The Davils and The Temptations of Sant’Antonio

The Davils and The Temptations of Sant’Antonio

The Davils

At the end of the century, we once again hear the Medieval legend that every one hundred years the devils ascend from the underworld to proselytize the sickly, pathetic human creatures that gossip and chatter on about nothing in the streets and crowded squares. As always we come and go to guide the malificent pranksters.
It is Belzebù that is charged by by Lucifer to bring together the 9 generals: Astarotte, Behemot, Adramelec, Aguaresso, Belfagor, Abracasso, Ammone, Andusciasso and Asmodeo. They will gather their legions. Their buttocks are marked with the group to which they belong; they are instructed to hide their forked tails between their legs and to wile to their victims with a pathetic and persuasive voice. The mission lasts one day and one night, then the nine with their legions return to the underworld and for another hundred years humanity will not have to interact with these “scoundrel” priests. He depicts them so that we can distinguish them running through the crowds, hoping that he can help the good rather than the swindlers that are among us.

The Temptations of Sant’Antonio, by Gustave Flaubert