Incognita; or, Love and Duty Reconcil'd by William Congreve


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Page 3

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.

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Books | Photos | Paul Mutton | Thu 28th Mar 2024, 20:04