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he could not well digest the notion of his wife having taken upon her to dismiss his servants without his knowledge. He pretended, however, to the country man who now addressed him, that he was an intimate friend of the master of the house, and intimated that he should be glad of a night's lodging. The man, seeing his strange garb, was not well satisfied what to do upon the occasion. However, he was at last prevailed upon by Master Manente's fair speaking, and admitted him into his little cabin, where he was invited to partake of the slender supper provided for the household. The doctor being resolved not to make himself known to these people, asked no questions about the family; but, seeing pen, ink, and paper, on a table, sat down and wrote a short letter to his wife, which he gave to the labourer's son in charge to deliver the first thing in the morning at his house in Florence. He then betook himself to rest on the bed of straw, which was all the accommodation they had to offer him, and on which he soon fell asleep, notwithstanding the multitude of thoughts which now began to distract him.

Next morning, by the first dawn of day, Manente's messenger set off for Florence with the letter, and, reaching Master Manente's house by dinnertime, delivered it into the hands of his good lady, Monna Brigida, who, recognizing her husband's hand-writing, was ready to faint away on the spot. Her grief and consternation increased on perusal of the letter, and were still farther augmented by the answers which the boy returned to her inquiries concerning the person, voice, and stature of him who had sent it. She immediately sent for Michel Angelo, the goldsmith, who was no less surprised than she had been at reading the letter; but, nevertheless, holding it for certain that Manente was dead and buried, gave it as his opinion that the person who wrote it was an impostor, who had adopted this contrivance for accomplishing some unlawful purpose, either with regard to her person, or her late husband's property; the contents of the letter shortly being, that the writer informed his dearly beloved consort, how, after many and strange perils had passed, after being shut up for a twelvemonth in fear of his life, and having finally escaped by a miraculous Providence, he had at

length reached his own home in safety, but was there denied admittance; begging, therefore, that she would forthwith send an order to the new bailiff to receive him, together with a change of linen, his cloak, boots, and other necessaries, after which he would himself come to Florence the next day, and there, in the arms of his dear Brigida, recount to her all the particulars of the wonderful events that had befallen him.

Michel Angelo, the goldsmith, having (as has been said) made up his mind to its being an imposture, now wrote in the name of the lady, and returned by the same messenger, a letter full of wrath, commanding the pretender to depart in God's name, or he would otherwise send the officers to lay hold of him; and this being dispatched, he returned to his shop, leaving Monna Brigida at home full of suspense and half stupified.

Master Manente had passed the day. in strolling to the house of a friend of his who kept poultry, about three miles off, to whom he passed himself for a traveller just arrived from Albano, and. where (without making himself known to him) he purchased a pair of fat ca pons, which he carried back with him for his supper, fully expecting, on the return of his messenger, to be recognized as master, and admitted into his own mansion. He was not greatly delighted, therefore, at finding a very different reception, nor at the delivery of a note without seal or subscription

the contents of which were still more displeasing to him than the mode of address or delivery. His host of the preceding night gave him moreover to understand, (in no very courteous language,) that he must look out elsewhere for a lodging; a demand which the poor doctor did not stay to hear repeated, but told him he would depart immediately. His mind now began to misgive him, that he had, in good truth, made an exchange of his own personal identity, and was no longer Master Manente; insomuch that, in a voice at once the most humble and disconsolate, he entreated the countyman to tell him who was his master; whereto the countryman replied, that his master was Master Michel Angelo, the goldsmith, whose wife was Monna Brigida. He then inquired again whether this Monna Brigida had ever before been married; to

which the countryman returned for answer, Yes; and that her former husband, (as he had heard say,) was Master Manente, a physician, who died one day of the plague, and had left an only son, called Sandrino, (or little Alexander.) "Alas! alas!" exclaimed the physician," what is this you tell me!" And then asked many other questions, to all which the man answered that he was not able to inform him, being himself from the Casentino, and an entire stranger to the neighbourhood of Mugello.

almost beside himself. By this it was dinner-time, and, in a state of desperation, he betook himself to his old quarters, Delle Bertucce, where the landlord, Master Amadore, was another of his most familiar companions, who, after he had sat there some time, observed to him that he thought he had seen his face before, but could not remember where, or on what occasion; to which the mortified doctor replied that it was very likely, as he had formerly resided for some time in Florence, which he had left to go to sea, and, being now returned, intended to take up his abode here again; wherewith the said Amadore appeared to be perfectly satisfied, and asked no farther questions.

