Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming ever so wisely.
Read Chapter 58
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
6. "Indignation to them after the similitude of a serpent" (ver. 4). A great thing ye are to hear. "Indignation to them after the similitude of a serpent." As if we had said, What is that which thou hast said? there followeth, "As if of a deaf asp." Whence deaf? "And closing its ears." Therefore deaf, because it closeth its ears. "And closing its ears." "Which will not hearken to the voice of men charming, and of the medicine medicated by the wise man" (ver. 5). As we have heard, because even men speak who have learned it with such research as they were able, but nevertheless it is a thing which the Spirit of God knoweth much better than any men. For it is not to no purpose that of this he hath spoken, but because it may chance that true is even that which we have heard of the asp. When the asp beginneth to be affected by the Marsian charmer, who calleth it forth with certain peculiar incantations, hear what it doeth. ...Give heed what is spoken to thee for a simile's sake, what is not...
Wisely. "Cunningly. "Many read, qui incantatur a sapiente. (Calmet)
He does not approve of the magical art. (Menochius)
Serpents may naturally be affected with music. The torpid snake by incantation bursts. (Virgil, Ec. viii.; Bo chart v. 3. 385.) Parkhurst, chober. (Haydock)
