(i) Therefore they ought not to hear the laws, for it is a disgrace to them if they wish to be versed in forensic training.  C. de testa consulta divalia.  But, on the other hand, the laws are divinely promulgated through the mouths of princes as XVI. quaest.  III, nemo.[E] Some say that it is lawful to hear the laws in order that through them the canons may be better understood.  He argues in favor of this division in the section beginning “Some read profane literature” (p. 70).  John.

(k) In order that they may know how to speak correctly.

     Likewise [Jerome] on Isaiah: 

     He who misunderstands the sacred scriptures, or makes a wrong use
     of profane wisdom, is drunken with wine[F] and with strong drink.

They are drunken with wine who (l) misunderstand the sacred scriptures and pervert them, and through strong drink they make a wrong use of profane wisdom and the wiles of the dialecticians, which are to be called, not so much wiles as figures, that is, symbols, so-called, and images, which quickly pass away and are destroyed.  Likewise, in accordance with tropology (m), we ought to regard as false prophets those who interpret the words of the scriptures otherwise than as the Holy Spirit utters them, and as divine those who from the inferences of their own minds and apart from the authority of divine words, proclaim as true the uncertain events of the future.  Likewise, those who do not understand the Scriptures according to the actual truth eat sour grapes.

     Likewise [Jerome] in the Epistle to the Ephesians: 

     Bishops are blamed who train their own sons in profane
     literature.[G]

Let those bishops and priests read [this] who train their own sons in profane literature, and have them read those well-known comedies and sing the base writings of the actors of farces, having educated them perhaps on the money of the church.(a) And that which a virgin, or a widow, or any poor person whatever had offered, pouring out her whole substance as an offering for sin, this [is devoted] to a gift (b) of the calendar, and a saturnalian offering, (c) and, on the part of the grammarian and orator, to a thank-offering to Minerva, or else it is turned over for domestic expenses, or as a temple donation, or for base gain.  Eli, the priest, was himself holy, but because ...

(l) The ears of those who misunderstand the words of the Master should be cut off:  as XXIV. quaest.  I. si Petrus.[H]

(m) That is, in accordance with the moral[I] meaning, from trope, i.e. a turning[J] or application, when we apply our words to the shaping of character.

XLIII. distinct. sit rector.

Additio.  They did the opposite and he writes of penitence, distinct.  I. super tribus.  Archi.

(a) He argues contrariwise in dist.  XXXI. omnino.