Incognita | Page 4

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