“Wherever Christianity spread, witchcraft must be regarded as a recognized form in which the powers of evil contended with the Almighty.”
“Of what sex is your witch?” asked Thompson.
“Oh, in this case, the good and the bad sorcerers are both of the male sex.”
“Your writer, therefore,” replied Thompson, “does not seem to have held the ungallant notions of Sprenger, that from the natural inferiority of their minds, and wickedness of their hearts, the Devil always preferred women for his agents. But to the story.”
“Well, then, as the old chronicler would say, here begins the tale of
“THE KNIGHT AND THE NECROMANCER.”
Among the knights that graced the court of the Emperor Titus, there was one whom all men agreed in calling the GOOD KNIGHT. For some years he had been married to one whose beauty was her fairest portion, for she loved not the knight, her husband, but delighted in the company of others, and would gladly have devised his death, that she might marry another courtier.
The good knight could not fail of discovering the wickedness of his wife. Ofttimes did he remonstrate with her; but to all he said, she turned a deaf ear, and would not return the affection he felt, for one so unworthy of his love.
“My dear wife,” said the good knight, “I go to the Holy Land, to perform a vow: I leave you to your own discretion.”
The knight had no sooner embarked, than the lady sent for one of her lovers, a clever sorcerer.