deplorable Condition for two Days and never rose from the Ground where he had made his sad Sacrifice at last rouzing from her side and accusing himself with living too long now Imoinda was dead and that the Deaths of those barbarous Enemies were deferr'd too long he resolv'd now to finish the Great Work but offering to rise he found his Strength so decay'd that he reel'd to and fro like Boughs assail'd by contrary Winds so that he was forced to lie down again and try to summon all his Courage to his Aid he found his Brains turn'd round and his Eyes were dizzy and Objects appear'd not the same to him they were wont to do his Breath was short and all his Limbs surprized with a Faintness he had never felt before He had not eat in two Days which was one occasion of this Feebleness but excess of Grief was the greatest yet still he hop'd he shou'd recover Vigour to act his Design and lay expecting it yet six days longer still mourning over the dead Idol of his Heart and striving every day to rise but cou'd not In all this time you may believe we were in no little affliction for Caesar and his Wife some were of opinion he was escap'd never to return others thought some Accident had hap'ned to him But however we fail'd not to send out an hundred People several ways to search for him A Party of about forty went that way he took among whom was Tuscan who was perfectly reconcil'd to Byam They had not gone very far into the Wood but they smelt an unusual Smell as of a dead Body for Stinks must be very noisom that can be distinguish'd among such a quantity of natural Sweets as every Inch of that Land produces So that they concluded they shou'd find him dead or some body that was so they pass'd on towards it as loathsom as it was and made such a rusling among the Leaves that lie thick on the Ground by continual falling that Caesar heard he was approach'd and though he had during the space of these eight Days endeavour'd to rise but found he wanted Strength yet looking up and seeing his Pursuers he rose and reel'd to a neighbouring Tree against which he fix'd his Back and being within a dozen Yards of those that advanc'd and saw him he call'd out to them and bid them approach no nearer if they wou'd be safe So that they stood still and hardly believing their Eyes that wou'd persuade them that it was Caesar that spoke to 'em so much was he alter'd they ask'd him what he had done with his Wife for they smelt a Stink that almost struck them dead He pointing to the dead Body sighing cry'd Behold her there They put off the Flowers that cover'd her with their Sticks and found she was kill'd and cry'd out Oh Monster that hast murther'd thy Wife Then asking him why he did so cruel a Deed He replied He had no leisure to answer impertinent Questions You may go back continu'd he and tell the faithless Governor he may thank Fortune that I am breathing my last and that my Arm is too feeble to obey my Heart in what it had design'd him But his Tongue faultering and trembling he cou'd scarce end what he was saying The English taking Advantage by his Weakness cry'd Let us take him alive by all means He heard 'em and as if he had reviv'd from a Fainting or a Dream he cry'd out No Gentlemen you are deceiv'd you will find no more Caesars to be Whipt no more find a Faith in me Feeble as you think me I have Strength yet left to secure me from a second Indignity They swore all a-new and he only shook his Head and beheld them with Scorn Then they cry'd out Who will venture on this single Man Will no body They stood all silent while Caesar replied Fatal will be the Attempt to the first Adventurer let him assure himself and at that word held up his Knife in a menacing posture Look ye ye faithless Crew said he 't is not Life I seek nor am I afraid of Dying and at that word cut a piece of Flesh from his own Throat and threw it at 'em yet still I wou'd Live if I cou'd till I had perfected my Revenge But oh it cannot be I feel Life gliding from my Eyes and Heart and if I make not haste I shall yet fall a Victim to the shameful Whip At that he rip'd up his own Belly and took his Bowels and pull'd 'em out with what Strength he cou'd while some on their Knees imploring besought him to hold his Hand But when they saw him tottering they cry'd out Will none venture on him A bold English cry'd Yes if he were the Devil taking Courage when he saw him almost Dead and swearing a horrid Oath for his Farewell to the World he rush'd on him Caesar with his Arm'd Hand met him so fairly as stuck him to the Heart and he fell dead at his Feet Tuscan seeing that cry'd out I love thee O Caesar and therefore will not let thee die if possible and running to him took him in his Arms but at the same time warding a Blow that Caesar made at his Bosom he receiv'd it quite through his Arm and Caesar having not the strength to pluck the Knife forth tho' he attempted it Tuscan neither pull'd it out himself nor suffer'd it to be pull'd out but came down with it sticking in his Arm and the reason he gave for it was because the Air shou'd not get into the Wound They put their Hands a-cross and carry'd Caesar between six of 'em fainting as he was and they thought dead or just dying and they brought him to Parham and laid him on a Couch and had the Chirurgeon immediately to him who drest his Wounds and sow'd up his Belly and us'd means to bring him to life which they effected We ran all to see him and if before we thought him so beautiful a Sight he was now so alter'd that his Face was like a Death's Head black'd over nothing but Teeth and Eye-holes For some Days we suffer'd no body to speak to him but caused Cordials to be poured down his Throat which sustained his Life and in six or seven days he recover'd his Senses For you must know that Wounds are almost to a Miracle cur'd in the Indies unless Wounds in the Legs which rarely ever cure When he was well enough to speak we talk'd to him and ask'd him some Questions about his Wife and the Reasons why he kill'd her and he then told us what I have related of that Resolution and of his Parting and he besought us we wou'd let him die and was extremely afflicted to think it was possible he might live he assur'd us if we did not dispatch him he wou'd prove very fatal to a great many We said all we cou'd to make him live and gave him new Assurances but he begg'd we wou'd not think so poorly of him
