The article deals with Simon of Couvin (ca. 1325-1367) who studied at the
university of Paris in the middle of the 14th century. In the year 1350, the author has
composed an hitherto nearly unknown poem entitled “De iudicio Solis" in which he tries
to explain the causes of the Black Death. The contemporary plague is traced back to a
specific astrological constellation wrapped in an allegoric narrative. The paper presents a
critical edition of the Latin text and an introduction to the author.