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diff --git a/old/2363.txt b/old/2363.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b555ebc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2363.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2347 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Incognita, by William Congreve + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + + + + +Title: Incognita + or, Love & Duty Reconcil'd. A Novel + + +Author: William Congreve + +Release Date: May 8, 2005 [eBook #2363] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INCOGNITA*** + + + + + + +Transcribed from the text of the first edition by David Price, email +ccx074@coventry.ac.uk + + + + + +INCOGNITA: OR, LOVE AND 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 quae sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus, & quae + 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 +_aequilibrium_ 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. I short, to be made sensible of his condition, we must conceive +some Idea of what he beheld, which is not to 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 Aurelia, 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.txt or 2363.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/6/2363 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. 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