rtal hatred of
the dun, and turned over in his head many ways to get rid of him.

"At last he went one day to the Abbot of San Miniato or Monte, and said
to him: '_Padre reverendo_, I seek your paternal kindness to relieve a
very distressing case in which I am concerned. I have a nephew who is
possessed by the devil, one into whom an evil spirit has entered, and who
has a monomania that I owe him money, and is always crying to me
everywhere, 'When are you going to pay me? I want twenty-eight florins.'
'Tis a great pity, for he is a fine young man, and something really ought
to be done to cure him. Now I know that the holy relic which you
possess, the worthy head of the glorious and gracious San Miniato, has
such a virtue, that, if it be once placed on the head of this poor youth,
'twill certainly cure him. Would you so contrive, in any way, to put it
on him some time this week?'

"The Abbot answered, 'Bring him when you will.'

"Piovano thanked him and said: 'I will bring him on Saturday, but when he
shall be here, I pray you be at the gate with seven or eight strong men,
that he may not escape; for you know, holy father, that these demoniacs
are accustomed to rage when they see relics and hear prayers, and it will
be specially so with this poor youth, who is young and vigorous--yea, it
may be that 'twill be necessary to give him sundry cuffs and kicks, so
terrible is the power of Satan--_lupus esuriens_. Do so, I pray, without
fearing to hurt my feelings--nay, it would be a great pleasure to me, so
heartily do I desire to see him cured.'

"The Abbot answered, 'Bring him here, my son, and I will see that all is
rightly done.'

"Piovano returned, saying to himself:

"'Chi vuol giusta vendetta,
In Dio la metta.'

"'Leave vengeance to the Lord, or to his ministers--_videlicet_, the
monks of San Miniato. Which I will do.'

"On Friday he went to the merchant who had sold the cloth, and said: 'As
for this which I owe you, it is all rubbish. You cheated the man who
gave you the note out of half the cloth--you know it, and I can prove it.
However, to avoid further trouble and litigation, I am willing to pay
all, but you must allow time for it. _Dura cosa e l'aspettare_--'tis
hard to wait, but harder still to have nothing to wait for. The monks of
San Miniato owe me for forty cords of wood, which is to be paid for at
the end of two years, and then you shall have your money.'

"This sounded like 'for e