From every side burst forth the renown
of the holiness of our blessed father Benedict,,
and Benedict continued day by day to be extolled
by proclaiming the grace that was to come.

Thus, the Gothic king Totila,
in order to mock the divine
prophetic power of Saint Benedict,
sends his attendant to him dressed in high rank.

The servant, accompanied
by many companions,
pretends that he is King Totila.
Benedict, seeing this,
immediately says to the attendant:

“O son, put off what you are wearing,
put aside your purple garb,
put aside the crown, the scepter,
put off the adornment, for that
regal splendor is not yours, take it off.”

O deceitful, O mindless cunning
that even in jest cannot deceive
the eyes of holy men.

When the truth was manifest
Totila bowed to Saint Benedict
with utmost submission of genuflection.
Benedict foretold many things
to the idolatrous king.

O beautiful, O happy devotion
that hesitates not to obtain grace
through the words of the saints.