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 Oak Street
UNCLASSIFIED
THE JAMES MILLIKIN
UNIVERSITY
Ex iis Lux
Class F Book 96
BOOKB41
Vol.....

LIBRARY
of the

Decatur College and Industrial

School
 AWN
HDR
WIT

MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

DECATUR, ILLINOIS
 Reprinted from Original Edition in the British Museum.

OROONOKO ; &

OR,

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SLAVE.

BY THE INGENIOUS

MRS . APHRA BEHN .

LONDON :
THE TEMPLE COMPANY,
6 BOOKSELLERS ' ROW , w.c.

1886 .
 F

B4190

Perth:
S. COWAN AND CO. , STRATHMORE PRINTING WORKS.
 STOS
BS
, 50
M
2 0

PREFACE .

RS. Aphra Behn (Astraæ), the author of

Oroonoko, was one of the most remarkable
M
women of her age. A writer in Chambers'
“
History of English Literature " describes her as the
female Wycherley of the times of Charles II. , while
Pope has penned the following couplet in regard to
her :

" The stage how loosely does Astrae tread,

Who fairly puts all characters to bed."

There is unquestionably some truth for both of these

insinuations ; but this was more the fault of the age than
of our authoress. She is elsewhere represented as a
warm-hearted , gifted, and industrious woman, who was
forced by circumstances to earn a livelihood in a profes-
sion, which, hitherto , had been exclusively monopolized
by men, and in which scandalous writing was at
that time obligatory. In order to conceal the identity
y
Last
Cop

22651
iv PREFACE.

of her sex, which, if discovered, would have been fatal to

her as an authoress, she essayed to write in the style of
the opposite sex, and in several instances, it must be
admitted, succeeded but too well. Nevertheless, she
continued to the end of her life to enjoy the friendship
of Dryden, Rochester, Southern, Charles Cotton, and
other literary celebrites of the period. Mrs. Behn was
the first English woman who ever attempted to gain a
livelihood by her pen, and succeeded. She was, more-

over, the first to introduce milk punch into England.

Mrs. Behn died in 1689, and was buried in the poet's
corner in Westminster Abbey. Miss Julia Kavanaugh's
opinion of the accompanying work may fitly close this
short sketch. "Oroonoko can scarcely be called a novel ;
it is a book of travels and a most picturesque one ; a
biography, and one both noble and tragic .... we
cannot doubt the general truth of this lamentable
history, which is told moreover with infinite vigour
and spirit."
 LS
IVERSITY

OROONOKO ; KUIS

OR,

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SLAVE.

Do not pretend, in giving you the his-

tory of this Royal Slave, to entertain
my reader with the adventures of a
feigned hero, whose life and fortunes fancy may
manage at the poet's pleasure ; nor in relating
the truth, design to adorn it with any accidents,
but such as arrived in earnest to him : and it

shall come simply into the world, recommended

by its own proper merits, and natural intrigues ;
there being enough of reality to support it, and
to render it diverting without the addition of in-
vention.

I was myself an eye-witness to a great part of

what you will find here set down ; and what I
could not be witness of, I received from the
mouth of the chief actor in this history, the hero
himself, who gave us the whole transactions of
6 OROONOKO ; OR,

his youth and I shall omit, for brevity's sake, a

thousand little accidents of his life, which, how-
ever pleasant to us, where history was scarce,
and adventures very rare, yet might prove

tedious and heavy to my reader, in a world

where he finds diversions for every minute, new
and strange . But we who were perfectly
charmed with the character of this great man ,

were curious to gather every circumstance of his

life.
The scene of the last part of his adventures
lies in a colony in America, called Surinam , in
the West Indies.

But before I give you the story of this gallant

slave, ' tis fit I tell you the manner of bringing
them to these new colonies ; those they make
use of there, not being natives of the place for
those we live with in perfect amity, without
daring to command them ; but, on the contrary,
caress them with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world ; trading with them for
their fish, venison, buffaloes' skins, and little
rarities ; as Marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big
as a rat or weasel, but of a marvellous and
delicate shape, having face and hands like a
human creature ; and Cousheries, a little beast
in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
 THE ROYAL SLAVE.

kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that

noble beast, that it is it in miniature : then for
little Paraketoes, great Parrots, Muckaws, and a
thousand other birds and beasts of wonderful
and surprising forms, shapes, and colours for
skins of prodigious snakes, of which there are
some three-score yards in length ; as is the skin
of one that may be seen at his Majesty's Anti-
quary's ; where are also some rare flies, of amaz-
ing forms and colours, presented to them by my-
self: some as big as my fist, some less ; and all of
various excellencies, such as art cannot imitate.
Then we trade for feathers, which they order in-
to all shapes, make themselves little short habits
of them, and glorious wreaths for their heads,
necks, arms, and legs, whose tinctures are un-
conceivable. I had a set of these presented to me,

and I gave them to the King's Theatre ; and it

was the dress of the Indian queen, infinitely ad-
mired by persons of quality ; and were inimitable.
Besides these, a thousand little knacks, and
rarities in nature ; and some of art, as their
baskets, weapons, aprons, &c. We dealt with
them with beads of all colours, knives, axes,

pins and needles, which they used only as tools

to drill holes with in their ears, noses, and lips,
where they hang a great many little things ; as
8 OROONOKO ; OR,

long beads, bits of tin, brass or silver beat thin,

and any shining trinket. The beads they weave
into aprons about a quarter of an ell long, and
of the same breadth ; working them very prettily
in flowers of several colours ; which apron they
wear just before them, as Adam and Eve did
the fig-leaves ; the men wearing a long stripe of
linen, which they deal with us for. They thread
these beads also on long cotton threads, and
make girdles to tie their aprons to, which come
twenty times, or more, about the waist, and then
cross, like a shoulder-belt, both ways, and round
their necks, arms, and legs. This adornment,
with their long black hair, and the face painted
in little specks or flowers here and there, makes
them a wonderful figure to behold . Some of
the beauties, which indeed are finely shaped, as
almost all are, and who have pretty features, are
charming and novel ; for they have all that is
called beauty, except the colour, which is a red-
dish yellow ; or after a new oiling, which they
often use to themselves, they are of the colour
of a new brick, but smooth, soft and sleek.
They are extreme modest and bashful, very shy,
and nice of being touched . And though they are
all thus naked, if one lives forever among them,
there is not to be seen an indecent action, or
 Y
THE ROYAL SLAVE.

glance and being continually used to see one

another so unadorned, so like our first parents

before the fall, it seems as if they had no wishes,

there being nothing to heighten curiosity : but all
you can see, you see at once, and every moment
see ; and where there is no novelty, there can be
no curiosity. Not but I have seen a handsome
young Indian, dying for love of a very beautiful
young Indian maid ; but all his courtship was,
to fold his arms, pursue her with his eyes, and
sighs were all his language : while she, as if no
such lover were present, or rather as if she de-
sired none such, carefully guarded her eyes from

beholding him ; and never approached him, but

she looked down with all the blushing modesty
I have seen in the most severe and cautious of
our world. And these people represented to
me an absolute idea of the first state of inno-
cence, before man knew how to sin : and it is

most evident and plain, that simple nature is the

most harmless, inoffensive, and virtuous mistress.
It is she alone, if she were permitted, that better
instructs the world, than all the inventions of
man religion would here but destroy that tran-
quillity they possess by ignorance ; and laws
would but teach them to know offence, of which
now they have no notion. They once made
10 OROONOKO ; OR,

mourning and fasting for the death of the

English governor, who had given his hand to
come on such a day to them, and neither came
nor sent ; believing, when a man's word was
past, nothing but death could or should prevent
his keeping it and when they saw he was not
dead, they asked him what name they had for a
man who promised a thing he did not do? The
Governor told them, such a man was a liar,
which was a word of infamy to a gentleman.
Then one of them replied , " Governor, you are a
liar, and guilty of that infamy." They have a
native justice, which knows no fraud ; and they
understand no vice, or cunning, but when they are
taught by the white men. They have plurality
of wives; which, when they grow old, serve those
that succeed them, who are young, but with a
servitude easy 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 obeyed
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
some other of their customs and manners, as
they fall in my way.
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. IN

With these people, as I said, we live in perfect

tranquillity, and good understanding, as it be-
hoves us to do ; they knowing all the places
where to seek the best food of the country, and
the means of getting it ; and for very small and
unvaluable trifles, supplying us with what 'tis al-
most impossible for us to get : for they do not
only in the woods, and over the Sevana's, in
hunting, supply the parts of hounds, by swiftly
scouring through those almost impassable places ,
and by the mere activity of their feet, run down
the nimblest deer, and other eatable beasts ;. but
in the water, one would 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 com-
mand 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
them as friends, and not to treat them as slaves ;
12 OROONOKO ; OR,

nor dare we do otherwise, their numbers so far

surpassing ours in that continent.
Those then whom we make use of to work in

our plantations of sugar, are negroes, black-

slaves altogether, who 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 them, when they shall be delivered on
such a plantation : so that when there arrives a
ship laden with slaves, they who have so con-
tracted, go aboard, 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 obliged to be

contented with your lot.

Coramantien, a country 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 merchan-
dise traffic ; for that nation is very warlike and
brave and having a continual campaign, being
always in hostility with one neighbouring prince
or other, they had the fortune to take a
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 13

great many captives : for all they took in battle

were sold as slaves ; at least those common men
who could 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 of 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 whom 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 trained 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 cap-
tains, and bravest soldiers that ever saw the field
of Mars : so that he was adored as the wonder

of all that world, and the darling of the soldiers.

Besides, he was adorned with a native beauty, so
transcending all those of his gloomy race, that he
14 OROONOKO ; OR,

struck an awe and reverence, even into those

that knew not his quality ; as he did into me,
who beheld him with surprise and wonder, when
afterwards he arrived in our world.

He had scarce arrived at his seventeenth year,

when, fighting by his side, the general was killed
with an arrow in his eye, which the Prince
Oroonoko (for so was this gallant Moor called)
very narrowly avoided ; nor had he, if the
general who saw the arrow shot, and perceiving it
aimed at the Prince, had not bowed his head be-
tween, on purpose to receive it in his own body,
rather than it should touch that of the Prince,
and so saved him.

'Twas then, afflicted as Oroonoko was, that he

was proclaimed 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 ' twas amazing to imagine
where it was he learned so much humanity ; or
to give his accomplishments a juster name, where
it was he got that real greatness of soul, those re-
fined notions of true honour, that absolute gener-
osity, and that softness, that was capable of the
highest passions of love and gallantry, whose
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 15

objects were almost continually fighting men, or

those mangled or dead, who heard no sounds
but those of war and groans. Some part of it
we may attribute to the care of a Frenchman of
wit and learning, who finding it turn to a 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 beloved and valued by him.
Another reason was, he loved 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 Spaniard also, with whom he
traded afterwards for slaves.
I have often seen and conversed with this

great man, and been a witness to many of his

mighty actions ; and do assure my reader, the
most illustrious courts could not have produced
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 admired the
Romans he had heard of the late civil wars in

England, and the deplorable death of our great

monarch ; and would discourse of it with all the
 16 OROONOKO ; OR,

sense and abhorrence of the injustice imaginable.

