saluted them and gave them an apple apiece. The last of the three had
his arm hidden under his cloak, and the _compare_ saw that the gentleman
had great difficulty in stretching his arm out to take the apple. At
length he pulled his arm from under his cloak, and showed a hand
swelled up to such a huge size that the _compare_ was frightened to look
at it. But he gave him the apple, the same as to the others, and they
all three thanked him and went away. The _compare_ returned home again,
and went to his confessor and told him all that had happened. Then the
priest said: "See, now, my son, you are saved. For the first of the
three noblemen was the Lord, the second was St. Peter, and the third was
St. John. You saw what a hand he had. Well, that was the hand you
squeezed on the wedding day; and so, instead of squeezing the bride's
hand, you really hurt St. John!"[29]

* * * * *

The third legend is entitled: "Of two _compari_ of St. John who swore by
the name of St. John." Two _compari_ who had not seen each other for
some time met one day, and one invited the other to lunch and paid the
bill. The other declared that he would do the same a week hence. When he
said this they happened to be standing where two streets crossed. "Then
we meet a week from to-day at this spot and at this hour!" "Yes." "By
St. John, I will not fail!" "I swear by St. John that I will be here
awaiting you!" During the week, however, the _compare_ who had paid for
the lunch died. The other did not know he was dead, and at the appointed
time he went to the place to meet him. While there a friend passed, who
asked: "What are you doing here?" "I am waiting for my _compare_ Tony."
"You are waiting for your _compare_ Tony! Why, he has been dead three
days! You will wait a long time!" "You say he is dead? There he is
coming!" And, indeed, he saw him, but his friend did not. The dead man
stopped before his _compare_ and said: "You are right in being here at
this spot, and you can thank God; otherwise, I would teach you to swear
in the name of St. John!" Then he suddenly disappeared and his _compare_
saw him no more, for his oath was only to be at that spot.

The sanctity of an ordinary oath is shown in the fourth story: "Of two
lovers who swore fidelity in life and death." Two young persons made
love, unknown to the girl's parents. The youth made her swear that she
would love him in life and death. Some time after, he was kil