that succeed 'em who are young but with a Servitude easie and respected and unless they take Slaves in War they have no other Attendants Those on that Continent where I was had no King but the oldest War-Captain was obey'd with great Resignation A War-Captain is a Man who has led them on to Battle with Conduct and Success of whom I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter and of some other of their Custom and Manners as they fall in my way With these People as I said we live in perfect Tranquillity and good Understanding as it behoves us to do they knowing all the places where to seek the best Food of the Countrey and the means of getting it and for very small and unvaluable Trifles supply us with what 't is impossible for us to get for they do not only in the Wood and over the Sevana's in Hunting supply the parts of Hounds by swiftly scouring through those almost impassable places and by the meer Activity of their Feet run down the nimblest Deer and other eatable Beasts But in the Water one wou'd think they were Gods of the Rivers or Fellow-Citizens of the Deep so rare an Art they have in Swimming Diving and almost Living in Water by which they command the less swift Inhabitants of the Floods And then for Shooting what they cannot take or reach with their Hands they do with Arrows and have so admirable an Aim that they will split almost an Hair and at any distance that an Arrow can reach they will shoot down Oranges and other Fruit and only touch the Stalk with the Dart's Point that they may not hurt the Fruit. So that they being on all occasions very useful to us we find it absolutely necessary to caress 'em as Friends and not to treat 'em as Slaves nor dare we do other their Numbers so far surpassing ours in that Continent Those then whom we make use of to work in our Plantations of Sugar are Black-Slaves altogether which are transported thither in this manner Those who want Slaves make a Bargain with a Master or a Captain of a Ship and contract to pay him so much a-piece a matter of Twenty Pound a Head for as many as he agrees for and to pay for 'em when they shall be deliver'd on such a Plantation So that when there arrives a Ship laden with Slaves they who have so contracted go a-board and receive their number by Lot and perhaps in one Lot that may be for ten there may happen to be three or four Men the rest Women and Children or be there more or less of either Sex you are oblig'd to be contented with your Lot Coramantien a Countrey of Blacks so called was one of those places in which they found the most advantageous Trading for these Slaves and thither most of our great Traders in that Merchandise traffick'd for that Nation is very war-like and brave and having a continual Campaign being always in Hostility with one neighbouring Prince or other they had the fortune to take a great many Captives for all they took in Battle were sold as Slaves at least those common Men who cou'd not ransom themselves Of these Slaves so taken the General only has all the Profit and of these Generals our Captains and Masters of Ships buy all their Freights The King of Coramantien was himself a Man of an Hundred and odd Years old and had no Son though he had many beautiful Black-Wives for most certainly there are Beauties that can charm of that Colour In his younger years he had had many gallant Men to his Sons thirteen of which died in Battle conquering when they fell and he had only left him for his Successor one Grand-Child Son to one of these dead Victors who as soon as he could bear a Bow in his Hand and a Quiver at his back was sent into the Field to be train'd up by one of the oldest Generals to War where from his natural Inclination to Arms and the Occasions given him with the good Conduct of the old General he became at the age of Seventeen one of the most expert Captains and bravest Soldiers that ever saw the Field of Mars So that he was ador'd as the Wonder of all that World and the Darling of the Soldiers Besides he was adorn'd with a native Beauty so transcending all those of his gloomy Race that he struck an Awe and Reverence even into those that knew not his Quality as he did into me who beheld him with Surprize and Wonder when afterwards he arriv'd in our World He had scarce arriv'd at his Seventeenth Year when fighting by his side the General was kill'd with an Arrow in his Eye which the Prince Oroonoko for so was this gallant Moor call'd very narrowly avoided nor had he if the General who saw the Arrow shot and perceiving it aim'd at the Prince had not bow'd his Head between on purpose to receive it in his own Body rather than it shou'd touch that of the Prince and so saved him 'T was then afflicted as Oroonoko was that he was proclaim'd General in the Old Man's place and then it was at the finishing of that War which had continued for two Years that the Prince came to Court where he had hardly been a Month together from the time of his Fifth Year to that of Seventeen and 't was amazing to imagine where it was he learn'd so much Humanity or to give his Accomplishments a juster Name where 't was he got that real Greatness of Soul those refin'd Notions of true Honour that absolute Generosity and that Softness that was capable of the highest Passions of Love and Gallantry whose Objects were almost continually fighting Men or those mangl'd or dead who heard no Sounds but those of War and Groans Some part of it we may attribute to the care of a French-man of Wit and Learning who finding it turn to very good account to be a sort of Royal Tutor to this young Black and perceiving him very ready apt and quick of Apprehension took a great pleasure to teach him Morals Language and Science and was for it extremely belov'd and valu'd by him Another reason was he lov'd when he came from War to see all the English Gentlemen that traded thither and did not only learn their Language but that of the Spaniards also with whom he traded afterwards for Slaves I have often seen and convers'd with this Great Man and been a Witness to many of his mighty Actions and do assure my Reader the most illustrious Courts cou'd not have produc'd a braver Man both for greatness of Courage and Mind a Judgment more solid a Wit more quick and a Conversation more sweet and diverting He knew almost as much as if he had read much He had heard of and admir'd the Romans he had heard of the late Civil Wars in England and the deplorable Death of our great Monarch and wou'd discourse of it with all the Sense and Abhorrence
