awe with love; kindling a Flame which trembled to aspire. She had
danced much, which, together with her being close masked, gave her a
tincture of Carnation more than ordinary. But Aurelian (from whom I had
every tittle of her Description) fancy’d he saw a little Nest of Cupids
break from the Tresses of her Hair, and every one officiously betake
himself to his task. Some fann’d with their downy Wings, her glowing
Cheeks; while others brush’d the balmy Dew from off her Face, leaving
alone a heavenly Moisture blubbing on her Lips, on which they drank and
revell’d for their pains; Nay, so particular were their allotments in
her service, that Aurelian was very positive a young Cupid who was but
just Pen-feather’d, employ’d his naked Quills to pick her Teeth. And a
thousand other things his transport represented to him, which none but
Lovers who have experience of such Visions will believe.
As soon as he awaked and found his Speech come to him, he employ’d it
to this effect:
‘’Tis enough that I have seen a Divinity—Nothing but Mercy can inhabit
these Perfections—Their utmost rigour brings a Death preferable to any
Life, but what they give—Use me, Madam, as you please; for by your fair
self, I cannot think a Bliss beyond what now I feel—You wound with
Pleasure, and if you Kill it must be with Transport—Ah! Yet methinks to
live—O Heaven! to have Life pronounced by those Bless’d Lips—Did they
not inspire where they command, it were an immediate Death of Joy.
Aurelian was growing a little too loud with his Admiration, had she not
just then interrupted him, by clapping on her Masque, and telling him
they should be observed, if he proceeded in his Extravagance; and
withal, that his Passion was too suddain to be real, and too violent to
be lasting. He replied, Indeed it might not be very lasting, (with a
submissive mournful Voice) but it would continue during his Life. That
it was suddain, he denied, for she had raised it by degrees from his
first sight of her, by a continued discovery of Charms, in her Mien and
Conversation, till she thought fit to set Fire to the Train she had
laid, by the Lightning of her Face; and then he could not help it, if
he were blown up.
He begg’d her to believe the Sincerity of his Passion, at least to
enjoin him something, which might tend to the Convincing of her
Incredulity. She said, she should find a time to make some Trials of
him; but for the first, she charged him not to follow or observe her,
after the Dissolution of the Assembly. He promised to obey, and
entreated her to tell him but her Name, that he might have Recourse to
that in his Affliction for her Absence, if he were able to survive it.
She desired him to live by all means; and if he must have a Name to
play with, to call her Incognita, till he were better informed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account