by Daniel Defoe
I soon found myself throng’d with Admirers, and I receiv’d Visits from some Persons of very great Figure, who always introduc’d themselves by the help of an old Lady or two, who were now become my Intimates; and one of them, I understood afterwards, was set to-work on purpose to get into my Favour, in order to introduce what follow’d.
The Conversation we had, was generally courtly, but civil; at length, some Gentlemen propos’d to Play, and made, what they call’d, a Party; this it seems, was a Contrivance of one of my Female hangers-on, for, as I said, I had two of them, who thought this was the way to introduce People as often as she pleas’d, and so indeed, it was: They play’d high, and stay’d late, but begg’d my Pardon, only ask’d Leave to make an Appointment for the next Night; I was as gay, and as well pleas’d as any of them, and one Night told one of the Gentlemen, my Lord —, that seeing they were doing me the Honour of diverting themselves at my Apartment, and desir’d to be there sometimes, I did not keep a Gaming-Table, but I wou’d give them a little Ball the next Day, if they pleas’d; which they accepted very willingly.
Accordingly in the Evening the Gentlemen began to come, where I let them see, that I understood very well what such things meant: I had a large Dining-Room in my Apartments, with five other Rooms on the same Floor, all which I made Drawing-Rooms for the Occasion, having all the Beds taken down for the Day; in three of these I had Tables plac’d, cover’d with Wine and Sweet-Meats; the fourth had a green Table for Play, and the fifth was my own Room, where I sat, and where I receiv’d all the Company that came to pay their Compliments to me: I was dress’d, you may be sure, to all the Advantage possible, and had all the Jewels on, that I was Mistress of: My Lord —, to whom I had made the Invitation, sent me a Sett of fine Musick187 from the Play-House,188 and the Ladies danc’d, and we began to be very merry; when about eleven a-Clock I had Notice given me, that there were some Gentlemen coming in Masquerade.
I seem’d a little surpriz’d, and began to apprehend some Disturbance;189 when my Lord — perceiving it, spoke to me to be easie, for that there was a Party of the Guards at the Door, which shou’d be ready to prevent any Rudeness; and another Gentleman gave me a Hint, as if the KING was among the Masks; I colour’d, as red as Blood itself cou’d make a Face look, and express’d a great Surprize; however, there was no going back; so I kept my Station in my Drawing-Room, but with the Folding-Doors wide open.
A-while after, the Masks came in, and began with a Dance a la Comique, performing wonderfully indeed; while they were dancing, I withdrew, and left a Lady to answer for me, that I wou’d return immediately; in less than half an Hour I return’d, dress’d in the Habit of a Turkish Princess; the Habit I got at Leghorn, when my Foreign Prince bought me a Turkish Slave, as I have said; the Malthese Man of War had, it seems, taken a Turkish Vessel going from Constantinople to Alexandria, in which were some Ladies bound for Grand Cairo in Egypt; and as the Ladies were made Slaves, so their fine Cloaths were thus expos’d; and with this Turkish Slave, I bought the rich Cloaths too: The Dress was extraordinary fine indeed, I had bought it as a Curiosity, having never seen the like; the Robe was a fine Persian, or India Damask; the Ground white, and the Flowers blue and gold, and the Train held five Yards; the Dress under it, was a Vest of the same, embroider’d with Gold, and set with some Pearl in the Work, and some Turquois Stones; to the Vest, was a Girdle five or six Inches wide, after the Turkish Mode; and on both Ends where it join’d, or hook’d, was set with Diamonds for eight Inches either way, only they were not true Diamonds; but no-body knew that but myself.
The Turban, or Head-Dress, had a Pinacle on the top, but not about five Inches, with a Piece of loose Sarcenet hanging from it; and on the Front, just over the Forehead, was a good Jewel, which I had added to it.
This Habit, as above, cost me about sixty Pistoles in Italy, but cost much more in the Country from whence it came; and little did I think, when I bought it, that I shou’d put it to such a Use as this; tho’ I had dress’d myself in it many times, by the help of my little Turk, and afterwards between Amy and I, only to see how I look’d in it: I had sent her up before, to get it ready, and when I came up, I had nothing to do, but slip it on, and was down in my Drawing-Room in a little more than a quarter of an Hour; when I came there, the room was full of Company, but I order’d the Folding-Doors to be shut for a Minute or two, till I had receiv’d the Compliments of the Ladies that were in the Room, and had given them a full View of my Dress.