for the future he would be less able to injure him so that abating the Scandal of the Veil which was no otherwise so than that she was Wife to another He believ'd her safe even in the Arms of the King and innocent yet wou'd he have ventur'd at the Conquest of the World and have given it all to have had her avoided that Honour of receiving the Royal Veil 'T was thus between a thousand Caresses that both bemoan'd the hard fate of Youth and Beauty so liable to that cruel Promotion 'T was a Glory that cou'd well have been spar'd here though desir'd and aim'd at by all the young Females of that Kingdom But while they were thus fondly employ'd forgetting how Time ran on and that the Dawn must conduct him far away from his only Happiness they heard a great Noise in the Otan and unusual Voices of Men at which the Prince starting from the Arms of the frighted Imoinda ran to a little Battle-Axe he us'd to wear by his Side and having not so much leisure as to put on his Habit he oppos'd himself against some who were already opening the Door which they did with so much Violence that Oroonoko was not able to defend it but was forc'd to cry out with a commanding Voice Whoever ye are that have the Boldness to attempt to approach this Apartment thus rudely know that I the Prince Oroonoko will revenge it with the certain Death of him that first enters Therefore stand back and know this Place is sacred to Love and Me this Night to Morrow 't is the King's This he spoke with a Voice so resolv'd and assur'd that they soon retir'â— from the Door but cry'd 'T is by the King's Command we are come and being satisfy'd by thy Voice O Prince as much as if we had enter'd we can report to the King the Truth of all his Fears and leave thee to provide for thy own Safety as thou art advis'd by thy Friends At these words they departed and left the Prince to take a short and sad leave of his Imoinda who trusting in the strength of her Charms believ'd she shou'd appease the Fury of a jealous King by saying She was surpriz'd and that it was by force of Arms he got into her Apartment All her Concern now was for his Life and therefore she hasten'd him to the Camp and with much a-doe prevail'd on him to go Nor was it she alone that prevail'd Aboan and Onahal both pleaded and both assur'd him of a Lye that shou'd be well enough contriv'd to secure Imoinda So that at last with a Heart sad as Death dying Eyes and sighing Soul Oroonoko departed and took his way to the Camp It was not long after the King in Person came to the Otan where beholding Imoinda with Rage in his Eyes he upbraided her Wickedness and Perfidy and threatning her Royal Lover she fell on her Face at his Feet bedewing the Floor with her Tears and imploring his Pardon for a Fault which she had not with her Will committed as Onahal who was also prostrate with her cou'd testifie That unknown to her he had broke into her Apartment and ravish'd her She spoke this much against her Conscience but to save her own Life 't was absolutely necessary she shou'd feign this Falsity She knew it cou'd not injure the Prince he being fled to an Army that wou'd stand by him against any Injuries that shou'd assault him However this last Thought of Imoinda's being Ravish'd chang'd the measures of his Revenge and whereas before he design'd to be himself her Executioner he now resolv'd she shou'd not die But as it is the greatest Crime in nature amongst 'em to touch a Woman after having been possess'd by a Son a Father or a Brother so now he look'd on Imoinda as a polluted thing wholly unfit for his Embrace nor wou'd he resign her to his Grand-son because she had receiv'd the Royal Veil He therefore removes her from the Otan with Onahal whom he put into safe Hands with order they shou'd be both sold off as Slaves to another Country either Christian or Heathen 't was no matter where This cruel Sentence worse than Death they implor'd might be revers'd but their Prayers were vain and it was put in execution accordingly and that with so much Secrecy that none either without or within the Otan knew any thing of their Absence or their Destiny The old King nevertheless executed this with a great deal of Reluctancy but he believ'd he had made a very great Conquest over himself when he had once resolv'd and had perform'd what he resolv'd He believ'd now that his Love had been unjust and that he cou'd not expect the Gods or Captain of the Clouds as â—hey call the unknown Power wou'd suffer a better Consequence from so ill a Cause He now begins to hold Oroonoko excus'd and to say he had Reason for what he did And now every Body cou'd assure the King how passionately Imoinda was belov'd by the Prince even those confess'd it now who said the contrary before his Flame was abated So that the King being old and not able to defend himself in War and having no Sons of all his Race remaining alive but only this to maintain him on his Throne and looking on this as a Man disoblig'd first by the Rape of his Mistress or rather Wife and now by depriving of him wholly of her he fear'd might make him desperate and do some cruel thing either to himself or his old Grand-father the Offender he began to repent him extremely of the Contempt he had in his Rage put on Imoinda Besides he consider'd he ought in Honour to have kill'd her for this Offence if it had been one He ought to have had so much Value and Consideration for a Maid of her Quality as to have nobly put her to Death and not to have sold her like a common Slave the greatest Revenge and the most disgraceful of any and to which they a thousand times preferr Death and implore it as Imoinda did but cou'd not obtain that Honour Seeing therefore it was certain that Oroonoko wou'd highly resent this Affront he thought good to make some Excuse for his Rashness to him and to that end he sent a Messenger to the Camp with Orders to treat with him about the Matter to gain his Pardon and to endeavour to mitigate his Grief but that by no means he shou'd tell him she was sold but secretly put to death for he knew he shou'd never obtain his Pardon for the other When the Messenger came he found the Prince upon the point of Engaging with the Enemy but as soon as he heard of the arrival of the Messenger he commanded him to his Tent where he embrac'd him and receiv'd him with Joy which was soon abated by the Down-cast Looks of the Messenger who was instantly demanded the cause by Oroonoko who impatient of Delay ask'd a thousand Questions in a breath and
