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diff --git a/old/ncoga10.txt b/old/ncoga10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4129572 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ncoga10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2349 @@ +*The Project Gutenberg Etext of Incognita, by William Congreve* +#5 in our series by William Congreve + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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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 + +by William Congreve + + + + +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 Etext of Incognita, by William Congreve + |