But my Lord —, who happen’d to be in the Room, slipp’d out at another Door, and brought back with him one of the Masks, a tall well-shap’d Person, but who had no Name, being all Mask’d, nor would it have been allow’d to ask any Person’s Name on such an Occasion; the Person spoke in French to me, that it was the finest Dress he had ever seen; and ask’d me, if he shou’d have the Honour to dance with me? I bow’d, as giving my Consent, but said, As I had been a Mahometan, I cou’d not dance after the Manner of this Country; I suppos’d their Musick wou’d not play a la Moresque; he answer’d merrily, I had a Christian’s Face, and he’d venture it, that I cou’d dance like a Christian; adding, that so much Beauty cou’d not be Mahometan: Immediately the Folding-Doors were flung open, and he led me into the Room: The Company were under the greatest Surprize imaginable; the very Musick stopp’d a-while to gaze; for the Dress was indeed, exceedingly surprizing, perfectly new, very agreeable, and wonderful rich.
The Gentleman, whoever he was, for I never knew, led me only a Courant, and then ask’d me, if I had a-mind to dance an Antick,190 that is to say, whether I wou’d dance the Antick as they had danc’d in Masquerade, or anything by myself; I told him, any thing else rather, if he pleas’d; so we danc’d only two French Dances, and he led me to the Drawing-Room Door, when he retir’d to the rest of the Masks: When he left me at the Drawing-Room Door, I did not go in, as he thought I wou’d have done, but turn’d about, and show’d myself to the whole Room, and calling my Woman to me, gave her some Directions to the Musick, by which the Company presently understood that I would give them a Dance by myself: Immediately all the House rose up, and paid me a kind of a Compliment, by removing back every way to make me room, for the Place was exceeding full; the Musick did not at first hit the Tune that I directed, which was a French Tune, so I was fore’d to send my Woman to ’em again, standing all this while at my Drawing-Room Door; but as soon as my Woman spoke to them again, they play’d it right; and I, to let them see it was so, stepp’d forward to the middle of the Room; then they began it again, and I danc’d by myself a Figure which I learnt in France, when the Prince de — desir’d I wou’d dance for his Diversion; it was indeed, a very fine Figure, invented by a famous Master at Paris, for a Lady or a Gentleman to dance single; but being perfectly new, it pleas’d the Company exceedingly, and they all thought it had been Turkish; nay, one Gentleman had the Folly to expose himself so much, as to say, and I think swore too, that he had seen it danc’d at Constantinople; which was ridiculous enough.
At the finishing the Dance, the Company clapp’d, and almost shouted; and one of the Gentlemen cry’d out, Roxana! Roxana!191 by —, with an Oath; upon which foolish Accident I had the Name of Roxana presently fix’d upon me all over the Court End of Town, as effectually as if I had been Christen’d Roxana: I had, it seems, the Felicity of pleasing every-body that Night, to an Extreme; and my Ball, but especially my Dress, was the Chat of the Town for that Week, and so the Name Roxana was the Toast at, and about the Court; no other Health was to be nam’d with it.
Now things began to work as I wou’d have them, and I began to be very popular, as much as I cou’d desire: The Ball held till (as well as I was pleas’d with the Show) I was sick of the Night; the Gentlemen mask’d, went off about three a-Clock in the Morning; the other Gentlemen sat down to Play; the Musick held it out; and some of the Ladies were dancing at Six in the Morning.
But I was mighty eager to know who it was danc’d with me; some of the Lords went so far as to tell me, I was very muc
h honour’d in my Company; one of them spoke so broad, as almost to say it was the KING, but I was convinc’d afterwards, it was not; and another reply’d, If he had been His Majesty, he shou’d have thought it no Dishonour to Lead-up a Roxana; but to this Hour I never knew positively who it was; and by his Behaviour I thought he was too young, His Majesty being at that time in an Age that might be discover’d from a young Person, even in his Dancing.
Be that as it wou’d, I had 500 Guineas sent me the next Morning, and the Messenger was order’d to tell me, that the Persons who sent it, desir’d a Ball again at my Lodgings on the next Tuesday, but that they wou’d have my Leave to give the Entertainment themselves: I was mighty well pleas’d with this, (to be sure) but very inquisitive to know who the Money came from; but the Messenger was silent as Death, as to that Point; and bowing always at my Enquiries, begg’d me to ask no Questions which he cou’d not give an obliging Answer to.