others sent off in Chains But calling these special Rulers of the Nation together and requiring their Counsel in this weighty Affair they all concluded that Damn 'em it might be their own Cases and that Caesar ought to be made an Example to all the Negroes to fright 'em from daring to threaten their Betters their Lords and Masters and at this rate no Man was safe from his own Slaves and concluded nemine contradicente that Caesar shou'd be Hang'd Trefry then thought it time to use his Authority and told Byam his Command did not extend to his Lord's Plantation and that Parham was as much exempt from the Law as Whitehall and that they ought no more to touch the Servants of the Lord who there represented the King's Person than they cou'd those about the King himself and that Parham was a Sanctuary and though his Lord were absent in Person his Power was still in Being there which he had entrusted with him as far as the Dominions of his particular Plantations reach'd and all that belong'd to it the rest of the Country as Byam was Lieutenant to his Lord he might exercise his Tyranny upon Trefry had others as powerful or more that int'rested themselves in Caesar's Life and absolutely said He shou'd be Defended So turning the Governor and his wise Council out of Doors for they sat at Parham-house we set a Guard upon our Landing-place and wou'd admit none but those we call'd Friends to us and Caesar The Governor having remain'd wounded at Parham till his Recovery was compleated Caesar did not know but he was still there and indeed for the most part his time was spent there for he was one that lov'd to live at other Peoples Expence and if he were a Day absent he was Ten present there and us'd to Play and Walk and Hunt and Fish with Caesar So that Caesar did not at all doubt if he once recover'd Strength but he shou'd find an opportunity of being reveng'd on him Though after such a Revenge he cou'd not hope to live for if he escap'd the Fury of the English Mobile who perhaps wou'd have been glad of the occasion to have kill'd him he was resolv'd not to survive his Whipping yet he had some tender Hours a repenting Softness which he call'd his Fits of Cowardice wherein he struggl'd with Love for the Victory of his Heart which took part with his charming Imoinda there but for the most part his time was past in melancholy Thought and black Designs he consider'd if he shou'd do this Deed and die either in the Attempt or after it he left his lovely Imoinda a Prey or at best a Slave to the enrag'd Multitude His great Heart cou'd not endure that Thought Perhaps said he she may be first Ravish'd by every Brute exposed first to their nasty Lusts and then a shameful Death No he cou'd not live a moment under that Apprehension too insupportable to be borne These were his Thoughts and his silent Arguments with his Heart as he told us afterwards so that now resolving not only to kill Byam but all those he thought had enrag'd him pleasing his great Heart with the fancy'd Slaughter he shou'd make over the whole face of the Plantation he first resolv'd on a Deed that however Horrid it first appear'd to us all when we had heard his Reasons we thought it Brave and Just Being able to walk and as he believ'd fit for the execution of his great Design he begg'd Trefry to trust him into the Air believing a Walk wou'd do him good Which was granted him and taking Imoinda with him as he us'd to do in his more happy and calmer Days he led her up into a Wood where after with a thousand Sighs and long gazing silently on her Face while Tears gusht in spite of him from his Eyes he told her his Design first of killing her and then his Enemies and next himself and the impossibility of escaping and therefore he told her the Necessity of Dying He found the Heroick Wife faster pleading for Death than he was to propose it when she found his fix'd Resolution and on her Knees besought him not to leave her a Prey to his Enemies He griev'd to Death yet pleas'd at her noble Resolution took her up and embracing her with all the Passion and Languishment of a dying Lover drew his Knife to kill this Treasure of his Soul this Pleasure of his Eyes while Tears trickl'd down his Cheeks hers were smiling with Joy she shou'd die by so noble a Hand and be sent into her own Countrey for that 's their Notion of the next World by him she so tenderly Lov'd and so truly Ador'd in this For Wives have a Respect for their Husbands equal to what any other People pay a Deity And when a Man finds any occasion to quit his Wife if he love her she dies by his Hand if not he sells her or suffers some other to kill her It being thus you may believe the Deed was soon resolv'd on and 't is not to be doubted but the Parting the eternal Leave taking of Two such Lovers so greatly Born so Sensible so Beautiful so Young and so Fond must be very Moving as the Relation of it was to me afterwards All that Love cou'd say in such cases being ended and all the intermitting Irresolutions being adjusted the Lovely Young and Ador'd Victim lays her self down before the Sacrificer while he with a Hand resolv'd and a Heart-breaking within gave the fatal Stroke first cutting her Throat and then severing her yet smiling Face from that delicate Body pregnant as it was with the Fruits of tend'rest Love As soon as he had done he laid the Body decently on Leaves and Flowers of which he made a Bed and conceal'd it under the same Cover-lid of Nature only her Face he left yet bare to look on But when he found she was Dead and past all Retrieve never more to bless him with her Eyes and soft Language his Grief swell'd up to Rage he Tore he Rav'd he Roar'd like some Monster of the Wood calling on the lov'd Name of Imoinda A thousand times he turn'd the fatal Knife that did the Deed toward his own Heart with a Resolution to go immediately after her but dire Revenge which was now a thousand times more fierce in his Soul than before prevents him and he wou'd cry out No since I have sacrific'd Imoinda to my Revenge shall I lose that Glory which I have purchas'd so dear as at the Price of the Fairest Dearest Softest Creature that ever Nature made No no! Then at her Name Grief wou'd get the ascendant of Rage and he wou'd lie down by her Side and water her Face with showers of Tears which never were wont to fall from those Eyes and however bent he was on his intended Slaughter he had not power to stir froâ— the Sight of this dear Object now more Belov'd and more Ador'd than ever He remain'd in this
