Entering Fields

Si intraveris segetem proximi tui franges spicas et manu conteres; falce autem non metes.... Hoc est evelles sententias manu intelligentiae, conteres granum ab arista, spiritum secernens a littera. Falce autem non metes, quod est facile et subito librum transcurrre. Sufficit paucos manipulos per dies colligere. Sunt qui falce metunt, qui totum subito librum legentes nihil intelligunt. Ingressus vineam proximi tui, id est Scriptuam Dei tui, comedas uvas, id est sententias quantum tibi placuerit; foras autem non efferas tecum, quia non est dandum sanctum canibus neque ponendae margaritae ante porcos. Hugo De Sancte Victore, Miscellanea, Liber III, Tit LVI Source: Migne PL 177.672b-c

And if you enter your neighbours corn field, you may pluck the ears and rub them in the hand, but you shall not reap with the sickle...1 That is, you shall pluck the meaning with the hand of understanding, rubbing the seed from the ear, discerning the spirit from the letter. But you shall not reap with the sickle which easily and quickly passes through the book. It is enough to collect a few handfuls through the day. For they reap with the sickle, who swiftly reading a whole book understand nothing. 'Passing into the vineyard of your neighbour,' that is the Scripture of your God, 'you may eat the grapes,' that is, the meaning as much as it is pleasing to you, 'but you may not cut with the sickle,' 2 because holy things must not be given to dogs, nor should pearls be cast down before pigs. 3 Hugh Of Saint Victor, Miscellanea, Book 3, Chap 56 1 Deut 23.25 2 Deut 23.24 3 Mt 7.6