diff options
Diffstat (limited to '2363-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 2363-0.txt | 2382 |
1 files changed, 2382 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/2363-0.txt b/2363-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bb2ca8 --- /dev/null +++ b/2363-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2382 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Incognita, by William Congreve + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Incognita + or, Love & Duty Reconcil’d. A Novel + +Author: William Congreve + +Release Date: October, 2000 [eBook #2363] +[Most recently updated: January 31, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: David Price + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INCOGNITA *** + + + + +Incognita: or, Love & Duty Reconcil’d. +A Novel + +by William Congreve + + + + +TO THE +Honoured and Worthily Esteem’d +Mrs. _Katharine Leveson_. + + +_Madam_, + +A Clear Wit, sound Judgment and a Merciful Disposition, are things so +rarely united, that it is almost inexcusable to entertain them with any +thing less excellent in its kind. My knowledge of you were a sufficient +Caution to me, to avoid your Censure of this Trifle, had I not as +intire a knowledge of your Goodness. Since I have drawn my Pen for a +Rencounter, I think it better to engage where, though there be Skill +enough to Disarm me, there is too much Generosity to Wound; for so +shall I have the saving Reputation of an unsuccessful Courage, if I +cannot make it a drawn Battle. But methinks the Comparison intimates +something of a Defiance, and savours of Arrogance; wherefore since I am +Conscious to my self of a Fear which I cannot put off, let me use the +Policy of Cowards and lay this Novel unarm’d, naked and shivering at +your Feet, so that if it should want Merit to challenge Protection, +yet, as an Object of Charity, it may move Compassion. It has been some +Diversion to me to Write it, I wish it may prove such to you when you +have an hour to throw away in Reading of it: but this Satisfaction I +have at least beforehand, that in its greatest failings it may fly for +Pardon to that Indulgence which you owe to the weakness of your Friend; +a Title which I am proud you have thought me worthy of, and which I +think can alone be superior to that + +_Your most Humble and_ +_Obliged Servant_ +CLEOPHIL. + + + + +THE PREFACE TO THE READER. + + +Reader, + +Some Authors are so fond of a Preface, that they will write one tho’ +there be nothing more in it than an Apology for its self. But to show +thee that I am not one of those, I will make no Apology for this, but +do tell thee that I think it necessary to be prefix’d to this Trifle, +to prevent thy overlooking some little pains which I have taken in the +Composition of the following Story. Romances are generally composed of +the Constant Loves and invincible Courages of Hero’s, Heroins, Kings +and Queens, Mortals of the first Rank, and so forth; where lofty +Language, miraculous Contingencies and impossible Performances, elevate +and surprize the Reader into a giddy Delight, which leaves him flat +upon the Ground whenever he gives of, and vexes him to think how he has +suffer’d himself to be pleased and transported, concern’d and afflicted +at the several Passages which he has Read, viz. these Knights Success +to their Damosels Misfortunes, and such like, when he is forced to be +very well convinced that ’tis all a lye. Novels are of a more familiar +nature; Come near us, and represent to us Intrigues in practice, +delight us with Accidents and odd Events, but not such as are wholly +unusual or unpresidented, such which not being so distant from our +Belief bring also the pleasure nearer us. Romances give more of Wonder, +Novels more Delight. And with reverence be it spoken, and the Parallel +kept at due distance, there is something of equality in the Proportion +which they bear in reference to one another, with that betwen Comedy +and Tragedy; but the Drama is the long extracted from Romance and +History: ’tis the Midwife to Industry, and brings forth alive the +Conceptions of the Brain. Minerva walks upon the Stage before us, and +we are more assured of the real presence of Wit when it is delivered +viva voce— + +Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem, +Quam quæ sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus, & quæ +Ipse sibi tradit spectator.—Horace. + + +Since all Traditions must indisputably give place to the Drama, and +since there is no possibility of giving that life to the Writing or +Repetition of a Story which it has in the Action, I resolved in another +beauty to imitate Dramatick Writing, namely, in the Design, Contexture +and Result of the Plot. I have not observed it before in a Novel. Some +I have seen begin with an unexpected accident, which has been the only +surprizing part of the Story, cause enough to make the Sequel look +flat, tedious and insipid; for ’tis but reasonable the Reader should +expect it not to rise, at least to keep upon a level in the +entertainment; for so he may be kept on in hopes that at some time or +other it may mend; but the ’tother is such a balk to a Man, ’tis +carrying him up stairs to show him the Dining-Room, and after forcing +him to make a Meal in the Kitchin. This I have not only endeavoured to +avoid, but also have used a method for the contrary purpose. The design +of the Novel is obvious, after the first meeting of Aurelian and +Hippolito with Incognita and Leonora, and the difficulty is in bringing +it to pass, maugre all apparent obstacles, within the compass of two +days. How many probable Casualties intervene in opposition to the main +Design, viz. of marrying two Couple so oddly engaged in an intricate +Amour, I leave the Reader at his leisure to consider: As also whether +every Obstacle does not in the progress of the Story act as subservient +to that purpose, which at first it seems to oppose. In a Comedy this +would be called the Unity of Action; here it may pretend to no more +than an Unity of Contrivance. The Scene is continued in Florence from +the commencement of the Amour; and the time from first to last is but +three days. If there be any thing more in particular resembling the +Copy which I imitate (as the Curious Reader will soon perceive) I leave +it to show it self, being very well satisfy’d how much more proper it +had been for him to have found out this himself, than for me to +prepossess him with an Opinion of something extraordinary in an Essay +began and finished in the idler hours of a fortnight’s time: for I can +only esteem it a laborious idleness, which is Parent to so +inconsiderable a Birth. I have gratified the Bookseller in pretending +an occasion for a Preface; the other two Persons concern’d are the +Reader and my self, and if he be but pleased with what was produced for +that end, my satisfaction follows of course, since it will be +proportion’d to his Approbation or Dislike. + + + + +INCOGNITA: +OR, +Love & Duty +RECONCIL’D + + +Aurelian was the only Son to a Principal Gentleman of Florence. The +Indulgence of his Father prompted, and his Wealth enabled him, to +bestow a generous Education upon him, whom, he now began to look upon +as the Type of himself; an Impression he had made in the Gayety and +Vigour of his Youth, before the Rust of Age had debilitated and +obscur’d the Splendour of the Original: He was sensible, That he ought +not to be sparing in the Adornment of him, if he had Resolution to +beautifie his own Memory. Indeed Don Fabio (for so was the Old +Gentleman call’d) has been observ’d to have fix’d his Eyes upon +Aurelian, when much Company has been at Table, and have wept through +Earnestness of Intention, if nothing hapned to divert the Object; +whether it were for regret, at the Recollection of his former self, or +for the Joy he conceiv’d in being, as it were, reviv’d in the Person of +his Son, I never took upon me to enquire, but suppos’d it might be +sometimes one, and sometimes both together. + +Aurelian, at the Age of Eighteen Years, wanted nothing (but a Beard) +that the most accomplished Cavalier in Florence could pretend to: he +had been Educated from Twelve Years old at Siena, where it seems his +Father kept a Receiver, having a large Income from the Rents of several +Houses in that Town. Don Fabio gave his Servant Orders, That Aurelian +should not be stinted in his Expences, when he came up to Years of +Discretion. By which means he was enabled, not only to keep Company +with, but also to confer many Obligations upon Strangers of Quality, +and Gentlemen who travelled from other Countries into Italy, of which +Siena never wanted store, being a Town most delightfully Situate, upon +a Noble Hill, and very well suiting with Strangers at first, by reason +of the agreeableness and purity of the Air: There also is the +quaintness and delicacy of the Italian Tongue most likely to be +learned, there being many publick Professors of it in that place; and +indeed the very Vulgar of Siena do express themselves with an easiness +and sweetness surprizing, and even grateful to their Ears who +understand not the Language. + +Here Aurelian contracted an acquaintance with Persons of Worth of +several Countries, but among the rest an intimacy with a Gentleman of +Quality of Spain, and Nephew to the Archbishop of Toledo, who had so +wrought himself into the Affections of Aurelian, through a Conformity +of Temper, an Equality in Years, and something of resemblance in +Feature and Proportion, that he look’d upon him as his second self. +Hippolito, on the other hand, was not ungrateful in return of +Friendship, but thought himself either alone or in ill Company, if +Aurelian were absent: but his Uncle having sent him to travel, under +the Conduct of a Governour, and the two Years which limited his stay at +Siena being expired, he was put in mind of his departure. His Friend +grew melancholy at the News, but considering that Hippolito had never +seen Florence, he easily prevailed with him to make his first journey +thither, whither he would accompany him, and perhaps prevail with his +Father to do the like throughout his Travels. + +They accordingly set out, but not being able easily to reach Florence +the same Night, they rested a League or two short, at a Villa of the +great Duke’s called Poggio Imperiale, where they were informed by some +of his Highness’s Servants, That the Nuptials of Donna Catharina (near +Kinswoman to the great Duke) and Don Ferdinand de Rovori, were to be +solemnized the next day, and that extraordinary Preparations had been +making for some time past, to illustrate the Solemnity with Balls and +Masques, and other Divertisements; that a Tilting had been proclaimed, +and to that purpose Scaffolds erected around the Spacious Court, before +the Church Di Santa Croce, where were usually seen all Cavalcades and +Shews, performed by Assemblies of the Young Nobility: That all +Mechanicks and Tradesmen were forbidden to work or expose any Goods to +Sale for the space of three days; during which time all Persons should +be entertain’d at the Great Duke’s Cost; and publick Provision was to +be made for the setting forth and furnishing a multitude of Tables, +with Entertainment for all Comers and Goers, and several Houses +appointed for that use in all Streets. + +This Account alarm’d the Spirits of our Young Travellers, and they were +overjoy’d at the prospect of Pleasures they foresaw. Aurelian could not +contain the satisfaction he conceiv’d in the welcome Fortune had +prepar’d for his dear Hippolito. In short, they both remembred so much +of the pleasing Relation had been made them, that they forgot to sleep, +and were up as soon as it was light, pounding at poor Signior Claudio’s +Door (so was Hippolito’s Governour call’d) to rouse him, that no time +might be lost till they were arriv’d at Florence, where they would +furnish themselves with Disguises and other Accoutrements necessary for +the Prosecution of their Design of sharing in the publick Merriment; +the rather were they for going so early because Aurelian did not think +fit to publish his being in Town for a time, least his Father knowing +of it, might give some restraint to that loose they designed +themselves. + +Before Sun rise they entred Florence at Porta Romana, attended only by +two Servants, the rest being left behind to avoid notice; but, alas! +they needed not to have used half that caution; for early as it was, +the Streets were crowded with all sorts of People passing to and fro, +and every Man employ’d in something relating to the Diversions to come; +so that no notice was taken of any body; a Marquess and his Train might +have pass’d by as unregarded as a single Fachin or Cobler. Not a Window +in the Streets but echoed the tuning of a Lute or thrumming of a +Gitarr: for, by the way, the Inhabitants of Florence are strangely +addicted to the love of Musick, insomuch that scarce their Children can +go, before they can scratch some Instrument or other. It was no +unpleasing Spectacle to our Cavaliers (who, seeing they were not +observ’d, resolved to make Observations) to behold the Diversity of +Figures and Postures of many of these Musicians. Here you should have +an affected Vallet, who Mimick’d the Behaviour of his Master, leaning +carelessly against the Window, with his Head on one side, in a +languishing Posture, whining, in a low, mournful Voice, some dismal +Complaint; while, from his sympathizing Theorbo, issued a Base no less +doleful to the Hearers. In Opposition to him was set up perhaps a +Cobler, with the wretched Skeleton of a Gitarr, battered and waxed +together by his own Industry, and who with three Strings out of Tune, +and his own tearing hoarse Voice, would rack attention from the +Neighbourhood, to the great affliction of many more moderate +Practitioners, who, no doubt, were full as desirous to be heard. By +this time Aurelian’s Servant had taken a Lodging and was returned, to +give his Master an Account of it. The Cavaliers grown weary of that +ridiculous Entertainment, which was diverting at first sight, retired +whither the Lacquey conducted them; who, according to their Directions, +had sought out one of the most obscure Streets in the City. All that +day, to the evening, was spent in sending from one Brokers Shop to +another, to furnish them with Habits, since they had not time to make +any new. + +There was, it happened, but one to be got Rich enough to please our +young Gentlemen, so many were taken up upon this occasion. While they +were in Dispute and Complementing one another, (Aurelian protesting +that Hippolito should wear it, and he, on ’tother hand, forswearing it +as bitterly) a Servant of Hippolito’s came up and ended the +Controversie; telling them, That he had met below with the Vallet de +Chambre of a Gentleman, who was one of the greatest Gallants about the +Town, but was at this time in such a condition he could not possibly be +at the Entertainment; whereupon the Vallet had designed to dress +himself up in his Master’s Apparel, and try his talent at Court; which +he hearing, told him he would inform him how he might bestow the Habit +for some time much more to his profit if not to his pleasure, so +acquainted him with the occasion his Master had for it. Hippolito sent +for the Fellow up, who was not so fond of his design as not to be +bought off it, but upon having his own demand granted for the use of +it, brought it; it was very Rich, and upon tryal, as fit for Hippolito +as if it had been made for him. The Ceremony was performed in the +Morning, in the great Dome, with all magnificence correspondent to the +wealth of the great Duke, and the esteem he had for the Noble Pair. The +next Morning was to be a Tilting, and the same Night a