He had an extreme good and graceful mien, and
all the civility of a well -bred great man. He
had nothing of barbarity in his nature, but in all
points addressed himself as if his education had
been in some European Court.
This great and just character of Oroonoko
gave me an extreme curiosity to see him , especially
when I knew he spoke French and English and
that I could talk with him. But though I had
heard so much of him, I was as greatly surprised

when I saw him, as if I had heard nothing of

him ; so beyond all report I found him. He
came into the room, and addressed himself to
me, and some other women, with the best grace
in the world. He was pretty tall, but of shape
the most exact that can be fancied : the most

famous statuary could not form the figure of man

more admirably turned from head to foot. His
face was not of that brown rusty black which
most of that nation are, but a perfect ebony, or
polished jet. His eyes were the most awful that
could be seen, and very piercing ; the white of
*
them being like snow, as were his teeth. His
nose was rising and Roman, instead of African
and flat his mouth the finest shaped that could
be seen; far from those great turned lips, which
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 17

are so natural to the rest of the negroes. The

whole proportion and air of his face was so
nobly and exactly formed , that bating his colour,
there could be nothing in nature more beautiful,
agreeable and handsome. There was no one
grace wanting, that bears the standard of true

beauty. His hair came down to his shoulders,

by the aids of art, which was by pulling it out
with a quill, and keeping it combed ; of which
he took particular care. Nor did the perfections
of his mind come short of those of his person ;
for his discourse was admirable upon almost any

subject : and whoever had heard him speak,

would have been convinced of their errors, that
all fine wit is confined to the white men,
especially to those of Christendom ; and would
have confessed that Oroonoko was as capable
even of reigning well, and of governing as wisely,
had as great a soul, as politic maxims, and was
as sensible of power as any prince civilized in
the most refined schools of humanity and learn-
ing, or the most illustrious courts.
This Prince, such as I have described him ,
whose soul and body were so admirably adorned ,
was (while yet he was in the court of his grand-
father, as I said) as capable of love, as it was
possible for a brave and gallant man to be ; and
B
18 OROONOKO ; OR,

in saying that, I have named the highest degree

of love for sure great souls are most capable
of that passion .
I have already said, the old general was killed
by the shot of an arrow, by the side of this
Prince, in battle ; and that Oroonoko was made
general. This old dead hero had one only
daughter left of his race, a beauty, that to
describe her truly, one need say only, she was
female to the noble male ; the beautiful black
Venus to our young Mars ; as charming in her
person as he, and of delicate virtues. I have

seen a hundred white men fighting after her,

and making a thousand vows at her feet, all in
vain and unsuccessful. And she was indeed too
great for any but a Prince of her own nation to
adore.
Oroonoko coming from the wars (which were
now ended) , after he had made his court to his
grandfather, he thought in honour he ought to
make a visit to Imoinda, the daughter of his
foster-father, the dead general ; and to make
some excuses to her, because his preservation
was the occasion of her father's death ; and to
present her with those slaves that had been
taken in this last battle, as the trophies of her
father's victories. When he came, attended by
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 19

all the young soldiers of any merit, he was in-

finitely surprised at the beauty of this fair queen

of night, whose face and person were so exceed-
ing all he had ever beheld, that lovely modesty
with which she received him, that softness in her
look and sighs, upon the melancholy occasion of
this hononr that was done by so great a man as
Oroonoko and a Prince of whom she had heard
such admirable things ; the awfulness wherewith
she received him, and the sweetness of her words
and behaviour while he stayed, gained a perfect
conquest over his fierce heart, and made him
feel, the victor could be subdued. So that hav-
ing made his first compliments, and presented
her an hundred and fifty slaves in fetters, he
told her with his eyes, that he was not insen
sible to her charms ; while Imoinda, who
wished for nothing more than so glorious a con-
quest, was pleased to believe she understood
that silent language of new-born love ; and,
from that moment, put on all her additions to
beauty.
The Prince returned to court with quite an-
other humour than before ; and though he did
not speak much of the fair Imoinda, he had the
pleasure to hear all his followers speak of
nothing but the charms of that maid, insomuch,
20 OROONOKO ; OR,

that, even in the presence of the old King, they

were extolling her, and heightening, if possible,
the beauties they had found in her so that
nothing else was talked of, no other sound was
heard in every corner where there were whis-
perers, but Imoinda ! Imoinda !

It will be imagined Oroonoko stayed not long

before he made his second visit ; nor, consider-
ing his quality, not much longer before he told
her he adored her. I have often heard him say,
that he admired by what strange inspiration he
came to talk things so soft, and so passionate,
who never knew love, nor was used to the con-
versation of women ; but (to use his own words) ,
he said, " Most happily, some new, and , till then,
unknown power instructed his heart and tongue

in the language of love ; and at the same time,

in favour of him, inspired Imoinda with a sense
of his passion." She was touched with what he
said, and returned it all in such answers as went
to his very heart, with a pleasure unknown be-
fore. Nor did he use those obligations ill, that
love had done him, but turned all his happy
moments to the best advantage ; and as he knew
no vice, his flame aimed at nothing but honour,
if such a distinction may be made in love ; and
especially in that country, where men take to
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 21

themselves as many as they can maintain ; and

where the only crime and sin against a woman,
is, to turn her off, to abandon her to want, shame,
and misery : such ill morals are only practised
in Christian countries, where they prefer the
bare name of religion ; and, without virtue or
morality, think that sufficient. But Oroonoko
was none of those professors ; but as he had
right notions of honour, so he made her such
propositions as were not only and barely such ;
but, contrary to the custom of his country, he
made her vows, she should be the only woman
he would possess while he lived ; that no age or
wrinkles should incline him to change for her
soul would be always fine, and always young ;
and he should have an eternal idea in his mind
.
of the charms she now bore ; and should look
into his heart for that idea, when he could find
it no longer in her face.
After a thousand assurances of his lasting
flame, and her eternal empire over him, she con-
descended to receive him for her husband ; or

rather, receive him, as the greatest honour the

gods could do her.
There is a certain ceremony in these cases to
be observed, which I forgot to ask how it was
performed ; but it was concluded on both sides,
22 OROONOKO ; OR,

that in obedience to him, the grandfather was

to be first made acquainted with the design :
for they pay a most absolute resignation to the
monarch, especially when he is a parent also.
On the other side, the old King, who had
many wives, and many concubines, wanted not
court-flatterers to insinuate into his heart a thou-
sand tender thoughts for this young beauty ; and
who represented her to his fancy, as the most
charming he had ever possessed in all the long
race of his numerous years. At this character,
his old heart, like an extinguished brand, most
apt to take fire, felt new sparks of love, and be-
gan to kindle ; and now grown to his second
childhood, longed with impatience to behold
this gay thing, with whom, alas ! he could but
innocently play. But how he should be con-
firmed she was this wonder, before he used his
power to call her to court (where maidens never
came, unless for the King's private use) , he was
next to consider ; and while he was so doing,
he had intelligence brought him, Imoinda was
most certainly mistress to the Prince Oroonoko.

This gave him some chagrin : however, it gave

him also an opportunity, one day, when the
Prince was a hunting, to wait on a man of
quality, as his slave and attendant, who should
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 23

go and make a present to Imoinda , as from the

Prince ; he should then , unknown , see this fair
maid , and have an opportunity to hear what
message she would return the Prince for his pre-
sent , and from thence gather the state of her
heart, and degree of her inclination . This was
put in execution , and the old monarch saw, and
burned he found her all he had heard , and
would not delay his happiness, but found he
should have some obstacle to overcome her heart ;
for she expressed her sense of the present the
Prince had sent her, in terms so sweet , so soft
and pretty, with an air of love and joy that could
not be dissembled , insomuch that it was past
doubt whether she loved Oroonoko entirely .
n
This gave the old King some afflictio ; but he
salved it with this, that the obedience the people
pay their King, was not at all inferior to what
they paid their gods ; and what love would not
oblige Imoinda to do, duty would compel her to.
He was therefore no sooner got into his apart-
ment, but he sent the royal veil to Imoinda ;
that is the ceremony of invitation ; he sends the
lady he has a mind to honour with his bed , a
veil, with which she is covered, and secured for
the King's use ; and it is death to disobey ; be-
sides, held a most impious disobedience.
24 OROONOKO ; OR,

It is not to be imagined the surprise and grief

that seized the lovely maid at this news and
sight. However, as delays in these cases are
dangerous, and pleading worse than treason ;
trembling, and almost fainting, she was obliged
to suffer herself to be covered , and led away.

They brought her thus to court ; and the King,

who had caused a very rich bath to be prepared,
was led into it, where he sat under a canopy, in

state, to receive this longed-for virgin, whom he

having commanded to be brought to him, they,
after disrobing her, led her to the bath, and
making fast the door, left her to descend. The
King, without more courtship, bade her throw off
her mantle and come to his arms. But Imoinda,

all in tears, threw herself on the marble, on the

brink of the bath, and besought him to hear her.
She told him , as she was a maid, how proud of
the divine glory she should have been, of having
it in her power to oblige her King : but as by
the laws he could not, and from his royal good-
ness would not take from any man his wedded
wife ; so she believed she should be the occasion
of making him commit a great sin, if she did not
reveal her state and condition ; and tell him she
was another's, and could not be so happy to be
his.
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 25 25

The King, enraged at this delay, hastily de-

manded the name of this bold man, that had
married a woman of her degree, without his
consent. Imoinda seeing his eyes fierce, and his
hands tremble (whether with age or anger, I
know not, but she fancied the last) , almost re-
pented she had said so much, for now she feared
the storm would fall on the Prince ; she there-
fore said a thousand things to appease the raging
of his flame, and to prepare him to hear who it
was with calmness : but before she spoke, he
imagined who she meant, but would not seem to
do so, but commanded her to lay aside her
mantle, and suffer herself to receive his caresses,
or, by his gods, he swore, that happy man whom
she was going to name should die, though it were
even Oroonoko himself. " Therefore," said he,

deny this marriage, and swear thyself a maid."

"That," replied Imoinda, " by all our powers I
do ; for I am not yet known to my husband."
"It is enough," said the King, " it is enough both
to satisfy my conscience and my heart." And
rising from his seat, he went and led her into the
bath ; it being in vain for her to resist.
In this time, the Prince, who was returned
from hunting, went to visit his Imoinda, but
found her gone ; and not only so, but heard she
26 OROONOKO ; OR,

had received the royal veil . This raised him to

a storm ; and in his madness, they had much
ado to save him from laying violent hands on
himself. Force first prevailed, and then reason :
they urged all to him, that might oppose his
rage ; but nothing weighed so greatly with him
as the King's old age, incapable of injuring him
with Imoinda. He would give way to that hope,
because it pleased him most, and flattered best
his heart. Yet this served not altogether to

make him cease his different passions, which

sometimes raged within him, and softened into
showers. It was not enough to appease him, to
tell him his grandfather was old, and could not
that way injure him , while he retained that
awful duty which the young men are used there
to pay to their grave relations. He could not
be convinced he had no cause to sigh and mourn
for the loss of a mistress, he could not with all
his strength and courage retrieve, and he would
often cry, " Oh, my friends ! were she in walled
cities, or confined from me in fortifications of the
greatest strength ; did enchantments or monsters
detain her from me ; I would venture through
any hazard to free her ; but here, in the arms of
a feeble old man, my youth, my violent love,
my trade in arms, and all my vast desire of
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 27

glory, avail me nothing. Imoinda is as irre-

coverable lost to me, as if she were snatched by
the cold arms of death : oh ! she is never to be
retrieved . If I would wait tedious years, till
fate should bow the old King to his grave, even
that would not leave me Imoinda free ; but still
that custom that makes it so vile a crime for a
son to marry his father's wives or mistresses,
would hinder my happiness ; unless I would
either ignobly set an ill precedent to my suc-
cessors, or abandon my country, and fly with her
to some unknown world who never heard our

story.
But it was objected to him, that his case was
not the same for Imoinda being his lawful wife
by solemn contract, it was he was the injured
man, and might, if he so pleased, take Imoinda
back, the breach of the law being on his grand-
father's side ; and that if he could circumvent
him, and redeem her from the Otan, which is
the palace of the King's women, a sort of Seraglio,
it was both just and lawful for him so to do.
This reasoning had some force upon him, and
he should have been entirely comforted, but for
the thought that she was possessed by his grand-
father. However, he loved her so well, that he
was resolved to believe what most favoured his
$28 OROONOKO ; OR,

hope, and to endeavour to learn from Imoinda's

own mouth, what only she could satisfy him in,
whether she was robbed of that blessing which
was only due to his faith and love. But as it
was very hard to get a sight of the women (for
no men ever entered into the Otan, but when
the King went to entertain himself with some
one of his wives or mistresses ; and it was
death, at any other time, for any other to go in) ,
so he knew not how to contrive to get a sight of
her.
While Oroonoko felt all the agonies of love,
and suffered under a torment the most painful in
the world, the old King was not exempted from
his share of affliction. He was troubled, for

having been forced , by an irresistible passion , to

rob his son of a treasure, he knew, could not but
be extremely dear to him ; since she was the
most beautiful that ever had been seen, and had
besides, all the sweetness and innocence of youth
and modesty, with a charm of wit surpassing all.
He found, that however she was forced to expose
her lovely person to his withered arms, she
could only sigh and weep there, and think of
Oroonoko ; and oftentimes could not forbear
speaking of him, though her life were, by cus-
tom, forfeited by owning her passion . But she
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 29,

spoke not of a lover only, but of a Prince dear

to him to whom she spoke ; and of the praises.
of a man, who , until now, filled the old man's

soul with joy at every recital of his bravery,

or even his name. And it was this dotage on
our young hero, that gave Imoinda a thousand
privileges to speak of him without offending ;
and this condescension in the old King, that
made her take the satisfaction of speaking of
him so very often.
Besides, he many times inquired how the
Prince bore himself : and those of whom he
asked, being entirely slaves to the merits and.
virtues of the Prince, still answered what they
thought conduced best to his service ; which
was, to make the old King fancy that the Prince
had no more interest in Imoinda, and had re-
signed her willingly to the pleasure of the King ;
that he diverted himself with his mathematicians ,
his fortifications, his officers, and his hunting.
This pleased the old lover, who failed not to
report these things again to Imoinda, that she
might, by the example of her young lover, with-
draw her heart, and rest better contented in his
arms. But, however she was forced to receive

this unwelcome news, in all appearance, with

unconcern and content ; her heart was bursting
30 OROONOKO ; OR,

within, and she was only happy when she could

get alone, to vent her griefs and moans with sighs
and tears.