I forgot to mention that the Gentlemen that play’d, gave a Hundred Guineas to the Box,192 as they call’d it, and at the End of their Play, they ask’d my Gentlewoman of the Bed-Chamber, as they call’d her, (Mrs. Amy, forsooth) and gave it her; and gave twenty Guineas more among the Servants.
This magnificent Doings equally both pleas’d and supriz’d me, and I hardly knew where I was; but especially, that Notion of the KING being the Person that danc’d with me, puff’d me up to that Degree, that I not only did not know any-body else, but indeed, was very far from knowing myself.
I had now the next Tuesday to provide for the like Company; but alas! it was all taken out of my Hand; three Gentlemen, who yet were, it seems, but Servants, came on the Saturday, and bringing sufficient Testimonies that they were right, for one was the same who brought the five hundred Guineas; I say, three of them came, and brought Bottles of all sorts of Wines, and Hampers of Sweet-Meats to such a Quantity, it appear’d they design’d to hold the Trade on more than once, and that they wou’d furnish every-thing to a Profusion.
However, as I found a Deficiency in two things, I made Provision of about twelve Dozen of fine Damask Napkins, with Table-cloaths of the same, sufficient to cover all the Tables, with three Table-cloaths upon every Table, and Side-boards in Proportion; also I bought a handsome Quantity of Plate, necessary to have serv’d all the Side-boards, but the Gentlemen would not suffer any of it to be us’d; telling me, they had bought fine China Dishes and Plates for the whole Service; and that in such publick Places they cou’d not be answerable for the Plate; so it was set all up in a large Glass-Cupboard in the Room I sat in, where it made a very good Show indeed.
On Tuesday there came such an Appearance of Gentlemen and Ladies, that my Apartments were by no means able to receive them; and those who in particular appear’d as Principals, gave Order below, to let no more Company come up; the Street was full of Coaches with Coronets, and fine Glass-Chairs;193 and in short, it was impossible to receive the Company; I kept my little Room, as before, and the Dancers fill’d the great Room; all the Drawing-Rooms also were fill’d, and three Rooms below-Stairs, which were not mine.
It was very well that there was a strong Party of the Guards brought to keep the Door, for without that, there had been such a promiscuous Crowd,194 and some of them scandalous too, that we shou’d have been all Disorder and Confusion; but the three Head-Servants manag’d all that, and had a Word to admit all the Company by.
It was uncertain to me, and is to this Day, who it was that danc’d with me the Wednesday before, when the Ball was my own; but that the K — was at this Assembly, was out of Question with me, by Circumstances that I suppose I cou’d not be deceiv’d in; and particularly, that there were five Persons who were not Mask’d, three of them had blue Garters,195 and they appear’d not to me till I came out to dance.
This Meeting was manag’d just as the first, tho’ with much more Magnificence, because of the Company; I plac’d myself (exceedingly rich in Cloaths and Jewels) in the middle of my little Room, as before, and made my Compliment to all the Company, as they pass’d me, as I did before; but my Lord —, who had spoken openly to me that first Night, came to me, and unmasking, told me the Company had order’d him to tell me, they hop’d they shou’d see me in the Dress I had appear’d in the first Day, which had been so acceptable, that it had been the Occasion of this new Meeting; and Madam, says he, there are some in this Assembly, who it is worth your while to oblige.
I bow’d to my Lord —, and immediately withdrew: While I was above, a-dressing in my new Habit, two Ladies, perfectly unknown to me, were convey’d into my Apartment below, by the Order of a Noble Person, who, with his Family, had been in Persia; and here indeed, I thought I shou’d have been out-done, or perhaps, baulk’d.
One of these Ladies was dress’d most exquisitely fine indeed, in the Habit of a Virgin Lady of Quality of Georgia, and the other in the same Habit of Armenia, with each of them a Woman-Slave to attend them.
The Ladies had their Petticoats short, to their Ancles, but pleated all round, and before them short Aprons, but of the finest Point196 that cou’d be seen; their Gowns were made with long Antick197 Sleeves hanging down behind, and a Train let down; they had no Jewels; but their Heads and Breasts were dress’d up with Flowers, and they both came in veil’d.
