Book 4: Hymn 18: A counter-charm against the incantations of enemies

1The moonlight equalleth the sun, night is the rival of the day. I make effectual power my help: let magic arts be impotent. 2Gods! if one make and bring a spell on some man's house who knows it not, Close as the calf that sucks the cow may it revert and cling to him. 3When one puts poison in a dish of unbaked clay to kill a man, It cracks when set upon the fire with the sharp sound of many stones. 4Endowed with thousand powers! adjure the bald and those with necks awry. Back to its author turn the spell like a dear damsel to her friend! 5I with this Plant have ruined all malignant powers of witchery. The spell which they have laid upon thy field, thy cattle, or thy men. 6No power had he who wrought the spell: he hurt his foot, he broke his toe. His act hath brought us happiness and pain and sorrow to him- self. 7Let Apāmārga sweep away chronic disease and every curse, Sweep sorceresses clean away, and all malignant stingy hags. 8Sweep thou away the sorcerers, all stingy fiendish hags away. All this, O Apāmārga, with thine aid we wipe away from us.