They took little heed what became of the Body which they left behind
them, and Aurelian was conducted from out the Ruins by the Hand of him
he had delivered. By a faint light issuing from the just rising Moon,
he could discern that it was a Youth; but coming into a more frequented
part of the Town, where several Lights were hung out, he was amaz’d at
the extream Beauty which appeared in his Face, though a little pale and
disordered with his late fright. Aurelian longed to hear the Story of
so odd an adventure, and entreated his Charge to tell it him by the
way; but he desired him to forbear till they were come into some House
or other, where he might rest and recover his tired Spirits, for yet he
was so faint he was unable to look up. Aurelian thought these last
words were delivered in a Voice, whose accent was not new to him. That
thought made him look earnestly in the Youth’s Face, which he now was
sure he had somewhere seen before, and thereupon asked him if he had
never been at Siena? That Question made the young Gentleman look up,
and something of a Joy appeared in his Countenance, which yet he
endeavoured to smother; so praying Aurelian to conduct him to his
Lodging, he promised him that as soon as they should come thither, he
would acquaint him with any thing he desired to know. Aurelian would
rather have gone any where else than to his own Lodging; but being so
very late he was at a loss, and so forced to be contented.
As soon as they were come into his Chamber, and that Lights were
brought them and the Servant dismissed, the paleness which so visibly
before had usurped the sweet Countenance of the afflicted Youth
vanished, and gave place to a more lively Flood of Crimson, which with
a modest heat glow’d freshly on his Cheeks. Aurelian waited with a
pleasing Admiration the discovery promised him, when the Youth still
struggling with his Resolution, with a timorous haste, pulled off a
Peruke which had concealed the most beautiful abundance of Hair that
ever graced one Female Head; those dishevelled spreading tresses, as at
first they made a discovery of, so at last they served for a veil to
the modest lovely blushes of the fair Incognita; for she it was and
none other. But Oh! the inexpressible, inconceivable joy and amazement
of Aurelian! As soon as he durst venture to think, he concluded it to
be all Vision, and never doubted so much of any thing in his Life as of
his being then awake. But she taking him by the Hand, and desiring him
to sit down by her, partly convinced him of the reality of her
presence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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