Morgan Library, MS M.1045, fol. 29v
CUM IEIUNATIS NOLITE FIERI SICUT …
Cum autem jejunatis, nolite fieri sicut hypocritae, tristes. Exterminant enim facies suas, ut appareant hominibus jejunantes. Amen dico vobis, quia receperunt mercedem suam.
And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6.16
In the border of the central medallion:
CUM TU IEIUNAS NON SIS UT YPOCRITA TRISTIS. NON UIRTUS SED MENS FICTA NOTATUR IBI
When you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. Not a strong, but a false mind is there to be noted.
HUMILIABAM IN IEIUNIO ANIMAM
Ego autem, cum mihi molesti essent, induebar cilicio; humiliabam in jejunio animam meam, et oratio mea in sinu meo convertetur.
But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be turned into my bosom.
Psalm 34.13
BONA EST ORATIO CUM IEIUNIO
Bona est oratio cum jejunio, et eleemosyna magis quam thesauros auri recondere :
Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold:
Tobias 12.8
IN DIE IEIUNII VESTRI INUENITUR UOLUNTAS VESTRA.
Quare jejunavimus, et non aspexisti; humiliavimus animas nostras, et nescisti? Ecce in die jejunii vestri invenitur voluntas vestra, et omnes debitores vestros repetitis.
Why have we fasted, and thou hast not regarded: have we humbled our souls, and thou hast not taken notice? Behold in the day of your fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors.
Isaiah 58.3
SANCTIFICATE IEIUNIUM UOCATE COETUM
Sanctificate jejunium, vocate coetum, congregate senes, omnes habitatores terrae in domum Dei vestri, et clamate ad Dominum :
Sanctify ye a fast, call an assembly; gather together the ancients, all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God: and cry ye to the Lord:
Joel 1.14
IEIUNAT MOYSES QUADRAGINTAQUE DIES
Moses also fasted forty days.
MONS OREB
PROLONGANDO VIAS FORTIS PERREXIT HELIAS
Prolonging the way, strong, Elijah went forward.
3 Kings 19
The phlegm of fasting is protection against poisonous venom.
Saint Albertus Magnus, De animalibus, Book 22, Tract I, Chapter 5 (below)
SI NIMIS AGNELLI PIGUANTUR TUNC MORIUNTUR
If lamb are fattened too much, then they will die.
Transcriptions of inscriptions from the Index of Medieval Art; translations are my own, rough as they may be, if not from source in public domain.
Nihil sub sole novum 