University of Virginia Library


839

[How Gallien sone of valerian was slayn]

Next in ordre to Bochas tho cam doun
Sone of Valerian, oon callid Gallien.
But for the grete horrible effusioun
Of Cristen blood[e], that men myhte seen
Shadde be Valerian, God wolde it sholde been
Shewed openli to Romeyns be vengaunce
Of many a contre sodeyn disobeissaunce.
Thei of Almeyne the Alpies dide passe
Vnto Rauenne, a cite of Itaille;
Gothis also, proud of cheer & face,
Hadde ageyn Grekis many gret bataille;
And thei of Hungry, armyd in plate & maille,
With them of Denmark, furious & cruell,
Ageyn Romeyns wex of assent rebell.
To whos damage in this mene while
Among Romeyns it is befalle thus:
Woful werris which called been civile
Gan in the cite, cruel and despitous.
First whan thei mette was slay[e]n Gemyvs,
Which first took on hym, in bookis as I reede,
Of hih corage to were purpil weede.
Oon Postumyvs, a myhti strong Romeyn,
Kept al Gaule vndir subieccioun;
To ther auail vnwarli aftir slayn
Among his knihtes, for al his hih renoun,
Be a sodeyn vnkouth discencioun.
Next Victoryn, hauyng the gouernaunce
Of al Gaule, was aftir slayn in Fraunce.
But Gallien, of whom I spak toforn,
Sone and heir to Valerian,
His domynacioun off purpos he hath lorn,
In Republica [anoon] whan he began,
Lich a contrarious & a froward man
Wex lecherous and vicious of lyuyng,
At myscheeff slay[e]n; this was his eendyng.