Incognita; or, Love and Duty Reconcil'd by William Congreve
page 29 of 65 (44%)
page 29 of 65 (44%)
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having kiss'd with a great deal of Ardour, he took Aurelian by the Hand,
and smiling at the Surprize he saw him in; 'Your Florentine Cupid is certainly (said he) 'the most Expert in the World. I have since I saw you beheld the most Beautiful of Women. I am faln desperately in Love with her, and those Papers which you see so blotted and scattered, are but so many Essays which I have made to the Declaration of my Passion. And this Handkerchief which I so zealously Caress, is the Inestimable Token which I have to make my self known to her. 'O Leonora! (continued he) 'how hast thou stamp'd thine Image on my Soul! How much dearer am I to my self, since I have had thy Heavenly Form in keeping! Now, my Aurelian, I am worthy thee; my exalted Love has Dignified me, and rais'd me far above thy poor former Despicable Hippolito. Aurelian seeing the Rapture he was in, thought it in vain to expect a settled Relation of the Adventure, so was reaching to the Table for some of the Papers, but Hippolito told him, If he would have a little patience he would acquaint him with the whole Matter; and thereupon told him Word for Word how he was mistaken for Lorenzo, and his Management of himself. Aurelian commended his Prudence, in not discovering himself; and told him, If he could spare so much time from the Contemplation of his Mistress, he would inform him of an Adventure, though not so Accidental, yet of as great Concern to his own future Happiness. So related all that had happened to him with his Beautiful Incognita. Having ended the Story, they began to consider of the Means they were to use toward a Review of their Mistresses. Aurelian was Confounded at the Difficulty he conceived on his Part. He understood from Hippolito's Adventure, that his Father knew of his being in Town, whom he must |
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