Master Manente now determined with himself to leave his present quarters without farther delay; and, as he had still two hours of day-light, took the road towards Florence, comforting himself with the hope that his wife He now, having dined, resolved at and relations had been deceived by all hazards to make himself known to some false report of his death, but Monna Brigida that same evening; would immediately recognize him on and accordingly, when he judged his returning among them. He arri- it a convenient time, he sallied forth ved late in the evening at a public- once more to the street de' Fossi, house, about a mile from the city, and having given two loud knocks at where he rested for the night, eating the door, the lady herself came to ask only two poached eggs for his supper; who was there. To whom the poor and the next morning early, having physician answered, "It is I-open discharged his reckoning, proceeded to the door to me, my dear Brigida." Florence, and walked half-way through "And who are you?" rejoined the the city without being recognized by a lady. To which Master Manente resingle individual, although he met seve- plied in a whisper, so as not to be ral of his old friends and acquaintances, heard by all the neighbourhood,— so entirely was he metamorphosed by "Come hither, and I will tell you."his seaman's habit. At last, turning the Monna Brigida, to whom both the corner of the street de' Fossi, he saw voice and looks of the unwelcome vihis wife, leading his little boy by the sitor appeared greatly to strengthen hand, enter the house, as they were the misgivings which his letter had returning from mass; and, being well occasioned, declined obeying his sumassured that she also had seen him, mons, and said only, "Whosoever you but without shewing the least sign of are, tell it me directly, and what you knowledge, his heart misgave him; want?"-" Don't you see?" answered and, instead of going directly bome, the physician-"Is it not I-your Maas was his first intention, he went to nente-your true and lawful husband Santa Croce, to find one Master Sebas--and are you not my wife, whom I tiano, his confessor, thinking that he would be a good negotiator; but, upon inquiry, was told that he had gone to Bologna, upon which he was quite in despair, and could not tell what step was next to be taken.

Thus, having made the circuit of the city, through the Piazza, and both the old and new market places, and having met, among divers others of his old acquaintance, his most intimate friends, Biondo the broker, Feo the musician, Leonardo the saddler, and Master Zenobio the barber, without any of them appearing to have the least recollection of him, he became at last VOL. XIV.

am come back to claim, after a long and cruel absence?"-" Master Manente, my husband-you certainly are not?" said the lady," seeing that he is dead and buried."-" How, Brigida?-dead!" rejoined the physician; "No-I never died, nor was buried!" And then he added, "Open the door quickly-for love's sake, open. Why, don't you know me again, my own dear love? Am I then so metamorphosed? Nay, open, open, and I will immediately convince you that I am still living."-" What!" said the obdurate lady; " and are you then the impudent fellow that sent me a letter G

yesterday? Begone! begone instantly-and a plague upon you! If my husband returns, and finds you here, there will be the devil to pay."

A crowd of people was by this time collected round the door. Whereupon Monna Dorothea, a very decent personage, who lived opposite, and had witnessed all that had passed, said to Brigida" Have a care, daughter, for this may well be Master Manente's spirit, seeing that, verily, he much resembles him in voice and figure. Speak to it, then, and ask it in civil language, whether or no it wants aught with thee?" Upon which Brigida, who was half inclined to believe the truth of what she now heard, began with piteous accents thus to accost him, "Oh, blessed spirit! hast thou anything which presses upon thy conscience? Dost thou require the office for the dead to be performed for thee? Hast thou any undischarged vow to accomplish? Say what thou wouldst have, oh gentle spirit! and then depart in peace, and in God's name." Master Manente, having this invocation, was half inclined to laugh out in spite of his vexation; but he simply answered, by assuring her, that he was still living, and that she had only to open the door to be convinced it was so. She, nevertheless, went on, crossing herself, and asking if the poor ghost required the mass of St Gregory to be said for it; and then, also, Monna Dorothea, in like manner, chimed in with her, saying, "Spirit of grace! if so be that thou art in purgatory, declare it, in order that thy good wife may perform jubilee, and withdraw thee from the place of thy torments." Then, making the longest signs of the cross ever seen, and repeating at every moment her "Requiescat in pace," all the people who stood round about began by degrees to do the same, and withdraw themselves to a more awful distance; seeing which, and that there was no chance of his making any farther impression on Monna Brigida, supported as she was by her old gossiping neighbour, the poor disconsolate doctor once more quitted the field, and

retreated in the direction of St Maria Novella, while the crowd made way for him on every side, crossing themselves with all their might, and running and tumbling over each other in their fright, no less than if they had actually beheld one risen from the dead.

