The Company breaking up, she took her leave, and at his earnest
Entreaty, gave him a short Vision of her Face which, then dress’d in an
obliging smile, caused another fit of Transport, which lasted till she
was gone out of Sight. Aurelian gathered up his Spirits, and walked
slowly towards his Lodging, never remembring that he had lost
Hippolito, till upon turning the Corner of a Street, he heard a noise
of Fighting; and coming near, saw a Man make a vigorous Defence against
two, who pressed violently upon him. He then thought of Hippolito, and
fancying he saw the glimmering of Diamond Buttons, such as Hippolito
had upon the Sleeves of his Habit, immediately drew to his Assistance;
and with that Eagerness and Resolution, that the Assailants, finding
their unmanly odds defeated, took to their Heels. The Person rescued by
the Generous Help of Aurelian, came toward him; but as he would have
stoop’d to have saluted him, dropp’d, fainting at his feet. Aurelian,
now he was so near him, perceiv’d plainly Hippolito’s Habit, and step’d
hastily to take him up. Just as some of the Guards (who were going the
Rounds, apprehensive of such Disorders in an Universal Merriment) came
up to him with Lights, and had taken Prisoners the Two Men, whom they
met with their Sword’s drawn; when looking in the Face of the Wounded
Man, he found it was not Hippolito, but his Governour Claudio, in the
Habit he had worn at the Ball. He was extreamly surpriz’d, as were the
Prisoners, who confess’d their Design to have been upon Lorenzo;
grounding their Mistake upon the Habit which was known to have been
his. They were Two Men who formerly had been Servants to him, whom
Lorenzo had unfortunately slain.
They made a shift to bring Claudio to himself; and part of the Guard
carrying off the Prisoners, whom Aurelian desired they would secure,
the rest accompanied him bearing Claudio in their Arms to his Lodging.
He had not patience to forbear asking for Hippolito by the Way; whom
Claudio assured him, he had left safe in his Chamber, above Two Hours
since. That his coming Home so long before the Divertisements were
ended, and Undressing himself, had given him the Unhappy Curiosity, to
put on his Habit, and go to the Pallace; in his Return from whence, he
was set upon in the Manner he found him, which if he recovered, he must
own his Life indebted to his timely Assistance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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