The Lumbard Albyon conquered Cunimund,
And after death of him inioyd the state,
And married with the Ladie Rosamund,
The Princes daughter whom he slue so late:
Whose skull he did conuert into a pot,
Because his conquest should not be forgot
His custome was at euerie feast hee made.
To drinke therein for pompe and foolish pride,
And on a time his Queene he gan perswade
To doe the like: whereto she nought replide,
But so much scornd his offer of disdaine,
As straight she drew a plot to haue him slaine
A noble man that Don Ermigio hight,
With on Parradio, by the Queenes deceate,
Were wrought to kill this monster if they might
And by the sworde they meant to doe the feate:
And so they did within a little while,
When least the king mistrusted anie guile
Vpon his death, Ermigio out of hand,
Espousde the Ladie Rosamund to his wife,
Which when Longinus chaunst to vnderstand,
He practisde with the Queene to reaue his life,
To thend that he might marrie with his dame,
Who gaue consent to do this deede of shame.
With venim vile to worke she thought it best,
Which when Ermigio dranke, and found the drift
By force he draue the Queene to drinke the rest,
Who seeing that there was none other shift,
The poyson supt, and tooke it patientile,
As just rewarde for both their villanie.
Parradio eke, whose helping hand did further
The Lumbards bane, and brought him to his death
For guerdon due to him, to quit the murther,
First lost his eies, and after that his breath;
That men might see, how trulie God doth strike,
And plague offences, lightlie with the like.