Vallet had designed to dress himself up in
his Master's Apparel, and try his talent at Court; which he hearing, told
him he would inform him how he might bestow the Habit for some time much
more to his profit if not to his pleasure, so acquainted him with the
occasion his Master had for it. Hippolito sent for the Fellow up, who
was not so fond of his design as not to be bought off it, but upon having
his own demand granted for the use of it, brought it; it was very Rich,
and upon tryal, as fit for Hippolito as if it had been made for him. The
Ceremony was performed in the Morning, in the great Dome, with all
magnificence correspondent to the wealth of the great Duke, and the
esteem he had for the Noble Pair. The next Morning was to be a Tilting,
and the same Night a Masquing Ball at Court. To omit the Description of
the universal Joy, (that had diffus'd it self through all the Conduits of
Wine, which convey'd it in large measures to the People) and only relate
those effects of it which concern our present Adventurers. You must
know, that about the fall of the Evening, and at that time when the
_aequilibrium_ of Day and Night, for some time, holds the Air in a gloomy
suspence between an unwillingness to leave the light, and a natural
impulse into the Dominion of darkness, about this time our Hero's, shall
I say, sally'd or slunk out of their Lodgings, and steer'd toward the
great Palace, whither, before they were arrived, such a prodigious number
of Torches were on fire, that the day, by help of these Auxiliary Forces,
seem'd to continue its Dominion; the Owls and Bats apprehending their
mistake, in counting the hours, retir'd again to a convenient darkness;
for Madam Night was no more to be seen than she was to be heard; and the
Chymists were of Opinion, That her fuliginous Damps, rarefy'd by the
abundance of Flame, were evaporated.

Now the Reader I suppose to be upon Thorns at this and the like
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 bu