47. This monster’s cavern, your sacred
Majesty, thick laid, as seafaring men do say it is, with hidden lairs,
and all the neighbourhood thereof, where the rocks of unbelief echo to
the howling of her black dogs, we must pass by with ears in a manner
stopped. For it is written: “Hedge thine ears about
with thorns;” Ecclus. xxviii. 28. and
again: “Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers;” Phil. iii. 2. and yet
again: “A man that is an heretic, avoid after the first
reproof, knowing that such an one is fallen, and is in sin, being
condemned of his own judgment.” Tit. iii. 10, 11. So then, like prudent pilots, let
us set the sails of our faith for the course wherein we may pass by
most safely, and again follow the coasts of the Scriptures. Virgil,
Æn. III. 692 f. (Æneas’ coast-voyage round
Sicily).