Blackbirds by the thousands can descend and devour newly dropped seeds.

VOA: standard.2010.06.17

In order to fill their own bellies, so greedy are they, they intruded into the church's fold and devour for themselves -this is how the allegory works -devour for themselves the nourishment that of course they should be sharing with their flock.

为了填满他们的欲望，他们挥霍了教会的资金,这就是讽喻的含义,在自我满足中尽情的挥霍,当然他们需要与自己的信徒共享。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选