nitely. The Family of the Altieri is one of the most ancient among the Romans: Clement the Tenth, who was the last of them, was defirous of reviving it in the Perfon of Don Gafpero Paluzzi; and after he had efpoufed his Neice, declared him Nephew and Prince in Conjunction with his Father Don Angelo Paluzzi, on Condition that he fhould henceforward take the Name of Altieri.

GIVING the Management of his Affairs into the Hands of Don Angelo, whom he made a Cardinal, under the fame Name of Altieri, he reap'd fo great an Advantage by that Poft, that he got an annual Revenue of 50, 000 Crowns, which the young Prince Gafpero knew perfectly well how to make use of, being a Man extremely devoted to his Pleafures, and those especially which were most expensive, and made the greatest Noife in the World. But when the Cardinal was inform'd of thefe Diverfions, and the Sums of Money he expended in them, he very feverely reprimanded him, putting

him in mind of the Difcontent he muft caufe in the Princefs his Wife, to whom they owed the Elevation of their Houfe; and how highly the Pope would refent it, fhould she make any Complaints to him. But the Prince, eternally gay and gallant, took but little notice of thefe Remonftrances, contenting himself with appeafing the Princefs, by telling her that he would for the future lead a Life more regular. And as nothing could be more fweetly obliging than the Difpofition of this Lady, that, and the intire Affection fhe had for him, eafily induced her to pardon all thofe little Tranfgreffions, which in reality were not occafioned by a Want of Tenderness or Regard for her, but only by the two great Vivacity and Love of Gaiety in his Humour.

THE Cardinal, however, ftill continuing to write to him on the fame Subject, and inforcing his Arguments, with reciting the Examples of feveral Princes of the fame Rank, who liv'd in a Manner directly oppofite to that which he did, excited a Curiofity in this young Prince to know the Truth; not being able to imagine that those who had it in their Power to indulge their Inclinations,

clinations, would put a conftraint upon them, meerly because they liv'd at Rome.

IT is a Custom with them there, during the time of the Carnival, to make Balls and Masquerades, to which all Perfons have the Liberty of Accefs, and toenjoy themfelves without any Discovery, who, or of what Condition they are. Don Gafpero took this Opportunity for the execution of a Project he had form'd, and in which he promised himself a good deal of Diverfion. He gave the word for a Ball, but order'd that all who came to it fhould be mafqued, and that every Man fhould bring a Partner with him of the other Sex, disguised in the fame Manner.

THE News of this was immediately spread through the City, and every one knowing the Difpofition of that Prince, doubted not but the Entertainment would be very magnificent, and proportion'd to the Quality and Liberality of him who gave it; and there being fo great a Number of People in Rome, whose Affairs or Profeffions render'd it improper for them to be feen at any public Diverfion, made this Opportunity extremely pleafing to them: The Conditions of their Admittance to the Ball were new, and afforded a vaft deal of Satisfaction to thofe Gentlemen who defired to be happy with their Miftreffes incognito.

THE wifh'd for Evening being arriv'd, great Numbers repaired in Couples to this Scene of Pleafure: They danc'd, they talked, they entertain'd each other with all imaginable Freedom, and made the most of this happy Hour of Liberty, the like of which, perhaps, they might not re-enjoy of a long time..

BUT Don Gafpero, who had not made this Entertainment merely for the Diverfion of the Perfons who came to partake of it, thought it was now high time to claim his own Share, and refolved to push it to the utmost. Seeing therefore the whole Affembly full of Pleasure, and indulging each one his feveral Inclinations in a full Security, on a fudden order'd the Mufic to give over and the Dance to cease; then stepping into the middle of the Hall with an Air of Gallantry, As I propofed,

(faid

(faid he) an entire Freedom, I would have no-body furprized, or uneafy at the Demand I am about to make, which is to follow my Example, and immediately be all unmafk'd "Tis impoffible to express the Confufion which this fo lately happy Company were involv'd in, at this Behaviour of the Prince: Glad would the greateft Part of them have been to have hazarded an Arm or a Leg in an Endeavour to get out, but there was no Poffibility, the Doors were all fast, and the Prince's Guards defended the Windows, and prevented all Opportunities of escaping. Don Gafpero, who had a watchful Eye on all their Motions, eafily perceiv'd the Condition they were in, and that he had not been deceived in his Conjectures, when he believ'd that the graveft Dons of Rome were no greater Foes to Pleasure than himself, provided they could enjoy it without being remark'd.- -Some few there were who made no fcruple of plucking off their Vizors on the first Demand; but the others crouded in heaps together, as uncertain what to do: When the Prince pitying their Disorder, but extremely satisfied at the Succefs of this little Stratagem, affured them with repeated Protestations, That of whatever Characters or Profeffions foever they were, that had favour'd his Entertainment with their Prefence, the Secret fhould be fafe; and that he would take it as an Affront to his own Perfon, if any of the lefs cautious among them fhould throw an Afperfion on the others. In fpeaking thefe Words he went round the Room, and himfelf took from them their Masks, which none now any longer refufed.

THE Discoveries he made by this means, gave him an infinite Delight; and nothing could be more pleasant, than to fee fome of thofe who had, with the greatest Vigour imaginable, declaim'd against thofe kind of Entertainments, detected in the highest Enjoyment of them : They look'd on one another with a kind of Amazement and Confufion, to be found in a Place, where each wonder'd to fee his CompanionThe Prince indulged for fome Moments the Satisfaction of beholding the Disorder this innocent Frolic had occafion'd, then re

newed

newed his Promises, that all fhould be kept with an inviolable Secrecy; and they growing by Degrees more affured, he led them to a magnificent Collation: After which the Dancing was renew'd, and the Ball broke up with as much Satisfaction as it had begun; every one praifing and admiring the Generofity and Good-humour of the Prince; and he highly contented in the Certainty, that all Men of Taste and Gallantry had the fame Notions of Pleasure as himfelf.

THE Adventure is vaftly entertaining, faid Thelamont, but I cannot fee of what Advantnge it was to Don Gafpero, having bound himself by Promife not to reveal any Part of it; he therefore could not, by urging the Examples of the graver Sort, excufe himfelf to the Cardinal, when next he took upon him to correct the Freedom of his Behaviour.

Bur yet, reply'd Urania, there is a fecret Satiffaction in the being able to answer to one's felf the Actions of one's Life. And if the Love which that Prince had to Diversions, carried him no farther than the innocent Enjoyment of them, it must certainly highly delight him to know that he was guilty of no Faults but what those who reprimanded him were glad to partake. -But, continued fhe, rifing from her Seat, our Converfation makes us forget that there are other Pleasures befides this Clofet, which calls for our Enjoyment, and that this fine Day invites us to change both our Place and the Subject of Entertainment.

NONE of this agreeable Society offering any thing in Oppofition to the Defires of Urania, fhe conducted them to the Terrafs which over-look'd the River; where the Converfation renewing with the ufual Vivacity, It must. be confefs'd, faid Florinda, looking attentively on the Water, that this Element is one of the moft agreeable Things in Nature, when contain'd within the Bounds prefcribed. It is true, anfwer'd Julia; but while I love, I also fear it: I am charm'd to behold it at a Diftance, and I acknowledge with Shame my Timidity in venturing myfelf upon it. I am not able to comprehend, that the Defire of Gain, and the Hopes of making VOL. II. B

a great

a great Fortune, fhould have the Power to encourage, fo many People to traverfe the Seas, and every Day encounter Dangers which I tremble but to hear related. -It is a Boldness, however, which you ought not to difapprove, faid Camilla laughing, for without it the charming Julia must have run the Rifque never to have feen Orfames.

As for me, anfwer'd he, if the Idea of the adorable Julia had found me at Mexico, there is no Danger fo great that I would not willingly have encounter'd, to behold the dear Original.-It is not strange, interrupted Julia blufhing, that while I knew you not, the Weakness of my Sex, and Terror of the Sea, might have overcome all the Defire I could have had to fee you, even tho' I should have heard of you with the greatest Advantage: But I now proteft to you, that in fpite of all the Dictates of my Fear, there are no Dangers, either by Land or Sea, that I could not be capable of daring, to follow or accompany you.

THE Affection which Orfames had for Julia, was too tender and fincere, not to be extremely fenfible of an Affurance fo obliging; and as he knew they were in Company with thofe whom Hymen had rather infpir'd with a greater Paffion than any way diminish'd, he made no Scruple of following thofe Emotions which her Words had raised in him. He took her Hand, and preffing it ardently to his Bofom; And for me, faid he, my dear Julia, Ifwear to you, by the Excess of foy your Love affords, that I will never put your Attachment for me to any Proofs which shall in the leaft contradict your own Defires.

In truth, faid Orophanes, the Sight of thefe tender Unions may well' add to the Thoughtfulness of Camilla, if the Occafion of her being fo, is as I fufpect.-You always attack me, replied that amiable Lady; and if I did not know the Merit of Felicia, and how precious you efteem her Chains, I fhould believe you envied me the Liberty I enjoy.-You give no great Proofs of that Liberty, interrupted Felicia laughing; your unaccuftom'd Referve, and the Difcourfe we heard from Florinda, give us just Reason to believe you are not very

far