CHAP. XXXV.
Guzman appears at the Grand Duke’s Court, where a Lady falls in love with him.
The Grand Duchess had lately been brought to bed of a Prince, or rather she was just recovering from her accouchement; and there was an entertainment every day at the palace, where all persons of distinction of both sexes did not fail to resort. The Cavaliers who lodged in the same hotel with me, and who were of the first class of nobility of the country, being only come to Florence to join in those diversions, were so much the more assiduous in their attendance, as by these means they made their court to their Prince. My host inquired of me the first evening of my stay, whether I would eat by myself or with those gentlemen. I replied, that I would do myself the honour of supping with them; and when the time came, I entered the room just as they were seating themselves at table. I assumed an easy carriage, and affected the man of consequence, of which I was quite capable, and after I had saluted them politely, I seated myself at the upper end of the room in a chair which was handed me by Sayavedra, who performed his part of the ceremony to admiration.
This bold step attracted the attention of all the company present, who, wishing to know who I was, were uselessly employed in inquiring that information of each other in a whisper. They were most impatient to hear me speak, hoping to discover my nation by my accent. I was malicious enough to keep them in doubt even on this point. In vain did they endeavour to provoke me to speak by little attentions at table; I answered all their civilities either by most gracious looks or by an inclination of the head. Being obliged, however, to utter a few words, I passed in their opinion for a Roman; but afterwards giving orders to Sayavedra in Spanish, puzzled them as much as before.
One of these gentlemen, more curious than the rest, rose from table in order that he might go and interrogate the host as to who I was. In a few moments he returned to his seat with a satisfied air, and whispered something to those next him, and they to the others; and I was in a short time recognised by the whole party as the nephew of the Spanish Ambassador.
As soon as supper was over, all the company, looking upon me as a young nobleman, crowded round me, and one of them addressing me said: “Perhaps I was not aware that there was almost every day a ball at court, on account of the birth of the young prince, that there would be one held that very evening, and that if I had the least wish to go, they would have the pleasure of conducting me to the palace.” I replied, “that it would be most ungracious in me to reject so polite an offer, though indeed my travelling clothes formed some obstacle to the gratification of my curiosity; but that nevertheless, as I was not known at Florence, I would have the honour of accompanying the party to partake of an amusement of which I was exceedingly fond.” All the party, except myself, were very elegantly dressed; as to me I did nothing but change my shirt, and adjust myself a little. Ill-dressed as I was, however, in comparison with the others, you will hear what happened to me at the ball.
When we entered the saloon, the Duke and a large party were already assembled there. His Highness fixed his eyes on me immediately; and this somewhat disconcerted me. I thought that he was either displeased at the plainness of my dress, or found something ridiculous in my person; and what convinced me the more was, that he pointed me out to a courtier who stood by him, and as I imagined desired him to ascertain who I was. I was not wrong in my conjecture; the courtier, whom I did not lose sight of, made his way through the crowd and accosted one of the gentlemen whom I had accompanied, whispered something to him, received an answer in the same manner, and then returned to the Grand Duke, to whom I saw him give an account of his commission. All this appeared to me equivocal enough, and I did not know what to think of it, when the same gentleman who had been addressed by the courtier, approached and said to me: “You are known, Signor Cavalier; the Grand Duke knows that you are a relation of the Ambassador from Spain to Rome. I should advise you to go immediately and salute the Prince; he looks at you continually, and seems to wish that you should take that liberty.”
I followed the gentleman’s advice, thinking that I could not do less; and accordingly advanced towards the Grand Duke, who perceiving my design, was so condescending as to advance half-way to meet me. I commenced with a most profound bow, and addressing his Highness, told him in Italian, in an easy but respectful manner, “that I had but just arrived at Florence, and I trusted he would pardon my presumption for having ventured even in a ball-room, to offer him my most humble respects; but having been informed that it was his desire to know my name, I had come to announce it to him myself.” “I know it already,” answered the Prince, “and I am not a little surprised to hear a Spaniard speak Italian as well as a native of Rome.” To this remark I answered in Spanish, “that I had long resided in that city.” He replied, in the Castilian language, “that he never heard any one of my countrymen pronounce Italian so perfectly.” Then, turning the conversation on my Uncle the Ambassador, he told me, “he was well acquainted with him from having had many affairs of consequence between them, and that he should be most proud to testify his respect for him in my person.” He then invited me to frequent the Court, with a thousand other compliments, to which I could make no other answer than by bowing almost down to the ground. This was not all; the Grand Duchess came up at that moment, and I had the honour of being presented to her by the Prince her husband, who told her at the same time who I was; and I verily flatter myself that I got out of this dilemma in better style than, perhaps, the real nephew of the Spanish Ambassador would have done in my place.
The ball then commenced, and I retired from where I stood, for fear of incommoding the dancers. After three or four dances, a lady came up and was introduced to me by the Duke’s desire. I affected to wish to decline dancing, though in fact I was particularly desirous; and pleaded in excuse, that I had not long alighted from horseback, as might be seen by my frightful dishabille. The Prince who heard me, put an end to the contest, by crying out that he was sure I could not refuse so lovely a lady, even were I to dance in boots. At this desire I instantly obeyed, and my dancing attracted the attention of the whole company. The Grand Duchess especially, who preferred Terpsichore to all the other Muses, was so much pleased, that she requested me to dance some of the newest figures, in which I acquitted myself equally well. This exhilirated my spirits to such a degree, that I made love to all the ladies in company. I would tell you, moreover, friendly reader, were I not fearful of being deemed conceited, that of all the women in Italy, the Florentines understand genteel behaviour the best, and I was by no means badly received among them.
Among the rest there were three young ladies present, who were decidedly the ornaments of the Ball. I never saw more perfect beauties. It would have puzzled any honest man to have made his choice of one of them. I soon decided, however, favour of a Brunette, who attracted me by a certain je ne sçai quoi which the others did not possess. I attached myself to that lady only during the whole ball.