There was once in Florence a great family, of which the mother and only daughter, whose name was Lucia, were indeed as good as saints or angels, and loved by all.

But just as they were good, the father and three brothers of Lucia were utterly evil in every way, men whose infamy began where that of the worst end, hating all that was good, souls damned while in the body, and the body accursed.

And as they found their greatest pleasure in tormenting all living things, they tormented and grieved in every way their mother and sister.

Truly they spared no one, for they were always in a rage if the sun went down on a day during which they had not murdered or put on the rack some human being, or goaded some poor wretch to madness. Erano maledizione continue – they were living curses.

Lucia, however, became betrothed in spite of them to a young nobleman of suitable rank and condition. Whereupon the father and three brothers began to slander and abuse him to her, swearing that they would kill him, no matter how, if steel or poison could be found in Florence.

But one day they said to her in a treacherous way, which Lucia much distrusted:
"We have thought better of this betrothal of yours, and think it better to be good friends with your beloved. Therefore we have invited him here to supper this evening."

Now they had with great art prepared a figure exactly like that of her betrothed, with garments such as he wore, and a face of wax which was a perfect likeness, but like that of a dead man, and pale.

And when Lucia entered they mockingly led her up to it, with courtesies, and bursting into roars of laughter, cried :

"Ecco! there he is, as dead as a stone. We have poisoned him at last. Oh, touch his face and see how cold it is! He will never speak another word. Dead without a priest."

And Lucia did indeed touch and kiss the face, and never noticed that it was wax; at which the father and brothers roared again with laughter, and sat down at the table and began to carouse and sing the burial-service, with many ribald words; while Lucia, in horror and agony, fled with her mother to their chamber, where the poor souls prayed to God with all their hearts, for it seemed to them as if misery could go no further.

And while thus praying and weeping there appeared before them an old man of very venerable aspect, whom they knew must be a saint, between two angels, and he said to them :
"Rise at once and leave this infamous house, nor return to it till it shall have been purified by the fire of punishment. Go to the house which is opposite and look from it hither."

They did as he bade; and when in the opposite building they saw red flames and fire fill all their own palace, and saw the forms of demons flitting in the flames, and heard the screams of the four guilty wretches, or of the father and his sons.

But when all was over and they returned, there was no sign of any fire or burning save in a few charred or burned bones of the four who had been so cruel.

And there came at once the betrothed of Lucia; he was to her as one risen from the dead, for no joy is so great as the recovery of that which we thought was lost; and they were soon wedded, and lived happily.

And the four wicked ones were changed into the four bronze devils which were once at the corner of the old palace, and of which one remained till it was torn down. This was called the Diavolino.