"Est anus inferno, vel formidanda barathro,
Saga diu magicis usa magisteriis,
Haec inhians ova gallina matre creatis.
Obsipat assueto pharmaca mixta cibo,
Pharmaca queis quaecunque semel gallina voratis,
Ova decem pariat bis deciesque decem."
STEUCCIUS, _cited by_ P. GOLDSCHMIDT,
_Verworffener Hexen und Zauberadvocat_. Hamburg, 1705.
"E un figliuolo della gallina bianca."--_Old Proverb_.
The Mercato Vecchio was fertile in local traditions, and one of these is
as follows: