as this man is-besides which, have you not seen him eat and drink in your presence?" To which Manente added, "I am a living man, pray, don't doubt it; don't be afraid of me, my brethren! In good sooth, I never yet have known what death is. Only listen, and I will relate to you one of the most marvellous stories ever heard beneath the sun." By which, and other such like expressions, he, with Burchiello's assistance, at length so far succeeded, that, by little and little, they got the better of their terror and incredulity.

Supper being cleared away, and the doors locked to prevent intrusion, the four friends resumed their seats at the table, and Master Manente recounted to them in full the history of his strange disasters. But had no sooner concluded, than Burchiello (who was the cleverest fellow existing) said directly, "This is all a trick of Lorenzo the Magnifico." The others stoutly opposed this conclusion, declaring that the whole was most undoubtedly the effect of enchantment. Nevertheless, Burchiello, persisting in his first impression, continued, "It is not every body who knows as well as I do the fruitfulness of that man's invention, nor how impossible it is to make him forego any enterprise which he has once taken in hand. It is the very devil to have to do with one who, like him, knows everything, and has power and inclination to back all his designs." Then turn ing to the Doctor, he said, "I long ago suspected that he might have the heart to play you some such prank as you have related to us. Depend upon it, Master Manente, princes are always princes; and woe be to him who thinks he may presume upon their familiarity to take liberties with them."

Manente, in his turn now made his friends relate to him the history of the pretended plague, and of the man who was buried in his place with the tumour in his throat-all which things sorely perplexed him; nor was Burchiello himself able to find the clue to this part of the contrivance. At length, however, they all came to one conclusion, which was, that Master Manente had nothing for it but to commence

proceedings in the Bishop's Court for the recovery of his rights and property. And with this resolution they separated, the Doctor going along with his friend Burchiello, the other two not being yet altogether satisfied as to the reality of what they had witnessed.

In the meantime, Michel Angelo the goldsmith, on his return home, had been informed by Monna Brigida of all that had happened, which was confirm→ ed by her sanctified neighbour, who added, moreover, that she was certain it was Master Manente's spirit, which wanted to be redeemed out of purgatory. "What spirit, what purgatory, you foolish woman!" exclaimed the angry goldsmith. "Can't you perceive that it was that same impostor, that vagabond sailor, who sent you the letter yesterday morning?" And therewithal he grew very pensive, being ill able to account for so strange an occurrence, and yet willing to give credit to any interpretation of it rather than the true one, or than to believe that Master Manente, whom he had seen dead and buried, was returned to life again.

The next morning early, having washed and trimmed his hair and beard according to the fashion of the day, and accoutred in some clothes of his friend Burchiello's which exactly fitted him, Master Manente sallied forth again into the streets of Florence; and in these, which resembled his own ordinary habits, he was seen and recognized by many; Biondo and Amadore having in the meantime circulated the report of his being alive, and returned to Florence in quest of his wife and his chattels. Among the rest, he was seen both by Niccolajo and Michel Angelo, who, notwithstanding the evidence of their senses, still continued to intrench themselves in the persuasion, that Master Manente being dead and buried, this man could not possibly be he, however strongly resembling him. So, having heard that he intended to make his claim in the Bishop's Court, they, on their part, prepared for their de fence against it, to which end they furnished themselves with credentials from the officers of the board of health.

and with the proper certificate of bu

rial.

To lose no time, that same afternoon Master Manente lodged his complaint, and took out a summons, which his brother-in-law and Michel Angelo forthwith attended; and the Vicar, (who presided as judge,) having considered on one side the proof of identity, and on the other, the produced certificates, became utterly perplexed and confounded. However, as there was clearly a dead man in the case, and it was equally clear that the person who stood before him as Master Manente, was not that dead man, he concluded that there must have been some foul play (perhaps murder) in the business, which rendered it fit for the cognizance of a criminal tribunal. For which reason, having secretly informed the Council of Eight concerning his cause of suspicion, the officers of justice were forthwith despatched to the Court, where the parties were still pleading, and where they were all arrested and and put in prison.

