First Sentence

"ALTHOUGH perhaps, in Greek and Roman authors, it may be said that, strictly speaking there are-with one possible exception-no references to, or legends of vampires according to the exactest definition of the term as given in such standard works as Webster's International Dictionary and Whitney's Century Dictionary, yet there do occur frequent, if obscure, notices of cognate superstitions, esoteric rituals, and ceremonial practice, which certainly prove that vampirism was not unknown in Italy and in Greece of ancient times."