The Meaning of Witchcraft
            Gerald B. Gardner
            P.265
                                          Appendix I

                              THE MAGICAL LEGEND OF THE WITCHES.

                 Now, G. (the Witch Goddess) had never loved, but she would solve
            all the Mysteries, even the Mystery of Death; and so she journeyed to
            the Nether Lands.

                 The Guardians of the Portals challenged her,  "Strip off thy
            garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught may ye bring with ye into
            this our land."

                 So she laid down her garments and her jewels, and was bound, as are all who
            enter the Realms of Death the Mighty One.  (Note:  There was a Celtic custom of
            binding corpses.  The cord which had bound a corpse was useful in learning the
            "second sight.")

                 Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt and Kissed her feet,
            saying, "Blessed be thy feet  that have brought thee in these ways. 
            Abide with me,  let me place my cold hands on thy heart."

                 She replied, "I love thee not.  Why dost thou cause all things that I love and
            take delight in to fade and die?"

                 "Lady", replied Death, "tis Age and Fate, against which I am
            helpless.  Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time I
            give them rest and peace, and strength so that they may
            return.  But thou, thou art lovely.  Return not; abide with me."

                 But she answered, "I love thee not."

                 Then said Death, "An thou received not my had on thy heart, thou
            must receive Death's scourge."

                 "It is Fate; better so", she said, and she knelt; and Death
            Scourged her, and she cried, "I feel the pangs of love."

                 And Death said, "Blessed be", and gave her the fivefold kiss,
            saying, Thus only may ye attain to joy and knowledge.

                 And he taught her all the Mysteries.  And they loved and were one, and he
            taught her all the Magics.

                 For there are three great events in the life of man; Love, Death,
            and Resurrection in a new body; and Magic controls them all.  For to
            fulfil love you must return again at the same time and place as the
            loved one, and you must remember and love them again.  But to be reborn you must
            die, and be ready for new body; and to die you must be born; and without love you
            may not be born.  And these be all the Magics.



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