IV. 4
[Torrent is offerd a Princess of Provyns.]
The king of Provyns warns
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For why I wyll the saye, 917
Moche folke of that countre
Cometh heder for socoure to me,
Bothe by nyghte and by daye. 920
him against the terrible Giant there,
There is a gyaunte of grete renowne,
He destroyeth bothe cyte and towne
And all that he may. 923
As bokes of rome tell,
He was goten with the deuyll of hell,
As his moder slepynge lay.’ 926
The kynge sayde, ‘by Saynt Adryan,
I rede, a nother gentylman
Be there and haue the degre. 929
I haue a doughter, that me is dere,
and offers him his Daughter and 2 Duchies.
Thou shalte wedde her to thy fere,
And yf it thy wyll be, 932
Two duchyes in honde
I wyll gyue her in londe.’
‘Gramercy, syr,’ sayd he, 935
Torrent says he must keep his troth.
‘With my tonge I haue so wrought,
To breke my day wyll I nought,
Nedes me behoueth there to be.’ 938
‘On Goddes name,’ the kynge gan sayne,
‘Iesu brynge the saffe agayne,
Lorde, moche of myght!’ 941
Mynstralsy was them amonge,
With harpe, fedyll and songe,
Delycyous notes on hygh[t]e. 944
Whan it was tyme, to bed they wente,
And on the morowe rose Torente
And toke leue of kynge and knyght 947
Torrent starts,
And toke a redy way.
FRAG. 5. TORRENT HEARS OF THE CALABRIAN GIANT, SLOGUS.