Masquing Ball at +Court. To omit the Description of the universal Joy, (that had diffus’d +it self through all the Conduits of Wine, which convey’d it in large +measures to the People) and only relate those effects of it which +concern our present Adventurers. You must know, that about the fall of +the Evening, and at that time when the _æquilibrium_ of Day and Night, +for some time, holds the Air in a gloomy suspence between an +unwillingness to leave the light, and a natural impulse into the +Dominion of darkness, about this time our Hero’s, shall I say, sally’d +or slunk out of their Lodgings, and steer’d toward the great Palace, +whither, before they were arrived, such a prodigious number of Torches +were on fire, that the day, by help of these Auxiliary Forces, seem’d +to continue its Dominion; the Owls and Bats apprehending their mistake, +in counting the hours, retir’d again to a convenient darkness; for +Madam Night was no more to be seen than she was to be heard; and the +Chymists were of Opinion, That her fuliginous Damps, rarefy’d by the +abundance of Flame, were evaporated. + +Now the Reader I suppose to be upon Thorns at this and the like +impertinent Digressions, but let him alone and he’ll come to himself; +at which time I think fit to acquaint him, that when I digress, I am at +that time writing to please my self, when I continue the Thread of the +Story, I write to please him; supposing him a reasonable Man, I +conclude him satisfied to allow me this liberty, and so I proceed. + +If our Cavaliers were dazled at the splendour they beheld without +doors, what surprize, think you, must they be in, when entering the +Palace they found even the lights there to be but so many foils to the +bright eyes that flash’d upon ’em at every turn. + +A more glorious Troop no occasion ever assembled; all the fair of +Florence, with the most accomplished Cavaliers, were present; and +however Nature had been partial in bestowing on some better Faces than +others, Art was alike indulgent to all, and industriously supplyed +those Defects she had left, giving some Addition also to her greatest +Excellencies. Every body appear’d well shap’d, as it is to be suppos’d, +none who were conscious to themselves of any visible Deformity would +presume to come thither. Their Apparel was equally glorious, though +each differing in fancy. In short, our Strangers were so well bred, as +to conclude from these apparent Perfections, that there was not a +Masque which did not at least hide the Face of a Cherubim. Perhaps the +Ladies were not behind hand in return of a favourable Opinion of them: +for they were both well dress’d, and had something inexpressibly +pleasing in their Air and Mien, different from other People, and indeed +differing from one another. They fansy’d that while they stood together +they were more particularly taken notice of than any in the Room, and +being unwilling to be taken for Strangers, which they thought they +were, by reason of some whispering they observed near them, they agreed +upon an hour of meeting after the company should be broke up, and so +separately mingled with the thickest of the Assembly. Aurelian had +fixed his eye upon a Lady whom he had observ’d to have been a +considerable time in close whisper with another Woman; he expected with +great impatience the result of that private Conference, that he might +have an opportunity of engaging the Lady whose Person was so agreeable +to him. At last he perceived they were broke off, and the ’tother Lady +seem’d to have taken her leave. He had taken no small pains in the mean +time to put himself in a posture to accost the Lady, which, no doubt, +he had happily performed had he not been interrupted; but scarce had he +acquitted himself of a preliminary bow (and which, I have heard him +say, was the lowest that ever he made) and had just opened his Lips to +deliver himself of a small Complement, which, nevertheless he was very +big with, when he unluckily miscarried, by the interposal of the same +Lady, whose departure, not long before, he had so zealously pray’d for: +but, as Providence would have it, there was only some very small matter +forgot, which was recovered in a short whisper. The Coast being again +cleared, he took heart and bore up, and, striking sail, repeated his +Ceremony to the Lady; who, having Obligingly returned it, he accosted +her in these or the like words: + +‘If I do not usurp a priviledge reserved for some one more happy in +your acquaintance, may I presume, Madam, to entreat (for a while) the +favour of your Conversation, at least till the arrival of whom you +expect, provided you are not tired of me before; for then upon the +least intimation of uneasiness, I will not fail of doing my self the +violence to withdraw for your release. The Lady made him answer, she +did not expect any body; by which he might imagine her Conversation not +of value to be bespoke, and to afford it him, were but farther to +convince him to her own cost. He reply’d, ‘She had already said enough +to convince him of something he heartily wished might not be to his +cost in the end. She pretended not to understand him; but told him, ‘If +he already found himself grieved with her Conversation, he would have +sufficient reason to repent the rashness of his first Demand before +they had ended: for that now she intended to hold discourse with him, +on purpose to punish his unadvisedness, in presuming upon a Person +whose dress and mien might not (may be) be disagreeable to have wit. ‘I +must confess (reply’d Aurelian) my self guilty of a Presumption, and +willingly submit to the punishment you intend: and though it be an +aggravation of a Crime to persevere in its justification, yet I cannot +help defending an Opinion in which now I am more confirm’d, that +probable conjectures may be made of the ingenious Disposition of the +Mind, from the fancy and choice of Apparel. The humour I grant ye (said +the Lady) or constitution of the Person whether melancholick or brisk; +but I should hardly pass my censure upon so slight an indication of +wit: for there is your brisk fool as well as your brisk man of sense, +and so of the melancholick. I confess ’tis possible a fool may reveal +himself by his Dress, in wearing something extravagantly singular and +ridiculous, or in preposterous suiting of colours; but a decency of +Habit (which is all that Men of best sense pretend to) may be acquired +by custom and example, without putting the Person to a superfluous +expence of wit for the contrivance; and though there should be occasion +for it, few are so unfortunate in their Relations and Acquaintance not +to have some Friend capable of giving them advice, if they are not too +ignorantly conceited to ask it. Aurelian was so pleased with the +easiness and smartness of her Expostulation, that he forgot to make a +reply, when she seem’d to expect it; but being a Woman of a quick +Apprehension, and justly sensible of her own perfections, she soon +perceived he did not grudge his attention. However she had a mind to +put it upon him to turn the discourse, so went on upon the same +Subject. ‘Signior (said she) I have been looking round me, and by your +Maxim I cannot discover one fool in the Company; for they are all well +drest. This was spoken with an Air of Rallery that awakened the +Cavalier, who immediately made answer: ’Tis true, Madam, we see there +may be as much variety of good fancies as of faces, yet there may be +many of both kinds borrowed and adulterate if inquired into; and as you +were pleased to observe, the invention may be Foreign to the Person who +puts it in practice; and as good an Opinion as I have of an agreeable +Dress, I should be loth to answer for the wit of all about us. I +believe you (says the Lady) and hope you are convinced of your error, +since you must allow it impossible to tell who of all this Assembly did +or did not make choice of their own Apparel. Not all (said Aurelian) +there is an ungainness in some which betrays them. ‘Look ye there (says +he) pointing to a Lady who stood playing with the Tassels of her +Girdle, I dare answer for that Lady, though she be very well dress’d, +’tis more than she knows. His fair unknown could not forbear laughing +at his particular distinction, and freely told him, he had indeed light +upon one who knew as little as any body in the Room, her self excepted. +Ah! Madam, (reply’d Aurelian) you know every thing in the World but +your own Perfections, and you only know not those because ’tis the top +of Perfection not to know them. How? (reply’d the Lady) I thought it +had been the extremity of knowledge to know ones self. Aurelian had a +little over-strain’d himself in that Complement, and I am of Opinion +would have been puzzl’d to have brought himself off readily: but by +good fortune the Musick came into the Room and gave him an opportunity +to seem to decline an answer, because the company prepared to dance: he +only told her he was too mean a Conquest for her wit who was already a +Slave to the Charms of her Person. She thanked him for his Complement, +and briskly told him she ought to have made him a return in praise of +his wit, but she hoped he was a Man more happy than to be dissatisfy’d +with any of his own Endowments; and if it were so, that he had not a +just Opinion of himself, she knew her self incapable of saying any +thing to beget one. Aurelian did not know well what to make of this +last reply; for he always abhor’d any thing that was conceited, with +which this seem’d to reproach him. But however modest he had been +heretofore in his own thoughts, yet never was he so distrustful of his +good behaviour as now, being rally’d so by a Person whom he took to be +of judgment: Yet he resolved to take no notice, but with an Air +unconcerned and full of good humour entreated her to Dance with him: +She promised him to Dance with no body else, nor I believe had she +inclination; for notwithstanding her tartness, she was upon equal terms +with him as to the liking of each others Person and Humour, and only +gave those little hints to try his Temper; there being certainly no +greater sign of folly and ill breeding, than to grow serious and +concerned at any thing spoken in rallery: for his part, he was +strangely and insensibly fallen in love with her Shape, Wit and Air; +which, together with a white Hand, he had seen (perhaps not +accidentally) were enough to have subdued a more stubborn Heart than +ever he was master of; and for her Face, which he had not seen, he +bestowed upon her the best his Imagination could furnish him with. I +should by right now describe her Dress, which was extreamly agreeable +and rich, but ’tis possible I might err in some material Pin or other, +in the sticking of which may be the whole grace of the Drapery +depended. Well, they danced several times together, and no less to the +satisfaction of the whole Company, than of themselves; for at the end +of each Dance, some publick note of Applause or other was given to the +graceful Couple. + +Aurelian was amaz’d, that among all that danced or stood in view he +could not see Hippolito; but concluding that he had met with some +pleasing Conversation, and was withdrawn to some retired part of the +Room, he forbore his search till the mirth of that Night should be +over, and the Company ready to break up, where we will leave him for a +while, to see what became of his adventurous Friend. + +Hippolito, a little after he had parted with Aurelian, was got among a +knot of Ladies and Cavaliers, who were looking upon a large Gold Cup +set with Jewels, in which his Royal Highness had drank to the +prosperity of the new married Couple at Dinner, and which afterward he +presented to his Cousin Donna Catharina. He among the rest was very +intent, admiring the richness, workmanship and beauty of the Cup, when +a Lady came behind him and pulling him by the Elbow, made a sign she +would speak with him; Hippolito, who knew himself an utter Stranger to +Florence and every body in it, immediately guessed she had mistaken him +for her acquaintance, as indeed it happened; however he resolved not to +discover himself till he should be assured of it; having followed her +into a set Window remote from Company, she address’d her self to him in +this manner: ‘Signior Don Lorenzo (said she) I am overjoy’d to see you +are so speedily recovered of your Wounds, which by report were much +more dangerous than to have suffered your coming abroad so soon; but I +must accuse you of great indiscretion, in appearing in a Habit which so +many must needs remember you to have worn upon the like occasion not +long ago, I mean at the Marriage of Don Cynthio with your Sister +Atalanta; I do assure you, you were known by it, both to Juliana and my +self, who was so far concerned for you, as to desire me to tell you, +that her Brother Don Fabritio (who saw you when you came in with +another Gentleman) had eyed you very narrowly, and is since gone out of +the Room, she knows not upon what design; however she would have you, +for your own sake, be advised and circumspect when you depart this +place, lest you should be set upon unawares; you know the hatred Don +Fabritio has born you ever since you had the fortune to kill his +Kinsman in a Duel: Here she paused as if expecting his reply; but +Hippolito was so confounded, that he stood mute, and contemplating the +hazard he had ignorantly brought himself into, forgot his design of +informing the Lady of her mistake. She finding he made her no Answer, +went on. ‘I perceive (continued she) you are in some surprize at what I +have related, and may be, are doubtful of the Truth; but I thought you +had been better acquainted with your Cousin Leonora’s Voice, than to +have forgot it so soon: Yet in Complaisance to your ill Memory, I will +put you past doubt, by shewing you my Face; with that she pulled off +her Mask, and discovered to Hippolito (now more amaz’d than ever) the +most Angelick Face that he had ever beheld. He was just about to have +made her some answer, when, clapping on her Mask again without giving +him time, she happily for him pursu’d her Discourse. (For ’tis odds but +he had made some discovery of himself in the surprize he was in.) +Having taken him familiarly by the Hand, now she had made her self +known to him, ‘Cousin Lorenzo (added she) you may perhaps have taken it +unkindly, that, during the time of your indisposition by reason of your +Wounds, I have not been to visit you; I do assure you it was not for +want of any Inclination I had both to see and serve you to my power; +but you are well acquainted with the Severity of my Father, whom you +know how lately you have disobliged. I am mighty glad that I have met +with you here, where I have had an Opportunity to tell you what so much +concerns your Safety, which I am afraid you will not find in Florence; +considering the great Power Don Fabritio and his Father, the Marquess +of Viterbo, have in this City. I have another thing to inform you of, +That whereas Don Fabio had interested himself in your Cause, in +Opposition to the Marquess of Viterbo, by reason of the long Animosity +between them, all hopes of his Countenance and Assistance are defeated: +For there has been a Proposal of Reconciliation made to both Houses, +and it is said it will be confirm’d (as most such ancient Quarrels are +at last) by the Marriage of Juliana the Marquess’s Daughter, with +Aurelian, Son to Don Fabio: to which effect the old Gentleman sent +’tother Day to Siena, where Aurelian has been Educated, to hasten his +coming to Town; but the Messenger returning this Morning, brought word, +That the same day he arriv’d at Siena, Aurelian had set out for +Florence, in Company with a young Spanish Nobleman, his intimate +Friend; so it is