The next day, as soon as the Council was sitting, Master Manente was had before them, and interrogated as to all that happened, which he recounted in so minute, and at the same time artless a manner, that several of the counsellors, notwithstanding the gravity of the proceeding, and the unaccountable nature of the circumstances, could not refrain from laughing at many passages. Having finished his narrative, he was remanded to prison, and Niccolajo and Michel Angelo were, one after another, next had up and examined, who not only exactly agreed in all the circumstances of their story, but confirmed it by the production of the certificates already mentioned. They were also remanded, and the Council proceeded next to send for the hospital servant who had been present at the supposed death of Manente, and by whom it was wisely judged that some light might be cast on the mystery. But it so fell out, for the sake of the jest, that this same fellow, whose examination must have led to the detection of the whole plot had some time before wounded a man in a fray, in consequence of which he absconded, and

had never since been heard of. Thus, all things combined to further this most admirable of hoaxes. The Council then instructed their officers to make every inquiry that was possible, in order to ascertain the degree of credit due to each story; and the result of their investigation was to confirm (so far as it was possible to arrive at any conclusion) the veracity of all the witnesses.

In the meantime, Burchiello, who was most zealous in serving the cause of his friend Manente, called upon one of the members of the Council, with whom he was familiarly acquainted, and apprized him of his suspicions that the Magnifico was at the bottom of all that had happened, adding, that it was quite impossible such events could have taken place in the midst of Florence without his connivance. The magistrate in question fully adopted this view of the matter, and having communicated it the following morning to the assembled Council, it was determined to send a letter on the subject to Lorenzo himself, (who was then at the baths of Poggio,) requesting his advice and assistance at their deliberations. The letter was sent accordingly; and the parties (against none of whom any specific charge was exhibited,) dismissed for the present, with a strict prohibition to all of them from approaching within a hundred yards of the street de' Fossi, and from holding any communication with Monna Brigida, under pain of the gallows, until the question should be determined.

The Magnifico, on the receipt of the letter addressed to him by the Council of Eight, was thrown into fits of laughter, and swore that so exquisite a jest, so well contrived, and so successful in all its parts, had never been known since the foundations of the world were laid. In short, he was absolutely in ecstacies of delight and self-approbation. About a week afterwards he returned to Florence, and was waited upon the same day both by Master Manente and by his adversaries, but who neither of them obtained audience. The next day Manente renewed his visit, and found the Magnifico just sitting down to dinner, who, on seeing him, assumed an appearance of the ut

most astonishment, saying, "In good sooth, Master Doctor, I did not expect that I should ever behold your face again, having been informed, as of a certainty, that you were dead and buried. And even now, I am not well satisfied whether you are indeed what you appear to be, or somebody else resembling him-or, in fine, some supernatural illusion." The doctor, after again and again repeating that he was not dead, but in sober reality the true living Manente, and none but himself, would have knelt and kissed the hand of the Magnifico; but he motioned him off, saying," Keep your distance All I shall say at present is, that if you are the true and living Manente, as you give yourself out to be, you are very welcome; but if not, the contrary." The doctor would then have begun to tell his whole story; but the Magnifico cut him short, saying that the present was not the proper time for it, adding, however, that, at a certain hour of the evening he should return, and he would then give him audience in his private apartment, at which time he had summoned the opposite party to attend him also.

Master Manente having thanked him, returned to his friend Burchiello, who laughed in his sleeve at what he related to him. All the parties, that evening, were punctual in their attendance according to Lorenzo's appointment, and were forthwith summoned to appear in his private chamber,where they found him surrounded by some of the chief citizens of Florence, by all of whom the physician Manente was well known, and very much regarded. Before these, both parties were now again heard, and the proofs produced on the part of the goldsmiths examined, all which excited the greatest possible astonishment and perplexity; but the narrative of Master Manente, in particular, could not be heard without its causing incredible diversion and laughter; insomuch that Lorenzo was not satisfied till he had made the physician repeat it three times successively, every repetition only serving to increase their delight and merriment, which was not at all diminished by the indignation which he displayed at the story told by

the two goldsmiths, whom he made no scruple of lauding with every term of reproach and obloquy.

