Qui corpus istud molle naturaliter
  captumque laxo sub voluptatum iugo
  virtutis arta lege fecit liberum: 
  emancipator servientis plasmatis
  regnantis ante victor et cupidinis. 185

    Inhospitali namque secretus loco
  quinis diebus octies labentibus
  nullam ciborum vindicavit gratiam,
  firmans salubri scilicet ieiunio
  vas adpetendis inbecillum gaudiis. 190

    Miratus hostis posse limum tabidum
  tantum laboris sustinere ac perpeti,
  explorat arte sciscitator callida,
  Deusne membris sit receptus terreis,
  sed increpata fraude post tergum ruit. 195

    Hoc nos sequamur quisque nunc pro viribus,
  quod consecrati tu magister dogmatis
  tuis dedisti Christe sectatoribus,
  ut, cum vorandi vicerit libidinem,
  late triumphet inperator spiritus. 200

    Hoc est, quod atri livor hostis invidet,
  mundi polique quod gubernator probat,
  altaris aram quod facit placabilem,
  quod dormientis excitat cordis fidem,
  quod limat aegram pectoris rubiginem. 205

    Perfusa non sic amne flamma extinguitur,
  nec sic calente sole tabescunt nives,
  ut turbidarum scabra culparum seges
  vanescit almo trita sub ieiunio,
  si blanda semper misceatur largitas. 210

    Est quippe et illud grande virtutis genus
  operire nudos, indigentes pascere,
  opem benignam ferre supplicantibus,
  unam paremque sortis humanae vicem
  inter potentes atque egenos ducere. 215

  Satis beatus quisque dextram porrigit,

laudis rapacem, prodigam pecuniae,
cuius sinistra dulce factum nesciat: 
illum perennes protinus conplent opes,
ditatque fructus faenerantem centuplex. 220

VII.  Hymn for those who fast

O Jesus, Light of Bethlehem,
True Son of God, Incarnate Word;
Thou offspring of a Virgin’s womb,
Be present at our frugal board;
Accept our fast, our sacrifice,
And smile upon us, gracious Lord.

For by this holiest mystery
The inward parts are cleansed from stain,
And, taming all the unbridled lusts,
Our sinful flesh we thus restrain,
Lest gluttony and drunkenness
Should choke the soul and cloud the brain.

  Hence appetite and luxury
    Are forced their empire to resign;
  The wanton sport, the jest obscene,
    The ignoble sway of sleep and wine,
  And all the plagues of languid sense
    Feel the strict bonds of discipline.

  For if, full fed with meat and drink,
    The flesh thou ne’er dost mortify,
  The mind, that spark of sacred flame,
    By pleasure dulled, must fail and die,
  And pent in its gross prison-house
    The soul in shameful torpor lie.

  So be thy carnal lusts controlled,
    So be thy judgment clear and bright;
  Then shall thy spirit, swift and free,
    Be gifted with a keener sight,
  And breathing in an ampler air
    To the All-Father pray aright.