believ’d, they are both in Town, and not unlikely in +this Room in Masquerade. + +Hippolito could not forbear smiling to himself, at these last words. +For ever since the naming of Don Fabio he had been very attentive; but +before, his Thoughts were wholly taken up with the Beauty of the Face +he had seen, and from the time she had taken him by the Hand, a +successive warmth and chillness had play’d about his Heart, and +surpriz’d him with an unusual Transport. He was in a hundred Minds, +whether he should make her sensible of her Error or no; but considering +he could expect no farther Conference with her after he should discover +himself, and that as yet he knew not of her place of abode, he resolv’d +to humour the mistake a little further. Having her still by the Hand, +which he squeez’d somewhat more eagerly than is usual for Cousins to +do, in a low and undistinguishable Voice, he let her know how much he +held himself obliged to her, and avoiding as many words as handsomely +he could, at the same time, entreated her to give him her Advice, +toward the management of himself in this Affair. Leonora, who never +from the beginning had entertain’d the least Scruple of distrust, +imagined he spoke faintly, as not being yet perfectly recovered in his +strength; and withal considering that the heat of the Room, by reason +of the Crowd, might be uneasie to a Person in his Condition; she kindly +told him, That if he were as inclinable to dispense with the remainder +of that Nights Diversion as she was, and had no other engagement upon +him, by her consent they should both steal out of the Assembly, and go +to her House, where they might with more freedom discourse about a +business of that importance, and where he might take something to +refresh himself if he were (as she conceiv’d him to be) indisposed with +his long standing. Judge you whether the Proposal were acceptable to +Hippolito or no; he had been ruminating with himself how to bring +something like this about, and had almost despair’d of it; when of a +suddain he found the success of his design had prevented his own +endeavours. He told his Cousin in the same key as before, That he was +unwilling to be the occasion of her Divorce from so much good Company; +but for his own part, he was afraid he had presumed too much upon his +recovery in coming abroad so soon, and that he found himself so unwell, +he feared he should be quickly forc’d to retire. Leonora stay’d not to +make him any other reply, only tipp’d him upon the Arm, and bid him +follow her at a convenient distance to avoid Observation. + +Whoever had seen the Joy that was in Hippolito’s Countenance, and the +Sprightliness with which he follow’d his Beautiful Conductress, would +scarce have taken him for a Person griev’d with uncured Wounds. She led +him down a back pair of Stairs, into one of the Palace Gardens which +had a Door opening into the Piazza, not far from where Don Mario her +Father lived. They had little Discourse by the way, which gave +Hippolito time to consider of the best way of discovering himself. A +thousand things came into his Head in a minute, yet nothing that +pleased him: and after so many Contrivances as he had formed for the +discovery of himself, he found it more rational for him not to reveal +himself at all that Night, since he could not foresee what effect the +surprize would have, she must needs be in, at the appearance of a +Stranger, whom she had never seen before, yet whom she had treated so +familiarly. He knew Women were apt to shriek or swoon upon such +Occasions, and should she happen to do either, he might be at a loss +how to bring himself off. He thought he might easily pretend to be +indisposed somewhat more than ordinary, and so make an excuse to go to +his own Lodging. It came into his Head too, that under pretence of +giving her an account of his Health, he might enquire of her the means +how a Letter might be convey’d to her the next morning, wherein he +might inform her gently of her mistake, and insinuate something of that +Passion he had conceiv’d, which he was sure he could not have +opportunity to speak of if he bluntly revealed himself. He had just +resolv’d upon this Method, as they were come to the great Gates of the +Court, when Leonora stopping to let him go in before her, he of a +suddain fetch’d his Breath violently as if some stitch or twinging +smart had just then assaulted him. She enquired the matter of him, and +advised him to make haste into the House that he might sit down and +rest him. He told her he found himself so ill, that he judged it more +convenient for him to go home while he was in a condition to move, for +he fear’d if he should once settle himself to rest he might not be able +to stir. She was much troubled, and would have had a Chair made ready +and Servants to carry him home; but he made answer, he would not have +any of her Fathers Servants know of his being abroad, and that just now +he had an interval of ease, which he hop’d would continue till he made +a shift to reach his own Lodgings. Yet if she pleased to inform him how +he might give an account of himself the next morning, in a line or two, +he would not fail to give her the thanks due to her great kindness; and +withal, would let her know something which would not a little surprize +her, though now he had not time to acquaint her with it. She show’d him +a little Window at the corner of the House, where one should wait to +receive his Letter, and was just taking her leave of him, when seeing +him search hastily in his Pocket, she ask’d him if he miss’d any thing; +he told her he thought a Wound which was not throughly heal’d bled a +little, and that he had lost his Handkerchief. His design took; for she +immediately gave him hers: which indeed accordingly he apply’d to the +only wound he was then griev’d with; which though it went quite through +his Heart, yet thank God was not Mortal. He was not a little rejoyc’d +at his good Fortune in getting so early a Favour from his Mistress, and +notwithstanding the violence he did himself to personate a sick Man, he +could not forbear giving some Symptoms of an extraordinary content; and +telling her that he did not doubt to receive a considerable Proportion +of ease from the Application of what had so often kiss’d her fair Hand. +Leonora who did not suspect the Compliment, told him she should be +heartily glad if that or any thing in her power might contribute to his +recovery; and wishing him well home, went into her House, as much +troubled for her Cousin as he was joyful for his Mistress. + +Hippolito as soon as she was gone in, began to make his Remarks about +the House, walking round the great Court, viewing the Gardens and all +the Passages leading to that side of the Piazza. Having sufficiently +informed himself, with a Heart full of Love, and a Head full of +Stratagem, he walked toward his Lodging, impatient till the arrival of +Aurelian that he might give himself vent. In which interim, let me take +the liberty to digress a little, and tell the Reader something which I +do not doubt he has apprehended himself long ago, if he be not the +dullest Reader in the World; yet only for orders sake, let me tell him +I say, That a young Gentleman (Cousin to the aforesaid Don Fabritio) +happened one night to have some words at a Gameing House with one +Lorenzo, which created a Quarrel of fatal Consequence to the former, +who was killed upon the Spot, and likely to be so to the latter, who +was very desperately wounded. + +Fabritio being much concerned for his Kinsman, vow’d revenge (according +to the ancient and laudable custom of Italy) upon Lorenzo if he +surviv’d, or in case of his death (if it should happen to anticipate +that, much more swinging Death which he had in store for him) upon his +next of Kin, and so to descend Lineally like an English Estate, to all +the Heirs Males of this Family. This same Fabritio had indeed (as +Leonora told Hippolito) taken particular notice of him from his first +entrance into the Room, and was so far doubtful as to go out +immediately himself, and make enquiry concerning Lorenzo, but was +quickly inform’d of the greatness of his Error, in believing a Man to +be abroad, who was so ill of his Wounds, that they now despair’d of his +recovery; and thereupon return’d to the Ball very well satisfied, but +not before Leonora and Hippolito were departed. + +So, Reader, having now discharg’d my Conscience of a small Discovery +which I thought my self obliged to make to Thee, I proceed to tell +thee, that our Friend Aurelian had by this time danced himself into a +Net which he neither could, nor which is worse desired to untangle. + +His Soul was charm’d to the movement of her Body: an Air so graceful, +so sweet, so easie and so great, he had never seen. She had something +of Majesty in her, which appear’d to be born with her; and though it +struck an awe into the Beholders, yet was it sweetned with a +familiarity of Behaviour, which rendred it agreeable to every Body. The +grandeur of her Mien was not stiff, but unstudied and unforced, mixed +with a simplicity; free, yet not loose nor affected. If the former +seem’d to condescend, the latter seem’d to aspire; and both to unite in +the centre of Perfection. Every turn she gave in dancing snatcht +Aurelian into a Rapture, and he had like to have been out two or three +times with following his Eyes, which she led about as Slaves to her +Heels. + +As soon as they had done dancing, he began to complain of his want of +Breath and Lungs, to speak sufficiently in her Commendation; She +smilingly told him, he did ill to dance so much then: Yet in +Consideration of the pains he had taken more than ordinary upon her +account she would bate him a great deal of Complement, but with this +Proviso, That he was to discover to her who he was. Aurelian was +unwilling for the present to own himself to be really the Man he was; +when a suddain thought came into his Head to take upon him the Name and +Character of Hippolito, who he was sure was not known in Florence. He +thereupon, after a little pause, pretended to recal himself in this +manner: ‘Madam, it is no small demonstration of the entire Resignation +which I have made of my Heart to your Chains, since the secrets of it +are no longer in my power. I confess I only took Florence in my way, +not designing any longer Residence, than should be requisite to inform +the Curiosity of a Traveller, of the rareties of the Place. Whether +Happiness or Misery will be the Consequence of that Curiosity, I am yet +in fear, and submit to your Determination; but sure I am, not to depart +Florence till you have made me the most miserable Man in it, and refuse +me the fatal Kindness of Dying at your Feet. I am by Birth a Spaniard, +of the City of Toledo; my name Hippolito di Saviolina: I was yesterday +a Man free, as Nature made the first; to day I am fallen into a +Captivity, which must continue with my Life, and which, it is in your +power, to make much dearer to me. Thus in obedience to your Commands, +and contrary to my Resolution of remaining unknown in this place, I +have inform’d you, Madam, what I am; what I shall be, I desire to know +from you; at least, I hope, the free discovery I have made of my self, +will encourage you to trust me with the knowledge of your Person. + +Here a low bow, and a deep sigh, put an end to his Discourse, and +signified his Expectation of her Reply, which was to this purpose—(But +I had forgot to tell you, That Aurelian kept off his Mask from the time +that he told her he was of Spain, till the period of his Relation.) Had +I thought (said she) that my Curiosity would have brought me in debt, I +should certainly have forborn it; or at least have agreed with you +before hand about the rate of your discovery, then I had not brought my +self to the Inconveniency of being censur’d, either of too much +easiness or reservedness; but to avoid, as much as I can, the +extreamity of either, I am resolv’d but to discover my self in part, +and will endeavour to give you as little occasion as I can, either to +boast of, or ridicule the Behaviour of the Women of Florence in your +Travels. + +Aurelian interrupted her, and swore very solemnly (and the more +heartily, I believe, because he then indeed spoke truth) that he would +make Florence the place of his abode, whatever concerns he had +elsewhere. She advised him to be cautious how he swore to his +Expressions of Gallantry; and farther told him she now hoped she should +make him a return to all the Fine Things he had said, since she gave +him his choice whether he would know who she was, or see her Face. + +Aurelian who was really in Love, and in whom Consideration would have +been a Crime, greedily embrac’d the latter, since she assured him at +that time he should not know both. Well, what follow’d? Why, she pull’d +off her Mask, and appear’d to him at once in the Glory of Beauty. But +who can tell the astonishment Aurelian felt? He was for a time +senseless; Admiration had suppress’d his Speech, and his Eyes were +entangled in Light. In short, to be made sensible of his condition, we +must conceive some Idea of what he beheld, which is not to be imagined +till seen, nor then to be express’d. Now see the impertinence and +conceitedness of an Author, who will have a fling at a Description, +which he has Prefaced with an impossibility. One might have seen +something in her Composition resembling the Formation of Epicurus his +World, as if every Atome of Beauty had concurr’d to unite an +excellency. Had that curious Painter lived in her days, he might have +avoided his painful search, when he collected from the choicest pieces +the most choice Features, and by a due Disposition and Judicious +Symmetry of those exquisite parts, made one whole and perfect Venus. +Nature seem’d here to have play’d the Plagiary, and to have molded into +Substance the most refined Thoughts of inspired Poets. Her Eyes +diffus’d Rays comfortable as warmth, and piercing as the light; they +would have worked a passage through the straightest Pores, and with a +delicious heat, have play’d about the most obdurate frozen Heart, +untill ’twere melted down to Love. Such Majesty and Affability were in +her Looks; so alluring, yet commanding was her Presence, that it minged +awe with love; kindling a Flame which trembled to aspire. She had +danced much, which, together with her being close masked, gave her a +tincture of Carnation more than ordinary. But Aurelian (from whom I had +every tittle of her Description) fancy’d he saw a little Nest of Cupids +break from the Tresses of her Hair, and every one officiously betake +himself to his task. Some fann’d with their downy Wings, her glowing +Cheeks; while others brush’d the balmy Dew from off her Face, leaving +alone a heavenly Moisture blubbing on her Lips, on which they drank and +revell’d for their pains; Nay, so particular were their allotments in +her service, that Aurelian was very positive a young Cupid who was but +just Pen-feather’d, employ’d his naked Quills to pick her Teeth. And a +thousand other things his transport represented to him, which none but +Lovers who have experience of such Visions will believe. + +As soon as he awaked and found his Speech come to him, he employ’d it +to this effect: + +‘’Tis enough that I have seen a Divinity—Nothing but Mercy can inhabit +these Perfections—Their utmost rigour brings a Death preferable to any +Life, but what they give—Use me, Madam, as you please; for by your fair +self, I cannot think a Bliss beyond what now I feel—You wound with +Pleasure, and if you Kill it must be with Transport—Ah! Yet methinks to +live—O Heaven! to have Life pronounced by those Bless’d Lips—Did they +not inspire where they command, it were an immediate Death of