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4. Not only did I look at them, but I also listened myself, stopping at divers spots; and I understood that there was truly some pleasure in hearing the divers sounds that proceeded from various directions. But it pleased me not that some acted in an immoderate fashion, for they bought up all the whistles that they could obtain; then after having used them for a short time, they again threw them away. There were also men of divers estates who sat but rarely at home, and were ever on the watch in the market-place, ever giving their ears to that which was piped there.

5. Yet all this pleased me not when I saw the vanity of the thing; for sometimes a doleful note resounded, so that all grieved; then after a while a different sound was heard, and the terror turned to laughter. Some notes clang so sweetly that all rejoiced and exulted; but there soon came a change. The sound either ceased or turned to a mournful rattle; thus those who were guided by it often rejoiced and grieved over many things vainly, and it was but smoke. It was therefore a cause of laughter that men allowed themselves to be deceived by every gust of wind. Therefore I praised those who, heeding not such folly, looked only to their work.