• He who desires to become an oborot(werewolf), let him seek in the forest a hewn(fallen)-down tree; let him stab it with a small copper knife, and walk round the tree, repeating the following incantation:--

    On the sea, on the ocean, on the island, on Bujan,
    On the empty pasture gleams the moon, on an ashstock lying
    In a green wood, in a gloomy vale.
    Toward the stock wandereth a shaggy wolf.
    Horned cattle seeking for his sharp white fangs;
    But the wolf enters not the forest,
    But the wolf dives not into the shadowy vale,
    Moon, moon, gold-horned moon,
    Cheek the flight of bullets, blunt the hunters' knives,
    Break the shepherds' cudgels,
    Cast wild fear upon all cattle,
    On men, on all creeping things,
    That they may not catch the grey wolf,
    That they may not rend his warm skin
    My word is binding, more binding than sleep,
    More binding than the promise of a hero!