The Incantation of Circe

Right at the very doors, and at the entrance of the hall,
There lingers a breed of barking things original: "genus latrantium." Likely referring to Cerberus or watchdogs, which Bruno uses to represent the loud, aggressive critics who guard the "entryway" to new ideas.:
It will become troublesome with its many-voiced baying,
And terrifying in its jaws.

Unless you are foolish, and unless it is foolish,
Through fear of the tooth, and of the staff,
It will not bite you, and you shall not strike it;
You will proceed, and it will not hinder you Bruno suggests a mutual restraint: if the author remains composed and the critic recognizes the "staff" of authority or reason, the work can pass through the initial noise of public reception without a fight..

When you have escaped these things with clever diligence,
And are entering the inner chambers:
The solar bird, the cock original: "Solaris volucer... gallus." The rooster is a traditional symbol of the dawn and the sun, representing the awakening of the mind and the dispelling of the "shadows" of ignorance., will receive you,
Committing you to the daughter of the Sun original: "Solis committens filiæ." This is Circe, the enchantress mentioned on the previous page, who represents the transformative power of nature and the intellect..