CHAPTER III.
He is a great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, he hears no music; Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort, As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit that could be mov'd to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease, While they behold a greater than themselves.
JULIUS CAESAR Montoni and his companion did not return home, till many hours after the dawn had blushed upon the Adriatic.

The airy groups, which had danced all night along the colonnade of St.Mark, dispersed before the morning, like so many spirits.

Montoni had been otherwise engaged; his soul was little susceptible of light pleasures.

He delighted in the energies of the passions; the difficulties and tempests of life, which wreck the happiness of others, roused and strengthened all the powers of his mind, and afforded him the highest enjoyments, of which his nature was capable.

Without some object of strong interest, life was to him little more than a sleep; and, when pursuits of real interest failed, he substituted artificial ones, till habit changed their nature, and they ceased to be unreal.