Cornish Superstitions

A Charm for Caterpillars

The following is an old charm which will make the caterpillar worm destroy itself by twisting itself up to nothing:

Underneath this hazelen mot
There's a braggaty worm, with a speckled throat,
Now! nine double hath he.
Now from this nine double, eight double,
From eight double, to seven double,
From seven double, to six double,
From six double, to five double,
From five double, to four double,
From four double, to three double,
From tree double, to two double,
From two double, to one double,
Now! No double hath he.

This charm, like all charms, must be muttered because they loose potency if uttered aloud, and the charmer may never communicate the charm to one of the same sex, for to do so would transfer the power of the charming to the other.

Robert Hunt, Popular Romances of the West of England.)

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