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 near him,perceiv'd plainly Hippolito's Habit,and step'd hastily to take him up.Just as some of the Guards (who were going the Rounds,apprehensive of such Disorders in an Universal Merriment)came up to him with Lights,and had taken Prisoners the Two Men,whom they met with their Sword's drawn;when looking in the Face of the Wounded Man,he found it was not Hippolito,but his Governour Claudio,in the Habit he had worn at the Ball.He was extreamly surpriz'd,as were the Prisoners,who confess'd their Design to have been upon Lorenzo;grounding their Mistake upon the Habit which was known to have been his.They were Two Men who formerly had been Servants to him,whom Lorenzo had unfortunately slain.
They made a shift to bring Claudio to himself;and part of the Guard carrying off the Prisoners,whom Aurelian desired they would secure,the rest accompanied him bearing Claudio in their Arms to his Lodging.He had not patience to forbear asking for Hippolito by the Way;whom Claudio assured him,he had left safe in his Chamber,above Two Hours since.That his coming Home so long before the Divertisements were ended,and Undressing himself,had given him the Unhappy Curiosity,to put on his Habit,and go to the Pallace;in his Return from whence,he was set upon in the Manner he found him,which if he recovered,he must own his Life indebted to his timely Assistance.
Being come to the House,they carried him to his Bed,and having sent for Surgeons Aurelian rewarded and dismissed the Guard.He stay'd the dressing of Claudio's Wounds,which were many,though they hop'd none Mortal:and leaving him to his Rest,went to give Hippolito an Account of what had happened,whom he found with a Table before him,leaning upon both his Elbows,his Face covered with his Hands,and so motionless,that Aurelian concluded he was asleep;seeing several Papers lie before him,half written and blotted out again,he thought to steal softly to the Table,and discover what he had been employed about.Just as he reach'd forth his Hand to take up one of the Papers,Hippolito started up so on the suddain,as surpriz'd Aurelian and made him leap back;Hippolito,on the other hand,not supposing that any Body had been near him,was so disordered with the Appearance of a Man at his Elbow,(whom his Amazement did not permit him to distinguish)that he leap'd hastily to his Sword,and in turning him about,overthrew the Stand and Candles.Here were they both left in the Dark,Hippolito groping about with his Sword,and thrusting at every Chair that he felt oppose him.Aurelian was scarce come to himself,when thinking to step back toward the Door that he might inform his Friend of his Mistake,without exposing himself to his blind Fury;Hippolito heard him stir,and made a full thrust with such Violence,that the Hilt of the Sword meeting with Aurelian's Breast beat him down,and Hippolito a top of him,as a Servant alarm'd with the noise,came into the Chamber with a Light.
The Fellow trembled,and thought they were both Dead,till Hippolito raising himself,to see whom he had got under him,swoon'd away upon the discovery of his Friend.But such was the extraordinary Care of Providence in directing the Sword,that it only past under his Arm,giving no Wound to Aurelia,but a little Bruise between his Shoulder and Breast with the Hilt.He got up,scarce recovered of his Fright,and by the help of the Servant;laid Hippolito upon the Bed;who when he was come to himself could hardly be perswaded,that his Friend was before him and alive,till he shew'd him his Breast,where was nothing of a Wound.Hippolito begg'd his Pardon a Thousand Times,and curs'd himself as often,who was so near to committing the most Execrable Act of Amicide.
They dismiss'd the Fellow,and with many Embraces,congratulated their fortunate Delivery from the Mischief which came so near them,each blaming himself as the Occasion:Aurelian accusing his own unadvisedness in stealing upon Hippolito;Hippolito blaming his own temerity and weakness,in being so easily frighted to Disorder;and last of all,his blindness,in not knowing his dearest Friend.But there he gave a Sigh,and passionately taking Aurelian by the Hand,cry'd,Ah!my Friend,Love is indeed blind,when it would not suffer me to see you--There arose another Sigh;a Sympathy seiz'd Aurelian immediately:(For,by the Way,sighing is as catching among Lovers,as yawning among the Vulgar.)Beside hearing the Name of Love,made him fetch such a Sigh,that Hippolito's were but Fly-blows in Comparison,that was answered with all the Might Hippolito had,Aurelian ply'd him close till they were both out of Breath.
Thus not a Word pass'd,though each wondred why the t'other sigh'd,at last concluded it to be only Complaisance to one another.
Aurelian broke the Silence,by telling him the Misfortune of his Governour.Hippolito rejoic'd as at the luckiest Accident which could have befall'n him.Aurelian wondred at his unseasonable Mirth,and demanded the Cause of it;he answer'd,It would necessitate his longer Stay in Florence,and for ought he knew be the Means of bringing a happy Period to his Amour.
