some slight service to Science.

And to conclude--with the thing to which I would specially call
attention--I distinctly state that (as will be very evident to the
critical reader) there are in this book, especially in the second series,
which I hope to bring out later, certain tales, or anecdotes, or jests,
which are either based on a very slight foundation of tradition--often a
mere hint--or have been so "written up" by a runaway pen--and mine is an
"awful bolter"--that the second-rate folk-lorist, whose forte consists
not in finding facts but faults, may say in truth, as one of his kind did
in America: "Mr. Leland is throughout inaccurate." In these numerous
instances, which are only "folk-lore" run wild, as Rip Van Winkle, Sleepy
Hollow, and Heine's Gods in Exile are legend, I have, I hope, preserved a
certain _spirit_ of truth, though I have _sans mercy_ sacrificed the
letter, even as the redcap goblins, which haunt old houses, are said to
be the ghosts of infants sacrificed by witches, or slain by their
mothers, in order to make _folletti_ or imps of them.

Now as for this reconstructing Hercules from a foot, instead of giving
the fragment, at which few would have glanced, the success consists in
the skill attained, and the approbation of the reader. And with this
frank admission, that in a certain number of these tales the utmost
liberty has been taken, I conclude.

CHARLES GODFREY LELAND.

FLORENCE, _April_ 6, 1894.

CONTENTS

PAGE
THE THREE HORNS OF MESSER GUICCIARDINI 1
THE PILLS OF THE MEDICI 6
FURICCHIA, OR THE EGG-WOMAN OF THE MERCATO VECCHIO 11
THE LANTERNS OF THE STROZZI PALACE 17
THE GOBLIN OF LA VIA DEL CORNO 21
FRATE GIOCONDO, THE MONK OF SANTA MARIA NOVELLA 26
THE LEGEND OF THE CROCE AL TREBBIO 31
THE TWO FAIRIES OF THE WELL 36
THE STORY OF THE VIA DELLE SERVE SMARRITE 41
THE BRONZE BOAR OF THE MERCATO NUOVO 47
THE FAIRY OF THE CAMPANILE, OR THE TOWER OF GIOTTO 51
THE GOBLIN OF THE TOWER DELLA TRINITA, OR THE PORTA SAN 54
NICCOLO
THE GH