6CIOPT I CON MANUAL. 47 



tunity." The priest subjoined, " If you think you have the heart 

 to venture, I will give you all the satisfaction you can desire." 

 Thus we agreed to enter upon a plan of necromancy. The priest 

 one evening prepared to satisfy me, and desired me to look out for 

 a companion or two. I invited one Yincenzio Eomoli, who was 

 my intimate acquaintance ; he brought with him a native of Pis- 

 toia, who cultivated the black art himself. We repaired to the 

 Collosseo, and the priest, according to the custom of necromancers, 

 began to draw circles upon the ground, with the most impressive 

 ceremonies imaginable ; he likewise brought hither asafoetida, sev- 

 eral precious perfumes, and fire, with some compositions also, which 

 diffused noisome odors. As soon as he was in readiness, he made 

 an opening to the circle, and having taken us by the hand, ordered 

 the other necromancer, his partner, to throw the perfumes into the 

 fire at a proper time, intrusting the care of the fire and perfumes 

 to the rest, and thus he began his incantations. This ceremony 

 lasted above an hour and a half, when there appeared several legions 

 of devils, insomuch that the amphitheatre was quite filled with 

 them. I was busy about the perfumes, when the priest, perceiving 

 there was a considerable number of infernal spirits, turned to mo 

 and said, " Benvenuto, ask them something." I answered, "Let 

 them bring me into the company of my Sicilian mistress, Angelica." 

 That night he obtained no answer of any sort ; but I had received 

 great satisfaction in having my curiosity so far indulged. The 

 necromancer told me it was requisite we should go a second time, 

 assuring me that I should be satisfied in whatever I asked ; but 

 that I must bring with me a pure immaculate boy. 



" ' I took with me a youth who was in my service, of about twelve 

 years of age, together with the same Yincenzio Romoli, who had 

 been my companion the first time, and one Agnolino Gaddi, an in- 

 timate acquaintance, whom I likewise prevailed on to assist at the 

 ceremony. "When we came to the place appointed, the priest hav- 

 ing made his preparations as before, with the same and even more 

 striking ceremonies, placed us within the circle, which he had like- 

 wise drawn with a more wonderful art, and in a more solemn man- 

 ner than at our former meeting. Thus, having committed the care 

 of the perfumes and the fire to my friend Yincenzio, who was 

 assisted by Agnolino Gaddi, he put into my hand a pintaculo or 

 magical chart, and bid me turn it towards the places that he should 



