A Magical Spell for Book Collectors
Editor's Note: As book collectors, we always wonder - why do some
collectors waltz into an unpretentious garage sale and waltz out with an armful
of Poe first editions, while we must sift through carton after musty carton of
Reader's Digest condensed books to find anything that might sell on eBay for
over two dollars? Perhaps the answer is: Magic! In an effort to
level the playing field, we herewith offer a magical spell for collectors of
rare books, taken from Charles G. Leland's
Aradia; or, the Gospel of the
Witches, a scholarly work on Italian witchcraft. No claims of efficacy
are made, and readers are warned to use this spell entirely at their own risk.
An Invocation or
Incantation to Diana
The man or woman who, when about to go forth into the town,
would fain be free from danger or risk of an accident: or to have good fortune
in buying, as, for instance, if a scholar hopes that he may find some rare old
book or manuscript for sale very cheaply, or if any one wishes to buy anything
very desirable or to find bargains or rarities. This scongiurazione one
serves for good health, cheerfulness of heart, and absence of evil or the overcoming enmity. These are words of gold unto the
believer.
To Diana.
'Tis Tuesday now, and at an
early hour
I fain would turn good
fortune to myself,
Firstly at home and then
when I go forth,
And with the aid of
beautiful Diana
I pray for luck ere I do
leave this house!
First with three drops of
oil I do remove
All evil influence, and I
humbly pray,
O beautiful Diana,
unto thee
That thou wilt take it all
away from me,
And send it all to my worst
enemy!
When the evil fortune
Is taken from me,
I'll cast it out to the
middle of the street:
And if thou wilt grant me
this favour,
O beautiful Diana,
Every bell in my house
shall merrily ring!
Then well contented
I will go forth to roam,
Because I shall be sure
that with thy aid
I shall discover ere I
return
Some fine and ancient
books,
And at a moderate price.
And thou shalt find the
man,
The one who owns the book,
And thou thyself wilt go
And put it in his mind,
Inspiring him to know
What 'tis that thou
would'st find
And move him into doing
All that thou dost require.
Or if a manuscript
Written in ancient days,
Thou'lt gain it all the
same,
It shall come in thy way,
And thus at little cost.
Thou shalt buy what thou
wilt,
By great Diana's aid.
The foregoing was obtained, after some delay, in reply to a
query as to what conjuration would be required before going forth, to make sure
that one should find for sale some rare book, or other object desired, at a very
moderate price. Therefore the invocation has been so worded as to make it
applicable to literary finds; but those who wish to buy anything whatever on
equally favourable terms, have but to vary the request, retaining the
introduction, in which the magic virtue consists. I cannot, however, resist the
conviction that it is most applicable to, and will succeed best with,
researches for objects of antiquity, scholarship, and art, and it should
accordingly be deeply impressed on the memory of every bric-à-brac hunter and
bibliographer.
It should be observed, and that earnestly, that the prayer,
far from being answered, will turn to the contrary or misfortune, unless the
one who repeats it does so in fullest faith, and this cannot be acquired by
merely saying to oneself, "I believe." For to acquire real faith in
anything requires long and serious mental discipline, there being, in fact, no
subject which is so generally spoken of and so little understood. Here, indeed,
I am speaking seriously, for the man who can train his faith to actually
believe in and cultivate or develop his will can really work what the world by
common consent regards as miracles. A time will come when this principle will
form not only the basis of all education, but also that of all moral and social
culture.
The reader, however, who has devout faith, can, as the
witches declare, apply this spell daily before going forth to procuring or
obtaining any kind of bargains at shops, to picking up or discovering lost
objects, or, in fact, to finds of any kind. If he incline to beauty in female
form, he will meet with bonnes fortunes; if a man of business, bargains
will be his. The botanist who repeats it before going into the fields will
probably discover some new plant, and the astronomer by night be
almost certain to run against a brand new planet, or at least an asteroid. It
should be repeated before going to the races, to visit friends, places of
amusement, to buy or sell, to make speeches, and specially before hunting or any
nocturnal goings-forth, since Diana is the goddess of the chase and of
night. But woe to him who does it for a jest!
Of Related Interest:
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Applicable material copyright D. J. McAdam
Magical Spell for Book Collectors