The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

This is a text written by the notorious Latin poet Publius Vergilius Maro. This text is one of the first in literature that talks about werewolves.



Personally I like the way Vergilius placed this "turning (of a man) into a wolf" on the behalf of his friend, Moeris who collected the necessary herbs from Pontus, a Roman province from the Black Sea.













ALPHESIBOEUS





[64] “Bring out water, and wind soft wool round this altar; and burn rich herbs and male frankincense, that I may try with magic rites to turn to fire my lover’s coldness of mood. Naught is lacking here save songs.



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[69] Songs can even draw the moon down from heaven; by songs Circe transformed the comrades of Ulysses; with song the cold snake in the meadows is burst asunder.



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[73] Three threads here I first tie round you, marked with three different hues, and three times round this altar I draw your image. In an uneven number heaven delights. Weave, Amaryllis, three hues in three knots; weave them, Amaryllis, I beg, and say, ‘Chains of love I weave!’



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[80] As this clay hardens and as this wax melts in one and the same flame, so may Daphnis melt with love for me! Sprinkle meal, and kindle the crackling bays with pitch. Me cruel Daphnis burns; for Daphnis burn I this laurel.



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[85] May such longing seize Daphnis as when a heifer, jaded with the search for her mate amid woods and deep groves, sinks down by a brook in the green sedge all forlorn, nor thinks to withdraw before night’s late hour – may such longing seize him, and may I care not to heal it!



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[91] These relics that traitor once left me, dear pledges for himself. Now, on my very threshold, I commit them, earth, to you. These pledges make Daphnis my due.



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[95] These herbs and these poisons, culled in Pontus, Moeris himself gave me – they grow plenteously in Pontus. By their aid I have oft seen Moeris turn wolf and hide in the woods, oft call spirits from the depth of the grave, and charm sown corn away to other fields.



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[101] Carry forth the embers, Amaryllis, and toss them over your head into a running brook; and look not back. With their aid I will assail Daphnis; he recks naught of gods or songs.



Bring Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!



[105] ‘Look! the ash itself, while I delay to carry it forth, has of its own accord caught the shrines with quivering flames. Be the omen good!’ ‘Tis something surely, and Hylax is barking at the gate. Can I trust my eyes? Or do lovers fashion their own dreams!



Cease! Daphnis home from town, bring him, my songs!