Theophilus

Summary

You will hear yet more amazing things

about the excellent woman,

about how she is willing and able to help.

There once was a virtuous man,

a bishop of a certain land,

who had appointed as head

of his household and as his deputy in office

in his own stead someone else

whose name was Theophilus.

This vicedominus

understood the bishop very well

– as wise people today still do –

as to what his tasks were.

Both with laymen and clergymen,

each individually and all together,

He undoubtedly had a good reputation,

for he maintained very wisely

the office and his master's position

with wise management.

When the bishop had died

and all the canons

in a meeting were discussing

whom they would elect as bishop,

they considered many candidates.

Yet they agreed

that they wanted to have

the honorable Theophilus.

When he had learned of their choice,

which had been communicated to him immediately,

his humility urged him

to appear before them all.

di herschaft und daz groze amt

gentzlich er da wider sprach.

“ez were mir groz ungemach”,

sprach er, “ob di burde

uf mich geleget wurde.

ich han amtes genuc,

daz trage ich, als ich vor truc,

daz ich an siner stat bin.”

alle der tumherren sin

wart do umme gewant

und erkurn in zuhant

einen andern an daz bischtum.

der liez ouch Theophilum

dar nach wesen an siner stat.

Dar under schiere ein sache trat

in eime ungemute scharf,

daz der bischof verwarf

Theophilum durch vientschaft

von der benanten herschaft.

des schemte sich Theophilus,

daz er nicht vicedominus

als da vor solde wesen.

er duchte sich gar ungenesen

an eren und geletzet,

daz er was entsetzet

von des amtes werdekeit.

sin ungemach und sin leit

alzu verre in vertruc,

wand ez in grobelichen sluc

uz der rechten straze hin.

im ranc nach herschaft der sin,

als nach dem ase tut der rude.

Nu was ouch in der stat ein iude,

der in den swartzen buchen

di list kunde ersuchen,

daz er mit tuveln umme gie.

Theophilus vil gar verlie

sin herze uf disses iuden rat.