Emily, who was charmed with every thing she saw, endeavoured to enliven her; but reflection had not, with Madame Montoni, subdued caprice and ill-humour, and her answers discovered so much of both, that Emily gave up the attempt of diverting her, and withdrew to a lattice, to amuse herself with the scene without, so new and so enchanting.
The first object that attracted her notice was a group of dancers on the terrace below, led by a guitar and some other instruments.

The girl, who struck the guitar, and another, who flourished a tambourine, passed on in a dancing step, and with a light grace and gaiety of heart, that would have subdued the goddess of spleen in her worst humour.

After these came a group of fantastic figures, some dressed as gondolieri, others as minstrels, while others seemed to defy all description.

They sung in parts, their voices accompanied by a few soft instruments.

At a little distance from the portico they stopped, and Emily distinguished the verses of Ariosto.