4746. [4753] CONCERNING SORCERERS. CONCERNING SAMSON. THE HAIR. Those men or women who, in the life of the body, were skilled in magic arts, and professed such things, become in the other [life] sorcerers of a peculiar kind: for they know, not only how to enchant man, but also how to take away from him, as it were, the power of thinking and willing, and this in a moment, which they do with almost all to whom they come near, so that these are no longer their own masters; and then it seems as though they wrap him up either with coverings, or in a different manner, around the head - which is enchantment, or the taking away of another's power. Then, when he becomes free, he is in such an obscure state, that he says he is unable to think at all, and scarcely to see. The women who professed magical arts, become of such a character, and are many in number. I heard their muttering, owing to there being a multitude. The muttering was unpleasant, rough, and almost destitute of intellectual quality. When they speak singly, it is also slowly, and in a certain unpleasant tone; at which time also they appear to behave like maniacs. [4754] Their enchanting consists in this: that they are intent, with their own thought, upon every one of the ideas of the speaker or thinker, following them with a breathing like [his]; and thus [they enchant] the interior ideas of the thought: the exterior ones in like manner. And it then seems as though they bound themselves to the hair, turning round, also, in a certain way. Hence is their enchanting; for, then, they make another's thoughts their owe. [4755] Such ones, when they come near, are obstinate and stubborn in the highest degree: they never leave off when, by chance, the infernals who are deep down under the feet, and most wicked, are let out of hell, such spirits hasten to them, and hold them captive thus, and so stubbornly that they do not refrain till they [the infernals] betake themselves to their hell.