ure chance I went one day with my
wife and Miss Roma Lister, who is devoted to folk-lore, to make my first
visit to Sir John Edgar at his home, the celebrated old mediaeval
palazzo, the Villa Guicciardini, Via Montugli.

On the way we passed the Church of the Annunciata, and while driving by I
remarked that there were on its wall, among many shields, several which
had on them a _single_ hunting-horn, but that I had never seen three
together, but had heard of such a device, and was very anxious to find
it, and learn to what family it belonged.

What was my astonishment, on arriving at the villa or palazzo, at
beholding on the wall in the court a large shield bearing the three
horns. Sir John Edgar informed me that it was the shield of the
Guicciardini family, who at one time inhabited the mansion. I related to
him the story, and he said, "I should think that tale had been invented
by some one who knew Guicciardini, the author, very well, for it is
perfectly inspired with the spirit of his writings. It depicts the man
himself as I have conceived him."

Then we went into the library, where my host showed me Fenton's
translation of the "History" of Guicciardini and his "Maxims" in Italian,
remarking that the one which I have placed as motto to this chapter was
in fact an epitome of the whole legend.

I should observe, what did not before occur to me, that the family palace
of the Guicciardini is in the Via Guicciardini, nearly opposite to the
house of Machiavelli, and that it is there that the fairies probably
called, if it was in the winter-time.

THE PILLS OF THE MEDICI

"When I upon a time was somewhat ill,
Then every man did press on me a cure;
And when my wife departed, all of them
Came crowding round, commending me a spouse;
But now my ass is dead, not one of them
Has offered me another--devil a one!"--_Spanish Jests_.

"_Tu vai cercando il mal_, _come fanno i Medici_"--"Thou goest about
seeking evil, even as the Medici do, and of thee and of them it may
be said, _Anagyram commoves_."--_Italian Proverbs_, A.D. 1618.

The higher a tree grows, the more do petty animals burrow into its roots,
and displace the dirt to show how it grew in lowly earth; and so it is
with great families, who never want for such investigators, as appears by
the following tale, which refers to the origin of the Medicis, yet which
is withal rather merry than malicious.