Joy. + +Aurelian was growing a little too loud with his Admiration, had she not +just then interrupted him, by clapping on her Masque, and telling him +they should be observed, if he proceeded in his Extravagance; and +withal, that his Passion was too suddain to be real, and too violent to +be lasting. He replied, Indeed it might not be very lasting, (with a +submissive mournful Voice) but it would continue during his Life. That +it was suddain, he denied, for she had raised it by degrees from his +first sight of her, by a continued discovery of Charms, in her Mien and +Conversation, till she thought fit to set Fire to the Train she had +laid, by the Lightning of her Face; and then he could not help it, if +he were blown up. + +He begg’d her to believe the Sincerity of his Passion, at least to +enjoin him something, which might tend to the Convincing of her +Incredulity. She said, she should find a time to make some Trials of +him; but for the first, she charged him not to follow or observe her, +after the Dissolution of the Assembly. He promised to obey, and +entreated her to tell him but her Name, that he might have Recourse to +that in his Affliction for her Absence, if he were able to survive it. +She desired him to live by all means; and if he must have a Name to +play with, to call her Incognita, till he were better informed. + +The Company breaking up, she took her leave, and at his earnest +Entreaty, gave him a short Vision of her Face which, then dress’d in an +obliging smile, caused another fit of Transport, which lasted till she +was gone out of Sight. Aurelian gathered up his Spirits, and walked +slowly towards his Lodging, never remembring that he had lost +Hippolito, till upon turning the Corner of a Street, he heard a noise +of Fighting; and coming near, saw a Man make a vigorous Defence against +two, who pressed violently upon him. He then thought of Hippolito, and +fancying he saw the glimmering of Diamond Buttons, such as Hippolito +had upon the Sleeves of his Habit, immediately drew to his Assistance; +and with that Eagerness and Resolution, that the Assailants, finding +their unmanly odds defeated, took to their Heels. The Person rescued by +the Generous Help of Aurelian, came toward him; but as he would have +stoop’d to have saluted him, dropp’d, fainting at his feet. Aurelian, +now he was so near him, perceiv’d plainly Hippolito’s Habit, and step’d +hastily to take him up. Just as some of the Guards (who were going the +Rounds, apprehensive of such Disorders in an Universal Merriment) came +up to him with Lights, and had taken Prisoners the Two Men, whom they +met with their Sword’s drawn; when looking in the Face of the Wounded +Man, he found it was not Hippolito, but his Governour Claudio, in the +Habit he had worn at the Ball. He was extreamly surpriz’d, as were the +Prisoners, who confess’d their Design to have been upon Lorenzo; +grounding their Mistake upon the Habit which was known to have been +his. They were Two Men who formerly had been Servants to him, whom +Lorenzo had unfortunately slain. + +They made a shift to bring Claudio to himself; and part of the Guard +carrying off the Prisoners, whom Aurelian desired they would secure, +the rest accompanied him bearing Claudio in their Arms to his Lodging. +He had not patience to forbear asking for Hippolito by the Way; whom +Claudio assured him, he had left safe in his Chamber, above Two Hours +since. That his coming Home so long before the Divertisements were +ended, and Undressing himself, had given him the Unhappy Curiosity, to +put on his Habit, and go to the Pallace; in his Return from whence, he +was set upon in the Manner he found him, which if he recovered, he must +own his Life indebted to his timely Assistance. + +Being come to the House, they carried him to his Bed, and having sent +for Surgeons Aurelian rewarded and dismissed the Guard. He stay’d the +dressing of Claudio’s Wounds, which were many, though they hop’d none +Mortal: and leaving him to his Rest, went to give Hippolito an Account +of what had happened, whom he found with a Table before him, leaning +upon both his Elbows, his Face covered with his Hands, and so +motionless, that Aurelian concluded he was asleep; seeing several +Papers lie before him, half written and blotted out again, he thought +to steal softly to the Table, and discover what he had been employed +about. Just as he reach’d forth his Hand to take up one of the Papers, +Hippolito started up so on the suddain, as surpriz’d Aurelian and made +him leap back; Hippolito, on the other hand, not supposing that any +Body had been near him, was so disordered with the Appearance of a Man +at his Elbow, (whom his Amazement did not permit him to distinguish) +that he leap’d hastily to his Sword, and in turning him about, +overthrew the Stand and Candles. Here were they both left in the Dark, +Hippolito groping about with his Sword, and thrusting at every Chair +that he felt oppose him. Aurelian was scarce come to himself, when +thinking to step back toward the Door that he might inform his Friend +of his Mistake, without exposing himself to his blind Fury; Hippolito +heard him stir, and made a full thrust with such Violence, that the +Hilt of the Sword meeting with Aurelian’s Breast beat him down, and +Hippolito a top of him, as a Servant alarm’d with the noise, came into +the Chamber with a Light. The Fellow trembled, and thought they were +both Dead, till Hippolito raising himself, to see whom he had got under +him, swoon’d away upon the discovery of his Friend. But such was the +extraordinary Care of Providence in directing the Sword, that it only +past under his Arm, giving no Wound to Aurelian, but a little Bruise +between his Shoulder and Breast with the Hilt. He got up, scarce +recovered of his Fright, and by the help of the Servant; laid Hippolito +upon the Bed; who when he was come to himself could hardly be +perswaded, that his Friend was before him and alive, till he shew’d him +his Breast, where was nothing of a Wound. Hippolito begg’d his Pardon a +Thousand Times, and curs’d himself as often, who was so near to +committing the most Execrable Act of Amicide. + +They dismiss’d the Fellow, and with many Embraces, congratulated their +fortunate Delivery from the Mischief which came so near them, each +blaming himself as the Occasion: Aurelian accusing his own +unadvisedness in stealing upon Hippolito; Hippolito blaming his own +temerity and weakness, in being so easily frighted to Disorder; and +last of all, his blindness, in not knowing his dearest Friend. But +there he gave a Sigh, and passionately taking Aurelian by the Hand, +cry’d, Ah! my Friend, Love is indeed blind, when it would not suffer me +to see you—There arose another Sigh; a Sympathy seiz’d Aurelian +immediately: (For, by the Way, sighing is as catching among Lovers, as +yawning among the Vulgar.) Beside hearing the Name of Love, made him +fetch such a Sigh, that Hippolito’s were but Fly-blows in Comparison, +that was answered with all the Might Hippolito had, Aurelian ply’d him +close till they were both out of Breath. + +Thus not a Word pass’d, though each wondred why the t’other sigh’d, at +last concluded it to be only Complaisance to one another. + +Aurelian broke the Silence, by telling him the Misfortune of his +Governour. Hippolito rejoic’d as at the luckiest Accident which could +have befall’n him. Aurelian wondred at his unseasonable Mirth, and +demanded the Cause of it; he answer’d, It would necessitate his longer +Stay in Florence, and for ought he knew be the Means of bringing a +happy Period to his Amour. + +His Friend thought him to be little better than a Madman, when he +perceiv’d him of a suddain snatch out of his Bosom a Handkerchief, +which having kiss’d with a great deal of Ardour, he took Aurelian by +the Hand, and smiling at the Surprize he saw him in; + +‘Your Florentine Cupid is certainly (said he) ‘the most Expert in the +World. I have since I saw you beheld the most Beautiful of Women. I am +faln desperately in Love with her, and those Papers which you see so +blotted and scattered, are but so many Essays which I have made to the +Declaration of my Passion. And this Handkerchief which I so zealously +Caress, is the Inestimable Token which I have to make my self known to +her. ‘O Leonora! (continued he) ‘how hast thou stamp’d thine Image on +my Soul! How much dearer am I to my self, since I have had thy Heavenly +Form in keeping! Now, my Aurelian, I am worthy thee; my exalted Love +has Dignified me, and rais’d me far above thy poor former Despicable +Hippolito. + +Aurelian seeing the Rapture he was in, thought it in vain to expect a +settled Relation of the Adventure, so was reaching to the Table for +some of the Papers, but Hippolito told him, If he would have a little +patience he would acquaint him with the whole Matter; and thereupon +told him Word for Word how he was mistaken for Lorenzo, and his +Management of himself. Aurelian commended his Prudence, in not +discovering himself; and told him, If he could spare so much time from +the Contemplation of his Mistress, he would inform him of an Adventure, +though not so Accidental, yet of as great Concern to his own future +Happiness. So related all that had happened to him with his Beautiful +Incognita. + +Having ended the Story, they began to consider of the Means they were +to use toward a Review of their Mistresses. Aurelian was Confounded at +the Difficulty he conceived on his Part. He understood from Hippolito’s +Adventure, that his Father knew of his being in Town, whom he must +unavoidably Disoblige if he yet concealed himself, and Disobey if he +came into his Sight; for he had already entertain’d an Aversion for +Juliana, in apprehension of her being Imposed on him. His Incognita was +rooted in his Heart, yet could he not Comfort himself with any Hopes +when he should see her: He knew not where she lived, and she had made +him no Promise of a second Conference. Then did he repent his +inconsiderate Choice, in preferring the momentary Vision of her Face, +to a certain Intelligence of her Person. Every thought that succeeded +distracted him, and all the Hopes he could presume upon, were within +compass of the Two Days Merriment yet to come; for which Space he hop’d +he might excuse his remaining conceal’d to his Father. + +Hippolito on the other side (though Aurelian thought him in a much +better Way) was no less afflicted for himself. The Difficulties which +he saw in his Friend’s Circumstances, put him upon finding out a great +many more in his own, than really there were. But what terrified him +most of all, was his being an utter Stranger to Leonora; she had not +the least knowledge of him but through mistake, and consequently could +form no Idea of him to his Advantage. He look’d upon it as an unlucky +thought in Aurelian to take upon him his Name, since possibly the Two +Ladies were acquainted, and should they communicate to each other their +Adventures; they might both reasonably suffer in their Opinions, and be +thought guilty of Falshood, since it would appear to them as One Person +pretending to Two. Aurelian told him, there was but one Remedy for +that, which was for Hippolito, in the same Manner that he had done, to +make use of his Name, when he writ to Leonora, and use what arguments +he could to perswade her to Secrecy, least his Father should know of +the Reason which kept him concealed in Town. And it was likely, though +perhaps she might not immediately entertain his Passion; yet she would +out of Generosity conceal, what was hidden only for her sake. + +Well this was concluded on, after a great many other Reasons used on +either Side, in favour of the Contrivance; they at last argued +themselves into a Belief, that Fortune had befriended them with a +better Plot, than their regular Thinking could have contriv’d. So soon +had they convinc’d themselves, in what they were willing to believe. + +Aurelian laid himself down to rest, that is, upon the Bed; for he was a +better Lover than to pretend to sleep that Night, while Hippolito set +himself again to frame his Letter design’d for Leonora. He writ +several, at last pitched upon one, and very probably the worst, as you +may guess when you read it in its proper Place. + +It was break of Day when the Servant, who had been employed all the +foregoing Day in procuring Accoutrements for the Two Cavaliers, to +appear in at the Tilting, came into the Room, and told them all the +Young Gentlemen in the Town were trying their Equipage, and preparing +to be early in the Lists. They made themselves ready with all +Expedition at the Alarm: and Hippolito having made a Visit to his +Governour, dispatch’d a Messenger with the Letter and Directions to +Leonora. At the Signal agreed upon the Casement was opened and a String +let down, to which the Bearer having fastned the Letter, saw it drawn +up, and returned. It were a vain attempt to describe Leonora’s +Surprize, when she read the Superscription.—The Unfortunate Aurelian, +to the Beautiful Leonora—After she was a little recovered from her +Amaze, she recollected to her self all the Passages between her and her +supposed Cousin, and immediately concluded him to be Aurelian. Then +several little Circumstances which she thought might have been +sufficient to have convinced her, represented themselves to her; and +she was in a strange Uneasiness to think of her free Carriage to a +Stranger. + +She was once in a Mind to have burn’d the Letter, or to have stay’d for +an Opportunity to send it again. But she was a Woman, and her Curiosity +opposed it self to all thoughts of that Nature: at length with a firm +Resolution, she opened it, and found Word for Word, what is +underwritten. + +The Letter. + +MADAM, + + +If your fair Eyes, upon the breaking up of this, meet with somewhat too +quick a Surprize, make thence, I beseech you, some reflection upon the +Condition I must needs have been in, at the suddain Appearance of that +Sun of Beauty, which at once shone so full upon my soul. I could not +immediately disengage my self from that Maze of Charms, to let you know +how unworthy a Captive your Eyes had made through mistake. Sure, Madam, +you cannot but remember my Disorder, of which your Innocent (Innocent, +though perhaps to me Fatal) Error made a Charitable (but wide) +Construction. Your Tongue pursued the Victory of your Eyes, and you did +not give me time to rally my poor Disordered Senses, so as to make a +tolerable Retreat. Pardon, Madam, the Continuation of the Deceipt, and +call it not so, that I appear’d to be other than my self; for Heaven +knows I was not then my self, nor am I now my own. You told me +something that concern’d me nearly, as to a Marriage my Father design’d +me, and much more nearly in being told by you. For Heaven’s sake, +disclose not to any Body your Knowledge of me, that I may not be forced +to an immediate Act of Disobedience; for if my future Services and +inviolate Love, cannot recommend me to your Favour, I shall find more +comfort in the cold Embraces of a Grave, than in the Arms of the never +so much admired (but by me dreaded) Juliana. Think, Madam, of those +severe Circumstances I lie under; and withal I beg you, think it is in +your Power, and only in your Power, to make them happy as my Wishes, or +much more miserable than I am able to imagine. That dear, inestimable +(though undesign’d) Favour which I receiv’d from you, shall this Day +distinguish me from the Crowd of your Admirers; that which I really +applied to my inward bleeding Wound, the welcom Wound which you have +made, and which, unless from you, does wish no Cure; then pardon and +have pity on, O Adored Leonora, him, who is your’s by Creation as he is +Heaven’s, though never so unworthy. Have pity on + + +Your +Aurelian. + + +She