CHAPTER XVII.
SUPERSTITION AND TREACHERY IN THE PALACE.
“Ah, altissima carissima,” exclaimed Teresa as Queen Judith questioned her about fate and fortune, “you may well believe there are mysteries in stars, and in the spirits too.”
“Yes,” replied Judith, “but at this moment I want to know what your secret observations portend.”
“Times when he did not expect me I have hid in the fen where imp lanterns do dance, and where restless ghosts in awful shape do move at dusk; and as the Jew kindled his magic brazier and the fumes of hemlock rose, I could perceive, as my senses reeled, the terrible shapes of scowling fiends roll and tumble, and mingle in one monstrous form, and then separate again with worse shape than before; and as the smallage sent out its savory steam, new figures again arose and danced before me; and all these were men fiends terrible and dark; but when the Jew applied his violet roots with St. John’s wort, and mint, and their sweet incense arose upon the moist air, and valley steam, I saw the woman imps dance around and smirk upon their partner imps, and all obeyed the nod of the magician Jew who controlled them with his incantations. And as he threw into his flaming brazier the mummy dust from the dark
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