This ancient tome is written in an ancient tongue. We don't really understand it, but we get better at pretending to (e.g., hours of learned dispute about correct declinations). With a few candles, a slave, and more of these books we might be able to summon an arcane being. It will either fight our enemies deliciously or bake delicious cookies for us - depends on whether this blot here is an umlaut mark or just a squashed insect. Oh, right, and we'll need a professional summoning circle, too.