What reports of the Prince's conduct were

made to the King, he thought good to justify, as
far as possibly he could by his actions ; and
when he appeared in the presence of the King,
he shewed a face not at all betraying his heart ;
so that in a little time, the old man, being en-
tirely convinced that he was no longer a lover
of Imoinda, he carried him with him in his
train to the Otan, often to banquet with his
mistresses. But as soon as he entered one day
into the apartment of Imoinda with the King, at
the first glance from her eyes, notwithstanding
all his determined resolution, he was ready to
sink in the place where he stood , and had cer-
tainly done so but for the support of Aboan, a
young man who was next to him, which, with
his change of countenance, had betrayed him,
had the King chanced to look that way. And

I have observed, ' tis a very great error in those

who laugh when one says, a negro can change
colour ; for I have seen them as frequently blush
and look pale, and that as visibly as ever I saw
in the most beautiful white. And 'tis certain

that both these changes were evident this day

 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 31

in both these lovers. And Imoinda, who saw

with some joy the change in the Prince's face,
and found it in her own, strove to divert the
King from beholding either by a forced caress
with which she met him, which was a new wound
in the heart of the poor dying Prince. But as
soon as the King was busied in looking on some
fine thing of Imoinda's making, she had time to
tell the Prince, with her angry, but love-darting
eyes, that she resented his coldness, and be-
moaned her own miserable captivity. Nor were
his eyes silent, but answered hers again, as much
as eyes could do, instructed by the most tender
and most passionate heart that ever loved. And
they spoke so well and so effectually, as Imoinda
no longer doubted but she was the only delight
and darling of that soul she found pleading in
them its right of love, which none was more
willing to resign than she. And ' twas this
powerful language alone that in an instant con-
veyed all the thoughts of their souls to each
other, that they both found there wanted but
opportunity to make them both entirely happy.
But when he saw another door opened by Ona-
hal (a former old wife of the King's, who now
had charge of Imoinda) , and saw the prospect of
a bed of state made ready with sweets and
32 OROONOKO ; OR,

flowers for the dalliance of the King, who im-

mediately led the trembling victim from his
sight, into that prepared repose ; what rage !
what wild frenzies seized his heart ! which

forcing to keep within bounds, and to suffer

without noise, it became the more insupportable,

and rent his soul with ten thousand pains. He

was forced to retire to vent his groans, where
he fell down on a carpet, and lay struggling a
long time, and only breathing now and then-
Oh Imoinda ! When Onahal had finished her
necessary affair within, shutting the door, she
came forth to wait till the King called, and
hearing some one sighing in the other room, she

passed on, and found the Prince in that deplor-

able condition, which she thought needed her
aid. She gave him cordials, but all in vain,
till finding the nature of his disease by his sighs,
and naming Imoinda, she told him he had not so
much cause as he imagined to afflict himself ; for
if he knew the King so well as she did, he would
not lose a moment in jealousy, and that she was
confident that Imoinda bore, at this moment,
part in his affliction . Aboan was of the same
opinion, and both together persuaded him to re-
assume his courage ; and, all sitting down on
the carpet, the Prince said so many obliging
 3333
THE ROYAL SLAVE.

things to Onahal that he half-persuaded her to

be of his party, and she promised him she would
thus far comply with his just desires, that she
would let Imoinda know how faithful he was,

what he suffered, and what he said.

This discourse lasted till the King called , which
gave Oroonoko a certain satisfaction ; and with
the hope Onahal had made him conceive, he as-
sumed a look as gay as ' twas possible a man in
his circumstances could do, and presently after
he was called in with the rest who waited with-

out. The King commanded music to be brought,

and several of his young wives and mistresses
came all together by his command to dance before
him, where Imoinda performed her part with an
air and grace so surpassing all the rest, as her
beauty was above them, and received the present
ordained as the prize . The Prince was every
moment more charmed with the new beauties
and graces he beheld in this fair one ; and while

he gazed, and she danced, Onahal had retired to

a window with Aboan.

This Onahal, as I said, was one of the cast-

mistresses of the old King, and 'twas these (now
past their beauty) that were made guardians or
governantes to the new and the young ones,
and whose business it was to teach them all those
34 OROONOKO ; OR,

wanton arts of love, with which they prevailed

and charmed heretofore in their turn, and who
now treated the triumphing happy ones with all
the severity, as to liberty and freedom, that was
possible, in revenge of the honours they rob them
of, envying them those satisfactions, those gallan-
tries and presents that were once made to them-
selves while youth and beauty lasted, and
which they now saw pass, as it were , regard-
less by, and paid only to the bloomings. And
certainly nothing is more afflicting to a decayed
beauty than to behold in itself declining charms
that were once adored, and to find those caresses
paid to new beauties, to which once she laid
claim, to hear them whisper as she passes by,
that once was a delicate woman. Those aban-
doned ladies therefore endeavour to revenge all
the despites and decays of time on these flourish-
ing happy-ones. And ' twas this severity that
gave Oroonoko a thousand fears he should never
prevail with Onahal to see Imoinda. But, as I
said, she had now retired to a window with
Aboan.
This young man was not only one of the best

quality, but a man extremely well made, and

beautiful ; and coming often to attend the King
to the Otan, he had subdued the heart of the
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 35

antiquated Onahal, which had not forgot how

pleasant it was to be in love. And though she

had some decays in her face, she had none in

her sense and wit ; she was there agreeable still,
even to Aboan's youth : so that he took pleasure
in entertaining her with discourses of love. He
knew also, that to make his court to these she-
favourites, was the way to be great ; these being
the persons that do all affairs and business at
court. He had also observed, that she had given

him glances more tender and inviting than she

had done to others of his quality. And now, when
he saw that her favour could so absolutely
oblige the Prince, he failed not to sigh in her
ear, and look with eyes all soft upon her, and
gave her hope that she had made some impres-
sion on his heart. He found her pleased at this,
and making a thousand advances to him: but
the ceremony ending, and the King departing,
broke up the company for that day, and his
conversation.

Aboan failed not that night to tell the Prince

of his success, and how advantageous the service
of Onahal might be to his amour with Imoinda.
The Prince was over-joyed with this good news,
and besought him, if it were possible , to caress
her, so as to engage her entirely, which he could
36 OROONOKO ; OR,

not fail to do, if he complied with her desires :

" For then," said the Prince, " her life lying at
your mercy, she must grant you the request you
make in my behalf." Aboan understood him,
and assured him he would make love so effectually,
that he would defy the most expert mistress of
the art to find out whether he dissembled it, or
had it really. And it was with impatience they
waited the next opportunity of going to the
Otan.

The wars came on, the time of taking the

field approached ; and it was impossible for the
Prince to delay his going at the head of his
army to encounter the enemy ; so that every
day seemed a tedious year, till he saw his
Imoinda : for he believed he could not live, if he
were forced away without being so happy. It

was with impatience therefore that he expected.

the next visit the King would make ; and,
according to his wish, it was not long.
The parley of the eyes of these two lovers
had not passed so secretly, but an old jealous
lover could spy it ; or rather, he wanted not
flatterers who told him they observed it : so that
the Prince was hastened to the camp, and this
was the last visit he found he should make to the
Otan ; he therefore urged Aboan to make the
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 37

best of this last effort, and to explain himself so

to Onahal, that she, deferring her enjoyment of
her young lover no longer, might make way for
the Prince to speak to Imoinda.
The whole affair being agreed on between
the Prince and Aboan, they attended the King,
as the custom was, to the Otan ; where, while
the whole company was taken up in beholding
the dancing, and antique postures the women-
royal made to divert the King, Onahal singled
out Aboan, whom she found most pliable to her
wish. When she had him where she believed

she could not be heard, she sighed to him, and

softly cried, " Ah, Aboan ! when will you be
sensible of my passion ? I confess it with my
mouth, because I would not give my eyes the
lie ; and you have but too much already per-
ceived they have confessed my flame : nor would
I have you believe, that because I am the
abandoned mistress of a King, I esteem myself
altogether divested of charms. No , Aboan ; I
have still a rest of beauty enough engaging, and
have learned to please too well, not to be
desirable. I can have lovers still, but will have
none but Aboan. " " Madam, " replied the half-

feigning youth, " you have already, by my eyes,

found you can still conquer ; and I believe it is in
88
38 OROONOKO ; OR,

pity of me you condescend to this kind con-

fession. But, Madam, words are used to be so
small a part of our country-courtship , that it is
rare one can get so happy an opportunity as to
tell one's heart ; and those few minutes we have,
are forced to be snatched for more certain proofs
of love than speaking and sighing : and such a
languish for."
He spoke this with such a tone, that she hoped
it true, and could not forbear believing it ; and
being wholly transported with joy for having
subdued the finest of all the King's subjects to
her desires, she took from her ears two large
pearls, and commanded him to wear them in his.
He would have refused them crying, " Madam,
these are not the proofs of your love that I
expect ; it is opportunity, it is a lone-hour only,
that can make me happy." But forcing the

pearls into his hand, she whispered softly to

him ; " Oh ! do not fear a woman's invention,
when love sets her a-thinking. " And pressing

his hand, she cried, " This night you shall be

happy. Come to the gate of the Orange-grove,
behind the Otan, and I will be ready about
midnight to receive you . " It was thus agreed ,
and she left him, that no notice might be taken
of their speaking together.
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 39

The ladies were still dancing, and the King,

laid on a carpet, with a great deal of pleasure
was beholding them, especially Imoinda, who
that day appeared more lovely than ever, being
enlivened with the good tidings Onahal had
brought her, of the constant passion the Prince
had for her. The Prince was laid on another
carpet at the other end of the room, with his
eyes fixed on the object of his soul ; and as she
turned or moved, so did they ; and she alone
gave his eyes and soul their motions. Nor did

Imoinda employ her eyes to any other use, than

in beholding with infinite pleasure the joy she
produced in those of the Prince. But while she

was more regarding him than the steps she took,

she chanced to fall, and so near him, as that
leaping with extreme force from the carpet, he
caught her in his arms as she fell ; and it was
visible to the whole presence, the joy wherewith
he received her. He clasped her close to his

bosom, and quite forgot that reverence that was

due to the mistress of a King, and that punishment
that is the reward of a boldness of this nature.

And had not the presence of mind of Imoinda

(fonder of his safety than her own) befriended
him, and making her spring from his arms, and
fall into her dance again, he had at that instant
40 OROONOKO ; OR,

met his death ; for the old King, jealous to the

last degree, rose up in rage, broke all the
diversion, and led Imoinda to her apartment,
and sent out word to the Prince, to go immediately
to the camp ; and that if he were found another
night in court, he should suffer the death or-
dained for disobedient offenders.

You may imagine how welcome this news was

to Oroonoko, whose unseasonable transport and
caress of Imoinda was blamed by all men that
loved him and now he perceived his fault, yet
cried, " That for such another moment he would
be content to die. "
All the Otan was in disorder about this
accident ; and Onahal was particularly con-
cerned, because on the Prince's stay depended
her happiness ; for she could no longer expect
that of Aboan. So that e'er they departed ,
they contrived it so, that the Prince and he
should both come that night to the Grove of the
Otan, which was all of oranges and citrons, and
that there they would wait her orders.
They parted thus with grief enough till night,
leaving the King in possession of the lovely maid .
But nothing could appease the jealousy of the
old lover ; he would not be imposed on, but
would have it that Imoinda made a false step on
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 41

purpose to fall into Oroonoko's bosom, and that

all things looked like a design on both sides ;
and it was in vain she protested her innocence.
He was old and obstinate, and left her, more
than half assured that his fear was true.