Ground upon a Portugal-Mat spread there for that purpose and the Princess stood on the Cushion with her Prayer-Book in her Hand and a Priest by her side and was accordingly tied up to the Gibbet She had not stood there ten Minutes but she had the Mortification at least one would think it so to her to see her sad Page Van Brune approach fair as an Angel but languishing and pale That Sight moved all the Beholders with as much Pity as that of the Princess did Disdain and Pleasure He was dressed all in Mourning and very fine Linnen bare-headed with his own Hair the fairest that could be seen hanging all in Curls on his Back and Shoulders very long He had a Prayer-Book of black Velvet in his Hand and behaved himself with much Penitence and Devotion When he came under the Gibbet he seeing his Mistress in that Condition shewed an infinite Concern and his fair Face was covered over with Blushes and falling at her Feet he humbly ask'd her Pardon for having been the Occasion of so great an Infamy to her by a weak Confession which the Fears of Youth and Hopes of Life had obliged him to make so greatly to her Dishonour for indeed he had wanted that Manly Strength to bear the Efforts of dying as he ought in Silence rather than of committing so great a Crime against his Duty and Honour itself and that he could not die in Peace unless she would forgive him The Princess only nodded her Head and cried I do And after having spoken a little to his Father Confessor who was with him he chearfully mounted the Ladder and in the sight of the Princess he was turned off while a loud Cry was heard through all the Market-place especially from the fair Sex he hanging there 'till the time the Princess was to depart And then she was put into a rich embroidered Chair and carried away Tarquin going into his for he had all that time stood supporting the Princess under the Gallows and was very weary She was sent back 'till her Releasement came which was that Night about Seven of the Clock and then she was conducted to her own House in great State with a Dozen White Wax-flambeaus about her Chair If the Affairs of Alcidiana and her Friends before were impatient of having the Portion out of the Hands of these Extravagants 't is not to be imagined but they were now much more so and the next Day they sent an Officer according to Law to demand it or to summon the Prince to give Reasons why he would not And the Officer received for Answer That the Money should be called in and paid in such a time setting a certain Time which I have not been so curious as to retain or put in my Journal Observations but I am sure it was not long as may be easily imagin'd for they every Moment suspected the Prince wou'd pack up and be gone some time or other on the sudden and for that Reason they would not trust him without Bail or two Officers to remain in his House to watch that nothing should be removed or touched As for Bail or Security he could give none every one slunk their Heads out of the Collar when it came to that So that he was obliged at his own Expence to maintain Officers in his House The Princess finding herself reduced to the last Extremity and that she must either produce the Value of a Hundred thousand Crowns or see the Prince her Husband lodged for ever in a Prison and all their Glory vanish and that it was impossible to fly since guarded she had recourse to an Extremity worse than the Affair of Van Brune And in order to this she first puts on a World of Sorrow and Concern for what she feared might arrive to the Prince And indeed if ever she shed Tears which she did not dissemble it was upon this Occasion But here she almost over-acted She stirred not from her Bed and refused to Eat or Sleep or see the Light so that the Day being shut out of her Chamber she lived by Wax-Lights and refused all Comfort and Consolation The Prince all raving with Love tender Compassion and Grief never stirred from her Bed-side nor ceased to implore that she would suffer herself to live But she who was not now so passionately in Love with Tarquin as she was with the Prince not so fond of the Man as his Titles and of Glory foresaw the total Ruin of the last if not prevented by avoiding the Payment of this great Sum which could no otherwise be than by the Death of Alcidiana And therefore without ceasing she wept and cried out She could not live unless Alcidiana dy'd This Alcidiana continued she who has been the Author of my Shame who has exposed me under a Gibbet in the publick Market-place Oh! I am deaf to all Reason blind to Natural Affection I renounce her I hate her as my Mortal Foe my Stop to Glory and the Finisher of my Days e'er half my Race of Life be run Then throwing her false but showy charming Arms about the Neck of her Heart-breaking Lord and Lover who lay sighing and listening by her Side he was charmed and bewitched into saying all Things that appeased her And lastly told her Alcidiana should be no longer an Obstacle to her Repose but that if she would look up and cast her Eyes of Sweetness and Love upon him as heretofore forget her Sorrow and redeem her lost Health he would take what Measures she should propose to dispatch this fatal Stop to her Happiness out of the way These Words fail'd not to make her caress him in the most endearing Manner that Love and Flattery could invent and she kissed him to an Oath a solemn Oath to perform what he had promised and he vowed liberally And she assumed in an instant her Good Humour and suffered a Supper to be prepared and did eat which in many Days before she had not done so obstinate and powerful was she in Dissembling well The next Thing to be considered was which Way this Deed was to be done for they doubted not but when 't was done all the World would lay it upon the Princess as done by her Command But she urged Suspicion was no Proof and that they never put to Death any one but when they had great and certain Evidences who were the Offenders She was sure of her own Constancy that Racks and Tortures should never get the Secret from her Breast and if he were as confident on his part there was no Danger Yet this Preparation she made towards the laying the Fact on others that she caused several Letters to be written from Germany as from the Relations of Van Brune who threatned Alcidiana with Death for depriving their Kinsman who was a Gentleman of his Life tho' he had not taken away hers And it was the Report of the Town how this young Maid was threatned And indeed the Death of the Page
