itta una pietra nel pozzo_--a fool rolls a
rock into a well which it requires a hundred wise men to get out again.
This time a single sage sufficed. But for that you must have the Lord at
your back, as Saint Peter had."

"Why do they say, as foolish as a crawfish or lobster?" I inquired.

"Because, Signore, the _granchio_, be he lobster or crawfish, carries his
head in the _scarsella_, which is a hole in his belly. Men who have
their brains in their bellies--or gluttons--are generally foolish. But
what is the use of boasting of our wisdom? He who has neither poor men
nor fools among his relations was born of the lightning or of thunder."

* * * * *

There is another story current among the people, though it is in print,
but as it is a merry one, belonging truly enough to the folk-lore of
Florence, I give it as it runs:

"You have heard of Piovano Arlotto, who made this our town so lively long
ago. It was rich then, indeed. There are more flowers than florins in
Florence now: _ogni fior non fa frutto_--all flowers do not bear fruit.

"Well, it happened one day that Piovano, having heard a good story from
Piero di Cosimo de' Medicis, answered with another. Now the tale which
Messer Piero di Cosimo told was this:

"Once there lived in Florence a poor shoemaker, who went every morning to
the Church of San Michele Berteldi--some say it was at San Bartolommeo,
and maybe at both, for a good story or a big lie is at home anywhere.

"Well, he used to pray before a John the Baptist in wood, or it may have
been cast in plaster, or moulded in wax, which was on the altar. One
morning he prayed scalding hot, and the _chierico_--a boy who waits on
the priest, who was a young rascal, like all of his kind--overheard him
say: 'Oh, Saint John, I pray thee make known to me two things. One is
whether my wife is good and true to me, and the other what will become of
my only son.'

"Then the mass-boy, who had hidden himself behind the altar, replied in a
soft, slow, strange voice: 'Know, my son, that because thou hast long
been so devout to me, thou shalt be listened unto. Return hither
to-morrow, and thou wilt be answered; and now go in peace.'

"And the shoemaker, having heard this, verily believed that Saint John
had spoken to him, and went his way with great rejoicing. So, bright and
early the next morning, he was in the church, and said: 'Saint John, I
await thy reply.'

"Then the ma