The King going to his apartment , sent to

know where the Prince was, and if he intended
to obey his command . The messenger returned,
and told him he found the Prince pensive, and
altogether unprepared for the campaign ; that he
lay negligently on the ground , and answered very
little. This confirmed the jealousy of the King,
and he commanded that they should very

narrowly and privately watch his motions ; and

that he should not stir from his apartment, but
one spy or other should be employed to watch
him so that the hour approaching, wherein he
was to go to the citron-grove ; and taking only
Aboan along with him, he leaves his apartment,
and was watched to the very gate of the Otan ;
where he was seen to enter, and where they left
him, to carry back the tidings to the King.
Oroonoko and Aboan were no sooner entered ,
but Onahal led the Prince to the apartment of
Imoinda ; who , not knowing anything of her
happiness, was laid in bed. But Onahal only
left him in her chamber, to make the best of his
42 OROONOKO ; OR,

opportunity, and took her dear Aboan to her

own ; where he shewed the height of complais-

ance for his Prince, when, to give him an
opportunity, he suffered himself to be caressed
in bed by Onahal.
The Prince softly awakened Imoinda, who was
not a little surprised with joy to find him there ;
and yet she trembled with a thousand fears. I
believe he omitted saying nothing to this young

maid, that might persuade her to suffer him to

seize his own, and take the rights of love.
And I believe she was not long in resisting those
arms where she so longed to be ; and having
opportunity, night, and silence, youth, love, and
desire, he soon prevailed, and ravished for a
moment what his old grandfather had been
endeavouring for so many months.
'Tis not to be imagined the satisfaction of these
two young lovers, nor the vows she made him,
that she remained a spotless maid till that night,
and that what she did with his grandfather had
robbed him of no part of her virgin-honour ; the
gods, in mercy and justice, having reserved that
for her plighted lord, to whom of right it be-
longed. And ' tis impossible to express the
transports he suffered, while he listened to a
discourse so charming from her loved lips, and
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 43

clasped that body in his arms for whom he had

so long languished ; and nothing now afflicted him
but his sudden departure from her, for he told
her the necessity and his commands, but should
depart satisfied in this, that since the old King
had hitherto not been able to deprive him of
those enjoyments which only belonged to him,
he believed 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 believed her safe, even
in the arms of the King, and innocent ; yet
would he have ventured at the conquest of the
world, and have given it all to have had her
avoided that honour of receiving the royal veil.
'Twas thus, between a thousand caresses, that
both bemoaned the hard fate of youth and beauty,
so liable to that cruel promotion : 'Twas a glory that
could well have been spared here, tho' desired and
aimed at by all the young females of that kingdom .
But while they were thus fondly employed,
forgetting how time ran on, and that the dawn
must conduct him far away from his only
happiness, they hear 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 used to wear by his
44 OROONOKO ; OR,

side ; and having not so much leisure as to put

on his habit, he opposed 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 forced to cry out with a com-
manding 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 it is the King's."
This he spoke with a voice so resolved and
assured, that they soon retired from the door ;
but cried, " It is by the King's command we are
come ; and being satisfied by thy voice, O Prince,
as much as if we had entered , we can report to
the King the truth of all his fears, and leave
thee to provide for thy own safety, as thou art
advised 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, believed she should appease the fury of
a jealous King, by saying she was surprised, and
that it was by force of arms he got into her
apartment. All her concern now was for his
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 45

life, and therefore she hastened him to the camp,

and with much ado prevailed on him to go.
Nor was it she alone that prevailed ; Aboan and.
Onahal both pleaded , and both assured him of a
lie that should be well enough contrived 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 threatening 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 com-
mitted ; as Onahal, who was also prostrate.
with her, could testify : that, unknown to her,
he had broke into her apartment and ravished.
her. She spoke this much against her con-
science ; but to save her own life, 'twas ab-
solutely necessary she should fein this falsity.
She knew it could not injure the Prince, he being
fled to an army that would stand by him, against
any injuries that should assault him. However,.

this last thought of Imoinda's being ravished,.

changed the measures of his revenge ; and
whereas before he designed to be himself her
46 OROONOKO ; OR,

executioner, he now resolved she should not

die. But as it is the greatest crime in nature
amongst them, to touch a woman after having
been possessed by a son, a father, or a brother,
so now he looked on Imoinda as a polluted thing
wholly unfit for his embrace ; nor would he resign
her to his grandson, because she had received
the royal veil : he therefore removes her from
the Otan, with Onahal, whom he put into safe
hands with order they should be both sold off as
slaves to another country, either Christian or
heathen, ' twas no matter where.
This cruel sentence, worse than death, they
implored might be reversed ; but their prayers
were vain, and it was put in execution ac-
cordingly, and that with so much secrecy, that
none, either without or within the Otan, knew
anything of their absence, or their destiny.
The old King nevertheless executed this with
a great deal of reluctancy ; but he believed he

had made a very great conquest over himself,

when he had once resolved, and had performed
what he resolved . He believed now, that his
love had been unjust ; and that he could not ex-
pect the gods, or captain of the clouds (as they
call the unknown Power) would suffer a better
consequence from so ill a cause. He now begins
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 47

to hold Oroonoko excused ; and to say, he had

reason for what he did. And now everybody

could assure the King how passionately Imoinda

was beloved by the Prince ; even those confessed
it now, who said the contrary before his flame was
not 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 disobliged, first by the rape of his
mistress, or rather wife, and now by depriving
him wholly of her, he feared, might make him
desperate, and do some cruel thing, either to
himself or his old grandfather the offender, he
began to repent him extremely of the contempt
he had, in his rage, put on Imoinda . Besides,
he considered he ought in honour to have killed
her for this offence, if it had been one. He
ought to have had so much value and considera-
tion 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 prefer death, and implore it ; as
Imoinda did, but could not obtain that honour.
Seeing therefore it was certain that Oroonoko

would highly resent this affront, he thought

48 OROONOKO ; OR,

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 endeavour to
mitigate his grief : but that by no means he
should tell him she was sold, but secretly put to
death ; for he knew he should 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 mes-
senger, he commanded him to his tent, where he
embraced him, and received 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,

asked a thousand questions in a breath, and all
concerning Imoinda . But there needed little
return ; for he could almost answer himself of
all he demanded, from his sight and eyes. At
last the messenger casting himself at the Prince's
feet, and kissing them with all the submission
of a man that had something to implore which he
dreaded to utter, be sought him to hear with
calmness what he had to deliver to him , and to call
up all his noble and heroic courage, to encounter
with his words, and defend himself against the
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 49

ungrateful things he had to relate. Oroonoko

replied with a deep sigh, and a languishing voice,
-" I am armed against their worst efforts-for
I know they will tell me Imoinda is no more-
and after that, you may spare the rest." Then,
commanding him to rise, he laid himself on a
carpet, under a rich pavilion, and remained a
good while silent, and was hardly heard to sigh.
When he was come a little to himself, the mes-
senger asked him leave to deliver that part of his
embassy which the Prince had not yet divined,
and the Prince cried , " I permit thee " Then
he told him the affliction the old King was in, for
the rashness he had committed in his cruelty to
Imoinda ; and how he deigned to ask pardon for
his offence, and to implore the Prince would not
suffer that loss to touch his heart too sensibly,

which now all the gods could not restore him,

but might recompense him in glory, which he
begged he would pursue ; and that death, that
common revenger of all injuries, would soon even
the account between him and a feeble old man.
Oroonoko bade him return his duty to his lord
and master ; and to assure him there was no
account of revenge to be adjudged between them .
If there was, he was the aggressor, and that death
would be just, and, maugre his age, would see him
D
50 OROONOKO ; OR,

righted ; and he was contented to leave his share

of glory to youths more fortunate and worthy of

that favour from the gods ; that henceforth he
would never lift a weapon , or draw a bow, but
abandon the small remains of his life to sighs and
tears, and the continual thoughts of what his lord
and grandfather had thought good to send out of
the world, with all that youth, and innocence,
and beauty.

After having spoken this, whatever his greatest

officers and men of the best rank could do, they
could not raise him from the carpet, or persuade
him to action, and resolutions of life ; but com-
manding all to retire, he shut himself into his

pavilion all that day, while the enemy was ready

to engage and wondering at the delay, the whole
body of the chief of the army then addressed
themselves to him, and to whom they had much
ado to get admittance. They fell on their
faces at the foot of his carpet, where they lay,
and besought him with earnest prayers and tears
to lead them forth to battle, and not let the
enemy take advantage of them ; and implored
him to have regard to his glory, and to the world,
that depended on his courage and conduct. But
he made no other reply to all their supplications
than this, that he had now no more business for
 T
THE ROYAL SLAVE. 51

glory ; and for the world, it was a trifle not worth

his care . "Go," continued he, sighing, " and

divide it amongst you, and reap with joy what

you so vainly prize, and leave me to my more
welcome destiny. "
They then demanded what they should do, and
whom he would constitute in his room that the
confusion of ambitious youth and power might
not ruin their order, and make them a prey to
the enemy. He replied, he would not give him-
self that trouble, but wished them to choose the
bravest man amongst them, let his quality or birth
be what it would : " For, oh my friends ! " says

he, " it is not titles make men brave or good ; or

birth that bestows courage and generosity, or
makes the owner happy. Believe this, when you
behold Oroonoko the most wretched, and aban-
doned by fortune, of all the creation of the gods."
So turning himself about, he would make no more
reply to all they could urge or implore.
The army beholding their officers return un-
successful, with sad faces and ominous looks, that
presaged no good luck, suffered a thousand fears

to take possession of their hearts, and the enemy

to come even upon them before they could provide
for their safety by any defence ; and though they
were assured by some who had a mind to animate
 12
52 OROONOKO ; OR,

them , that they should be immediately headed by

the Prince ; and that in the meantime Aboan
had orders to command as general ; yet they

were so dismayed for want of that great example

of bravery, that they could make but a very
feeble resistance ; and, at last, downright fled
before the enemy, who pursued them to the very
tents, killing them. Nor could all Aboan's courage,
which that day gained him immortal glory, shame
them into a manly defence of themselves. The
guards that were left behind about the Prince's
tent, seeing the soldiers flee before the enemy,
and scatter themselves all over the plain in great
disorder, made such out-cries, as roused the
Prince from his amorous slumber, in which he
had remained buried for two days without per-
mitting any sustenance to approach him. But,
in spite of all his resolutions, he had not the
constancy of grief to that degree, as to make him
insensible of the danger of his army ; and in that
instant he leaped from his couch, and cried :
"Come, if we must die, let us meet death the
noblest way, and ' twill be more like Oroonoko
to encounter him at an army's head, opposing the
torrent of a conquering foe, than lazily on a couch,
to wait his lingering pleasure, and die every
moment by a thousand racking thoughts ; or be
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 53

tamely taken by an enemy, and led a whining,

love-sick slave to adorn the triumphs of Jamoan,
that young victor, who already is entered beyond
the limits I have prescribed him."
While he was speaking, he suffered his people
to dress him for the field ; and sallying out of
his pavilion, with more life and vigour in his
countenance than ever he showed, he appeared
like some divine power descended to save his
country from destruction. And his people had
purposely put him on all things that might make
him shine with most splendour, to strike a
reverend awe into the beholders. He flew into
the thickest of those that were pursuing his men ;

and being animated with despair, he fought as if

he came on purpose to die, and did such things
as will not be believed that human strength could
perform ; and such, as soon inspired all the rest
with new courage, and new ardour. And now it
was that they began to fight indeed ; and so, as
if they would not be out-done even by their
adored hero, who, turning the tide of the victory,
changing absolutely the fate of the day, gained
an entire conquest ; and Oroonoko having the
good fortune to single out Jamoan, he took him
prisoner with his own hand, having wounded him
.
almost to death.
54 OROONOKO ; OR,

This Jamoan afterwards became very dear to

him, being a man very gallant, and of excellent
graces and fine parts ; so that he never put him
amongst the ranks of captives as they used to do
without distinction , for the common sale, or
market, but kept him in his own court, where he
retained nothing of the prisoner but the name,
and returned no more into his own country ; so
great an affection he took for Oroonoko, and by
a thousand tales and adventures of love and

gallantry, flattered his disease of melancholy and

languishment ; which I have often heard him say,
had certainly killed him, but for the conversation
of this Prince and Aboan, and the French
governor he had from his childhood, of whom I

have spoken before, and who was a man of

admirable wit, great ingenuity and learning ; all
which he had infused into his young pupil. This
Frenchman was banished out of his own country

for some heretical notions he held, and though

he was a man of very little religion , yet he had
admirable morals and a brave soul.
After the total defeat of Jamoan's army, which
all fled, or were left dead upon the place, they
spent some time in the camp ; Oroonoko choos-
ing rather to remain a while there in his tents,
than to enter into a palace, or live in a court
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 55
3333

where he had so lately suffered so great a loss ;

the officers therefore, who saw and knew his
cause of discontent, invented all sorts of diver-
sions and sports to entertain their Prince : so
that with those amusements abroad, and others
at home, that is, within their tents, with the
persuasions, arguments, and care of his friends
and servants that he more peculiarly prized, he
wore off in time a great part of that chagrin, and
torture of despair, which the first efforts of
Imoinda's death had given him ; insomuch, as
having received a thousand kind embassies from
the King, and invitation to return to court, he
obeyed, though with no little reluctancy; and when
he did so, there was a visible change in him, and
for a long time he was much more melancholy
than before. But time lessens all extremes, and
reduces them to mediums, and unconcern ; but
no motives of beauties, though all endeavoured
it, could engage him in any sort of amour,
though he had all the invitations to it, both
from his own youth, and other ambitions and
designs .
Oroonoko was no sooner returned from this
last conquest, and received at court with all the

joy and magnificence that could be expressed to

a young victor, who was not only returned tri-
56 OROONOKO ; OR,

umphant, but beloved like a deity, than there

arrived in the port an English ship.
The master of it had often before been in these
countries, and was very well known to Oroonoko,
with whom he had trafficked for slaves, and had
used to do the same with his predecessors.
This commander was a man of a finer sort of
address and conversation, better bred, and more