while at a stand when Charlot with a Voice of Joy cried out Oh Sir we have been a Board of a fine little Ship At this Atlante blush'd fearing she would tell the Truth But she proceeded on and said that they had not been above a Quarter of an Hour at Church when the â—ady with some other Ladies and Cavaliers were going out of the Church and that spying them they wou'd needs have them go with 'em My Sister Sir continued she was very loath to go for fear you should be angry but my Lady was so importunate with her on one side and I on the other because I never saw a little Ship in my Life that at last we prevailed with her therefore good Sir be not angry He promised them he was not And when they came in they found Count Vernole who had been inspiring De Pais with Severity and counsell'd him to chide the young Ladies for being too long absent under pretence of going to their Devotion Nor was it enough for him to set the Father on but himself with a Gravity where Concern and Malice were both apparent reproach'd Atlante with Levity and told her He believ'd she had some other Motive than the Invitation of a Lady to go on Ship-board and that she had too many Lovers not to make them doubt that this was a design'd thing and that she had heard Love from some one for whom it was design'd To this she made him but a short Reply That if it was so she had no Reason to conceal it since she had Sence enough to look after herself and if any Body had made â—ove to her he might be assur'd it was some one whose Quality and Merit deserv'd to be heard And with a Look of Scorn she past on to another Room and left him silently raging within with Jealousie Which if before she tormented him this Declaration increas'd it to a Pitch not to be conceal'd And this Day he said so much to the Father that he resolv'd forthwith to send Charlot to a Nunnery And accordingly the next Day he bid her prepare to go Charlot who was not yet arrived to the Years of Distinction did not much regret it and having no Trouble but leaving her Sister she prepared to go to a Nunnery not many Streets from that where she dwelt The Lady Abbess was her Father's Kinswoman and had treated her very well as often as she came to visit her so that with Satisfaction enough she was condemned to a Monastick Life and was now going for her Probation-Year Atlante was troubled at her Departure because she had no Body to bring and to carry Letters between Rinaldo and she However she took her leave of her and promis'd to come and see her as often as she should be permitted to go abroad for she fear'd now some Constraint extraordinary would be put upon her and so it happen'd Atlante's Chamber was that to which the Balcony belong'd and though she durst not appear there in the Day-time she could in the Night and that way give her Lover as many Hours of Conversation as she pleased without being perceived But how to give Rinaldo notice of this she could not tell who not knowing Charlot was gone to a Monastery waited many Days at his Window to see her at last they neither of them knowing who to trust with any Message one Day when he was as usual upon his watch he saw Atlante step into the Balcony who having a â—etter in which she had put a Piece of Lead she tost it into his Window whose Casement was open and run in again unperceived by any but himself the Paper contain'd only this My Chamber is that which looks into the Balcony from whence tho' I cannot converse with you in the Day I can at Night when I am retired to go to Bed therefore be at your Window Farewel There needed no more to make him a diligent Watcher and accordingly she was no sooner retired to her Chamber but she would come into the Balcony where she fail'd not to see him attending at his Window This happy Contrivance was thus carry'd on for many Nights where they entertain'd one another with all the Indearment that two Hearts could dictate who were perfectly united and assured of each other and this pleasing Conversation would often last till Day appeared and forced them to part But old Belyuard perceiving his Son frequent that Chamber more than usual fancy'd something extraordinary must be the Cause of it and one Night asking for his Son his Vallet told him he was gone into the great Chamber so this was called Belyuard asked the Vallet what he did there he told him he could not tell for often he had lighted him thither and that his Master would take the Candle from him at the Chamber Door and suffer him to go no further Tho' the old Gentleman could not imagine what Affairs he could have alone every Night in that Chamber he had a Curiosity to see and one unlucky Night putting off his Shooes he came to the Door of the Chamber which was open he entered softly and saw the Candle set in the Chimney and his Son at a great open Bay Window he stopt a while to wait when he would turn but finding him immovable he advanced something further and at last heard the soft Dialogue of Love between him and Atlante whom he knew to be she by his often calling her by her Name in their Discourse He heard enough to confirm him how Matters went and unseen as he came he returned full of Indignation and thought how to prevent so great an Evil as this Passion of his Son might produce at first he thought to round him severely in the Ear about it and upbraid him for doing the only thing he had thought fit to forbid him but then he thought that would but terrifie him for a while and he would return again where he had so great an Inclination if he were near her He therefore resolves to send him to Paris that by absence he might forget the young Beauty that had charmed his Youth Therefore without letting Rinaldo know the Reason and without taking notice that he knew any thing of his Amour he came to him one Day and told him all the Masters he had for the improving him in noble Sciences were very dull or very remiss and that he resolved he should go for a Year or two to the Academy at Paris To this the Son made a thousand Evasions but the Father was positive and not to be perswaded by all his Reasons and finding he should absolutely displease him if he refused to go and not daring to tell him the dear Cause of his Desire to remain at Orleance He therefore with a breaking Heart consents to go nay resolves it though it should be his Death But alas he considers that this parting will not only prove the greatest Torment upon Earth to him but that Atlante will share in his
