University of Virginia Library

[Trusimond kyng of Gepedois.]

In ordre nexte Bochas doth [so] write,
Of Gepidois how king Trusimounde
Requered hym that he wolde endite
The grete aduersites in which he did habounde,
And of his douhtir callid Rosymounde
The vnhappi chaunce to marken & descryue,
To whom Fortune was contrarye al hir lyue.
Alboinvs kyng of Lumbardie,
Which many lond heeld in subieccioun,
Conquered Beeme, Pragve & Hungrie,
The lond of Gepidois, with many regioun,
Fauht with ther kyng, as maad is mencioun,
Slouh in bataille the said[e] Trusimounde,
Weddid aftir his douhtir Rosamounde.

915

Myn auctour gretli comendeth hir beute
And writ also she was but yong of age,
Whos stori first, whan I dide see
How vngracious was also hir mariage,
I gan wexe pale in my visage,
Gretli astoned, confus of verray shame
To write this stori in hyndryng of hir name.
I wil forbern and breefli passen heere,
The surplusage lihtli ouerpasse;
For bi and bi to telle al the maneere
Of fellonies that did hir herte enbrace,
It sholde blotte this book & eek difface.
For which I caste treuli & nat faille
Touching hir stori to make rehersaille.