in putting the Devil in hell; for which
cause I deem it insensate folly on the part of any one to
have a care to aught else than the service of God."
Wherefore many a time she would come to Rustico, and say to
him:--"My father, 'twas to serve God that I came hither, and
not to pass my days in idleness: go we then, and put the
Devil in hell." And while they did so, she would now and
again say:--"I know not, Rustico, why the Devil should
escape from hell; were he but as ready to stay there as hell
is to receive and retain him, he would never come out of
it." So, the girl thus frequently inviting and exhorting
Rustico to the service of God, there came at length a time
when she had so thoroughly lightened his doublet that he
shivered when another would have sweated; wherefore he began
to instruct her that the Devil was not to be corrected and
put in hell, save when his head was exalted with pride;
adding, "and we by God's grace have brought him to so sober
a mind that he prays God he may be left in peace;" by which
means he for a time kept the girl quiet. But when she saw
that Rustico had no more occasion for her to put the Devil
in hell, she said to him one day:--"Rustico, if thy Devil is
chastened and gives thee no more trouble, my hell, on the
other hand, gives me no peace; wherefore, I with my hell
have holpen thee to abase the pride of thy Devil, so thou
wouldst do well to lend me the aid of thy Devil to allay the
fervent heat of my hell."]

Rustico, who lived on roots and water, could ill avail to answer her
calls and told her that it would need overmany devils to appease hell,
but he would do what he might thereof. Accordingly he satisfied her
bytimes, but so seldom it was but casting a bean into the lion's
mouth; whereas the girl, herseeming she served not God as diligently
as she would fain have done, murmured somewhat. But, whilst this
debate was toward between Rustico his devil and Alibech her hell, for
overmuch desire on the one part and lack of power on the other, it
befell that a fire broke out in Capsa and burnt Alibech's father in
his own house, with as many children and other family as he had; by
reason whereof she abode heir to all his good. Thereupon, a young man
called Neerbale, who had spent all his substance in gallantry, hearing
that she was alive, set out in search of her and