\"Dance！dance！\"criedhejoyously。\"Ifwetakebreath，weshallbeaswewereyesterday。There，now，isthemusic，justbeyondthisclumpoftrees。Dance，Miriam，dance！\"
Theyhadnowreachedanopen，grassygladeofwhichtherearemanyinthatartfullyconstructedwilderness，setroundwithstoneseats，onwhichtheagedmosshadkindlyessayedtospreaditselfinsteadofcushions。Ononeofthestonebenchessatthemusicians，whosestrainshadenticedourwildcouplethitherward。Theyprovedtobeavagrantband，suchasRome，andallItaly，aboundswith；comprisingaharp，aflute，andaviolin，which，thoughgreatlytheworseforwear，theperformershadskillenoughtoprovokeandmodulateintotolerableharmony。Itchancedtobeafeast-day；and，insteadofplayinginthesun-scorchedpiazzasofthecity，orbeneaththewindowsofsomeunresponsivepalace，theyhadbethoughtthemselvestotrytheechoesofthesewoods；for，onthefestasoftheChurch，Romescattersitsmerrymakersallabroad，ripeforthedanceoranyotherpastime。
AsMiriamandDonatelloemergedfromamongthetrees，themusiciansscraped，tinkled，orblew，eachaccordingtohisvariouskindofinstrument，moreinspiringlythanever。Adarkcheckedlittlegirl，withbrightblackeyes，stoodby，shakingatambourinesetroundwithtinklingbells，andthumpingitonitsparchmenthead。Withoutinterruptinghisbrisk，thoughmeasuredmovement，Donatellosnatchedawaythisunmelodiouscontrivance，and，flourishingitabovehishead，producedmusicofindescribablepotency，stilldancingwithfriskystep，andstrikingthetambourine，andringingitslittlebells，allinonejovialact。
Itmightbethattherewasmagicinthesound，orcontagion，atleast，inthespiritwhichhadgotpossessionofMiriamandhimself，forverysoonanumberoffestalpeopleweredrawntothespot，andstruckintothedance，singlyorinpairs，asiftheywereallgonemadwithjollity。AmongthemweresomeoftheplebeiandamselswhomwemeetbareheadedintheRomanstreets，withsilverstilettosthrustthroughtheirglossyhair；thecontadinas，too，fromtheCampagnaandthevillages，withtheirrichandpicturesquecostumesofscarletandallbrighthues，suchasfairermaidensmightnotventuretoputon。ThencamethemodernRomanfromTrastevere，perchance，withhisoldcloakdrawnabouthimlikeatoga，whichanon，ashisactivemotionheatedhim，heflungaside。ThreeFrenchsoldierscaperedfreelyintothethrong，inwidescarlettrousers，theirshortswordsdanglingattheirsides；andthreeGermanartistsingrayflaccidhatsandflauntingbeards；andoneofthePope\'sSwissguardsmeninthestrangemotleygarbwhichMichaelAngelocontrivedforthem。TwoyoungEnglishtouristsoneofthemalordtookcontadinepartnersanddashedin，asdidalsoashaggymaningoat-skinbreeches，wholookedlikerusticPaninperson，andfooteditasmerrilyashe。BesidestheabovetherewasaherdsmanortwofromtheCampagna，andafewpeasantsinsky-bluejackets，andsmall-clothestiedwithribbonsattheknees；
haggardandsallowweretheselast，poorserfs，havinglittletoeatandnothingbutthemalariatobreathe；butstilltheypluckedupamomentaryspiritandjoinedhandsinDonatello\'sdance。