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]