read the Letter over and over, then flung it by, then read it +again; the Novelty of the Adventure made her repeat her Curiosity, and +take more than ordinary Pains to understand it. At last her Familiarity +with the Expressions grew to an Intimacy, and what she at first +permitted she now began to like. She thought there was something in it +a little more serious, than to be barely Gallantry. She wondred at her +own Blindness, and fancy’d she could remember something of a more +becoming Air in the Stranger than was usual to Lorenzo. This thought +was parent to another of the same kind, till a long Chain successively +had Birth, and every one somewhat more than other, in Favour of the +supposed Aurelian. She reflected upon his Discretion, in deferring the +Discovery of himself, till a little time had, as it were, weaned her +from her perswasion, and by removing her farther from her Mistake, had +prepared her for a full and determinate Convincement. She thought his +Behaviour, in personating a Sick Man so readily, upon the first hint +was not amiss, and smil’d to think of his Excuse to procure her +Handkerchief; and last of all, his sifting out the Means to write to +her, which he had done with that Modesty and Respect, she could not +tell how to find fault with it. + +She had proceeded thus far in a maze of Thought, when she started to +find her self so lost to her Reason, and would have trod back again +that path of deluding Fancy; accusing her self of Fondness, and +inconsiderate Easiness, in giving Credit to the Letter of a Person +whose Face she never saw, and whose first Acquaintance with her was a +Treachery, and he who could so readily deliver his Tongue of a Lye upon +a Surprize, was scarce to be trusted when he had sufficient Time +allow’d him to beget a Fiction, and Means to perfect the Birth. + +How did she know this to be Aurelian, if he were? Nay farther, put it +to the Extremity, What if she should upon farther Conversation with him +proceed to Love him? What Hopes were there for her? Or how could she +consent to Marry a Man already Destined for another Woman? nay, a Woman +that was her Friend, whose Marrying with him was to compleat the happy +Reconciliation of Two Noble Families, and which might prevent the +Effusion of much Blood likely to be shed in that Quarrel: Besides, she +should incurr share of the Guilt, which he would draw upon him by +Disobedience to his Father, whom she was sure would not be consenting +to it. + +’Tis strange now, but all Accounts agree, that just here Leonora, who +had run like a violent Stream against Aurelian hitherto, now retorted +with as much precipitation in his Favour. I could never get any Body to +give me a satisfactory reason, for her suddain and dextrous Change of +Opinion just at that stop, which made me conclude she could not help +it; and that Nature boil’d over in her at that time when it had so fair +an Opportunity to show it self: For Leonora it seems was a Woman +Beautiful, and otherwise of an excellent Disposition; but in the Bottom +a very Woman. This last Objection, this Opportunity of perswading Man +to Disobedience, determined the Matter in Favour of Aurelian, more than +all his Excellencies and Qualifications, take him as Aurelian, or +Hippolito, or both together. + +Well, the Spirit of Contradiction and of Eve was strong in her; and she +was in a fair Way to Love Aurelian, for she lik’d him already; that it +was Aurelian she no longer doubted, for had it been a Villain, who had +only taken his Name upon him for any ill Designs, he would never have +slip’d so favourable an Opportunity as when they were alone and in the +Night coming through the Garden and broad Space before the Piazza. In +short, thus much she resolv’d, at least to conceal the Knowledge she +had of him, as he had entreated her in his Letter, and to make +particular Remarks of his Behaviour that Day in the Lists, which should +it happen to Charm her with an absolute liking of his Person, she +resolv’d to dress her self to the best Advantage, and mustering up all +her Graces, out of pure Revenge to kill him down right. + +I would not have the Reader now be impertinent, and look upon this to +be force, or a whim of the Author’s, that a Woman should proceed so far +in her Approbation of a Man whom she never saw, that it is impossible, +therefore ridiculous to suppose it. Let me tell such a Critick, that he +knows nothing of the Sex, if he does not know that Woman may be taken +with the Character and Description of a Man, when general and +extraordinary, that she may be prepossess’d with an agreeable Idea of +his Person and Conversation; and though she cannot imagine his real +Features, or manner of Wit, yet she has a general Notion of what is +call’d a fine Gentleman, and is prepar’d to like such a one who does +not disagree with that Character. Aurelian, as he bore a very fair +Character, so was he extreamly deserving to make it good, which +otherways might have been to his prejudice; for oftentimes, through an +imprudent Indulgence to our Friends merit, we give so large a +Description of his excellencies, that People make more room in their +Expectation, than the Intrinsick worth of the Man will fill, which +renders him so much the more despicable as there is emptyness to spare. +’Tis certain, though the Women seldom find that out; for though they do +not see so much in a Man as was promised, yet they will be so kind to +imagine he has some hidden excellencies; which time may discover to +them, so are content to allow, him a considerable share of their +esteem, and take him into Favour upon Tick. Aurelian as he had good +Credit, so he had a good Stock to support it, and his Person was a good +promising Security for the payment of any Obligation he could lie under +to the Fair Sex. Hippolito, who at this time was our Aurelian, did not +at all lessen him in appearing for him: So that although Leonora was +indeed mistaken, she could not be said to be much in the wrong. I could +find in my Heart to beg the Reader’s pardon for this Digression, if I +thought he would be sensible of the Civility; for I promise him, I do +not intend to do it again throughout the Story, though I make never so +many, and though he take them never so ill. But because I began this +upon a bare Supposition of his Impertinence, which might be somewhat +impertinent in me to suppose, I do, and hope to make him amends by +telling him, that by the time Leonora was dress’d, several Ladies of +her acquaintance came to accompany her to the place designed for the +Tilting, where we will leave them drinking Chocholate till ’tis time +for them to go. + +Our Cavaliers had by good Fortune provided themselves of two curious +Suits of light Armour, finely enammelled and gilt. Hippolito had sent +to Poggio Imperiale for a couple of fine led Horses which he had left +there with the rest of his Train at his entrance into Florence. Mounted +on these and every way well Equipt, they took their way, attended only +by two Lacqueys, toward the Church di Santa Croce, before which they +were to perform their Exercises of Chivalry. Hippolito wore upon his +Helm a large Plume of Crimson Feathers, in the midst of which was +artificially placed Leonora’s Handkerchief. His Armour was gilt, and +enammell’d with Green and Crimson. Aurelian was not so happy as to wear +any token to recommend him to the notice of his Mistress, so had only a +Plume of Sky-colour and White Feathers, suitable to his Armour, which +was Silver enammelled with Azure. I shall not describe the Habits of +any other Cavaliers, or of the Ladies; let it suffice to tell the +Reader they were all very Fine and very Glorious, and let him dress +them in what is most agreeable to his own Fancy. + +Our Gallants entred the Lists, and having made their Obeysance to his +Highness, turned round to salute and view the Company. The Scaffold was +circular, so that there was no end of the Delightful Prospect. It +seem’d a Glory of Beauty which shone around the admiring Beholders. Our +Lovers soon perceived the Stars which were to Rule their Destiny, which +sparkled a lustre beyond all the inferiour Constellations, and seem’d +like two Suns to distribute Light to all the Planets in that Heavenly +Sphere. Leonora knew her Slave by his Badge and blushed till the Lilies +and Roses in her cheeks had resemblance to the Plume of Crimson and +White Handkerchief in Hippolito’s Crest. He made her a low bow, and +reined his Horse back with an extraordinary Grace, into a respectful +retreat. Aurelian saw his Angel, his beautiful Incognita, and had no +other way to make himself known to her, but by saluting and bowing to +her after the Spanish mode; she guess’d him by it to be her new Servant +Hippolito, and signified her apprehension, by making him a more +particular and obliging return, than to any of the Cavaliers who had +saluted her before. + +The Exercise that was to be perform’d was in general a running at the +Ring; and afterwards two Cavaliers undertook to defend the Beauty of +Donna Catharina, against all who would not allow her preheminence of +their Mistresses. This thing was only designed for show and form, none +presuming that any body would put so great an affront upon the Bride +and Duke’s Kinswoman, as to dispute her pretentions to the first place +in the Court of Venus. But here our Cavaliers were under a mistake; for +seeing a large Shield carry’d before two Knights, with a Lady painted +upon it; not knowing who, but reading the Inscription which was (in +large Gold Letters) Above the Insolence of Competition. They thought +themselves obliged, especially in the presence of their Mistresses, to +vindicate their Beauty; and were just spurring on to engage the +Champions, when a Gentleman stopping them, told them their mistake, +that it was the Picture of Donna Catharina, and a particular Honour +done to her by his Highness’s Commands, and not to be disputed. Upon +this they would have returned to their Post, much concerned for their +mistake; but notice being taken by Don Ferdinand of some Show of +Opposition that was made, he would have begged leave of the Duke, to +have maintained his Lady’s Honour against the Insolence of those +Cavaliers; but the Duke would by no means permit it. They were arguing +about it when one of them came up, before whom the Shield was born, and +demanded his Highness’s Permission, to inform those Gentlemen better of +their mistake, by giving them the Foyl. By the Intercession of Don +Ferdinand, leave was given them; whereupon a Civil Challenge was sent +to the two Strangers, informing them of their Error, and withal telling +them they must either maintain it by force of Arms, or make a publick +acknowledgment by riding bare headed before the Picture once round the +Lists. The Stranger-Cavaliers remonstrated to the Duke how sensible +they were of their Error, and though they would not justifie it, yet +they could not decline the Combate, being pressed to it beyond an +honourable refusal. To the Bride they sent a Complement, wherein, +having first begg’d her pardon for not knowing her Picture, they gave +her to understand, that now they were not about to dispute her +undoubted right to the Crown of Beauty, but the honour of being her +Champions was the Prize they fought for, which they thought themselves +as able to maintain as any other Pretenders. Wherefore they pray’d her, +that if fortune so far befriended their endeavours as to make them +Victors, that they might receive no other Reward, but to be crown’d +with the Titles of their Adversaries, and be ever after esteem’d as her +most humble Servants. The excuse was so handsomely designed, and much +better express’d than it is here, that it took effect. The Duke, Don +Ferdinand and his Lady were so well satisfied with it as to grant their +Request. + +While the running at the Ring lasted, our Cavaliers alternately bore +away great share of the Honour. That Sport ended, Marshals were +appointed for the Field, and every thing in great form settled for the +Combat. The Cavaliers were all in good earnest, but orders were given +to bring ’em blunted Lances, and to forbid the drawing of a Sword upon +pain of his Highness’s Displeasure. The Trumpets sounded and they began +their Course: The Ladies’ Hearts, particularly the Incognita and +Leonora’s beat time to the Horses Hoofs, and hope and fear made a mock +Fight within their tender Breasts, each wishing and doubting success +where she lik’d: But as the generality of their Prayers were for the +graceful Strangers, they accordingly succeeded. Aurelian’s Adversary +was unhorsed in the first Encounter, and Hippolito’s lost both Stirrups +and dropt his Lance to save himself. The Honour of the Field was +immediately granted to them, and Don Catharina sent them both Favours, +which she pray’d them to wear as her Knights. The Crowd breaking up, +our Cavaliers made a shift to steal off unmarked, save by the watchful +Leonora and Incognita, whose Eyes were never off from their respective +Servants. There was enquiry made for them, but to no purpose; for they +to prevent their being discovered had prepared another House, distant +from their Lodging, where a Servant attended to disarm them, and +another carried back their Horses to the Villa, while they walked +unsuspected to their Lodging; but Incognita had given command to a Page +to dog ’em till the Evening, at a distance, and bring her word where +they were latest housed. + +While several Conjectures pass’d among the Company, who were all gone +to Dinner at the Palace, who those Cavaliers should be, Don Fabio +thought himself the only Man able to guess; for he knew for certain +that his Son and Hippolito were both in Town, and was well enough +pleased with his humour of remaining Incognito till the Diversions +should be over, believing then that the surprize of his Discovery would +add much to the Gallantry he had shown in Masquerade; but hearing the +extraordinary liking that every body express’d, and in a particular +manner, the great Duke himself, to the Persons and Behaviour of the +unknown Cavaliers, the Old Gentleman could not forbear the Vanity to +tell his Highness, that he believed he had an interest in one of the +Gentlemen, whom he was pleased to honour with so favourable a +Character; and told him what reason he had to believe the one to be his +Son, and the other a Spanish Nobleman, his Friend. + +This discovery having thus got vent, was diffused like Air; every body +suck’d it in, and let it out again with their Breath to the next they +met withal; and in half an hours time it was talked of in the House +where our Adventurers were lodged. Aurelian was stark mad at the News, +and knew what search would be immediately made for him. Hippolito, had +he not been desperately in Love, would certainly have taken Horse and +rid out of Town just then, for he could make no longer doubt of being +discovered, and he was afraid of the just Exceptions Leonora might make +to a Person who had now deceived her twice. Well, we will leave them +both fretting and contriving to no purpose, to look about and see what +was done at the Palace, where their doom was determined much quicker +than they imagined. + +Dinner ended, the Duke retired with some chosen Friends to a Glass of +Wine; among whom were the Marquess of Viterbo and Don Fabio. His +Highness was no Stranger to the long Fewd that had been between the two +Families, and also understood what Overtures of Reconciliation had been +lately made, with the Proposals of Marriage between Aurelian and the +Marquess’s Daughter. Having waited till the Wine had taken the effect +proposed, and the Company were raised to an uncommon pitch of +Chearfulness, which he also encouraged by an Example of Freedom and +Good Humour, he took an