6. Moreover, that that dove could not find rest for her feet, as we have said above, this signified the footsteps of those who deny; that is, those, wounded by the poison of the shining serpent, who sacrifice, turned towards their fall; which could not any further step upon the asp and the basilisk, and tread upon the dragon and the lion. For this power the Lord gave to His disciples, as He says in the Gospel: “Lo, I give unto you power to tread on all the power of the enemy, and upon serpents and scorpions; and they shall not harm you.”19    Luke x. 19. When, therefore, these so many and such malignant spirits are attacking and bestirring themselves for the destruction of the lapsed, a way of salvation is provided for the wounded, that with whatever strength they have they may drag themselves with their whole body, and betake themselves to their camp, wherein being received, they may heal their wounds with spiritual medicaments. Thus the dove received, after the intervention of a few days, is again sent forth from the ark; and returning, not only shows its firm footsteps, but moreover the signs of its peace and victory, in those olive leaves which it bore in its mouth.  Therefore that twofold sending forth shows to us a twofold trial of persecution: the first, in which they who have lapsed have fallen conquered; the second, in which they who have fallen have come out conquerors. For to none of us is it doubtful or uncertain, beloved brethren, that they who in the first struggle—that is, in the Decian persecution—were wounded; afterwards, that is in the second encounter, persevered so bravely, that, despising the edicts of the princes of the world,20    Scil. Gallus and Volusianus (Pamel.). they maintained that unconquered; in that they did not fear, after the example of the good Shepherd, to give up their life, and to shed their blood, and not to shrink from any barbarity of the raging tyrant.

VI. Quod autem requiem pedibus columba illa, sicut superius diximus, invenire non poterat, hoc significabat vestigia negantium, hoc est, sacrificatorum, lubrici veneno serpentis sauciata, in lapsum conversa: quae ulterius non possent super aspidem 1210B et basiliscum conscendere, et draconem et leonem calcare (Psal. XC, 13). Quam potestatem tradidit Dominus discipulis suis, sicut in Evangelio ait: Ecce do vobis potestatem calcandi super omnem potestatem inimici, et super serpentes et scorpiones, et non nocebunt vobis (Luc. X, 19). Isti ergo tot et tantis malignis spiritibus infestantibus, et in lapsorum necem insurgentibus, provisa est vulneratis salutis via: ut quibuscumque viribus possent toto se corpore protrahere, castris suis recipere; quibus recepti possent medelis spiritalibus vulnera sua curare. Recepta igitur columba, paucis etiam diebus interjectis, iterato emittitur ex arca, quae reversa, non tantum firma vestigia, sed et insignia suae pacis atque victoriae, per illa olivae folia quae suo ore 1210C portabat, ostendit. Duplex ergo illa emissio, duplicem nobis persecutionis tentationem ostendit: prima in qua qui lapsi sunt, victi ceciderunt; secunda in qua hi qui ceciderunt, victores extiterunt. Nulli enim nostrum dubium vel incertum est, fratres dilectissimi, illos qui prima acie, id est, deciana persecutione vulnerati fuerunt; hos postea, id est, secundo praelio ita fortiter perseverasse, ut contemnentes edicta saecularium principum, hoc invictum haberent, quod et non metuerunt exemplo boni pastoris animam suam tradere, et sanguinem fundere, nec ullam insanientis tyranni saevitiam recusare.