Demoniality; or, Incubi and SuccubiSinistrari, Ludovico Maria
Religion
Demoniality; or, Incubi and Succubi
Sinistrari, Ludovico Maria
Catholic Church -- Doctrines; Demonology -- Early works to 1800
In a certain monastery of holy Nuns there lived, as a boarder, a young
maiden of noble birth, who was tempted by an Incubus that appeared to
her by day and by night, and with the most earnest entreaties, the
manners of a most passionate lover, incessantly incited her to sin;
but she, supported by the grace of God and the frequent use of the
sacraments, stoutly resisted the temptation. But, all her devotions,
fasts and vows notwithstanding, despite the exorcisms, the blessings,
the injunctions showered by exorcists on the Incubus that he should
desist from molesting her; in spite of the crowd of relics and other
holy objects collected in the maiden’s room, of the lighted candles
kept burning there all night, the Incubus none the less persisted in
appearing to her as usual, in the shape of a very handsome young man.
At last, among other learned men, whose advice had been taken on the
subject, was a very erudite Theologian who, observing that the maiden
was of a thoroughly phlegmatic temperament, surmised that that Incubus
was an aqueous Demon (there are in fact, as is testified by Guaccius,
igneous, aerial, phlegmatic, earthly, subterranean demons who avoid the
light of day), and prescribed an uninterrupted fumigation in the room.
A new vessel, made of glass-like earth, was accordingly brought in,
and filled with sweet cane, cubeb seed, roots of both aristolochies,
great and small cardamon, ginger, long-pepper, caryophylleæ, cinnamon,
cloves, mace, nutmegs, calamite storax, benzoin, aloes-wood and
roots, one ounce of triasandalis, and three pounds of half brandy
and water; the vessel was then set on hot ashes in order to force up
the fumigating vapour, and the cell was kept closed. As soon as the
fumigation was done, the Incubus came, but never dared enter the cell;
only, if the maiden left it for a walk in the garden or the cloister,
he appeared to her, though invisible to others and throwing his arms
round her neck, stole or rather snatched kisses from her, to her
intense disgust. At last, after a new consultation, the Theologian
prescribed that she should carry about her person pills made of the
most exquisite perfumes, such as musk, amber, chive, Peruvian balsam,
and others. Thus provided, she went for a walk in the garden, where
the Incubus suddenly appeared to her with a threatening face, and in a
rage. He did not approach her, however, but, after biting his finger as
if meditating revenge, disappeared and was never more seen by her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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