impertinent Digressions, but let him alone and he'll come to himself; at
which time I think fit to acquaint him, that when I digress, I am at that
time writing to please my self, when I continue the Thread of the Story,
I write to please him; supposing him a reasonable Man, I conclude him
satisfied to allow me this liberty, and so I proceed.

If our Cavaliers were dazled at the splendour they beheld without doors,
what surprize, think you, must they be in, when entering the Palace they
found even the lights there to be but so many foils to the bright eyes
that flash'd upon 'em at every turn.

A more glorious Troop no occasion ever assembled; all the fair of
Florence, with the most accomplished Cavaliers, were present; and however
Nature had been partial in bestowing on some better Faces than others,
Art was alike indulgent to all, and industriously supplyed those Defects
she had left, giving some Addition also to her greatest Excellencies.
Every body appear'd well shap'd, as it is to be suppos'd, none who were
conscious to themselves of any visible Deformity would presume to come
thither. Their Apparel was equally glorious, though each differing in
fancy. In short, our Strangers were so well bred, as to conclude from
these apparent Perfections, that there was not a Masque which did not at
least hide the Face of a Cherubim. Perhaps the Ladies were not behind
hand in return of a favourable Opinion of them: for they were both well
dress'd, and had something inexpressibly pleasing in their Air and Mien,
different from other People, and indeed differing from one another. They
fansy'd that while they stood together they were more particularly taken
notice of than any in the Room, and being unwilling to be taken for
Strangers, which they thought they were, by reason of some whispering
they observed near them, they agreed upon an hour of meeting after the
company should be broke up, and so separately mingled with the thickest