engaging, than most of that sort of men are ; so

that he seemed rather never to have been bred
out of a court, than almost all his life at sea.
This captain, therefore, was always better re-
ceived at court than most of the traders to those
countries were ; and especially by Oroonoko ,
who was more civilised , according to the Euro-
pean mode, than any other had been, and took
more delight in the white nations ; and, above
all, men of parts and wit. To this captain, he
sold abundance of his slaves ; and for the favour
and esteem he had for him, made him many

presents, and obliged him to stay at court as

long as he possibly could . Which the captain
seemed to take as a great honour done him,
entertaining the Prince every day with globes
and maps, and mathematical discourses and

instruments ; eating, drinking, hunting, and living

with him with so much familiarity, that it was
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 57

not to be doubted but he had gained very greatly

upon the heart of this gallant young man. And

the captain, in return for all these mighty

favours, besought the Prince to honour his vessel
with his presence some day or other at dinner,
before he should set sail ; which he condescended
to accept, and appointed his day. The captain,
on his part, failed not to have all things in
readiness, in the most magnificent order he could
possibly; and the day being come, the captain,
in his boat, richly adorned with carpets and
velvet cushions, rowed to the shore to receive
the Prince ; with another long-boat, where was
placed all his music and trumpets, with which
Oroonoko was extremely delighted ; who met
him on the shore, attended by his French
governor, Jamoan, Aboan, and about an hun-
dred of the noblest of the youths of the court ;

and after they had first carried the Prince on

board, the boats fetched the rest off ; where
they found a very splendid treat, with all sorts
of fine wines ; and were as well entertained, as
it was possible in such a place to be.
The Prince having drank hard of punch, and
several sorts of wine , as did all the rest (for
great care was taken they should want nothing
•
of that part of the entertainment) , was very
58 OROONOKO ; OR,

merry, and in great admiration of the ship, for

he had never been in one before ; so that he was
curious of beholding every place where he
decently might descend . The rest, no less curi-
ous, who were not quite overcome with drinking,
rambled at their pleasure fore and aft, as their
fancies guided them. So that the captain, who
had well laid his design before, gave the word,
and seized on all his guests ; they clapping great

irons suddenly on the Prince, when he was

leaped down into the hold, to view that part of
the vessel ; and locking him fast down, secured
him . The same treachery was used to all the
rest ; and all in one instant, in several places of
the ship , were lashed fast in irons, and betrayed
to slavery. That great design over, they set all
hands to work to hoist sail ; and with as treach-
erous as fair a wind they made from the shore
with this innocent and glorious prize, who
thought of nothing less than such an entertain-
ment.
Some have commended this act, as brave in
the captain ; but I will spare my sense of it, and
leave it to my reader to judge as he pleases. It
may be easily guessed, in what manner the
Prince resented this indignity, who may be best
resembled to a lion taken in a toil ; so he raged,
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 59

so he struggled for liberty, but all in vain. And

they had so wisely managed his fetters, that he
could not use a hand in his defence, to quit
himself of a life that would by no means endure
slavery ; nor could he move from the place
where he was tied, to any solid part of the ship ,
against which he might have beat his head, and
have finished his disgrace that way. So that
being deprived of all other means, he resolved
tó perish for want of food ; and pleased at last
with that thought, and toiled and tired by rage
and indignation, he laid himself down, and
suddenly resolved upon dying, and refused all
things that were brought him.
This did not a little vex the captain, and the
more so, because he found almost all of them of
the same humour ; so that the loss of so many
brave slaves, so tall and goodly to behold , would
have been very considerable. He therefore
ordered one to go from him (for he would not
be seen himself) to Oroonoko , and to assure him
he was afflicted for having rashly done so in-
hospitable a deed , and which could not be now
remedied, since they were far from shore ; but
since he resented it in so high a nature, he assured
him that he would revoke his resolution, and set
both him and his friends ashore on the next
60 OROONOKO ; OR,

land they should touch at ; and of this the

messenger gave him his oath, provided he would
resolve to live. And Oroonoko, whose honour
was such, as he never had violated a word in
his life himself, much less a solemn asseveration,
believed in an instant what this man said ; but
replied : he expected, for a confirmation of this,
to have his shameful fetters dismissed. This

demand was carried to the captain, who returned

him answer : that the offence had been so great
which he had put upon the Prince, that he durst
not trust him with liberty while he remained in
the ship for fear lest, by a valour natural to him,
and a revenge that would animate that valour,
he might commit some outrage fatal to himself
and the King his master, to whom the vessel did
belong. To this Oroonoko replied : he would
engage his honour to behave himself in all friendly
order and manner, and obey the command of the
captain, as he was lord of the King's vessel, and
general of those men under his command.
This was delivered to the still doubting captain
who could not resolve to trust a heathen, he said,
upon his parole, a man that had no sense or notion

of the god that he worshipped. Oroonoko then

replied he was very sorry to hear that the
captain pretended to the knowledge and worship
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 61

of any gods who had taught him no better

principles than not to credit as he would be
credited . But they told him, the difference of
their faith occasioned that distrust ; for the
captain had protested to him upon the word of
a Christian, and sworn in the name of a great
God which, if he should violate, he must expect.
eternal torments in the world to come. " Is that

all the obligations he has to be just to his oath ? "

replied Oroonoko. " Let him know, I swear by

my honour ; which, to violate, would not only

render me contemptible and despised by all brave
and honest men, and so give myself perpetual
pain, but it would be eternally offending and dis-
pleasing to all mankind ; harming, betraying,
circumventing, and outraging all men. But

punishments hereafter are suffered by one's self ;

and the world takes no cognizance whether this
God has revenged them or not, ' tis done so
secretly, and deferred so long ; while the man of
no honour suffers every moment the scorn and
contempt of the honester world, and dies every
day ignominiously in his fame, which is more
valuable than life. I speak not this to move
belief, but to show you how you mistake, when
you imagine that he who will violate his honour,
will keep his word with his gods. " So, turning 1
62 OROONOKO ; OR,

from him with a disdainful smile, he refused to

answer him, when he asked him to know what
answer he should carry back to his captain ; so
that he departed without saying any more.
The captain pondering and consulting what to
do, it was concluded that nothing but Oroonoko's
liberty would encourage any of the rest to eat,
except the Frenchman, whom the captain could
not pretend to keep prisoner, but only told him
he was secured, because he might act something
in favour of the Prince ; but that he should be
freed as soon as they came to land . So that they
concluded it wholly necessary to free the Prince
from his irons, that he might show himself to the
rest ; that they might have an eye upon him, and
that they could not fear a single man.
This being resolved, to make the obligation
the greater, the captain himself went to Oroonoko ;
where, after many compliments, and assurances of
what he had already promised , he receiving from
the Prince his parole, and his hand, for his good
behaviour, dismissed his irons, and brought him
to his own cabin, where, after having treated and
reposed him a while (for he had neither eat nor
slept in four days before), he besought him to
visit those obstinate people in chains, who refused
all manner of sustenance ; and entreated him to
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 63

oblige them to eat, and assure them of their

liberty the first opportunity.
Oroonoko, who was too generous not to give
credit to his words, showed himself to his people ;
who were transported with excess of joy at the
sight of their darling Prince ; falling at his feet,
and kissing and embracing them ; believing, as
some divine oracle, all he assured them. But
he besought them to bear their chains with that
bravery that became those whom he had seen
act so nobly in arms ; and that they could not
give him greater proofs of their love and friend-
ship, since ' twas all the security the captain (his
friend) could have against the revenge, he said,
they might possibly justly take for the injuries
sustained by him. And they all, with one ac-
cord, assured him that they could not suffer
enough, when it was for his repose and safety.
After this, they no longer refused to eat, but
took what was brought them, and were pleased
with their captivity, since by it they hoped to
redeem the Prince, who, all the rest of the
voyage, was treated with all the respect due to
his birth, though nothing could divert his melan-
choly ; and he would often sigh for Imoinda,
and think this a punishment due to his misfor-
tune, in having left that noble maid behind him,
64 OROONOKO ; OR,

that fatal night, in the Otan, when he fled to the

camp .
Possessed with a thousand thoughts of past

joys with this fair young person , and a thousand

griefs for her eternal loss, he endured a tedious
voyage, and at last arrived at the mouth of the

river of Surinam, a colony belonging to the

King of England, and where they were to de-
liver some part of their slaves. There the mer-
chants and gentlemen of the country went on
board, to demand those lots of slaves they had
already agreed on ; and, amongst those, the
overseers of those plantations where I then
chanced to be : the captain, who had given the
word, ordered his men to bring up those noble
slaves in fetters, whom I have spoken of ; and
having put them, some in one, and some in other
lots, with women and children (which they call
pickaninies), they sold them off as slaves to
several merchants and gentlemen ; not putting

any two in one lot, because they would separate

them far from each other ; nor daring to trust
them together, lest rage and courage should put

them upon contriving some great action, to the

ruin of the colony.
Oroonoko was first seized on, and sold to our
overseer, who had the first lot, with seventeen
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 65

more of all sorts and sizes, but not one of quality

with him. When he saw this, he found what
they meant ; for, as I said, he understood English
pretty well ; and being wholly unarmed and de-
fenceless, so that it was in vain to make any resis-
tance, he only beheld the captain with a look all
fierce and disdainful, upbraiding him with eyes
that forced blushes on his guilty cheeks, he only
cried in passing over the side of the ship: " Fare-
well, sir, it is worth my sufferings to gain so true
a knowledge, both of you, and of your gods, by
whom you swear. " And desiring those that held
him to forbear their pains, and telling them he
would make no resistance, he cried, " Come, my
fellow-slaves, let us descend, and see if we can
meet with more honour and honesty in the next
world we shall touch upon." So he nimbly leapt
into the boat, and showing no more concern ,
suffered himself to be rowed up the river, with
his seventeen companions.
The gentleman that bought him, was a young
Cornish gentleman, whose name was Trefry ; a
man of great wit, and fine learning, and was
carried into those parts by the Lord
governor, to manage all his affairs. He, reflect-

ing on the last words of Oroonoko to the captain,

and beholding the richness of his vest, no sooner
came into the boat, but he fixed his eyes on him ;
E
 898
66 OROONOKO ; OR,

and finding something so extraordinary in his

face, his shape and mien, a greatness of look,
and haughtiness in his air, and finding he spoke
English, had a great mind to be inquiring into
his quality and fortune ; which, though Oroonoko
endeavoured to hide, by only confessing he was
above the rank of common slaves, Trefry soon

found he was yet something greater than he

confessed ; and from that moment began to
conceive so vast an esteem for him, that he ever
after loved him as his dearest brother, and
showed him all the civilities due to so great a
man.
Trefry was a very good mathematician, and a
linguist ; could speak French and Spanish ; and
in the three days they remained in the boat (for
so long were they going from the ship to the
plantation) , he entertained Oroonoko so agree-
ably with his art and discourse, that he was no
less pleased with Trefry, than he was with the
Prince ; and he thought himself at least fortu-
nate in this, that since he was a slave, as long as
he would suffer himself to remain so, he had a
man of so excellent wit and parts for a master.
So that before they had finished their voyage up
the river, he made no scruple of declaring to
Trefry all his fortunes, and most part of what I
have here related, and put himself wholly into
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 67

the hands of his new friend, who he had found

resented all the injuries were done him, and was
charmed with all the greatnesses of his actions ;
which were recited with that modesty and deli-
cate sense, as wholly vanquished him, and sub-
dued him to his interest. And he promised him,
on his word and honour, he would find the means
to reconduct him to his own country again ; as-

suring him he had a perfect abhorrence of so

dishonourable an action ; and that he would
sooner have died, than have been the author of
such a perfidy. He found the Prince was very
much concerned to know what became of his
friends, and how they took their slavery ; and

Trefry promised to take care about the inquiring

after their condition, and that he should have an
account of them.

Though as Oroonoko afterwards said, he had

little reason to credit the words of a Backearary ;
yet he knew not why, but he saw a kind of sin-
cerity, and awful truth in the face of Trefry ; he
saw honesty in his eyes, and he found him wise
and witty enough to understand honour ; for it
was one of his maxims, "A man of wit could not
be a knave or villain."

In their passage up the river, they put in at

several houses for refreshment ; and ever when

they landed, numbers of people would flock to

68 OROONOKO ; OR,

behold this man : not but their eyes were daily

entertained with the sight of slaves ; but the

fame of Oroonoko was gone before him, and all
people were in admiration of his beauty. Besides,
he had a rich habit on, in which he was taken, so
different from the rest, and which the captain
could not strip him of, because he was forced to
surprise his person in the minute he sold him.
When he found his habit made him liable, as he
thought, to be gazed at the more, he begged
Trefry to give him something more befitting a
slave, which he did, and took off his robes.
Nevertheless, he shone through all, and his Osen-
brigs (a sort of brown Holland suit he had on)
could not conceal the graces of his looks and
mien ; and he had no less admirers than when
he had his dazzling habit on. The Royal Youth
appeared in spite of the slave, and people could
not help treating him after a different manner,
without designing it. As soon as they ap-

proached him, they venerated and esteemed him;

his eyes insensibly commanded respect, and his
behaviour insinuated it into every soul. So
that there was nothing talked of but this young

and gallant slave, even by those who yet knew

not that he was a Prince.