For that night he again took up his old quarters at the Bertucce, intending the next morning to have recourse to the spiritual court for assistance. But, desirous to make one more trial, he proposed to his host to invite Burchiello, and Biondo the broker, (than whom he had not two more intimate friends in the world) to sup with him; which mine host gladly undertook, and the invitation being as gladly accepted, they all three met at the Bertucce at the hour appointed.

At their first meeting, Burchiello exhibited some signs of recognition, particularly on hearing the sound of his voice; and Master Manente, on his feet, paid him the most marked attention, saying that he had been induced, by his reputation, thus to seek the honour of his acquaintance; for all which, Burchiello thanked him with due formality. They then sat down to table; and while they were waiting for supper, Master Manente entertained them with a long fabulous narrative of his life, and the cause which had brought him hither. Burchiello had by this time whispered Biondo that he never saw so great a likeness as of this man to their old friend Manente; and that, if he had not been sure he was dead, he should say, that without doubt, it was he himself to which Biondo fully assented.

Meanwhile mine host, having put all things in order, the sallads made their appearance, accompanied by bread and two flasks of sparkling wine; upon the sight of which they left off their discourse, and set to with excellent appetites, mine host and Burchiello taking the inside of the table, and Master Manente and Biondo the opposite seats. Thus, while they ate and drank, Burchiello kept his eyes constantly

* Domenico Burchiello was a burlesque poet, so celebrated in his day as to have given name to a peculiar species of composition, called after him the Burchiellesca. (See Ginguené.) This Burchiello, (the poet,) died, however, in 1448, when Lorenzo was a child. Either (therefore) he is not the same with the Burchiello of this story, or we have detected Lasca in an anachronism.

fixed on the doctor, and the first thing he remarked, was his drinking two cups of wine, one immediately after the other upon his sallad, which was also Master Manente's constant custom. He remained silent, however, though inwardly marvelling; and, ou the arrival of the next course, consisting of pigeons and small birds, he again remarked that the first thing done by the stranger was to separate the heads from the bodies of the birds, and eat them,-being a part of which Master Manente was likewise particularly fond. Upon this, he was just on the point of discovering himself, but restrained his intentions for the sake of still farther assurance. Lastly, when the fruit was placed on the table, consisting of pears, (sementine,) grapes, (sancolom bane,) and excellent raviggiuoli, he became perfectly satisfied; for the physician, after partaking of both the former, ended his supper without touching the raviggiuoli, notwithstanding all the rest of the company bestowed upon them the highest praises; Burchiello very well knowing that Master Manente had such an antipathy to this species of eatable, that he would as soon have eaten both his own hands as touched them. Upon receiving this last proof of identity, he seized him (laughingly) by the left hand, and lifting up his sleeve, discovered near the wrist the mark of a rasher of bacon, which Master Manente had brought with him from his mother's womb; whereupon he exclaimed, with a loud voice, "Thou art Master Manente, and canst conceal it no longer;" and, throwing both his arms round his neck, embraced and kissed him.

Biondo and mine host, seeing what passed, were lost in amazement, and retreated backwards a little, that they might the more securely mark what followed: Which was, that Manente replied to Burchiello's salutation, by saying, "You only, Burchiello, of all my friends and relations, have acknowledged me for what I am, and that I am indeed that very Master Manente, who never died, as was falsely reported, and is so foolishly credited by iny wife, and by all Florence." At this, Amadore and Biondo waxed pale as ashes-the one crossed himself, the other followed his example, and both felt the same terror as if they had really seen the ghost of one departed; but Burchiello took upon him to re-assure

them, saying, "My good friends, don't be frightened. Touch him, and feel him; spirits are not made of flesh and bone, as this man is-besides which, have you not seen him eat and drink in your presence?" To which Manente added, "I am a living man, pray, don't doubt it; don't be afraid of me, my brethren! In good sooth, I never yet have known what death is. Only listen, and I will relate to you one of the most marvellous stories ever heard beneath the sun." By which, and other such like expressions, he, with Burchiello's assistance, at length so far succeeded, that, by little and little, they got the better of their terror and incredulity.

