incarnate
manifestations to _old_ women, the enjoyment of whose souls is
the great purpose of seduction.

Sir Thomas Browne ('Vulgar Errors'), a man of much learning and
still more superstitious fancy, speciously explains the
phenomenon of the cloven foot. He suggests that 'the ground of
this opinion at first might be his frequent appearing in the
shape of a goat, which answers this description. This was the
opinion of the ancient Christians concerning the apparitions of
_panites_, fauns, and satyrs: and of this form we read of one
that appeared to Anthony in the wilderness. The same is also
confirmed from exposition of Holy Scripture. For whereas it is
said "Thou shalt not offer unto devils," the original word is
_Seghuirim_, i. e. rough and hairy goats; because in that shape
the devil most often appeared, as is expounded by the rabbins, as
Tremellius hath also explained; and as the word _Ascimah_, the
God of Emath, is by some explained.' Dr. Joseph Mede, a pious and
learned divine, author of the esteemed 'Key to the Apocalypse,'
pronounces that 'the devil could not appear in human shape while
man was in his integrity, because he was a spirit fallen from his
first glorious perfection, and therefore must appear in such
shape which might argue his imperfection and abasement, which was
the shape of a beast; otherwise [he plausibly contends] no reason
can be given why he should not rather have appeared to Eve in the
shape of a woman than of a serpent. But since the fall of man the
case is altered; now we know he can take upon him the shape of a
man. He appears in the shape of man's imperfection rather for age
or deformity, as like an old man (for so the witches say); and,
perhaps, it is not altogether false, which is vulgarly affirmed,
that the devil appearing in human shape has always a deformity
of some uncouth member or other, as though he could not yet take
upon him human shape entirely, for that man is not entirely and
utterly fallen as he is.' Whatever form he may assume, the
cloven foot must always be visible under every disguise; and
Othello looks first for that fabulous but certain sign when he
scrutinises his treacherous friend.

Reginald Scot's reminiscences of what was instilled into him in
the nursery may possibly occur to some even at this day. 'In our
childhood,' he complains, 'our mothers' maids have so terrified
us with an ugly devil having horns on his head, fire in his
mouth, a tail in his breech,