On A Rock, Under The Shade Of Lofty Trees, A Large Party Of Men And Women Had Lighted A Fire, Cutting Down Fuel Around To Keep It Alive All Night. They Were Drinking, Smoking, And Laughing With All Their Might And Main.

I felt for the trees whose torn branches strewed the ground. Hapless nymphs!

Your haunts, I fear, were polluted by many an unhallowed flame, the casual burst of the moment!

The horses went on very well; but when we drew near the post-house the postillion stopped short and neither threats nor promises could prevail on him to go forward. He even began to howl and weep when I insisted on his keeping his word. Nothing, indeed, can equal the stupid obstinacy of some of these half-alive beings, who seem to have been made by Prometheus when the fire he stole from Heaven was so exhausted that he could only spare a spark to give life, not animation, to the inert clay.

It was some time before we could rouse anybody; and, as I expected, horses, we were told, could not be had in less than four or five hours. I again attempted to bribe the churlish brute who brought us there, but I discovered that, in spite of the courteous hostess's promises, he had received orders not to go any father.

As there was no remedy I entered, and was almost driven back by the stench - a softer phrase would not have conveyed an idea of the hot vapour that issued from an apartment in which some eight or ten people were sleeping, not to reckon the cats and dogs stretched on the floor.

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