Supper being cleared away, and the doors locked to prevent intrusion, the four friends resumed their seats at the table, and Master Manente recounted to them in full the history of his strange disasters. He had no sooner concluded, than Burchiello (who was the cleverest fellow existing) said directly, "This is all a trick of Lorenzo the Magnifico." The others stoutly opposed this conclusion, declaring that the whole was most undoubtedly the effect of enchantment. Nevertheless, Burchiello, persisting in his first impression, continued, "It is not every body who knows as well as I do the fruitfulness of that man's invention, nor how impossible it is to make him forego any enterprize which he has once taken in hand. It is the very devil to have to do with one who, like him, knows everything, and has power and inclination to back all his designs." Then turning to the Doctor, he said, "I long ago suspected that he might have the heart to play you some such prank as you have related to us. Depend upon it, Master Manente, princes are always princes; and woe be to him who thinks he may presume upon their familiarity to take liberties with them."

Manente, in his turn, now made his friends relate to him the history of the pretended plague, and of the man who was buried in his place with the tumour in his throat-all which things sorely perlexed him ; nor was Burchiello himself able to find the clue to this part of the contrivance. At length, however, they all came to one conclusion, which was, that Master Manente had nothing for it but to commence proceedings in the Bishop's Court for

the recovery of his rights and property. And with this resolution they separated, the Doctor going along with his friend Burchiello, the other two not being yet altogether satisfied as to the reality of what they had witnessed. In the meantime, Michel Angelo the goldsmith, on his return home, had been informed by Monna Brigida of all that had happened, which was confirmed by her sanctified neighbour, who added, moreover, that she was certain it was Master Manente's spirit, which wanted to be redeemed out of purgatory. "What spirit, what purgatory, you foolish woman!" exclaimed the angry goldsmith. "Can't you perceive that it was that same impostor, that vagabond sailor, who sent you the letter yesterday morning?" And therewithal he grew very pensive, being ill able to account for so strange an occurrence, and yet willing to give credit to any interpretation of it rather than the true one, or than to believe that Master Manente, whom he had seen dead and buried, was returned to life again.

(who presided as judge,) having considered on one side the proof of identity, and on the other, the produced certificates, became utterly perplexed and confounded. However, as there was clearly a dead man in the case, and it was equally clear that the person who stood before him as Master Manente, was not that dead man, he concluded that there must have been some foul play (perhaps murder) in the business, which rendered it fit for the cognizance of a criminal tribunal. For which reason, having secretly informed the Council of Eight concerning his cause of suspicion, the officers of justice were forthwith dispatched to the Court, where the parties were still pleading, and where they were all arrested and put in prison.

The next day, as soon as the Council was sitting, Master Manente was had before them and interrogated as to all that had happened, which he recounted in so minute, and at the same time artless a manner, that several of the counsellors, notwithstanding the gravity of the proceeding, and the unaccountable nature of the circumstances, could not refrain from laughing at many passages. Having finished his narrative, he was remanded to prison, and Niccolajo and Michel Angelo were, one after another, next had up and examined, who not only exactly agreed in all the circumstances of their story, but confirmed it by the production of the certificates already mentioned. They were also remanded, and the Council proceeded next to send for the hospital servant who had been present at the supposed death of Manente, and by whom it was wisely judged that some light might be cast on the mystery. But it so fell out, for the sake of the jest, that this same fellow, whose examination must have led to the detection of the whole plot had sometime before wounded a man in a fray, in consequence of which he absconded, and had never since been heard of. Thus, all things combined to further this most admirable of hoaxes. The Council then instructed their officers to make every inquiry that was possible, in order to ascertain the degree of credit due to each story; and the reTo lose no time, that same after-sult of their investigation was to connoon Master Manente lodged his com- firm (so far as it was possible to arplaint, and took out a summons, which rive at any conclusion) the veracity of his brother-in-law and Michel Angelo all the witnesses. forthwith attended; and the Vicar,

The next morning early, having washed and trimmed his hair and beard according to the fashion of the day, and accoutred in some clothes of his friend Burchiello's which exactly fitted him, Master Manente sallied forth again into the streets of Florence; and in these, which resembled his own ordinary habits, he was seen and recognized by many; Biondo and Amadore having in the meantime circulated the report of his being alive, and returned to Florence in quest of his wife and his chattels. Among the rest, he was seen both by Niccolajo and Michel Angelo, who, notwithstanding the evidence of their senses, still continued to intrench themselves in the persuasion, that Master Manente being dead and buried, this man could not possibly be he, however strongly resembling him. So, having heard that he intended to make his claim in the Bishop's Court, they, on their part, prepared for their defence against it, to which end they furnished themselves with credentials from the officers of the board of health, and with the proper certificate of burial.

In the meantime, Burchiello, who

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