ntation:- "O goddess Laverna! Give me the art of cheating and deceiving, Of making men believe that I am just, Holy, and innocent! extend all darkness And deep obscurity o'er my misdeeds!" It is interesting to compare this unquestionably ancient classic invocation to Laverna with the one which is before given. The goddess wasextensively known to the lower orders, and in Plautus a cook who has been robbed of his implements calls on her to revenge him. I call special attention to the fact that in this, as in a great numberof Italian witch incantations, the deity or spirit who is worshipped, be itDiana herself or Laverna, is threatened with torment by a higher power until he or she grants the favour demanded. This is quite classic (Grecco-Roman or Oriental) in all of which sources the magician relies noton favour, aid, or power granted by either God or Satan, but simply on whathe has been able to wrench and wring, as it were, out of infinite nature or the primal source by penance and study. I mention this becausea reviewer has reproached me with exaggerating the degree to which diabolism - introduced by the Church since 1500 - is deficient in Italy. But in fact, among the higher classes of witches, or in their traditions, it is hardly to be found at all. In Christian diabolism the witch never dares to threaten Satan or God, or any of the Trinity or angels, for the whole system is based on the conception of a Church and of obedience. The herb concordia probably takes its name from that of the goddess Concordia, who was represented as holding a branch. It plays a great partin witchcraft, after verbena and rue.APPENDIX So long ago as the year 1886 I learned that there was in existence a manuscript setting forth the doctrines of Italian witchcraft, and I was promised that, if possible, it should be obtained for me. In this I was for a time disappointed. But having urge...
