‘Near where they lived was a rapid river, and no bridge, and many were drowned in attempting to cross it, and many had a weary way to walk to find a bridge. Said Giuliano, “We will build a bridge over the river.” And many pilgrims came to Galizia who had not where to rest. Said Giuliano, “We will build a hospice for poor pilgrims, where they may be received and be tended according to their needs, till God forgives me.”
‘So they set forth, Giuliano and his wife, to go to Rome to find workmen.[5] But as they went, a troop met them, and came round them, and said to them, “Where are you going?”
‘“We go to Rome,” answered Giuliano, “to find workmen to build a bridge.”
‘“We are your men, we are your men; for we have built many bridges ere now.”[6]
‘Then Giuliano took them back with him, and all in two days they built the bridge.
‘“How can this be?” said Giuliano’s wife; “here is something that is not right,” for she was so holy that she discerned the Evil One was in it.
‘“Be sure, Giuliano,” she said, “there is some snare here. Take, therefore, a cheese, hard and round, and roll it along the bridge,[7] and send our dog after it; if they get across, well and good.”
‘Giuliano, always prone to accept his wife’s prudent counsel, did as she bid him, and rolled the cheese along the bridge, and sent the dog after it; and, see! no sooner were they in the middle of the bridge than the bridge sank in; and they knew that the Devil had built it, and that it was no bridge for Christians to go over.
‘Then said Giuliano, “God has not forgiven me yet. Now, let us build the hospice.”
‘They set out, therefore, to go to Rome to find workmen to build the hospice; and when the troop of demons came round them, saying, “We are your workmen, we are your workmen!” they paid them no heed, but went on to Rome, and fetched workmen thence, and the hospice was built; and all the pilgrims who came they received, and gave them hospitality, and the whole house was full of pilgrims.