opportunity of rallying the two grave Signiors +into an Accommodation: That was seconded with the praises of the young +Couple, and the whole Company joined in a large Encomium upon the +Graces of Aurelian and the Beauties of Juliana. The old Fellows were +tickled with Delight to hear their Darlings so admired, which the Duke +perceiving, out of a Principle of Generosity and Friendship, urged the +present Consummation of the Marriage; telling them there was yet one +day of publick Rejoycing to come, and how glad he should be to have it +improved by so acceptable an Alliance; and what an honour it would be +to have his Cousin’s Marriage attended by the Conjunction of so +extraordinary a Pair, the performance of which Ceremony would crown the +Joy that was then in Agitation, and make the last day vie for equal +Glory and Happiness with the first. In short, by the Complaisant and +Perswasive Authority of the Duke, the Dons were wrought into a +Compliance, and accordingly embraced and shook Hands upon the Matter. +This News was dispersed like the former, and Don Fabio gave orders for +the enquiring out his Son’s Lodging, that the Marquess and he might +make him a Visit, as soon as he had acquainted Juliana with his +purpose, that she might prepare her self. He found her very chearful +with Donna Catharina and several other Ladies; whereupon the old +Gentleman, pretty well warmed with the Duke’s Goodfellowship, told her +aloud he was come to crown their Mirth with another Wedding; that his +Highness had been pleased to provide a Husband for his Daughter, and he +would have her provide her self to receive him to-morrow. All the +Company at first, as well as Juliana her self, thought he had rally’d, +till the Duke coming in confirmed the serious part of his Discourse. +Juliana was confounded at the haste that was imposed on her, and +desired a little time to consider what she was about. But the Marquess +told her, she should have all the rest of her Life to consider in; that +Aurelian should come and consider with her in the Morning, if she +pleased; but in the mean time, he advised her to go home and call her +Maids to Counsel. + +Juliana took her leave of the Company very gravely, as if not much +delighted with her Father’s Rallery. Leonora happened to be by, and +heard all that passed; she was ready to swoon, and found her self +seized with a more violent Passion than ever for Aurelian: Now upon her +apprehensions of losing him, her active fancy had brought him before +her with all the advantages imaginable, and though she had before found +great tenderness in her Inclination toward him, yet was she somewhat +surprized to find she really lov’d him. She was so uneasie at what she +had heard, that she thought it convenient to steal out of the presence +and retire to her Closet, to bemoan her unhappy helpless Condition. + +Our Two Cavalier-Lovers had rack’d their Invention till it was quite +disabled, and could not make discovery of one Contrivance more for +their Relief. Both sat silent, each depending upon his Friend, and +still expecting when t’other should speak. Night came upon them while +they sate thus thoughtless, or rather drowned in Thought; but a Servant +bringing Lights into the Room awakened them: And Hippolito’s Speech, +usher’d by a profound Sigh, broke Silence. + +‘Well! (said he) what must we do, Aurelian? We must suffer, replied +Aurelian faintly. When immediately raising his Voice, he cry’d out, ‘Oh +ye unequal Powers, why do ye urge us to desire what ye doom us to +forbear; give us a Will to chuse, then curb us with a Duty to restrain +that Choice! Cruel Father, Will nothing else suffice! Am I to be the +Sacrifice to expiate your Offences past; past ere I was born? Were I to +lose my Life, I’d gladly Seal your Reconcilement with my Blood. ‘But Oh +my Soul is free, you have no Title to my Immortal Being, that has +Existence independent of your Power; and must I lose my Love, the +Extract of that Being, the Joy, Light, Life, and Darling of my Soul? +No, I’ll own my Flame, and plead my Title too.—But hold, wretched +Aurelian, hold, whither does thy Passion hurry thee? Alas! the cruel +fair Incognita Loves thee not! She knows not of thy Love! If she did, +what Merit hast thou to pretend?—Only Love.—Excess of Love. And all the +World has that. All that have seen her. Yet I had only seen her once, +and in that once I lov’d above the World; nay, lov’d beyond my self, +such vigorous Flame, so strong, so quick she darted at my Breast; it +must rebound, and by Reflection, warm her self. Ah! welcome Thought, +lovely deluding Fancy, hang still upon my Soul, let me but think, that +once she Loves and perish my Despair. + +Here a suddain stop gave a Period also to Hippolito’s Expectation, and +he hoped now that his Friend had given his Passion so free a vent, he +might recollect and bethink himself of what was convenient to be done; +but Aurelia, as if he had mustered up all his Spirits purely to acquit +himself of that passionate Harangue, stood mute and insensible like an +Alarum Clock, that had spent all its force in one violent Emotion. +Hippolito shook him by the Arm to rouze him from his Lethargy, when his +Lacquey coming into the Room, out of Breath, told him there was a Coach +just stopp’d at the Door, but he did not take time to who came in it. +Aurelian concluded immediately it was his Father in quest of him; and +without saying any more to Hippolito, than that he was Ruined if +discovered, took his Sword and slipp’d down a back pair of Stairs into +the Garden, from whence he conveyed himself into the Street. Hippolito +had not bethought himself what to do, before he perceiv’d a Lady come +into the Chamber close veil’d, and make toward him. At the first +Appearance of a Woman, his Imagination flattered him with a Thought of +Leonora; but that was quickly over upon nearer Approach to the Lady, +who had much the Advantage in Stature of his Mistress. He very civilly +accosted her, and asked if he were the Person to whom the Honour of +that Visit was intended. She said, her Business was with Don Hippolito +di Saviolina, to whom she had Matter of Concern to import, and which +required haste. He had like to have told her, That he was the Man, but +by good Chance reflecting upon his Friend’s Adventure, who had taken +his name, he made Answer, that he believed Don Hippolito not far off, +and if she had a Moments Patience he would enquire for him. + +He went out, leaving the Lady in the Room, and made search all round +the House and Garden for Aurelian, but to no purpose. The Lady +impatient of his long stay took a Pen and Ink and some Paper which she +found upon the Table, and had just made an End of her Letter, when +hearing a Noise of more than one coming up Stairs, she concluded his +Friend had found him, and that her Letter would be to no purpose, so +tore it in pieces, which she repented; when turning about, she found +her Mistake, and beheld Don Fabio and the Marquess of Viterbo just +entring at the Door. She gave a Shriek at the Surprize of their +Appearance, which much troubled the Old Gentlemen, and made them retire +in Confusion for putting a Gentlewoman into such a Fright. The Marquess +thinking they had been misinformed, or had mistaken the Lodgings, came +forward again, and made an Apology to the Lady for their Errour; but +she making no reply, walk’d directly by him down Stairs and went into +her Coach, which hurried her away as speedily as the Horses were able +to draw. + +The Dons were at a loss what to think, when, Hippolito coming into the +Room to give the Lady an Account of his Errant, was no less astonished +to find she was departed, and had left Two Old Signiors in her stead. +He knew Don Fabio’s Face, for Aurelian had shewn him his Father at the +Tilting; but being confident he was not known to him, he ventur’d to +ask him concerning a Lady whom just now he had left in that Chamber. +Don Fabio told him, she was just gone down, and doubted they had been +Guilty of a Mistake, in coming to enquire for a Couple of Gentlemen +whom they were informed were Lodged in that House; he begg’d his Pardon +if he had any Relation to that Lady, and desired to know if he could +give them any Account of the Persons they sought for. Hippolito made +answer, He was a Stranger in the Place, and only a Servant to that Lady +whom they had disturb’d, and whom he must go and seek out. And in this +Perplexity he left them, going again in Search of Aurelian, to inform +him of what had passed. + +The Old Gentlemen at last meeting with a Servant of the House, were +directed to Signior Claudio’s Chamber, where they were no sooner +entered but Aurelian came into the House. A Servant who had skulk’d for +him by Hippolito’s Order, followed him up into the Chamber, and told +him who was with Claudio then making Enquiry for him. He thought that +to be no Place for him, since Claudio must needs discover all the Truth +to his Father; wherefore he left Directions with the Servant, where +Hippolito should meet him in the Morning. As he was going out of the +Room he espied the torn Paper, which the Lady had thrown upon the +Floor: The first piece he took up had Incognita written upon it; the +sight of which so Alarum’d him, he scarce knew what he was about; but +hearing a Noise of a Door opening over Head, with as much Care as was +consistent with the haste he was then in, he gathered up scattered +pieces of Paper, and betook himself to a Ramble. + +Coming by a Light which hung at the Corner of a Street, he join’d the +torn Papers and collected thus much, that Incognita had Written the +Note, and earnestly desired (if there were any reality in what he +pretended to her) to meet her at Twelve a Clock that Night at a Convent +Gate; but unluckily the Bit of Paper which should have mentioned what +Convent, was broken off and lost. + +Here was a large Subject for Aurelian’s Passion, which he did not spare +to pour forth in Abundance of Curses on his Stars. So earnest was he in +the Contemplation of his Misfortunes, that he walk’d on unwittingly; +till at length Silence (and such as was only to be found in that part +the Town, whither his unguided Steps had carried him) surpriz’d his +Attention. I say, a profound Silence rouzed him from his Thought; and a +clap of Thunder could have done no more. + +Now because it is possible this at some time or other may happen to be +read by some Malicious or Ignorant Person, (no Reflection upon the +present Reader) who will not admit, or does not understand that Silence +should make a Man start; and have the same Effect, in provoking his +Attention, with its opposite Noise; I will illustrate this matter, to +such a diminutive Critick, by a Parallel Instance of Light; which +though it does chiefly entertain the Eyes, and is indeed the prime +Object of the Sight, yet should it immediately cease, to have a Man +left in the Dark by a suddain deficiency of it, would make him stare +with his Eyes, and though he could not see, endeavour to look about +him. Why just thus did it fare with our Adventurer; who seeming to have +wandred both into the Dominions of Silence and of Night, began to have +some tender for his own Safety, and would willingly have groped his Way +back again; when he heard a Voice, as from a Person whose Breath had +been stopp’d by some forcible Oppression, and just then, by a violent +Effort, was broke through the Restraint.—‘Yet—Yet—(again reply’d the +Voice, still struggling for Air,) ‘Forbear—and I’ll forgive what’s +past—I have done nothing yet that needs a Pardon, (says another) and +what is to come, will admit of none. + +Here the Person who seemed to be the Oppressed, made several Attempts +to speak, but they were only inarticulate Sounds, being all interrupted +and choaked in their Passage. + +Aurelian was sufficiently astonish’d, and would have crept nearer to +the Place whence he guessed the Voice to come; but he was got among the +Runes of an Old Monastery, and could not stir so silently, but some +loose Stones he met with made a rumbling. The Noise alarm’d both +Parties; and as it gave Comfort to the one, it so Terrified the +t’other, that he could not hinder the Oppressed from calling for help. +Aurelian fancy’d it was a Woman’s Voice, and immediately drawing his +Sword, demanded what was the Matter; he was answered with the +Appearance of a Man, who had opened a Dark Lanthorn which he had by +him, and came toward him with a Pistol in his Hand ready cock’d. + +Aurelian seeing the irresistable advantage his Adversary had over him, +would fain have retired; and, by the greatest Providence in the World, +going backwards fell down over some loose Stones that lay in his Way, +just in that Instant of Time when the Villain fired his Pistol, who +seeing him fall, concluded he had Shot him. The Crys of the afflicted +Person were redoubled at the Tragical Sight, which made the Murderer, +drawing a Poniard, to threaten him, that the next Murmur should be his +last. Aurelian, who was scarce assured that he was unhurt, got softly +up; and coming near enough to perceive the Violence that was used to +stop the Injured Man’s Mouth; (for now he saw plainly it was a Man) +cry’d out,—Turn, Villain, and look upon thy Death.—The Fellow amazed at +the Voice, turn’d about to have snatch’d up the Lanthorn from the +Ground; either to have given Light only to himself, or to have put out +the Candle, that he might have made his Escape; but which of the Two he +designed, no Body could tell but himself: and if the Reader have a +Curiosity to know, he must blame Aurelian; who thinking there could be +no foul play offered to such a Villain, ran him immediately through the +Heart, so that he drop’d down Dead at his Feet, without speaking a +Word. He would have seen who the Person was he had thus happily +delivered, but the Dead Body had fallen upon the Lanthorn, which put +out the Candle: However coming up toward him, he ask’d him how he did, +and bid him be of good Heart; he was answered with nothing but Prayers, +Blessings and Thanks, called a Thousand Deliverers, good Genius’s and +Guardian Angels. And the Rescued would certainly have gone upon his +Knees to have worshipped him, had he not been bound Hand and Foot; +which Aurelian understanding, groped for the Knots, and either untied +them or cut them asunder; but ’tis more probable the latter, because +more expeditious. + +They took little heed what became of the Body which they left behind +them, and Aurelian was conducted from out the Ruins by the Hand of him +he had delivered. By a faint light issuing from the just rising Moon, +he could discern that it was a Youth; but coming into a more frequented +part of the Town, where several Lights were hung out, he was amaz’d at +the extream Beauty which appeared in his Face, though a little pale and +disordered with his late fright. Aurelian longed to hear the Story of +so odd an adventure, and entreated his Charge to tell it him by the +way; but he desired him to forbear till they were come into some House +or other, where he might rest and recover his tired Spirits, for yet he +was so faint he was unable to look up. Aurelian thought these last +words were delivered in a Voice, whose accent was not new to him. That +thought made him look earnestly in the Youth’s Face, which he now was +sure he had somewhere seen before, and thereupon asked him if he had +never been at Siena? That Question made the young Gentleman look up, +and something of a Joy appeared in his Countenance, which yet he +endeavoured to smother; so praying Aurelian to conduct him to his +Lodging, he promised him that as soon as they should come thither, he +would acquaint him with any thing he desired to know. Aurelian would +rather have gone any where else than to his own Lodging; but being so +very late he was at a loss, and so forced to be contented. + +As soon as they were come into his Chamber, and that Lights were +brought them and the Servant dismissed, the paleness which so visibly +before had usurped the sweet Countenance of the afflicted Youth +vanished, and gave place to a more lively Flood of Crimson, which with +a modest heat glow’d freshly on his Cheeks. Aurelian waited with a +pleasing Admiration the discovery promised him, when the Youth still +struggling with his Resolution, with a timorous haste, pulled off a +Peruke which had concealed the most beautiful abundance of Hair that +ever graced one Female Head; those dishevelled spreading tresses, as at +first they made a discovery of, so at last they served for a veil to +the modest lovely blushes of the fair Incognita; for she it was and +none other. But Oh! the inexpressible, inconceivable joy and amazement +of Aurelian! As soon as he durst venture to think, he concluded it to +be all Vision, and never doubted so much of any thing in his Life as of +his being then awake. But she taking him by the Hand, and desiring him +to sit down by her, partly convinced him of the reality of her +presence. + +‘This is the second time, Don Hippolito, (said she to him) ‘that I have +been here this Night. What the occasion was of my seeking you out, and +how by miracle you preserved me, would add too much to the surprize I +perceive you to be already in should I tell you: Nor will I make any +further discovery, till I know what censure you pass upon the +confidence which I have put in you, and the strange Circumstances in +which you find me at this time. I am sensible they are such, that I +shall not blame your severest Conjectures; but I hope to convince you, +when you shall hear what I have to say in justification of my Vertue. + +‘Justification! (cry’d Aurelian) what Infidel dares doubt it! Then +kneeling down, and taking her Hand, ‘Ah Madam (says he) would Heaven +would no other ways look upon, than I behold your Perfections—Wrong not +your Creature with a Thought, he can be guilty of that horrid Impiety +as once to doubt your Vertue—Heavens! (cry’d he, starting up) ‘am I so +really blessed to see you once again! May I trust my Sight?