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rations, with vigorous resolution, for their journey. And amongst other consultations with the old man, their instructor, they earnestly craved his advice. Whether it were expedient for each of them to take along with him a female companion? which he very cheerfully encouraged them to do, provided they were such as were disposed to go the same way, and had their hearts engaged to seek the same country. Otherwise, he admonished them, by all-means, to avoid such companions as had no knowledge of, or delight in the way they designed to travel. He pointed out to them many difficulties in the way, where the company of strangers would be of very dangerous consequences; and further informed them of many instances, what bad effects travellers, who had formerly gone that way, had found from disagreeable companions: to prevent which inconveniences, the king of the country had made a law, that none of his subjects should join with strangers, to be companions in that journey.
I waited to see what influence this advice would have upon the minds of these young men. But I observed, that, at the first, none of them seemed to relish his counsel; for they had all either contracted some acquaintance with, or placed their fancy upon, maids who were natives of Babylon. But the more they appeared engaged in