I ought to tell you that the Christians never

buy any slaves but they give them some name of
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 69

their own, their native ones being likely very

barbarous, and hard to pronounce ; so that Mr.
Trefry gave Oroonoko that of Cæsar ; which
name will live in that country as long as that
(scarce more) glorious one of the great Roman :
for it is most evident he wanted no part of the
personal courage of that Cæsar, and acted things
as memorable, had they been done in some part
of the world replenished with people and his-
torians, that might have given him his due. But
his misfortune was to fall in an obscure world,

that afforded only a female pen to celebrate his

fame ; though I doubt not but it had lived from
others ' endeavours, if the Dutch, who immedi-
ately after his time took that country, had not
killed, banished and dispersed all those that were
capable of giving the world this great man's life,
much better than I have done. And Mr. Trefry,
who designed it, died before he began it, and
bemoaned himself for not having undertook it in
time.
For the future therefore I must call Oroonoko
Cæsar ; since by that name only he was known
in our Western world, and by that name he was
received on shore at Parham House, where he
was destined a slave. But if the King himself
(God bless him ! ) had come ashore, there could
not have been greater expectation by all the
742
70 OROONOKO ; OR,

whole plantation, and those neighbouring ones,

than was on ours at that time : and he was re-

ceived more like a governor than a slave. Not-

withstanding, as the custom was, they assigned
him his portion of land, his house and his busi-
ness up in the plantation . But as it was more
for form, than any design to put him to his task,
he endured no more of the slave but the name,
and remained some days in the house, receiving
all visits that were made him, without stirring
towards that part of the plantation where the
negroes were .

At last, he would needs go view his land, his

house, and the business assigned him . But he
no sooner came to the houses of the slaves, which
are like a little town by itself, the negroes all
having left work, but they all came forth to be-
hold him , and found he was that Prince who had,
at several times, sold most of them to these parts ;
and from a veneration they pay to great men,
especially if they know them, and from the sur-
prise and awe they had at the sight of him, they
all cast themselves at his feet, crying out, in their
language, " Live, O King ! long live, O King ! "
and kissing his feet, paid him even divine homage.
Several English gentlemen were with him, and
what Mr. Trefry had told them was here con-
firmed ; of which he himself before had no other
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 71

witness than Cæsar himself : but he was infinitely

glad to find his grandeur confirmed by the adora-
tion of all the slaves.
Cæsar, troubled with their overjoy and over-
ceremony, besought them to rise, and to receive
him as their fellow-slave ; assuring them he was
no better. At which they set up with one accord
a most terrible and hideous mourning and con-
doling, which he and the English had much ado
to appease : but at last they prevailed with
them, and they prepared all their barbarous
music, and every one killed and dressed some-
thing of his own stock (for every family has their
land apart, on which , at their leisure-times, they
breed all eatable things) , and clubbing it together,
made a most magnificent supper, inviting their
Grandee Captain, their Prince, to honour it with
his presence ; which he did, and several English

with him, where they all waited on him, some

playing, others dancing before him all the time,
according to the manners of their several nations,
and with unwearied industry endeavouring to
please and delight him.
While they sat at meat, Mr. Trefry told Cæsar
that most of these young slaves were undone in
love with a fine she-slave, whom they had had
about six months on their land ; the Prince, who
never heard the name of love without a sigh, nor
72 OROONOKO ; OR,

any mention of it without the curiosity of ex-

amining further into that tale, which of all dis-
courses was most agreeable to him , asked how
they came to be so unhappy, as to be all undone
for one fair slave ? Trefry, who was naturally
amorous, and delighted to talk of love as well as
any body, proceeded to tell him they had the
most charming black that ever was beheld on
their plantation, about fifteen or sixteen years
old, as he guessed ; that for his part he had done
nothing but sigh for her ever since she came ;
and that all the white beauties he had seen,

never charmed him so absolutely as this fine

creature had done ; and that no man, of any

nation, ever beheld her, that did not fall in love

with her ; and that she had all the slaves per-
petually at her feet ; and the whole country re-
sounded with the fame of Clemene, for so (said

he) we have christened her : but she denies us

all with such a noble disdain, that it is a miracle
to see, that she who can give such eternal desires,
should herself be all ice and all unconcern. She
is adorned with the most graceful modesty that
ever beautified youth ; the softest sigher- that,
if she were capable of love, one would swear she
languished for some absent happy man ; and so
retired, as if she feared a rape even from the
God of Day, or that the breezes would steal
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 73

kisses from her delicate mouth. Her task of

work, some sighing lover every day makes it his
petition to perform for her ; which she accepts
blushing, and with reluctancy, for fear he will
ask her a look for a recompense, which he dares
not presume to hope ; so great an awe she strikes
into the hearts of her admirers. " I do not won-
der," replied the Prince, " that Clemene should
refuse slaves, being, as you say, so beautiful ; but
wonder how she escapes those that can entertain
her as you can do ; or why, being your slave,
you do not oblige her to yield ? " " I confess, " said
Trefry, " when I have, against her will, enter-
tained her with love so long as to be transported
with my passion even above decency, I have
been ready to make use of those advantages of
strength and force nature has given me but oh !
she disarms me with that modesty and weeping,
so tender and so moving, that I retire, and thank
99
my stars she overcame me.' The company

laughed at his civility to a slave, and Cæsar only

applauded the nobleness of his passion and nature,
since that slave might be noble, or, what was
better, have true notions of honour and virtue in
her. Thus passed they this night, after having
received from the slaves all imaginable respect
and obedience.

The next day, Trefry asked Cæsar to walk

74 OROONOKO ; OR,

when the heat was allayed , and designedly

carried him by the cottage of the fair slave ; and
told him she whom he spoke of last night lived
there retired : " But, " says he, "I would not wish
you to approach ; for I am sure you will be in
""
love as soon as you behold her.' Cæsar assured
him, he was proof against all the charms of that
sex ; and that if he imagined his heart could be
so perfidious to love again after Imoinda, he be-
lieved he should tear it from his bosom. They
had no sooner spoke, but a little shock-dog, that
Clemene had presented her, which she took great
delight in, ran out ; and she, not knowing any-
body was there, ran to get it in again, and bolted
out on those who were just speaking of her :
when seeing them, she would have run in again,
but Trefry caught her by the hand, and cried,
" Clemene , however you fly a lover, you ought
to pay some respect to this stranger, pointing to
Cæsar." But she, as if she had resolved never

to raise her eyes to the face of a man again, bent

them the more to the earth, when he spoke, and
gave the Prince the leisure to look the more at
her. There needed no long gazing, or consider-
ation, to examine who this fair creature was : he
soon saw Imoinda all over her ; in a minute he
saw her face, her shape, her air, her modesty, and
all that called forth his soul with joy at his eyes,
 THE ROYAL SLAVE, 75

and left his body destitute of almost life ; it stood

without motion, and for a moment knew not that
it had a being ; and , I believe, he had never come
to himself, so oppressed he was with overjoy, if
he had not met with this allay, that he perceived
Imoinda fall dead in the hands of Trefry. This
awakened him, and he ran to her aid , and caught
her in his arms, where by degrees she came to
herself; and it is needless to tell with what

transports, what ecstasies of joy, they both a

while beheld each other, without speaking ; then
snatched each other to their arms ; then gaze

again, as if they still doubted whether they pos-

sessed the blessing they grasped : but when they
recovered their speech, it is not to be imagined
what tender things they expressed to each other ;
wondering what strange fate had brought them
again together. They soon informed each other
of their fortunes, and equally bewailed their fate ;
but at the same time they mutually protested,
that even fetters and slavery were soft and easy,
and would be supported with joy and pleasure,
while they could be so happy to possess each
other, and to be able to make good their vows.
Cæsar swore he disdained the empire of the
world, while he could behold his Imoinda ; and
she despised grandeur and pomp, those vanities
of her sex, when she could gaze on Oroonoko.
76 OROONOKO ; OR,

He adored the very cottage where she resided ,

and said, that little inch of the world would give
him more happiness than all the universe could
do ; and she vowed it was a palace, while
adorned with the presence of Oroonoko.
Trefry was infinitely pleased with this novelty,
and found this Clemene was the fair mistress of
whom Cæsar had before spoke ; and was not a
little satisfied, that heaven was so kind to the
Prince as to sweeten his misfortunes by so lucky
an accident ; and leaving the lovers to them-
selves, was impatient to come down to Parham
House (which was on the same plantation) to
give me an account of what had happened . I
was as impatient to make these lovers a visit,
having already made a friendship with Cæsar,
and from his own mouth learned what I have

related ; which was confirmed by his French-

man, who was set on shore to seek his fortune,
and of whom they could not make a slave, be-
cause a Christian ; and he came daily to Parham
Hill to see and pay his respects to his pupil
Prince. So that concerning and interesting my-
self in all that related to Cæsar, whom I had
assured of liberty as soon as the governor
arrived, I hastened presently to the place where
these lovers were, and was infinitely glad to find
this beautiful young slave (who had already
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 77

gained all our esteems, for her modesty and ex-

traordinary prettiness) to be the same I had
heard Cæsar speak so much of. One may im-
agine then we paid her a treble respect ; and
though from her being carved in fine flowers and
birds all over her body, we took her to be of
quality before, yet when we knew Clemene was
Imoinda, we could not enough admire her.
I had forgot to tell you, that those who are
nobly born of that country, are so delicately cut
and raised all over the forepart of the trunk of
their bodies, that it looks as if it were japaned,
the work being raised like high points round the
edges of the flowers. Some are only carved
with a little flower, or bird, at the sides of the
temples, as was Cæsar ; and those who are so
carved over the body, resemble our ancient Picts
that are figured in the Chronicles, but these
carvings are more delicate.

From that happy day Cæsar took Clemene

for his wife, to the general joy of all people ; and
there was as much magnificence as the country
could afford at the celebration of this wedding ::
and in a very short time after she conceived with
child, which made Cæsar even adore her, know-
ing he, was the last of his great race. This new
accident made him more impatient of liberty,

and he was every day treating with Trefry for

78 OROONOKO ; OR,

his and Clemene's liberty, and offered either

gold, or a vast quantity of slaves, which should
be paid before they let him go , provided he
could have any security that he should go when
his ransom was paid. They fed him from day
to day with promises, and delayed him till the
Lord- Governor should come ; so that he began
to suspect them of falsehood , and that they
would delay him till the time of his wife's de-
livery, and make a slave of the child too ; for all
the breed is theirs to whom the parents belong.
"This thought made him very uneasy, and his
sullenness gave them some jealousies of him ; so
that I was obliged, by some persons who feared
a mutiny (which is very fatal sometimes in those
colonies that abound so with slaves, that they
exceed the whites in vast numbers) to discourse
with Cæsar, and to give him all the satisfaction
I possibly could : they knew he and Clemene
were scarce an hour in a day from my lodgings ;
that they eat with me, and that I obliged them in
all things I was capable. I entertained them with
the lives of the Romans, and great men, which
charmed him to my company ; and her, with
teaching her all the pretty works that I was mis-
tress of, and telling her stories of nuns, and
endeavouring to bring her to the knowledge of
the true God : but of all discourses, Cæsar liked
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 79

that the worst, and would never be reconciled to

our notions of the Trinity, of which he ever made
a jest ; it was a riddle he said would turn his
brain to conceive, and one could not make him
understand what faith was. However, these

conversations failed not altogether so well to

divert him, that he liked the company of us
women much above the men, for he could not
drink, and he is but an ill companion in that
country that cannot. So that obliging him to

love us very well, we had all the liberty of speech

with him, especially myself, whom he called his
great mistress ; and indeed my word would go a
great way with him. For these reasons I had
opportunity to take notice of him, that he was
not so well pleased of late, as he used to be ; was
more retired and thoughtful ; and told him I
took it ill he should suspect we should break our
words with him, and not permit both him and
Clemene to return to his own kingdom, which
was not so long a way, but when he was once on
his voyage he would quickly arrive there. He
made some answers that shewed a doubt in him,
which made me ask, what advantage it would be
to doubt ? It would but give us a fear of him,
and possibly compel us to treat him so as I should
be very loth to behold : that is, it might occasion
his confinement . Perhaps this was not so luckily
80 OROONOKO ; OR,

spoke of me, for I perceived he resented that

word, which I strove to soften again in vain :
however, he assured me that whatsoever resolu-
tions he should take, he would act nothing upon