—Or does my +fancy now only more strongly work?—For still I did preserve your Image +in my Heart, and you were ever present to my dearest Thoughts.— + +‘Enough Hippolito, enough of Rapture (said she) you cannot much accuse +me of Ingratitude; for you see I have not been unmindful of you; but +moderate your Joy till I have told you my Condition, and if for my sake +you are raised to this Delight, it is not of a long continuance. + +At that (as Aurelian tells the Story) a Sigh diffused a mournful +sweetness through the Air, and liquid grief fell gently from her Eyes, +triumphant sadness sat upon her Brow, and even sorrow seem’d delighted +with the Conquest he had made. See what a change Aurelian felt! His +Heart bled Tears, and trembled in his Breast; Sighs struggling for a +vent had choaked each others passage up: His Floods of Joys were all +supprest; cold doubts and fears had chill’d ’em with a sudden Frost, +and he was troubled to excess; yet knew not why. Well, the Learned say +it was Sympathy; and I am always of the Opinion with the Learned, if +they speak first. + +After a World of Condoleance had passed between them, he prevailed with +her to tell him her Story. So having put all her Sighs into one great +Sigh, she discharged her self of ’em all at once, and formed the +Relation you are just about to Read. + +‘Having been in my Infancy Contracted to a Man I could never endure, +and now by my Parents being likely to be forced to Marry him, is in +short, the great occasion of my grief. I fansy’d (continued she) +something so Generous in your Countenance, and uncommon in your +Behaviour, while you were diverting your self, and rallying me with +Expressions of Gallantry, at the Ball, as induced me to hold Conference +with you. I now freely confess to you, out of design, That if things +should happen as I then feared, and as now they are come to pass, I +might rely upon your assistance in a matter of Concern; and in which I +would sooner chuse to depend upon a generous Stranger, than any +Acquaintance I have. What Mirth and Freedom I then put on, were, I can +assure you, far distant from my Heart; but I did violence to my self +out of Complaisance to your Temper.—I knew you at the Tilting, and +wished you might come off as you did; though I do not doubt, but you +would have had as good Success had it been opposite to my +Inclinations.—Not to detain you by too tedious a Relation, every day my +Friends urged me to the Match they had agreed upon for me, before I was +capable of Consenting; at last their importunities grew to that degree, +that I found I must either consent, which would make me miserable, or +be miserable by perpetually enduring to be baited by my Father, Brother +and other Relations. I resolved yesterday, on a suddain to give firm +Faith to the Opinion I had conceived of you; and accordingly came in +the Evening to request your assistance, in delivering me from my +Tormentors, by a safe and private conveyance of me to a Monastery about +four Leagues hence, where I have an Aunt who would receive me, and is +the only Relation I have averse to the Match. I was surprized at the +appearance of some Company I did not expect at your Lodgings; which +made me in haste tear a Paper which I had written to you with +Directions where to find me, and get speedily away in my Coach to an +old Servant’s House, whom I acquainted with my purpose: By my Order she +provided me of this Habit which I now wear; I ventured to trust my self +with her Brother, and resolved to go under his Conduct to the +Monastery; he proved to be a Villain, and Pretending to take me a short +and private way to the place where he was to take up a Hackney Coach +(for that which I came in was broke some where or other with the haste +it made to carry me from your Lodging) led me into an old ruined +Monastery, where it pleased Heaven, by what Accident I know not, to +direct you. I need not tell you how you saved my Life and my Honour, by +revenging me with the Death of my Perfidious Guide. This is the summ of +my present Condition, bating the apprehensions I am in of being taken +by some of my Relations, and forced to a thing so quite contrary to my +Inclinations. + +Aurelian was confounded at the Relation she had made, and began to fear +his own Estate to be more desperate than ever he had imagined. He made +her a very Passionate and Eloquent Speech in behalf of himself (much +better than I intend to insert here) and expressed a mighty concern +that she should look upon his ardent Affection to be only Rallery or +Gallantry. He was very free of his Oaths to confirm the Truth of what +he pretended, nor I believe did she doubt it, or at least was unwilling +so to do: For I would Caution the Reader by the bye, not to believe +every word which she told him, nor that admirable sorrow which she +counterfeited to be accurately true. It was indeed truth so cunningly +intermingled with Fiction, that it required no less Wit and Presence of +Mind than she was endowed with so to acquit her self on the suddain. +She had entrusted her self indeed with a Fellow who proved a Villain, +to conduct her to a Monastery; but one which was in the Town, and where +she intended only to lie concealed for his sake; as the Reader shall +understand ere long: For we have another Discovery to make to him, if +he have not found it out of himself already. + +After Aurelian had said what he was able upon the Subject in hand, with +a mournful tone and dejected look, he demanded his Doom. She asked him +if he would endeavour to convey her to the Monastery she had told him +of? ‘Your commands, Madam, (replied he) ‘are Sacred to me; and were +they to lay down my Life I would obey them. With that he would have +gone out of the Room, to have given order for his Horses to be got +ready immediately; but with a Countenance so full of sorrow as moved +Compassion in the tender hearted Incognita. ‘Stay a little Don +Hippolito (said she) I fear I shall not be able to undergo the Fatigue +of a Journey this Night.—Stay and give me your Advice how I shall +conceal my self if I continue to morrow in this Town. Aurelian could +have satisfied her she was not then in a place to avoid discovery: But +he must also have told her then the reason of it, viz. whom he was, and +who were in quest of him, which he did not think convenient to declare +till necessity should urge him; for he feared least her knowledge of +those designs which were in agitation between him and Juliana, might +deter her more from giving her consent. At last he resolved to try his +utmost perswasions to gain her, and told her accordingly, he was afraid +she would be disturbed there in the Morning, and he knew no other way +(if she had not as great an aversion for him as the Man whom she now +endeavour’d to avoid) than by making him happy to make her self secure. +He demonstrated to her,—that the disobligation to her Parents would be +greater by going to a Monastery, since it was only to avoid a choice +which they had made for her, and which she could not have so just a +pretence to do till she had made one for her self. + +A World of other Arguments he used, which she contradicted as long as +she was able, or at least willing. At last she told him, she would +consult her Pillow, and in the Morning conclude what was fit to be +done. He thought it convenient to leave her to her rest, and having +lock’d her up in his Room, went himself to repose upon a Pallat by +Signior Claudio. + +In the mean time, it may be convenient to enquire what became of +Hippolito. He had wandered much in pursuit of Aurelian, though Leonora +equally took up his Thoughts; He was reflecting upon the oddness and +extravagance of his Circumstances, the Continuation of which had +doubtless created in him a great uneasiness, when it was interrupted +with the noise of opening the Gates of the Convent of St. Lawrence, +whither he was arrived sooner than he thought for, being the place +Aurelian had appointed by the Lacquey to meet him in. He wondered to +see the Gates opened at so unseasonable an hour, and went to enquire +the reason of it from them who were employ’d; but they proved to be +Novices, and made him signs to go in, where he might meet with some +body allow’d to answer him. He found the Religious Men all up, and +Tapers lighting every where: at last he follow’d a Friar who was going +into the Garden, and asking him the cause of these Preparations, he was +answered, That they were entreated to pray for the Soul of a Cavalier, +who was just departing or departed this Life, and whom upon farther +talk with him, he found to be the same Lorenzo so often mentioned. Don +Mario, it seems Uncle to Lorenzo and Father to Leonora, had a private +Door out of the Garden belonging to his House into that of the Convent, +which Door this Father was now a going to open, that he and his Family +might come and offer up their Oraisons for the Soul of their Kinsman. +Hippolito having informed himself of as much as he could ask without +suspicion, took his leave of the Friar, not a little joyful at the +Hopes he had by such unexpected Means, of seeing his Beautiful Leonora: +As soon as he was got at convenient Distance from the Friar, (who ’tis +like thought he had return’d into the Convent to his Devotion) he +turned back through a close Walk which led him with a little Compass, +to the same private Door, where just before he had left the Friar, who +now he saw was gone, and the Door open. + +He went into Don Mario’s Garden, and walk’d round with much Caution and +Circumspection; for the Moon was then about to rise, and had already +diffused a glimmering Light, sufficient to distinguish a Man from a +Tree. By Computation now (which is a very remarkable Circumstance) +Hippolito entred this Garden near upon the same Instant, when Aurelian +wandred into the Old Monastery and found his Incognita in Distress. He +was pretty well acquainted with the Platform, and Sight of the Garden; +for he had formerly surveyed the Outside, and knew what part to make to +if he should be surpriz’d and driven to a precipitate Escape. He took +his Stand behind a well grown Bush of Myrtle, which, should the Moon +shine brighter than was required, had the Advantage to be shaded by the +Indulgent Boughs of an ancient Bay-Tree. He was delighted with the +Choice he had made, for he found a Hollow in the Myrtle, as if +purposely contriv’d for the Reception of one Person, who might +undiscovered perceive all about him. He looked upon it as a good Omen, +that the Tree Consecrated to Venus was so propitious to him in his +Amorous Distress. The Consideration of that, together with the +Obligation he lay under to the Muses, for sheltering him also with so +large a Crown of Bays, had like to have set him a Rhyming. + +He was, to tell the Truth, naturally addicted to Madrigal, and we +should undoubtedly have had a small desert of Numbers to have pick’d +and Criticiz’d upon, had he not been interrupted just upon his +Delivery; nay, after the Preliminary Sigh had made Way for his +Utterance. But so was his Fortune, Don Mario was coming towards the +Door at that very nick of Time, where he met with a Priest just out of +Breath, who told him that Lorenzo was just breathing his last, and +desired to know if he would come and take his final Leave before they +were to administer the Extream Unction. Don Mario, who had been at some +Difference with his Nephew, now thought it his Duty to be reconciled to +him; so calling to Leonora, who was coming after him, he bid her go to +her Devotions in the Chappel, and told her where he was going. + +He went on with the Priest, while Hippolito saw Leonora come forward, +only accompanied by her Woman. She was in an undress, and by reason of +a Melancholy visible in her Face, more Careless than usual in her +Attire, which he thought added as much as was possible to the abundance +of her Charms. He had not much Time to Contemplate this Beauteous +Vision, for she soon passed into the Garden of the Convent, leaving him +Confounded with Love, Admiration, Joy, Hope, Fear, and all the Train of +Passions, which seize upon Men in his Condition, all at once. He was so +teazed with this Variety of Torment, that he never missed the Two Hours +that had slipped away during his Automachy and Intestine Conflict. +Leonora’s Return settled his Spirits, at least united them, and he had +now no other Thought but how he should present himself before her. When +she calling her Woman, bid her bolt the Garden Door on the Inside, that +she might not be Surpriz’d by her Father, if he returned through the +Convent, which done, she ordered her to bring down her Lute, and leave +her to her self in the Garden. + +All this Hippolito saw and heard to his inexpressible Content, yet had +he much to do to smother his Joy, and hinder it from taking a Vent, +which would have ruined the only Opportunity of his Life. Leonora +withdrew into an Arbour so near him, that he could distinctly hear her +if she Played or Sung: Having tuned her Lute, with a Voice soft as the +Breath of Angels, she flung to it this following Air: + +I. + + +Ah! Whither, whither shall I fly, + A poor unhappy Maid; +To hopeless Love and Misery + By my own Heart betray’d? +Not by Alexis Eyes undone, + Nor by his Charming Faithless Tongue, +Or any Practis’d Art; + Such real Ills may hope a Cure, +But the sad Pains which I endure + Proceed from fansied Smart. + + +II. + + +’Twas Fancy gave Alexis Charms, + Ere I beheld his Face: +Kind Fancy (then) could fold our Arms, + And form a soft Embrace. +But since I’ve seen the real Swain, + And try’d to fancy him again, +I’m by my Fancy taught, + Though ’tis a Bliss no Tongue can tell, +To have Alexis, yet ’tis Hell + To have him but in Thought. + + +The Song ended grieved Hippolito that it was so soon ended; and in the +Ecstacy he was then rapt, I believe he would have been satisfied to +have expired with it. He could not help Flattering himself, (though at +the same Time he checked his own Vanity) that he was the Person meant +in the Song. While he was indulging which thought, to his happy +Astonishment, he heard it encouraged by these Words: + +‘Unhappy Leonora (said she) how is thy poor unwary Heart misled? +Whither am I come? The false deluding Lights of an imaginary Flame, +have led me, a poor benighted Victim, to a real Fire. I burn and am +consumed with hopeless Love; those Beams in whose soft temperate warmth +I wanton’d heretofore, now flash destruction to my Soul, my Treacherous +greedy Eyes have suck’d the glaring Light, they have united all its +Rays, and, like a burning-Glass, convey’d the pointed Meteor to my +Heart—Ah! Aurelian, how quickly hast thou Conquer’d, and how quickly +must thou Forsake. Oh Happy (to me unfortunately Happy) Juliana! I am +to be the subject of thy Triumph—To thee Aurelian comes laden with the +Tribute of my Heart and Glories in the Oblation of his broken +Vows.