By this time the Vicar made his appearance upon Lorenzo's summons, and, being received with all due reverence, took his seat by the invitation of the Magnifico, upon the bench beside him; to whom, when seated, the Magnifico thus addressed himself,-" May it please your reverence, since I know that you are already well acquainted with the difference which has arisen between these worthy persons, I need say no more on the subject, except that, having been appointed by the choice of the most honourable Council of Eight, to be arbiter of that difference, nothing more is wanting to enable me to pronounce judgment but to ascertain that Master Manente never died, and that this party whom we now have before us, is not a mere fantastic illusion, or walking dæmon; the which it is your part to make clear and manifest."-" How, and in what manner is this to be accomplished ?" cried the astonished

ecclesiastic." That is what I will immediately make known to your reverence," answered Lorenzo, and therewith told him that he must have the assistance of some exorcising friars, and the use of certain relics, famous for their virtue in dispelling the works of enchantment.-"You have said well," answered the Vicar. "Give me only six or eight days to prepare, and if he then stands the test, you may securely set him down for a living man, and Master Manente in propria personá."-Manente would upon this have made some observations; but the Magnifico, rising from his tribunal, prevented him, and without further remark, led the way out of the apartment, followed by the gentlemen who were present with him, and who all joined with him in heartily laughing at the strange scene they had witnessed.

The next day, the Vicar, who was a good and decent Christian, and in the odour of sanctity, (dolcissimo religio80,) caused it to be proclaimed through the whole bishopric, that all priests and friars who possessed relics of virtue for casting out devils, should bring them to Florence within six days, to

ened to this discourse very attentively, while Master Manente, full of indignation and terror, looked at his supposed tormentor as if he could have torn him to pieces, and at the same time, like one in a dream, the by-standers, in like manner, not being able to take their eyes off from him. Whereupon the Vicar, desirous of putting an end to this strange adventure, laid his commands upon two friars of Santa Croce, and two of Saint Mark's, that they should go forthwith and examine the vault in question; who, having accordingly set themselves in motion, were followed by many other friars and priests, regular, as well as secular, in great abundance. Nepo remained during this time in the church, in company with the Vicar and with Master Manente, who, more and more alarmed the longer he staid with them, were now afraid to look him in the face, their minds misgiving them that he was either another Simon Magus, or at least a new Malagigi. In the meantime the deputed friars, with those who had accompanied them, had reached the cemetery of Santa Maria Novella, where they sent for the Sacristan, and caused him to open the vault in which they were given to understand that the reputed corpse had been buried.

That same morning Monaco, by the command of the Magnifico, had brought from the tower of Carefigi a cock-pigeon, of colour as black as pitch, the strongest and best flying bird ever witnessed, and which knew so well how to find its own pigeon-house, that it had more than once returned to it from Arez20, and even from Pisa. This bird he had, unseen of any body, concealed within the vault, which he afterwards closed up again so carefully, that it seemed as if it had never been opened for the last ten years; insomuch that the before-mentioned Sacristan found himself obliged to have recourse to his spade and mattock to enable him to remove the earth, and lift the stone from its place; which he had no sooner accomplished, than, to the astonishment and dismay of all present, this black pigeon, which had till then remained torpid, seeing the light of the flam

24 ATHENEUM VOL. 14.

beaux, was awakened, and flew out of the vault, taking its course through the air in the direction of Careggi, where, in less than the eighth part of an hour,it recovered its home in safety.

The Sacristan, at sight of this unexpected occurrence, was so overcome by terror, that he fell backwards, pulling the stone of the sepulchre after him, so that he broke his leg in the fall, and was laid up for many days and weeks in consequence of the accident. The holy friars, and the greater part of the attendant multitude, ran back in the direction of Santa Maria Maggiore, crying out, "A miracle! a miracle!" Some declared that there had issued forth from the tomb a spirit, in likeness of a squirrel, but with wings. Others affirmed, that it was a fiery flying dragon; while others, again, would have it, that it was a devil converted into a bat. The greater part however agreed, that it was a little sucking dæmon: and there were not wanting those who were certain that they had seen its horns and its cloven feet. The Vicar, and those who remained with him in the church, were fully occupied with the various reports of those who came crowding back to them from without; and Nepo, availing himself of this confusion, and secretly favoured by Monaco and Lorenzo's servants, slipped away out of doors, and mounting an excellent hack, which he had left standing for him at no great distance, came back in safety to his own house, in Galationa, almost before his absence had been discovered.

No sooner, however, had the Vicar leisure enough to look round him, and perceive the flight of the sorcerer, than he began to cry with a loud voice, "Seize him, seize him, and let him be burned for a witch and conjuror !" But when they were able nowhere to find him, they were all fully persuaded that he had disappeared by magic. The Vicar then commanded that the relics should be taken back to the places from whence they had been brought; and, having dismissed the priests and monks in attendance, returned (accompanied by Master Manente) to the palace of the Medici.

Meanwhile, the Magnifico, who had