Incognita | Page 6

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