The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE EQUINOX this visitor, nor of what he might have lost. He accordingly replied: ‘You think me much more of a sorcerer than I am; I do not know who you are, nor what you seek; con- sequently, if you think that I can be useful to you in any way, you must explain yourself and make your request more precise.” “Oh, well, since you are determined not to understand me, you will at least recognize this,” said the stranger, taking from his pocket a little, much-used black book. It was the grimotve of Pope Honorius. One word upon this little book so much decried. The grimoive of Honorius is composed of an apocryphal constitution of Honorius II, for the evocation and control of spirits; then of some superstitious receipts . . . it was the manual of the bad priests who practised Black Magic during the darkest periods of the middle ages. You will find there bloody rites, mingled with profanations of the Mass and of the consecrated elements, formulz of bewitchment and male- volent spells, and practices which stupidity alone could credit or knavery counsel. In fact, it is a book complete of its kind; it is consequently become very rare, and the bibliophile pushes it to very high prices in the public sales. “My dear sir,” said the workman, sighing, ‘“‘ since I was ten years old, I have not missed once performing the orison. This book never leaves me, and I comply rigorously with all the prescribed ceremonies. Why, then, have those who used to visit me abandoned me? Eli, Eli, lama——” “Stop,” said Eliphas, “ do not parody the most formidable words that agony ever uttered in this world! Who are the beings who visited you by virtue of this horrible book? Do 154