ive--O Heaven! to have Life pronounced by those Bless'd Lips--Did they
not inspire where they command, it were an immediate Death of Joy.

Aurelian was growing a little too loud with his Admiration, had she not
just then interrupted him, by clapping on her Masque, and telling him
they should be observed, if he proceeded in his Extravagance; and withal,
that his Passion was too suddain to be real, and too violent to be
lasting. He replied, Indeed it might not be very lasting, (with a
submissive mournful Voice) but it would continue during his Life. That
it was suddain, he denied, for she had raised it by degrees from his
first sight of her, by a continued discovery of Charms, in her Mien and
Conversation, till she thought fit to set Fire to the Train she had laid,
by the Lightning of her Face; and then he could not help it, if he were
blown up.

He begg'd her to believe the Sincerity of his Passion, at least to enjoin
him something, which might tend to the Convincing of her Incredulity. She
said, she should find a time to make some Trials of him; but for the
first, she charged him not to follow or observe her, after the
Dissolution of the Assembly. He promised to obey, and entreated her to
tell him but her Name, that he might have Recourse to that in his
Affliction for her Absence, if he were able to survive it. She desired
him to live by all means; and if he must have a Name to play with, to
call her Incognita, till he were better informed.

The Company breaking up, she took her leave, and at his earnest Entreaty,
gave him a short Vision of her Face which, then dress'd in an obliging
smile, caused another fit of Transport, which lasted till she was gone
out of Sight. Aurelian gathered up his Spirits, and walked slowly
towards his Lodging, never remembring that he had lost Hippolito, till
upon turning the Corner of a Street, he heard a noise of Fighting; and
coming near, saw a Man make a vigorous Defence against two, who pressed
violently upon him. He then thought of Hippolito, and fancying he saw
the glimmering of Diamond Buttons, such as Hippolito had upon the Sleeves
of his Habit, immediately drew to his Assistance; and with that Eagerness
and Resolution, that the Assailants, finding their unmanly odds defeated,
took to their Heels. The Person rescued by the Generous Help of
Aurelian, came toward him; but as he would have stoop'd to have saluted
him, dropp'd, fainting at his feet. Aurelian, now he was so nea