#strege

[the-dark-arts-and-crafts]

Bewitching people on their wedding-day

I have two spells for bewitching people on their wedding-day, so that they may be utterly miserable, and never agree. One is as follows:--

"If you desire that a woman shall never find happiness in marriage, take on the wedding-day an orange flower, and put into it a little fine salt, pepper, and cummin, with sconcordia (discordia), and attach this to the bride's back, saying:--

"'Tu sia maladetta! Tu non possa avere Un giorno di pace! E quando vai Inginnochiarte Avanti l'altare, Tu possa essere gia pentiti Del passa che tu fai!'

("'Be thou accursed! Mayst thou never know A single day of peace! And even when thou dost go To kneel before the altar, Mayst thou feel forsaken, And bitterly regret The step which thou hast taken!'")

In another, si deve prendere del sangue menstruale chi viene alla donna, mixed with rue and cummin, boil all in pure water, and make it into comfits. Give these to the bride and groom on their wedding-day. And while preparing the comfits, repeat:--

"Faccio queste confette, Per che portano La maledizione, E la scomunica, Ai due spose! (E pronunciaro qui loro nome), Che non possono vivere uniti! Tutti giorni possono leticare! E uniti un anno Non possono stare! Questa e la contezza Che se devono dare, Basta!'"

('"I make these comfits, may they bear Deep affliction, malediction, Here upon this married pair! (Here the names are given) May they never be united! May they quarrel every day! May their marriage bond be slighted Ere a year has passed away! This shall be the life between them, Let that life be as it may! Enough!")

- Etruscan Roman Remains in Popular Tradition, by C. G. Leland,  1892

[the-dark-arts-and-crafts]

The strege believe, however, as do all among whom they live, that concentrated, intense venomous hatred, or will, allied to spells can kill. And there are many who, believing themselves to be thus hated, do die. And when the hate has really been awakened by a deep wrong, be it from conscience or the mysterious working of destiny, and causes beyond our ken, it is wonderful to see how often the arrow strikes--sooner or later! Believe in nothing if thou wilt, neither in the heaven above or in the earth below, but " cast up the account of Orcus--the account thereof cast up," and if there is one on earth whom thou hast deeply, deliberately wronged, thou shalt find thy Nemesis. " Dread him whom thou hast struck."

- Etruscan Roman Remains in Popular Tradition, by C. G. Leland,  1892