the white people ; and as for myself, and those

upon that plantation where he was, he would
sooner forfeit his eternal liberty, and life itself,
than lift his hand against his greatest enemy on
that place. He besought me to suffer no fears
upon his account, for he could do nothing that
honour should not dictate ; but he accused him-
self for having suffered slavery so long ; yet he
charged that weakness on love alone, who was
capable of making him neglect even glory itself ;
and, for which, now he reproaches himself every
moment of the day. Much more to this effect he
spoke, with an air impatient enough to make me
know he would not be long in bondage ; and
though he suffered only the name of a slave, and
had nothing of the toil and labour of one, yet
that was sufficient to render him uneasy ; and he
had been too long idle, who used to be always in
action, and in arms. He had a spirit all rough
and fierce, and that could not be tamed to lazy
rest and though all endeavours were used to
exercise himself in such actions and sports as this
world afforded, as running, wrestling, pitching
the bar, hunting and fishing, chasing and killing
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 81

tigers of a monstrous size, which this continent

affords in abundance ; and wonderful snakes,
such as Alexander is reported to have encoun-
tered at the river of Amazons, and which Cæsar
took great delight to overcome ; yet these were
not actions great enough for his large soul, which
was still panting after more renowned actions.
Before I parted that day with him, I got, with
much ado, a promise from him to rest yet a little
longer with patience, and wait the coming of the
Lord- Governor, who was every day expected on
our shore : he assured me he would, and this
promise he desired me to know was given per-
fectly in, complaisance to me, in whom he had an
entire confidence.
After this, I neither thought it convenient to
trust him much out of our view, nor did the
country, who feared him ; but with one accord

it was advised to treat him fairly, and oblige him

to remain within such a compass, and that he
should be permitted, as seldom as could be, to
go up to the plantations of the negroes ; or if
he did, to be accompanied by some that should
be rather, in appearance, attendants than spies.
This care was for some time taken, and Cæsar
looked upon it as a mark of extraordinary respect,
and was glad his discontent had obliged them to
be more observant to him ; he received new as-
F
82 OROONOKO ; OR,

surance from the overseer, which was confirmed

to him by the opinion of all the gentlemen of the
country, who made their court to him. During
this time that we had his company more frequently
than hitherto we had had, it may not be un-
pleasant to relate to you the diversions we enter-
tained him with, or rather he us.
My stay was to be short in that country ; be-
cause my father died at sea, and never arrived
to possess the honour designed him (which was
Lieutenant- General of six and thirty islands, be-
sides the continent of Surinam ) , nor the advantages
he hoped to reap by them ; so that though we
were obliged to continue on our voyage, we
did not intend to stay upon the place. Though ,
in a word, I must say thus much of it ; that cer-
tainly had his late Majesty of sacred memory, but
seen and known what a vast and charming world
he had been master of in that continent, he
would never have parted so easily with it to the
Dutch. It is a continent whose vast extent was
never yet known, and may contain more noble
earth than all the universe beside ; for, they say,
it reaches from east to west one way as far as
China, and another to Peru . It affords all things,
both for beauty and use ; ' tis there eternal spring,
always the very months of April, May, and June ;
the shades are perpetual, the trees bearing at
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 83

once all degrees of leaves, and fruit, from bloom-

ing buds to ripe autumn : groves of oranges,
lemons, citrons, figs, nutmegs, and noble aro-
matics, continually bearing their fragrancies :
the trees appearing all like nosegays, adorned
with flowers of different kinds ; some are all

white, some purple, some scarlet, some blue, some

yellow ; bearing at the same time ripe fruit, and
blooming young, or producing every day new.
The very wood of all these trees has an intrinsic

value, above common timber ; for they are, wher

cut, of different colours, glorious to behold, and
bear a price considerable, to inlay withal. Be-

sides this, they yield rich balm, and gums ; so

that we make our candles of such an aromatic

substance, as does not only give a sufficient light,

but as they burn, they cast their perfumes all
about. Cedar is the common firing, and all the
houses are built with it. The very meat we eat,
when set on the table, if it be native, I mean of
the country, perfumes the whole room ; especially
a little beast called an Armadillo , a thing which
I can liken to nothing so well as a Rhinoceros
it is all in white armour, so jointed that it moves
as well in it as if it had nothing on this beast
is about the bigness of a pig of six weeks old .
But it were endless to give an account of all the
divers wonderful and strange things that country
84 OROONOKO ; OR,

affords, and which he took a great delight to go

in search of; though those adventures are often-
times fatal, and at least dangerous : but while
we had Cæsar in our company on these designs,
we feared no harm, nor suffered any.
As soon as I came into the country, the best
house in it was presented to me, called " St.
John's Hill : " it stood on a vast rock of white
marble, at the foot of which, the river ran a vast
depth down, and not to be descended on that
side ; the little waves still dashing and washing
the foot of this rock, made the softest 1 murmurs
and purlings in the world ; and the opposite
bank was adorned with such vast quantities of
different flowers eternally blowing, and every day

and hour new, fenced behind them with lofty

trees of a thousand rare forms and colours, that
the prospect was the most ravishing that fancy
can create. On the edge of this white rock, to-
wards the river, was a walk, or grove, of orange

and lemon-trees, about half the length of the

Mall here, whose flowery and fruit-bearing
branches met at the top, and hindered the sun
whose rays are very fierce there, from entering a
beam into the grove ; and the cool air that came
from the river, made it not only fit to entertain
people in, at all the hottest hours of the day, but
refresh the sweet blossoms, and made it always
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 85

sweet and charming ; and sure, the whole globe

of the world cannot shew so delightful a place
as this grove was : not all the gardens of boasted
Italy can produce a shade to out-vie this, which

nature has joined with art to render so exceeding

fine ; and it is a marvel to see how such vast
trees, as big as English oaks, could take footing
on so solid a rock, and in so little earth as covered
that rock but all things by nature there are
rare, delightful, and wonderful . But to our

sports .
Sometimes we would go surprising, and in
search of young tigers in their dens, watching
when the old ones went forth to forage for prey :
and oftentimes we have been in great danger, and
have fled apace for our lives, when surprised by
the dams. But once, above all other times, we
went on this design, and Cæsar was with us ;
who had no sooner stolen a young tiger from her
nest, but going off we encountered the dam bear-
ing a buttock of a cow, which she had torn off
with her mighty paw, and going with it towards
her den. We had only four women, Cæsar, and
an English gentleman, brother to Harry Martin
the great Oliverian ; we found there was no
escaping this enraged and ravenous beast. How-
ever, we women fled as fast as we could from it ;
but our heels had not saved our lives, if Cæsar
8
72
86 OROONOKO ; OR,

had not laid down her cub, when he found the

tiger quit her prey to make the more speed to-
wards him ; and taking Mr. Martin's sword,
desired him to stand aside, or follow the ladies.
He obeyed him ; and Cæsar met this monstrous
beast of mighty size, and vast limbs, who came
with open jaws upon him ; and fixing his awful
stern eyes full upon those of the beast, and put-

ting himself into a very steady and good aiming

posture of defence, ran his sword quite through
his breast, down to his very heart, home to
the hilt of the sword : the dying beast stretched
forth her paw, and going to grasp his thigh, sur-
prised with death in that very moment, did him
no other harm than fixing her long nails in his
flesh very deep, feebly wounded him, but could
not grasp the flesh to tear off any. When he
had done this, he hallooed us to return ; which,
after some assurance of his victory, we did, and
found him lugging out the sword from the bosom
of the tiger, who was laid in her blood on the
ground. He took up the cub, and with an un-
concern that had nothing of the joy or gladness
of victory, he came and laid the whelp at my
feet. We all extremely wondered at his daring,
and at the bigness of the beast, which was about
the height of an heifer, but of mighty great and
strong limbs.
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 87

Another time, being in the woods, he killed a

tiger that had long infested that part, and borne
away abundance of sheep and oxen, and other
things, that were for the support of those to whom
they belonged. Abundance of people assailed
this beast, some affirming they had shot her with
several bullets quite through the body at several
times ; and some swearing they shot her through
the very heart ; and they believed she was a
devil, rather than a mortal thing. Cæsar had
often said, he had a mind to encounter this
monster, and spoke with several gentlemen who
had attempted her ; one crying, I shot her with
so many poisoned arrows, another with his gun
in this part of her, and another in that ; so that
he remarking all the places where she was shot,
fancied still he should overcome her, by giving
her another sort of a wound than any had yet
done ; and one day said (at the table) , " What
trophies and garlands, ladies, will you make me,
if I bring you home the heart of this ravenous
19
beast, that eats up all your lambs and pigs ?
We all promised he should be rewarded at our
hands. So taking a bow, which he chose out of
a great many, he went up into the wood, with
two gentlemen, where he imagined this devourer
to be. They had not passed very far into it, but
they heard her voice, growling and grumbling,
88 OROONOKO ; OR,

as if she were pleased with something she was

doing. When they came in view, they found her
muzzling in the belly of a new ravished sheep,
which she had torn open ; and seeing herself ap-
proached, she took fast hold of her prey with
her fore paws, and set a very fierce raging look
on Cæsar, without offering to approach him, for
fear at the same time of losing what she had in
possession : so that Cæsar remained a good while,
only taking aim , and getting an opportunity to
shoot her where he designed . 'Twas some time
before he could accomplish it ; and to wound
her, and not kill her, would but have enraged
her the more, and endangered him. He had a

quiver of arrows at his side, so that if one failed,

he could be supplied. At last, retiring a little, he
gave her opportunity to eat, for he found she
was ravenous, and fell to as soon as she saw
him retire, being more eager of her prey, than of
doing new mischiefs. When he was going softly
to one side of her, and hiding his person behind

certain herbage that grew high and thick, he

took so good aim, that, as he intended , he shot
her just into the eye, and the arrow was sent with
so good a will, and so sure a hand, that it stuck
in her brain, and made her caper, and become
mad for a moment or two ; but being seconded
by another arrow, she fell dead upon the prey.
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 89

Cæsar cut her open with a knife, to see where

those wounds were that had been reported to
him, and why she did not die of them. But I
shall now relate a thing that, possibly will find
no credit among men ; because it is a notion
commonly received with us, that nothing can re-
ceive a wound in the heart and live : but when
the heart of this courageous animal was taken
out, there were seven bullets of lead in it, the
wound seamed up with great scars, and she lived
with the bullets a great while, for it was long
since they were shot. This heart the conqueror

brought up to us, and it was a very great curiosity,

which all the country came to see ; and which
gave Cæsar occasion of many fine discourses of
accidents in war, and strange escapes.

At other times he would go a-fishing ; and dis-

coursing on that diversion, he found we had in
that country a very strange fish, called a " Numb-
Eel," (an eel of which I have eaten) that while
it is alive, it has a quality so cold, that those who
are angling, though with a line of ever so great
a length, with a rod at the end of it, it shall in
the same minute the bait is touched by this eel,
seize him or her that holds the rod with a numb-
ness, that shall deprive them of sense for a while ;
and some have fallen into the water, and others
dropped as dead, on the banks of the rivers where
90 OROONOKO ; OR,

they stood, as soon as this fish touches the bait.

