158 HOW VERY EXTRAORDINARY ! 



mans, from the Sublime Porte, perfumes, from Araby and 

 Hindostan, lustres, blazing with naptha and asphalta — and various 

 other elegancies to delight the senses, lay revealed before the 

 astonished barber. But not long had he inspected them, before 

 a cabinet door opened, and the young and beautiful Signora stood 

 before him. 



We are miserable describers of beauty ; we know what we 

 ourselves admire ; but this is not sufficient for the reader. We 

 will therefore just say, that a lovlier woman the republic could 

 not boast of. Her fair features were lighted up by hazel eyes of 

 glorious lustre, and there was a magic power, and laughing 

 sweetness of countenance, that made the entranced Biondetto 

 kneel down in homage before her. . A few short sentences on 

 either side made them acquainted with the feelings and sentiments 

 of each other. The attempted excuses of the Signora were over- 

 whelmed by the passionate exclamations of the barber. He 

 breathed into her ears sentences so full of love, that they were 

 surpassed only by his vows of constancy and ejaculations of joy. 



" Most adorable Abrazza; light of my heart and index of 

 maiden excellencies ! as my Moorish ancestor would have said 

 — how can I sufficiently thank you for the honor you have done 

 me, and for the ecstacy that thrills through my bursting soul : 

 how can I, poor in estate, and humble in accomplishments ; how 

 can I make known how much I am beholden to my divine 

 Signora?" 



" By leading me to the altar, whwe a priest awaits us," replied 

 the lady in a voice of sweetness. 



"I fly with you, on the wings of ardour ;•• cried Baptisto, 

 making an effort to rise : — but a severe blow levelled him to the 

 earth, and he — awoke I 



Instead of finding himself in the Abrazzi palace, he was still 

 in his own house; and his two friends, Mercutio, the comedian, 

 and Pauli, the maitre d'hotel at the Ostrich, were standing before 

 him. 



"Why, Master Baptisto, wert thou in Elysium, that thy 

 slumbers were so sound ? we have bellowed at thee these five 

 minutes, and could only awake thee by bestowing a smart rap 

 on thine epaulette. Wilt not thou go with us to the revels? for 

 that purpose we visit thee." 



" A plague on both your visits 1 you have spoiled the finest 

 fortune in Venice. Sit down — I will tell you my somnolent 

 adventures, and you will, I think, allow that they are very extra- 

 ordinary I " 



