The discovery of witchcraft proving that the compacts and contracts of witches with devils and all infernal spirits or familiars are but erroneous novelties and imaginary conceptions : also discovering, how far their power extendeth in killing, tormenting, consuming, or curing the bodies of men, women, children, or animals by charms, philtres, periapts, pentacles, curses, and conjurations : wherein likewise the unchristian practices and inhumane dealings of searchers and witch-tryers upon aged, melancholly, and superstitious people, in extorting confessions by terrors and tortures, and in devising false marks and symptoms, are notably detected ... : in sixteen books / by Reginald Scot ... ; whereunto is added an excellent Discourse of the nature and substance of devils and spirits, in two books : the first by the aforesaid author, the second now added in this third edition ... conducing to the compleating of the whole work, with nine chapters at the beginning of the fifteenth [sic] book of The discovery.

CHAP. VI.

In what kind of confections that Witchcraft which is called Veneficium, consisteth: of Love-cups, and the same confuted by Poets.

AS touching this kind of Witchcraft, the principal part thereof consisteth in certain confections prepared by lewd people to procure love; which indeed are meer poysons, bereaving some of the benefit of the brain, and so of the sense and understanding of the mind. And from some it taketh away life, and that is more common then the other. These be called Philtra, or Pocula amatoria, or Venenosa pocula, or Hippomanes, which bad and blind Physitians rather practise, than Witches or Conjurers, &c. But of what value these bables are, towards the end why they are provided, may appear by the opinions of Poets themselves, from whence was derived the estimation of that stuffe. And first you shall hear what Ovid saith, who wrote of the very art of love, and that so cun∣ningly and feelingly, that he is reputed the special doctor in that science.

* 1.1Fallitur Aemonias si quis decurrit ad artes, Dat{que} quod à teneri fronte revellet equi. Non facient ut vivat amor Medeides herbae, Mista{que} cum Magicis mersae venena sonis. Phasias Aesonidem, Circe tenuisset Ulyssem, Si modo servari carmine posset amor: Nec data profuerint pallentia philtra puellis, Philtra nocent animis, vim{que} furoris habent.

Englished by Abraham Fleming:

Who so doth run to Hamon arts, I dub him for a dolt, And giveth that which he doth pluck from forehead of a colt: Medias herbs will not procure that love shall lasting live,

Nor steeped poyson mixt with Ma∣gick charmes the same can give. The Witch Medea had full fast held Jason for her own: So had the grand Witch Circe too Ulysses, if alone With Charmes maintain'd and kept might be the love of twain in one. No slibbersawces given to Maids,* 1.2 to make them pale and wan, Will help: such slibbersawces marre the minds of maid and man, And have in them a furious force of Phrensie now and than.

Viderit Aemoniae si quis mala pdula terrae,* 1.3 Et magicas artes posse juvare putat.

English by Abraham Flemming:

If any think that evil herbs in Haeman land which be, Or Witchcraft able is to help, let him make proof and see.

These Verses precedent do shew, that Ovid knew that those beggerly Sorce∣ries might rather kill one, or make him stark mad, than do him good towards the attainment of his pleasure of love; and therefore he giveth his counsel to them that are amorous in such hot manner, that either they must enjoy their love, or else needs dye; saying,

Sit procul omne nefas, ut ameris amabilis esto.

Farre off be all unlawful means, thou amiable be, Loving I mean, that she with love may quit the love of thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ovid lib. 2. de arte amandi.
• * 1.2

  Philtra, slib∣bersawces to procure love.
• * 1.3

  Ovid. lib. de remedio amo∣ris. 1.