—What then, is Aurelian False! False! alass, I know not what I +say; How can he be False, or True, or any Thing to me? What Promises +did he ere make or I receive? Sure I dream, or I am mad, and fansie it +to be Love; Foolish Girl, recal thy banish’d Reason.—Ah! would it were +no more, would I could rave, sure that would give me Ease, and rob me +of the Sense of Pain; at least, among my wandring Thoughts, I should at +sometime light upon Aurelian, and fansie him to be mine; kind Madness +would flatter my poor feeble Wishes, and sometimes tell me Aurelian is +not lost—not irrecoverably—not for ever lost. + +Hippolito could hear no more, he had not Room for half his Transport. +When Leonora perceived a Man coming toward her, she fell a trembling, +and could not speak. Hippolito approached with Reverence, as to a +Sacred Shrine; when coming near enough to see her Consternation, he +fell upon his Knees. + +‘Behold, O Adored Leonora (said he) ‘your ravished Aurelian, behold at +your Feet the Happiest of Men, be not disturb’d at my Appearance, but +think that Heaven conducted me to hear my Bliss pronounced by that dear +Mouth alone, whose breath could fill me with new Life. + +Here he would have come nearer, but Leonora (scarce come to her self) +was getting up in haste to have gone away: he catch’d her Hand, and +with all the Endearments of Love and Transport pressed her stay; she +was a long time in great Confusion, at last, with many Blushes, she +entreated him to let her go where she might hide her Guilty Head, and +not expose her shame before his Eyes, since his Ears had been +sufficient Witnesses of her Crime. He begg’d pardon for his Treachery +in over-hearing, and confessed it to be a Crime he had now repeated. +With a Thousand Submissions, Entreaties, Prayers, Praises, Blessings, +and passionate Expressions he wrought upon her to stay and hear him. +Here Hippolito made use of his Rhetorick, and it proved prevailing: +’Twere tedious to tell the many ingenious Arguments he used, with all +her Nice Distinctions and Objections. In short, he convinced her of his +Passion, represented to her the necessity they were under, of being +speedy in their Resolves: That his Father (for still he was Aurelian) +would undoubtedly find him in the Morning, and then it would be too +late to Repent. She on the other Hand, knew it was in vain to deny a +Passion, which he had heard her so frankly own; (and no doubt was very +glad it was past and done;) besides apprehending the danger of delay, +and having some little Jealousies and Fears of what Effect might be +produced between the Commands of his Father and the Beauties of +Juliana; after some decent Denials, she consented to be Conducted by +him through the Garden into the Convent, where she would prevail with +her Confessor to Marry them. He was a scrupulous Old Father whom they +had to deal withal, insomuch that ere they had perswaded him, Don Mario +was returned by the Way of his own House, where missing his Daughter, +and her Woman not being able to give any farther Account of her, than +that she left her in the Garden; he concluded she was gone again to her +Devotions, and indeed he found her in the Chappel upon her Knees with +Hippolito in her hand, receiving the Father’s Benediction upon +Conclusion of the Ceremony. + +It would have asked a very skilful Hand, to have depicted to the Life +the Faces of those Three Persons, at Don Mario’s Appearance. He that +has seen some admirable Piece of Transmutation by a Gorgon’s Head, may +form to himself the most probable Idea of the Prototype. The Old +Gentleman was himself in a sort of a Wood, to find his Daughter with a +Young Fellow and a Priest, but as yet he did not know the Worst, till +Hippolito and Leonora came, and kneeling at his Feet, begg’d his +Forgiveness and Blessing as his Son and Daughter. Don Mario, instead of +that, fell into a most violent Passion, and would undoubtedly have +committed some extravagant Action, had he not been restrained, more by +the Sanctity of the Place, than the Perswasions of all the Religious, +who were now come about him. Leonora stirr’d not off her Knees all this +time, but continued begging of him that he would hear her. + +‘Ah! Ungrateful and Undutiful Wretch (cry’d he) ‘how hast thou requited +all my Care and Tenderness of thee? Now when I might have expected some +return of Comfort, to throw thy self away upon an unknown Person, and, +for ought I know, a Villain; to me I’m sure he is a Villain, who has +robb’d me of my Treasure, my Darling Joy, and all the future Happiness +of my Life prevented. Go—go, thou now-to-be-forgotten Leonora, go and +enjoy thy unprosperous Choice; you who wanted not a Father’s Counsel, +cannot need, or else will slight his Blessing. + +These last Words were spoken with so much Passion and feeling Concern, +that Leonora, moved with Excess of Grief, fainted at his Feet, just as +she had caught hold to Embrace his Knees. The Old Man would have shook +her off, but Compassion and Fatherly Affection came upon him in the +midst of his Resolve, and melted him into Tears, he Embraced his +Daughter in his Arms, and wept over her, while they endeavoured to +restore her Senses. + +Hippolito was in such Concern he could not speak, but was busily +employed in rubbing and chafing her Temples; when she opening her Eyes +laid hold of his Arm, and cry’d out—Oh my Aurelian—how unhappy have you +made me! With that she had again like to have fainted away, but he took +her in his Arms, and begg’d Don Mario to have some pity on his +Daughter, since by his Severity she was reduced to that Condition. The +Old Man hearing his Daughter name Aurelian, was a little revived, and +began to hope Things were in a pretty good Condition; he was perswaded +to comfort her, and having brought her wholly to her self, was content +to hear her Excuse, and in a little time was so far wrought upon as to +beg Hippolito’s Pardon for the Ill Opinion he had conceived of him, and +not long after gave his Consent. + +The Night was spent in this Conflict, and it was now clear Day, when +Don Mario Conducting his new Son and Daughter through the Garden, was +met by some Servants of the Marquess of Viterbo, who had been enquiring +for Donna Leonora, to know if Juliana had lately been with her; for +that she was missing from her Father’s House, and no conjectures could +be made of what might become of her. Don Mario and Leonora were +surprized at the News, for he knew well enough of the Match that was +design’d for Juliana; and having enquired where the Marquess was, it +was told him, That he was gone with Don Fabio and Fabritio toward +Aurelian’s Lodgings. Don Mario having assured the Servants that Juliana +had not been there, dismissed them, and advised with his Son and +Daughter how they should undeceive the Marquess and Don Fabio in their +Expectations of Aurelian. Hippolito could oftentimes scarce forbear +smiling at the old Man’s Contrivances who was most deceived himself; he +at length advised them to go all down together to his Lodging, where he +would present himself before his Father, and ingenuously confess to him +the truth, and he did not question his approving of his Choice. + +This was agreed to, and the Coach made ready. While they were upon +their way, Hippolito pray’d heartily that his Friend Aurelian might be +at the Lodging, to satisfie Don Mario and Leonora of his Circumstances +and Quality, when he should be obliged to discover himself. His +Petitions were granted; for Don Fabio had beset the House long before +his Son was up or Incognita awake. + +Upon the arrival of Don Mario and Hippolito, they heard a great Noise +and Hubbub above Stairs, which Don Mario concluded was occasioned by +their not finding Aurelian, whom he thought he could give the best +account of: So that it was not in Hippolito’s power to disswade him +from going up before to prepare his Father to receive and forgive him. +While Hippolito and Leonora were left in the Coach at the Door, he made +himself known to her, and begg’d her pardon a thousand times for +continuing the deceit. She was under some concern at first to find she +was still mistaken; but his Behaviour, and the Reasons he gave, soon +reconciled him to her; his Person was altogether as agreeable, his +Estate and Quality not at all inferiour to Aurelian’s; in the mean +time, the true Aurelian who had seen his Father, begg’d leave of him to +withdraw for a moment; in which time he went into the Chamber where his +Incognita was dressing her self, by his design, in Woman’s Apparel, +while he was consulting with her how they should break the matter to +his Father; it happened that Don Mario came up Stairs where the +Marquess and Don Fabio were; they undoubtedly concluded him Mad, to +hear him making Apologies and Excuses for Aurelian, whom he told them +if they would promise to forgive he would present before them +immediately. The Marquess asked him if his Daughter had lain with +Leonora that Night; he answered him with another question in behalf of +Aurelian. In short, they could not understand one another, but each +thought ’tother beside himself. Don Mario was so concern’d that they +would not believe him, that he ran down Stairs and came to the Door out +of Breath, desiring Hippolito that he would come into the House +quickly, for that he could not perswade his Father but that he had +already seen and spoke to him. Hippolito by that understood that +Aurelian was in the House; so taking Leonora by the Hand, he followed +Don Mario, who led him up into the Dining-Room, where they found +Aurelian upon his Knees, begging his Father to forgive him, that he +could not agree to the Choice he had made for him, since he had already +disposed of himself, and that before he understood the designs he had +for him, which was the reason that he had hitherto concealed himself. +Don Fabio knew not how to answer him, but look’d upon the Marquess, and +the Marquess upon him, as if the Cement had been cool’d which was to +have united their Families. + +All was silent, and Don Mario for his part took it to be all +Conjuration; he was coming forward to present Hippolito to them, when +Aurelian spying his Friend, started from his Knees and ran to embrace +him—My dear Hippolito (said he) what happy chance has brought you +hither, just at my Necessity? Hippolito pointed to Don Mario and +Leonora, and told him upon what terms he came. Don Mario was ready to +run mad, hearing him called Hippolito, and went again to examine his +Daughter. While she was informing him of the truth, the Marquess’s +Servants returned with the melancholy News that his Daughter was no +where to be found. While the Marquess and Don Fabritio were wondering +at, and lamenting the Misfortune of her loss, Hippolito came towards +Don Fabio and interceded for his Son, since the Lady perhaps had +withdrawn her self out of an Aversion to the Match. Don Fabio, though +very much incens’d, yet forgot not the Respect due to Hippolito’s +Quality; and by his perswasion spoke to Aurelian, though with a stern +Look and angry Voice, and asked him where he had disposed the cause of +his Disobedience, if he were worthy to see her or no; Aurelian made +answer, That he desired no more than for him to see her; and he did not +doubt a Consequence of his Approbation and Forgiveness—Well (said Don +Fabio) you are very conceited of your own Discretion, let us see this +Rarety. While Aurelian was gone in for Incognita, the Marquess of +Viterbo and Don Fabritio were taking their leaves in great disorder for +their loss and disappointment; but Don Fabio entreated their stay a +moment longer till the return of his Son. Aurelian led Incognita into +the Room veil’d, who seeing some Company there which he had not told +her of, would have gone back again. But Don Fabio came bluntly +forwards, and ere she was aware, lifted up her Veil and beheld the Fair +Incognita, differing nothing from Juliana, but in her Name. This +discovery was so extreamly surprizing and welcome, that either Joy or +Amazement had tied up the Tongues of the whole Company. Aurelian here +was most at a loss, for he knew not of his Happiness; and that which +all along prevented Juliana’s confessing her self to him, was her +knowing Hippolito (for whom she took him) to be Aurelian’s Friend, and +she feared if he had known her, that he would never have consented to +have deprived him of her. Juliana was the first that spoke, falling +upon her Knees to her Father, who was not enough himself to take her +up. Don Fabio ran to her, and awakened the Marquess, who then embraced +her, but could not yet speak. Fabritio and Leonora strove who should +first take her in their Arms; for Aurelian he was out of his wits for +Joy, and Juliana was not much behind him, to see how happily their +Loves and Duties were reconciled. Don Fabio embraced his Son and +forgave him. The Marquess and Fabritio gave Juliana into his hands, he +received the Blessing upon his Knees; all were over-joy’d, and Don +Mario not a little proud at the discovery of his Son-in-Law, whom +Aurelian did not fail to set forth with all the ardent Zeal and +Eloquence of Friendship. Juliana and Leonora had pleasant Discourse +about their unknown and mistaken Rivalship, and it was the Subject of a +great deal of Mirth to hear Juliana relate the several Contrivances +which she had to avoid Aurelian for the sake of Hippolito. + +Having diverted themselves with many Remarks upon the pleasing +surprize, they all thought it proper to attend upon the Great Duke that +Morning at the Palace, and to acquaint him with the Novelty of what had +pass’d; while, by the way, the two Young Couple entertained the Company +with the Relation of several Particulars of their Three Days +Adventures. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INCOGNITA *** + +***** This file should be named 2363-0.txt or 2363-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/2363/ + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it + under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this + eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the + United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where + you are located before using this eBook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain +Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that: + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without +widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + |