He went into Don Mario’s Garden, and walk’d round with much Caution and
Circumspection; for the Moon was then about to rise, and had already
diffused a glimmering Light, sufficient to distinguish a Man from a
Tree. By Computation now (which is a very remarkable Circumstance)
Hippolito entred this Garden near upon the same Instant, when Aurelian
wandred into the Old Monastery and found his Incognita in Distress. He
was pretty well acquainted with the Platform, and Sight of the Garden;
for he had formerly surveyed the Outside, and knew what part to make to
if he should be surpriz’d and driven to a precipitate Escape. He took
his Stand behind a well grown Bush of Myrtle, which, should the Moon
shine brighter than was required, had the Advantage to be shaded by the
Indulgent Boughs of an ancient Bay-Tree. He was delighted with the
Choice he had made, for he found a Hollow in the Myrtle, as if
purposely contriv’d for the Reception of one Person, who might
undiscovered perceive all about him. He looked upon it as a good Omen,
that the Tree Consecrated to Venus was so propitious to him in his
Amorous Distress. The Consideration of that, together with the
Obligation he lay under to the Muses, for sheltering him also with so
large a Crown of Bays, had like to have set him a Rhyming.
He was, to tell the Truth, naturally addicted to Madrigal, and we
should undoubtedly have had a small desert of Numbers to have pick’d
and Criticiz’d upon, had he not been interrupted just upon his
Delivery; nay, after the Preliminary Sigh had made Way for his
Utterance. But so was his Fortune, Don Mario was coming towards the
Door at that very nick of Time, where he met with a Priest just out of
Breath, who told him that Lorenzo was just breathing his last, and
desired to know if he would come and take his final Leave before they
were to administer the Extream Unction. Don Mario, who had been at some
Difference with his Nephew, now thought it his Duty to be reconciled to
him; so calling to Leonora, who was coming after him, he bid her go to
her Devotions in the Chappel, and told her where he was going.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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