Their Slaves were bare-headed; but their long black Hair was breeded in Locks hanging down behind, to their Wastes, and tied up with Ribbands; they were dress’d exceeding rich, and were as beautiful as their Mistresses; for none of them had any Masks on: They waited in my Room till I came down, and all paid their Respects to me after the Persian Manner, and sat down on a Safra,198 that is to say, almost cross-legg’d on a Couch made up of Cushions laid on the Ground.
This was admirably fine, and I was indeed, startled at it; they made their Compliment to me in French, and I reply’d in the same Language; when the Doors were open’d, they walk’d into the Dancing-Room, and danc’d such a Dance, as indeed, no-body there had ever seen, and to an Instrument like a Guittar,199 with a small low-sounding Trumpet,200 which indeed, was very fine, and which my Lord — had provided.
They danc’d three times all-alone, for no-body indeed, cou’d dance with them: The Novelty pleas’d, truly, but yet there was something wild and Bizarre in it, because they really acted to the Life the barbarous Country whence they came; but as mine had the French Behaviour under the Mahometan Dress, it was every way as new, and pleas’d much better, indeed.
As soon as they had shewn their Georgian and Armenian Shapes, and danc’d, as I have said, three times, they withdrew, paid their Compliment to me, (for I was Queen of the Day) and went off to undress.
Some Gentlemen then danc’d with Ladies all in Masks, and when they stopp’d, no-body rose up to dance, but all call’d out Roxana, Roxana; in the Interval, my Lord — had brought another mask’d Person into my Room, who I knew not, only that I cou’d discern it was not the same Person that led me out before: This noble Person (for I afterwards understood it was the Duke of —) after a short Compliment, led me out into the middle of the Room.
I was dress’d in the same Vest and Girdle as before; but the Robe had a Mantle over it, which is usual in the Turkish Habit, and it was of Crimson and Green; the Green brocaded with Gold; and my Tyhiaai,201 or Head-Dress, vary’d a little from that I had before, as it stood higher, and had some Jewels about the rising Part; which made it look like a Turban crown’d.
I had no Mask, neither did I Paint; and yet I had the Day of all the Ladies that appear’d at the Ball, I mean, of those that appear’d with Faces on; as for those Mask’d, nothing cou’d be said of them, no doubt there might be many finer than I was; it must be confess’d, that the Habit was infinitely advantageous to me, and every-body look’d at me with a kind of Pleasure, which gave me great Advantage too.
After I had danc’d with that noble Person, I did not offer to dance by myself, as I had before; but they all call’d out Roxana again; and two of the Gentlemen came into the Drawing-Room, to intreat me to give them the Turkish
Dance, which I yielded to, readily; so I came out and danc’d, just as at first.
While I was dancing, I perceiv’d five Persons standing all together, and among them, one only with his Hat on;202 it was an immediate Hint to me who it was, and had at first, almost put me into some Disorder; but I went on, receiv’d the Applause of the House, as before, and retir’d into my own Room; when I was there, the five Gentlemen came cross the Room to my Side, and coming in, follow’d by a Throng of Great Persons, the Person with his Hat on, said Madam Roxana you perform to Admiration; I was prepar’d, and offer’d to kneel to kiss his Hand, but he declin’d it, and saluted me, and so passing back again thro’ the Great Room, went away.
I do not say here, who this was, but I say, I came afterwards to know something more plainly; I wou’d have withdrawn, and disrob’d, being somewhat too thin in that Dress, unlac’d, and open-breasted, as if I had been in my Shift; but it cou’d not be, and I was oblig’d to dance afterwards with six or eight Gentlemen, most, if not all of them, of the First Rank; and I was told afterwards, that one of them was the D— of M—th. 203
About two or three a-Clock in the Morning, the Company began to decrease, the Number of Women especially, dropp’d away Home, some and some at a time; and the Gentlemen retir’d down Stairs, where they unmask’d, and went to Play.
Amy waited at the Room where they Play’d; sat up all-Night to attend them; and in the Morning, when they broke-up, they swept the Box into her Lap, when she counted out to me, sixty two Guineas and a half; and the other Servants got very well too: Amy came to me when they were all gone, Law — Madam, says Amy, with a long gaping Cry, what shall I do with all this Money? And indeed, the poor Creature was half-mad with Joy.
