Incognita | Page 5

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