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Neville Rolfe writes: "The late Signor Castellani, who was the first to reproduce with fidelity the jewellery
found in the tombs of Etruria and Greece, made up his mind that some survival of this ancient and exquisite
trade must still exist somewhere in Italy. He accordingly made diligent search... and in an out of the way
village discovered goldsmiths who made ornaments for the peasants, which in their character indicated a
strong survival of early Etruscan art."[1]
[1. I am here reminded, by a strange coincidence, that I having rediscovered the very ancient and lost art of
the Chinese how to make bottles or vases on which inscriptions, &c., appeared when wine was poured into
thern, communicated the discovery on the spot where I made it to the brother of Signor Castellani; Sir Anstin
Layard, who had sent for him to hear and judge of it, being present. Signore Castellani the younger was
overseer of the glass-works a Murano, in which I made the discovery. Signore Castellani said that he had
heard of these Chinese vases, and always regarded the story as a fable or impossible, but that they could be
made perfectly by my process, adding. however, that they would cost too much to make it profitable. I admit
that I have little faith in lost arts beyond recovering. Described in my book (unpublished) on the Hundred
Minor Arts.]
And here I would remark, that where I have written perhaps a little too bitterly of the indifference of scholars
to the curious traditions preserved by wizards and witches, I refer to Rome, and especially to Northern Italy.
G. Pitr� did all that was possible for one man as regards the South. Since the foregoing chapters were written,
Comments on the Foregoing Texts 55
 ARADIA, or the Gospel of the Witches
I received Naples in the Nineties, by E. Neville Rolfe, B.A., in which a deep and intelligent interest in the
subject is well supported by extensive knowledge. What will be to the reader of my book particularly
interesting is the amount of information which Mr. Rolfe gives regarding the connection of Diana with
witchcraft, and how many of her attributes became those of the Madonna. "The worship of Diana," as he
says, "prevailed very extensively... so much so, that when Christianity superseded Paganism, much of the
heathen symbolism was adapted to the new rites, and the transition from the worship of Diana to that of the
Madonna was made comparatively simple." Mr. Rolfe speaks of the key, rue, and verbena as symbols of
Diana; of all of these I have incantations, apparently very ancient, and identified with Diana. I have often
found rue in houses in Florence, and had it given to me as a special favour. It is always concealed in some
dark corner, because to take any away is to take luck. The bronze frog was an emblem of Diana; hence the
Latin proverb, "'He who loves a frog regards it as Diana." It was made till recent times as an amulet. I have
one as a paper-weight now before me. There is also an incantation to the frog.
That wherein Mr. Rolfe tacitly and unconsciously confirms what I have written, and what is most remarkable
in this my own work, is that the wizards in Italy form a distinct class, still exercising great power in Naples
and Sicily, and even possessing very curious magical documents and cabalistic charts, one of which (familiar
to those who have seen it among the Takruri and Arab sorcerers in Cairo, in their books) he gives. These
probably are derived from Malta. Therefore it will not seem astonishing to the reader that this Gospel of the
Witches should have been preserved, even as I have given it. That I have not had or seen it in an old MS. is
certainly true, but that it has been written of yore, and is still repeated here and there orally, in separate parts,
I am sure.[1]
It would be a great gratification to me if any among those into whose hands this book may fall, who may
possess information confirming what is here set forth, would kindly either communicate it or publish it in
some form, so that it may not be lost.
[1. In a very recent work by Messrs. Niceforo and Sighele, entitled La Mala Vita a Roma ("Evil Life in
Rome"), there is a chapter devoted to the Witches of the Eternal City, of whom the writer says they form a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]