't is that which possibly he designs on you I know him Brave as any Man However were it convenient that the Sword shou'd determine betwixt you you shou'd not want mine The Affront is partly to me since done in my House But I 've already laid down safer measures for us though of more fatal consequence to him that is I 've form'd 'em in my Thoughts Dismiss your Coach and Equipage all but one Servant and I will discourse it to you at large 'T is now past Twelve and if you please I wou'd invite you to take up as easie a Lodging here as my House will afford Accordingly they were dismiss'd and he proceeded As I hinted to you before he is in love with my youngest Niece Philibella but her Fortune not exceeding Five hundred Pound his Father will assuredly disinherit him if he marries her though he has given his Consent that he shou'd marry her Eldest Sister whose Father dying e're he knew his Wife was with Child of the Youngest left Lucy Three thousand Pounds being as much as he thought convenient to match her handsomly and accordingly the Nuptials of Young Goodland and Lucy are to be celebrated next Easter They shall not if I can hinder 'em interrupted his offended Majesty Never endeavour the obstruction said the Knight for I 'll shew you the way to a dearer Vengeance Women are Women your Majesty knows she may be won to your Embraces before that time and then you antedate him your Creature A Cuckold you mean cry'd King in Fansie O Exquisite Revenge But can you consent that I shou'd attempt it What is 't to me we live not in Spain where all the Male Relations of the Family are oblig'd to vindicate a Whore No I wou'd wound him in his most Tender Part. But how shall we compass it ask'd t'other Why thus Throw away Three thousand Pounds on the Youngest Sister as a Portion to make her as happy as she can be in her new Lover Sir Frederick Flygold an Extravagant young Fop and wholly given over to Gaming so ten to one but you may retrieve your Money of him and have the two Sisters at your devotion Oh Thou my better Genius than that which was given to me by Heav'n at my birth What Thanks what Praises shall I return and sing to Thee for this cry'd King Conundrum No Thanks no Praises I beseech your Majesty since in this I gratifie my selfe You think I am your Friend And you will agree to this said Friendly by way of Question Most readily return'd the Fop-King Wou'd it were broad-Day that I might send for the Money to my Bankers for in all my Life in all my Frolicks Encounters and Extravagancies I never had one so grateful and pleasant as this will be if you are in earnest to gratifie both my Love and Revenge That I am in earnest you will not doubt when you see with what Application I shall pursue my Design In the mean time My Duty to your Majesty To our good Success in this Affair While he drank t'other return'd With all my Heart and pledg'd him Then Friendly began afresh Leave the whole Management of this to me only one thing more I think necessary that you make a Present of Five hundred Guinea's to Her Majesty the Bride that must be By all means return'd the wealthy King of Bantam I had so design'd before Well Sir said Sir Philip what think you of a Sett Party or two at Piquet to pass away some few hours till we can sleep A seasonable and welcome Proposition return'd that King but I won't play above Twenty Guinea's the Game and Forty the Lurch Agreed said Friendly First call in your Servant mine is here already The Slave came in and they began with unequal fortune at first for the Knight had lost an Hundred Guinea's to Majesty which he paid in Specie and then propos'd Fifty Guinea's the Game and an Hundred the Lurch To which t'other consented and without winning more than three Games and those not together made shift to get Three thousand two hundred Guinea's in debt to Sir Philip For which Majesty was pleas'd to give him Bond whether Friendly wou'd or no Seal'd and Deliver'd in the Presence of The Mark of W. Will. Watchful And S. Sim. Slyboots A Couple of delicate Beagles their mighty Attendants It was then about the hour that Sir Philip's and it may be other Ladies began to Yawn and Stretch when the Spirits Refresh'd Troul'd about and Tickl'd the Blood with Desires of Action which made Majesty and Worship think of a Retreat to Bed where in less than Half an hour or before ever he could say his Prayers I 'm sure the first â—ell fast asleep but the last perhaps paid his accustom'd Devotion e're he began his Progress to the Shadow of Death However he wak'd earlier than his Cully-Majesty and got up to receive young Goodland who came to his Word with the first Opportunity Sir Philip receiv'd him with more than usual Joy though not with greater Kindness and let him know every Syllable and Accident that had pass'd between 'em till they went to bed which you may believe was not a little pleasantly surprising to Valentine who began then to have some Assurance of his Happiness with Philibella His Friend told him that he must now be reconcil'd to his Mock-Majesty though with some difficulty and so taking one hearty Glass a piece he left Valentine in the Parlour to carry the ungrateful News of his Visit to him that Morning King was in an odd sort of Taking when he heard that Valentine was Below and had been as Sir Philip inform'd Majesty at Majesty's Palace to enquire for him there but when he told him that he had already school'd him on his own behalf for the Affront done in his House and that he believ'd he cou'd bring his Majesty off without any loss of present Honour his Countenance visibly discover'd his past Fear and present Satisfaction which was much encreas'd too when Friendly shewing him his Bond for the Money he won of him at Play let him know that if he paid Three thousand Guinea's to Philibella he wou'd immediately deliver him up his Bond and not expect the Two hundred Guinea's Over-plus His Majesty of Bantam was then in so good an humour that he cou'd have made love to Sir Philip nay I believe he cou'd a kiss'd Valentine instead of seeming angry Down they came and saluted like Gentlemen But after the Greeting was over Goodland began to talk something of Affront Satisfaction Honour c. when immediately Friendly interpos'd and after a little seeming Uneasiness and Reluctancy reconcil'd the Hot and Cholerick Youth to the Cold Phlegmatick King Peace was no sooner proclaim'd than the King of Bantan took his Rival and late Antâ—gonist with him in his own Coach not excluding Sir Philip by any means to Locket's where they Din'd Thence he wou'd have 'em to Court with him where he met the Lady
