[21] Folletto. This, which meant originally an airy tricksy sprite, is now applied not only to fairies and goblins in general, but also to every kind of supernatural apparition. I have a book in which even comets are described as folletti.
[23] Redi’s Bacco in Toscana is known to the most ignorant in Florence, there being very cheap editions of it constantly sold.
[24] “Can a horn play second fiddle?” inquires Flaxius. “This comes of trying to improve on the simple Italian text.”
[27] Zoccoloni or Zoccolanti, sandalled friars of the lowest order, who are indeed common beggars.
[31] The partial inscription referred to is still on the column.
[33] This is strikingly like the ceremony for the same purpose used by the ancient Romans, the object in both being to frighten away evil spirits. Vide “Etruscan Roman Remains,” by C. G. Leland, p. 305.
[43] Una vecchietta, tutta Gesù e Maria.
[47] I have elsewhere explained that the fata in these traditions is a witch or sorcerer become a spirit.
[48a] It may be conjectured from this context that the child was partly human in form, perhaps like the Pig-faced Lady, or not more swinish than William of Ardennes in face.
[48b] Truly she was, to use a really ancient phrase, “ready to go the whole hog.” It is said that Mahomet told his disciples that there was one part of a pig which they must not touch; but as he did not specify what it was, they among them devoured the entire animal.