PAGE
PREFACE vii
INTRODUCTION xi
THE STORY OF ROMOLO AND REMOLO 1
HOW VIRGIL WAS BORN 4
VIRGIL, THE EMPEROR, AND THE TWO DOVES 11
VIRGIL AND THE ROCK OF POSILIPPO 14
VIRGIL, THE EMPEROR, AND THE TRUFFLES 17
BALSÀBO 21
VIRGIL, MINUZZOLO, AND THE SIREN 33
LAVERNA 38
VIRGIL AND THE UGLY GIRL 43
VIRGIL AND THE GEM 44
II. THE FLIES IN ROME 45
THE COLUMNS OF VIRGIL AND HIS THREE WONDERFUL STATUES 49
VIRGIL AND ADELONE 54
VIRGIL AND DORIONE, OR THE MAGIC VASE 58
VIRGIL AND THE LADY OF ICE AND WATER 63
VIRGIL THE MAGICIAN, OR THE FOUR VENUSES 66
VIRGIL, THE LADY, AND THE CHAIR 71
VIRGIL AND THE GODDESS OF THE CHASE 75
VIRGIL AND THE SPIRIT OF MIRTH 80
NERO AND SENECA 88
VIRGIL AND CICERO 92
VIRGIL AND THE GODDESS VESTA 97
THE STONE FISH, AND HOW VIRGIL MADE IT EATABLE 103
VIRGIL AND THE BRONZE HORSE 106
VIRGIL AND THE BALL-PLAYER 108
VIRGIL AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO BRAYED 111
VIRGIL AND THE GIRL WITH GOLDEN LOCKS 113
VIRGIL AND THE PEASANT OF AREZZO 117
THE GIRL AND THE FLAGEOLET 123
LA BEGHINA DI AREZZO, OR VIRGIL AND THE SORCERESS 128
THE SPIRIT OF THE SNOW OF COLLE ALTO 134
THE LEGEND OF LA MADONNA DELLA NEVE 139
THE MAGICIAN VIRGIL: A LEGEND FROM THE SABINE 140
VIRGIL, THE WICKED PRINCESS, AND THE IRON MAN 152
GIOVANNI DI BOLOGNA AND THE GOD MERCURY 155
THE DOUBLE-FACED STATUE, OR HOW VIRGIL CONJURED JANUS 161
VIRGIL AND HIS COURTIERS 163
VIRGIL AND THE THREE SHEPHERDS 164
THE GOLDEN PINE-CONE 167
VIRGIL’S MAGIC LOOM 172
VIRGIL AND THE PRIEST 180
IL GIGLIO DI FIRENZE, OR THE STORY OF VIRGIL AND THE LILIES 182
II. VIRGIL AND THE BEAUTIFUL LADY OF THE LILY 185
VIRGIL AND THE DAUGHTER OF THE EMPEROR OF ROME 185
PROVERB STORIES OF VIRGIL
I. VIRGIL AND POLLIONE 190
II. VIRGIL AND MATTEO 194
VIRGIL AND THE FATHER OF TWELVE CHILDREN 197
VIRGIL AS A PHYSICIAN, OR VIRGIL AND THE MOUSE 199
THE ONION OF CETTARDO 203