Gregory the Great — on Ezek 2:6 (Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 9)

“But if perhaps they find someone righteous of such great virtue that they do not presume to speak contrary things to him, since they cannot be subverters, they immediately become scorpions. For the scorpion advances by caressing, but strikes with its tail; it does not bite from the front, but harms from behind. Therefore all who are flattering and malicious are scorpions, who do not resist the good to their face, but as soon as they have departed they disparage them, they inflame others whom they can, they send forth whatever harm they can, and they do not cease to inflict deadly wounds secretly. Scorpions therefore are those who appear flattering and harmless to the face, but carry behind their back that from which they pour forth poison. For those who strike in secret, as it were, draw death stealthily. Hence it is also said through the Psalmist: "They surrounded me like bees, and they blazed like fire among thorns." For bees have honey in their mouth, but a wound in the sting of their tail. And all who flatter with their tongue but secretly strike from malice are bees, because by speaking they offer the sweetness of honey, but by striking secretly they inflict a wound. But those doing these things blaze like fire among thorns, because through the flames of detractors it is not the life of the righteous that is burned, but if there were any thorns of sins in them, they are consumed. Therefore let it be said: "The unbelieving and subverters are with you, and you dwell among scorpions." Unbelieving toward God, subverters toward their weak neighbors, but scorpions even toward the strong and robust. Though they do not presume to contradict these to their face, yet they secretly inflict the wound of disparagement. For they are at once unbelieving and subverters and scorpions, because they do not believe the things of God when they hear them, and they subvert from good morals those whom they can prevail upon, and those whom they cannot bend they strike with hidden machinations.”