Panel 4: GIFT EXCHANGE

Virtue: TIMOR et MISERCORDIA: Awe and Compassion

a) Abraham (Abram) and Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20)

Circumscription: Victor Abram regum decimavit singula rerum
"Abram, victorious over the kings, presents (Melchizedek, the high priest) with a tenth of the spoils"

b) The Three Wise Men and their Gifts (Matthew 2:9-11)

Circumscription: Mistica dona Deo dant reges tres tria vero
"The three kings offer three mysterious gifts to the true God"

c) The Queen of Sheba (I Kings 10:1-10)

Circumscription: Misticat in donis regina fidem Salemonis
"The Queen, in her gifts, presages the faith to Solomon"

Comment: this seems like quite a stretch. Within the scheme of figuration the assertion of the Queen's mysteriously pointing to the true future faith, - an action to be read as symbolizing magic bowing to truth, - is founded on Matthew 12:41. Figurative reading is used here by the catholic clergy in the ongoing battle against popular magic.