| | A lusty playn habundaunt of vitayl | |
| 60 | Where meny a toun and tour thou maist beholde | |
| | That founded were in tyme of fadris old | |
| | And meny another delectabyl sight | |
| | And saluces this noble contre hight | |
| | A Markys somtyme lord was of that lond | |
| 65 | As were his worthy eldris hym before | |
| | And obeysaunt ay redy to his hond | |
| | Were alle his lieges bothe lasse and more | |
| | Thus in delyt he lyuyd and hath do yore | |
| | Beloued & drad thorugh fauouris of fortune | |
| 70 | Bothe of his lordis and eke of his comune | |
| | Therwith he was to speke of lynage | |
| | The gentilest baron of lumbardye | |
| | A fair persone a strong and yong of age | |
| | And ful of honoure and of curtesye | |
| 75 | Discret ynow his contre forto gye | |
| | Saue in som thingis he was to blame | |
| | And waltir was this yonge lordis name | |
| | I blame hym thus that he considerid not | |
| | In tyme comynge what mighte hym betyde | |
| 80 | But on his lust present was al his thought | |
| | As forto hauke and hunte on euery syde | |
| | Wel nygh alle other curis lete he slyde | |
| | And eke he nolde and that was worst of al | |
| | Wedde no wyf for aught that mighte be fal | |
| 85 | Only that poynt his pepyl baar so sore | |
| | That flekmele on a day they to hym went | |
| | And one of hem that wisest was of lore | |
