"Have I not the magic wand, by means of which, having first invoked
the spirit Odeken, one can enter the elfin castle? Is not this a
fine trot on the devil's crupper? Here it is--one of the palaces
erected by rivals of the Romans. Let us enter, for I hold a hand of
glory to which all doors open. Let us enter, _hic et nunc_, the
palace fair. . . . Here it was once on a Sabato of the Carnival that
there entered four graceful youths of noble air."--_Arlecchino alle
Nozze di Cana_.
I very naturally made inquiry as to whether there was not a legend of the
celebrated bronze devil made by Giovanni di Bologna, which remained until
lately in the Mercato Vecchio, and I obtained the following, which is,
from intrinsic evidence, extremely curious and ancient.