Monday, September 27, 2010

L'Estrange: A Cunning-Woman

A certain Dame that pass'd in the World under the Name of a cunning Woman, took upon her to avert Divine Judgments, and to foretel strange Things to come. She play'd the counterfeit Witch so long, till, in the Conclusion, she was taken up, arraign'd, try'd, convicted, condemn'd to die, and at last executed for a Witch indeed. D'ye hear, good Woman, (says one to her, as she was upon the Way to her Execution) are the Gods so much easier than the Judges, that you should be able to make them do any Thing for ye, and yet could not prevail with the Bench for the saving of your own Life?

There needs be more than Impudence and Ignorance, on the one side, and a superstitious Credulity on the other, to the setting up of a Fortune-teller.


Source: L'Estrange 89.
Saga

Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the Medici Aesop images. This artist imagines she is a real witch; you can see her making a pact with the devil off to the left.

M0889 Perry056

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