For him that stealeth a book from this Library, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with palsy and all his members blasted. Let him languish in pain crying aloud for Mercy and let there be no surcease to his agony till he sink in Dissolution. Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails, in token of the Worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final Punishment, let the flames of Hell consume him for ever and aye.

16th-century Spanish curse