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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