A miracle took place in Rome

after forty-two years and a day,

to a very avaricious king.

His name was Vespasian,

his son was called Titus.

He [Vespasian] seized all the lands

so that they were submitted to him.

What help was it to them that they should have

wealth in plenty?

The old king suffered from a disease

in his face,

which was terrible to see.

Wasps flew into his head

and they flew out of his head just as frequently,

as the bee does from the hive.

This was a great misery.

Wealth nor land could help him

because he could not find a physician

who would undertake

nor was able to heal him.

His disease was so serious

that one could see right through his head:

it was completely eaten away.

God had not abandoned him.

Then there came a man from Israel.

Titus had the man brought before him

and showed him to his father.

This man should be profitable to him.

And when he saw that terrible sight,

he spoke to the king in a friendly tone:

“zu Jerusalem geit ein man,

der dit wol gibuzzen kan.

den heizzit man Jesum, godis kint.

di heilit alli di da sint.

he in‹is› nit so sere wunt,

von sinin worthen werde he gisunt.

mohtis du dich bireiden,

ovir mere wold ich dich leiden.

gezogistu im din othmut,

vil scire ware dir gibut.”

Der kunic sufzin bigan.

he sprach: “nu sistu wol dat ich inkan.

hi vore had ich groze craft,

nu inhav ich leider di maht

daz ich iz vollibrahte.

wi gerne ich iz gidahte.”

he sprach: “libe sun, was ist din rat

umbe dat uns dirre man gisagit hat?

ob du dich huves uvir mere

unde namis mit dir ein michil here,

dar zu silvir unde golt

so vile so dus havin wolt,

undi brenge mir den guthin man,

ob he mir gihelfin kan,

ich givin ime, maht du sagin,

wat ein kiel goldis mac gitragin

undi dar zu min hulde,

daz ich iz umbe in wil virsculden.”