 'How he gate the, lady bryght, Fro my lord the kyng.'

'Sir,' she said, 'verament, f. 104a. 1685 As my fader on huntyng went Erly in a mornyng, [1700]

For{e} his men pursued a dere, To his castell, that stondith here, That doth my hondys wryng, 1690 This Giaunt hym toke, wo he be!

For his love he gevith hym~ me, He wold none other thinge.'

[Linenote: 1688. _For_ MS.]

(146)

Forth she brought bred and wyne, Fayn~ he was for to dyne . . . . . . 1695 This knyght made n.o.ble chere, Though that he woundid were [1710]

With the Geaunt strong.

(147)

[Sidenote: Torrent takes her away. Torrent longs for Desonell. The Norwegian Princess sees her Father.]

Sir Torrent dwellid no lenger thare, Than~ he my?t away fare 1700 With that lady bryght.

'Now, I{es}u, that made h.e.l.l, Send me on lyve to Desonell, That I my trouth to plight!'

Tho sye they be a forest syde 1705 Men~ of armes ffaste ride On coursers comly dight. [1720]

The lady said: 'So mvst I thee, It is my fader, is com for me, With the Geaunt to ffyght.' 1710

[Headnote: TORRENT IS WELCOMD BY THE KING OF NORWAY.]

(148)

[Sidenote: Torrent is recognised]

An harood said anon~ right: 'Yon I se an armed knyght, And no squier, but hym~ one: He is so {big} of bone & blood, He is the Geaunt, be the Rode!' 1715 Som~ seith, he riduth vppon~.

'Nay,' said the kyng, 'verament, f. 104b. [1820]

It is the knyght, that I after sent, I thanke G.o.d and seynt Iohn, For the Geaunt slayn~) hath he 1720 And wonne my dought{er}, well is me!

All his men are {a}t{o}ne!'

[Linenotes: 1714. _big_] _long_ MS.

1722. _at._] _tane_ MS.]

(149)

[Sidenote: and welcomd by the King of Norway. His wounds are drest.]

Wott ye well, with Ioy and blis Sir Torent there recevid ys, As doughty man~ of dede. 1725 The kyng and other lordys gent Said, 'Welcom~, s{ir} Torent, [1830]

In to this vncouth {thede}!'

In to a state they hym~ brought, Lechis sone his woundis sought; 1730 They said, so G.o.d hem spede, Were there no lyve but ane, His liffe they wyll not vndertane, For no gold ne ffor mede.

[Linenote: 1728. _thede_] _lond_ MS.]

[Headnote: PRINCESS GENDRES. TORRENT STAYS A YEAR IN NORWAY.]

(150)

[Sidenote: The Princess claims Torrent as her husband.]

The lady wist not or than~, 1735 That he was hurt, that gentilman~, And sith she went hym tyll; [1840]

She sought his wound{us} and said thare: 'Thou shalte lyve and welfare, Yf the no-thing evyll! 1740 My lord the kyng hath me hight, That thou shalt wed me, s{ir} knyght, The fforward ye to fulle ffyll.'

'Damysell, loo here my hond: And I take eny wyffe in this lond, 1745 It shall be at thy wyll!'

(151)

[Sidenote: Her name is Gendres. Torrent stays 12 months in Norway.]

Gendres was that ladyes name. [1850]

The Geaunt{es} hede he brought hame, And the dragons {he brought}. f. 105a.

Mene myght here a myle aboute, 1750 How on the dede hedys they did shoute, For the shame, that they hem~ wrought, Both with dede and with tong Fyfte on the hedys dong, That to the ground they sought. 1755 Sir Torrent dwellid thare Twelfe monythis and mare, [1860]

That ffurther my?t he nought.

[Linenotes: 1749. _he br._] _also_ MS.

1752. _they_] _had_ add. MS.]

(152)

[Sidenote: The King of Norway sends Torrent's false Squires to sea, where all drown, save one.]

The kyng of Norway said: 'Nowe, Fals thevis, woo worth you, 1760 Ferly sotell were ye: Ye said, the knyght wold not com~: Swith oute of my kyngdome, Or hangid shall ye be!'

His squiers, that fro hym~ fled, 1765 With sore strokys are they spred Vppon the wanne see, [1870]