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In Christian and Mediæval Times: Rome

There were ways of escaping from the evil threatened by the Atzman, one of which the following story from the "Gesta Romanorum" illustrates: - - A pious man went to Rome to visit Saint Peter and Saint Paul; and while he was gone, there came to his wife a travelling scholar - as they are called who besought her in marriage. The woman replied that her husband had gone to Rome, but if he were dead or if her companion could slay him, she would prefer him before all other men.

He replied that he could easily kill him, and went out and bought six pounds of wax and made of it an image. As the pious man entered the city of Rome, came one to him and said, "O thou son of death, why goest thou hither and thither? If none help thee, thou wilt to-day be living and dead."

The man said, "Why should this be?"

The stranger replied, "Come to my house and I will show thee."