had so afflicted a great many that Alcidiana had procured herself abundance of Enemies upon that Account because she might have saved him if she had pleased but on the contrary she was a Spectator and in full Health and Vigour at his Execution And People were not so much concerned for her at this Report as they would have been The Prince who now had by reasoning the Matter soberly with Miranda found it absolutely necessary to dispatch Alcidiana he resolved himself and with his own Hand to execute it not daring to trust to any of his most Favourite Servants tho' he had many who possibly would have obeyed him for they loved him as he deserved and so would all the World had he not been so purely deluded by this fair Enchantress He therefore as I said resolved to keep this great Secret to himself and taking a Pistol charged well with two Bullets he watched an Opportunity to shoot her as she should go out or into her House or Coach some Evening To this End he waited several Nights near her Lodgings but still either she went not out or when she returned she was so guarded with Friends or her Lover and Flambeaus that he could not aim at her without endangering the Life of some other But one Night above the rest upon a Sunday when he knew she would be at the Theater for she never missed that Day seeing the Play He waited at the Corner of the Stadt-House near the Theater with his Cloak cast over his Face and a black Perriwig all alone with his Pistol ready cock'd and remain'd not very long but he saw her Kinsman's Coach come along 't was almost dark Day was just shutting up her Beauties and left such a Light to govern the World as served only just to distinguish one Object from another an a convenient Help to Mischief He saw a Light out of the Coach only one young Lady the Lover and then the destin'd Victim which he drawing near knew rather by her Tongue than Shape The Lady ran into the Play-House and left Alcidiana to be conducted by her Lover into it who led her to the Door and went to give some Order to the Coach-man so that the Lover was about twenty Yards from Alcidiana when she stood the fairest Mark in the World on the Threshold of the Entrance of the Theatre there being many Coaches about the Door so that hers could not come so near Tarquin was resolved not to lose so fair an Opportunity and advanc'd but went behind the Coaches and when he came over-against the Door through a great Booted Velvet Coach that stood between him and her he shot and she having her Train of her Gown and Petticoat on her Arm in great quantity he missed her Body and shot through her Cloaths between her Arm and her Body She frightned to find something hit her and to see the Smoak and hear the Report of the Pistol running in cried I am shot I am dead This Noise quickly alarm'd her Lover and all the Coach-men and Foot-men immediately ran some one Way and some another One of 'em seeing a Man haste away in a Clock he being a lusty bold German stopped him and drawing upon him bad him stand and deliver his Pistol or he would run him through Tarquin being surprized at the Boldness of this Fellow to demand his Pistol as if he positively knew him to be the Murtherer for so he thought himself since he believed Alcidiana dead had so much Presence of Mind as to consider if he suffered himself to be taken he should poorly die a publick Death and therefore resolved upon one Mischief more to secure himself from the first And in the Moment that the German bad him deliver his Pistol he cried Though I have no Pistol to deliver I have a Sword to chastise thy Insolence And throwing off his Cloak and flinging his Pistol from him he drew and wounded and disarmed the Fellow This Noise of Swords brought every Body to the Place and immediately the Bruit ran The Murtherer was taken the Murtherer was taken Though none knew which was he nor the Cause of the Quarrel between the two fighting Men which none yet knew for it now was darker than before But at the Noise of the Murderer being taken the Lover of Alcidiana who by this time found his Lady unhurt all but the Trains of her Gown and Petticoat came running to the place just as Tarquin had disarmed the German and was ready to have kill'd him when laying hold of his Arm they arrested the Stroak and redeemed the Footman They then demanded who this Stranger was at whose Mercy the Fellow lay but the Prince who now found himself venturing for his last Stake made no Reply but with two Swords in his Hands went to fight his Way through the Rabble And tho' there were above a hundred Persons some Swords others with long Whips as Coach-men so invincible was the Courage of this poor unfortunate Gentleman at that time that all these were not able to seize him but he made his Way through the Ring that encompassed him and ran away but was however so closely pursu'd the Company still gathering as they ran that toiled with fighting oppressed with Guilt and Fear of being taken he grew fainter and fainter and suffered himself at last to yield to his Pursuers who soon found him to be Prince Tarquin in Disguise And they carried him directly to Prison being Sunday to wait the coming Day to go before a Magistrate In an Hours time the whole fatal Adventure was â—â—rried all over the City and every one knew that Prince Tarquin was the intended Murtherer of Alcidiana and not one but had a real Sorrow and Compassion for him They heard how bravely he had defended himself how many he had wounded before he could be taken and what Numbers he had fought through And even those that saw his Valour and Bravery and who had assisted at his being seized now repented from the bottom of their Hearts their having any Hand in the Ruine of so gallant a Man especially since they knew the Lady was not hurt A thousand Addresses were made to her not to prosecute him but her Lover a hot-headed Fellow more fierce than brave would by no means be pacified but vowed to pursue him to the Scaffold The Monday came and the Prince being examined confessed the Matter of Fact since there was no harm done believing a generous Confession the best of his Game but he was sent back to closer Imprisonment loaded with Irons to expect the next Sessions All his Houshold-Goods were seized and all they could find for the Use of Alcidiana And the Princess all in Rage tearing her Hair was carried to the same Prison to behold the cruel Effects of her hellish Designs One need not tell here how sad and horrid this Metting appeared between her Lord and she let it suffice it was the most melancholy and mortifying Object that ever