第9章 INCOGNITA(7)

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,Idesire 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.