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The last verse was repeated in loud chorus The duke listened with

astonishe

wildness, appeared more like enchantment than reality He would not

have hesitated to pronounce this a party of banditti, had not the

delicacy of expression preserved in the song appeared unattainable by

men of their class

He had now a full view of the cave; and the moment which convinced him

of his error served only to encrease his surprize He beheld, by the

light of a fire, a party of banditti seated within the deepest recess

of the cave round a rude kind of table formed in the rock The table

was spread with provisions, and they were regaling theerness and joy The countenances of the e mixture of fierceness and sociality; and the duke could alined he beheld in these robbers a band of the early Roe had civilized, or luxury had softened them But he

had not er bade him fly

while to fly was yet in his power As he turned to depart, he observed

two saddle-horses grazing upon the herbage near the mouth of the cave

It instantly occurred to hied to Julia and her

coer awhile,

and listen to the conversation of the robbers, hoping from thence to

have his doubts resolved They talked for soh conviviality, and recounted in exultation many of their exploits

They described also the behaviour of several people whohly ludicrous allusions, and with much rude huhter and applause