Cæsar used to laugh at this, and believed it im-

possible a man could lose his force at the touch
of a fish ; and could not understand that philos-
ophy, that a cold quality should be of that nature ;
however, he had a great curiosity to try whether
it would have the same effect on him it had on
others, and often tried but in vain. At last the
sought-for fish came to the bait, as he stood
angling on the bank ; and instead of throwing
away the rod, or giving it a sudden twitch out
of the water, whereby he might have caught
both the eel, and have dismissed the rod, before
it could have too much power over him ; for ex-
periment-sake, he grasped it but the harder, and
fainting, fell into the river ; and being still pos-
sessed of the rod, the tide carried him senseless
as he was a great way, till an Indian boat took
him up ; and perceived, when they touched him,
a numbness seize them, and by that knew the
rod was in his hand ; which with a paddle (that
is a short oar) , they struck away, and snatched it
into the boat, eel and all. If Cæsar was almost
dead with the effect of this fish, he was more so
with that of the water, where he had remained
the space of going a league, and they found they
had much ado to bring him back to life ; but at
last they did, and brought him home, where he
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 91

was in a few hours well recovered and refreshed,

and not a little ashamed to find he should be
overcome by an eel, and that all the people, who
heard his defiance, would laugh at him. But we
cheered him up ; and he being convinced, we
had the eel at supper, which was a quarter of
an ell about, and most delicate meat ; and was
of the more value, since it cost so dear as almost
the life of so gallant a man.
About this time we were in many mortal fears
about some disputes the English had with the
Indians ; so that we could scarce trust ourselves,
without great numbers, to go to any Indian
towns, or place where they abode, for fear they
should fall upon us, as they did immediately after
my coming away ; and the place being in the
possession of the Dutch, they used them not so
civilly as the English ; so that they cut in pieces
all they could take, getting into houses, and hang-
ing up the mother, and all her children about
her ; and cut a footman I left behind me, all in
joints, and nailed him to trees.
This feud began while I was there ; so that I
lost half the satisfaction I proposed , in not seeing
and visiting the Indian towns. But one day, be-
moaning of our misfortunes upon this account,
Cæsar told us we need not fear, for if we had a
mind to go, he would undertake to be our guard.
92 OROONOKO ; OR,

Some would, but most would not venture. About

eighteen of us resolved , and took barge ; and
after eight days, arrived near an Indian town :
but approaching it, the hearts of some of our
company failed, and they would not venture on
shore ; so we polled , who would and who would
not. For my part, I said, if Cæsar would, I
would go . He resolved ; so did my brother, and
my woman, a maid of good courage. Now none
of us speaking the language of the people, and
imagining we should have a half diversion in
gazing only, and not knowing what they said,
we took a fisherman that lived at the mouth of

the river, who had been a long inhabitant there,

and obliged him to go with us : but because he
was known to the Indians, as trading among

them, and being, by long living there, become a

perfect Indian in colour, we, who had a mind to
surprise them by making them see something
they never had seen (that is white people) , re-
solved only myself, my brother and woman should
go : so Cæsar, the fisherman, and the rest, hiding
behind some thick reeds and flowers that grew in

the banks, let us pass on towards the town, which

was on the bank of the river all along. A little
distance from the houses, or huts, we saw some
dancing, others busied in fetching and carrying
of water from the river. They had no sooner
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 93

spied us, but they set up a loud cry that frighted

us at first ; we thought it had been for those that
should kill us, but it seems it was of wonder and
amazement. They were all naked ; and we were
dressed, so as is most commode for the hot
countries, very glittering and rich ; so that we
appeared extremely fine ; my own hair was cuti
short, and I had a taffety cap, with black feathers
on my head ; my brother was in a stuff- suit, with
silver loops and buttons, and abundance of green
ribbon. This was all infinitely surprising to
them ; and because we saw them stand still till
we approached them, we took heart and advanced,
came up to them, and offered them our hands ;
which they took, and looked on us round about,
calling still for more company ; who came swarm-
ing out, all wondering, and crying out Tepeeme ;
taking their hair up in their hands, and spread-
ing it wide to those they called out to ; as if they
would say (as indeed it signified) " numberless
wonders, " or not to be recounted , no more than
to number the hair of their heads. By degrees
they grew more bold, and from gazing upon us
round, they touched us, laying their hands upon
all the features of our faces, feeling our breasts
and arms, taking up one petticoat, then wonder-
ing to see another ; admiring our shoes and
stockings, but more our garters, which we gave
94 OROONOK
O ; OR,

them, and they tied about their legs, being laced

with silver lace at the ends ; for they much es-
teem any shining things, In fine, we suffered
them to survey us as they pleased , and we thought
they would never have done admiring us. When
Cæsar and the rest saw we were received with
such wonder, they came up to us ; and finding
the Indian trader whom they knew (for it is by
these fisherman, called Indian traders, we hold a
commerce with them ; for they love not to go
far from home, and we never go to them) , when
they saw him, therefore, they set up a new joy, and
cried in their language, " Oh, here's our Tiguamy,
and we shall know whether those things can
speak." So advancing to him, some of them gave
him their hands, and cried, " Amora tiguamy ; "
which is as much as, " How do you do ? " or,
"Welcome friend ; " and all, with one din, began
to gabble to him, and asked if we had sense and
wit ? If we could talk of affairs of life and war,
as they could do ? If we could hunt, swim, and
do a thousand things they use ? He answered
them , we could. Then they invited us into their
houses, and dressed venison and buffalo for us ;
and going out, gathered a leaf of a tree, called a
Sarumbo leaf, of six yards long, and spread it on
the ground for a table-cloth ; and cutting another
in pieces, instead of plates, set us on little low
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 95

Indian stools, which they cut out of one entire

piece of wood, and paint in a sort of Japan-work.
They serve every one their mess on these pieces
of leaves ; and it was very good but too high-
seasoned with pepper. When we had eaten, my
brother and I took out our flutes, and played to
them, which gave them new wonder ; and I
soon perceived, by an admiration that is natural
to these people, and by the extreme ignorance
and simplicity of them, it were not difficult to
establish any unknown or extravagant religion
among them, and to impose any notions or fictions
upon them. For seeing a kinsman of mine set
some paper on fire with a burning glass, a trick
they had never before seen, they were like to
have adored him for a god , and begged he would
give them the characters or figures of his name,
that they might oppose it against winds and storm :
which he did, and they held it up in those seasons
and fancied it had a charm to conquer them, and
kept it like a holy relic. They are very super-
stitious, and called him the Great Peeie, that is,
Prophet. They shewed us their Indian Peeie, a
youth of about sixteen years old, as handsome as
nature could make a man. They consecrate a
beautiful youth from his infancy, and all arts are
used to complete him in the finest manner, both
in beauty and shape : he is bred to all the little
96 OROONOKO ; OR,

arts and cunning they are capable of ; to all the

legerdemain tricks, and slight of hand whereby
he imposes on the rabble ; and is both a doctor
in physic and divinity : and by these tricks
makes the sick believe he sometimes eases their

pains, by drawing from the afflicted part little

serpents, or odd flies, or worms, or any strange
thing ; and though they have besides undoubted
good remedies for almost all their diseases, they
cure the patient more by fancy than by medicines,
and make themselves feared, loved, and rever-
enced. This young Peeie had a very young wife,
who seeing my brother kiss her, came running
and kissed me After this they kissed one
another, and made it a very great jest, it being so
novel ; and new admiration and laughing went
round the multitude, that they never will forget
that ceremony, never before used or known.
Cæsar had a mind to see and talk with their war-

captains, and we were conducted to one of their

houses, where we beheld several of the great
captains, who had been at council : but so fright-
ful a vision it was to see them, no fancy can create ;
no sad dreams can represent so dreadful a spec-
tacle. For my part, I took them for hobgoblins,
or fiends, rather than men : but however their
shapes appeared, their souls were very humane
and noble ; but some wanted their noses, some
 33
THE ROYAL SLAVE. 97

their lips, some both noses and lips, some their

ears, and others cut through each cheek with
long slashes, through which their teeth appeared :
they had several other formidable wounds and
scars, or rather dismemberings. They had com-
itias, or little aprons before them ; and girdles of
cotton, with their knives naked stuck in it ; a bow
at their back, and a quiver of arrows on their
thighs ; and most had feathers on their heads of
99
divers colours. They cried " Amora Tiguamy
to us, at our entrance, and were pleased we said
as much to them : they seated us, and gave us
drink of the best sort, and wondered as much as
the others had done before, to see us. Cæsar

was marvelling as much at their faces, wondering

how they should be all so wounded in war ; he
was impatient to know howthey all came by
those frightful marks of rage or malice, rather
than wounds got in noble battle. They told us by
our interpreter, that when any war was waging,
two men, chosen out by some old captain whose
fighting was past, and who could only teach the
theory of war, where to stand in competition for
the generalship, or great war-captain ; and being
brought before the old judges, now past labour,
they are asked, What they dare do , to shew they
are worthy to lead an army ? When he who is
first asked, making no reply, cuts off his nose,
G
98 OROONOKO ; OR,

and throws it contemptibly on the ground ; and

the other does something to himself that he thinks
surpasses him , and perhaps deprives himself of
lips and an eye : so they flash on till one gives
out, and many have died in this debate. And

it's by a passive valour they shew and prove their

activity—a sort of courage too brutal to be ap-
plauded by our black hero ; nevertheless, he ex-
pressed his esteem of them .

In this voyage Cæsar begat so good an under-

standing between the Indians and the English,
that there were no more fears or heart burnings
during our stay, but we had a perfect, open, free
trade with them . Many things remarkable, and
worthy reciting, we met with in this short voyage ;
because Cæsar made it his business to search out

and provide for our entertainment, especially to

please his dearly adored Imoinda, who was a sharer
in all our adventures ; we being resolved to make
her chains as easy as we could, and to compliment
the Prince in that manner that most obliged him.
As we were coming up again, we met with
some Indians of strange aspects ; that is, of a
larger size, and other sort of features, than those
of our country . Our Indian slaves, that rowed
us, asked them some questions ; but they could
not understand us, but shewed us a long cotton
string, with several knots on it, and told us they
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 99

had been coming from the mountains so many

moons as there were knots : they were habited
in skins of a strange beast, and brought along
with ' em bags of gold-dust ; which, as well as
they could give us to understand, came stream-
ing in little small channels down the high moun-
tains, where the rains fell ; and offered to be the
convoy to any body, or persons, that would go to
the mountains. We carried these men up to the
Parham, where they were kept till the Lord-
Governor came : and because all the country was
mad to be going on this golden adventure, the
governor, by his letters, commanded (for they
sent some of the gold to him) that a guard should
be set at the mouth of the river of Amazons (a
river so called, almost as broad as the river
Thames) and prohibited all people from going up
that river, it conducting to those mountains of
gold. But we going off for England before the
project was further prosecuted , and the governor
being drowned in a hurricane, either the design
died, or the Dutch have the advantage of it : and
'tis to be bemoaned what his majesty lost, by los.
ing that part of America.
Though this digression is a little from my
story, however since it contains some proofs of
the curiosity and daring of this great man, I was
content to omit nothing of his character.
100 OROONOKO ; OR,

It was thus for some time we diverted him ;

but now Imoinda began to shew she was with
child, and did nothing but sigh and weep for the
captivity of her lord, herself and the infant yet
unborn ; and believed, if it were so hard to gain
the liberty of two, ' twould be more difficult to
get that for three. Her griefs were so many
darts in the great heart of Cæsar ; and taking his
opportunity, one Sunday, when all the whites
were overtaken in drink, as there were abundance
of several trades, and slaves for four years, that
inhabited among the negro houses ; and Sunday
being their day of debauch (otherwise they were
a sort of spies upon Cæsar) , he went, pretending
out of goodness to them, to feast among them, and
sent all his music, and ordered a great treat for
the whole gang, about three hundred negroes,
and about an hundred and fifty were able to bear
arms, such as they had, which were sufficient to

do execution, with spirits accordingly for the

English had none but rusty swords, that no
strength could draw from a scabbard ; except
the people of particular quality, who took care to
oil them, and keep them in good order : the guns
also, unless here and there one, or those newly
carried from England , would do no good or harm ;
for ' tis the nature of that country to rust and eat
up iron, or any metals but gold and silver. And
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 101

they are very expert at the bow, which the

negroes and Indians are perfect masters of.
Cæsar, having singled out these men from the
women and children, made an harangue to them ,
of the miseries and ignominies of slavery ; count-

ing up all their toils and sufferings, under such

loads, burdens and drudgeries, as were fitter for
beasts than men ; senseless brutes, than human
souls. He told them, it was not for days, months
or years, but for eternity ; there was no end to
be of their misfortunes : they suffered not like
men, who might find a glory and fortitude in op-
pression ; but like dogs that loved the whip and
bell, and fawned the more they were beaten :
that they had lost the divine quality of men,
and were become insensible asses, fit only to
bear : nay, worse ; an ass, or dog, or horse,
having done his duty, could lie down in retreat,
and rise to work again, and while he did his duty,
endured no stripes ; but men, villainous , senseless
men, such as they, toiled on all the tedious week
till black Friday ; and then, whether they worked
or not, whether they were faulty or meriting,
they, promiscuously, the innocent with the guilty
suffered the infamous whip, the sordid stripes,
from their fellow-slaves till their blood trickled
from all parts of their body ; blood, whose every
drop ought to be revenged with a life of some of
102 OROONOKO ; OR,

those tyrants that impose it. "And why," said

he, " my dear friends and fellow- sufferers, should
we be slaves to an unknown people ? Have they
vanquished us nobly in fight ? Have they won
us in honourable battle ? And are we by the
chance of war become their slaves ? This would
not anger a noble heart ; this would not animate
a soldier's soul : no, but we are bought and sold
like apes or monkeys, to be the sport of women,
fools and cowards ; and the support of rogues
and renegades, that have abandoned their own
countries for rapine, murders, theft and villainies.
Do you not hear every day how they upbraid
each other with infamy of life, below the wildest
savages ? And shall we render obedience to

such a degenerate race, who have no one human

virtue left, to distinguish them from the vilest
creatures ? Will you, I say, suffer the lash from
Will
such hands ? " They all replied with one accord,
" No, no, no ; Cæsar has spoke like a great
captain, like a great king. "
After this he would have proceeded , but was
interrupted by a tall negro, of some more quality
than the rest, his name was Tuscan ; who bowing
at the feet of Cæsar cried, " My lord, we have
listened with joy and attention to what you have

said ; and, were we only men, would follow so

great a leader through the world : but, oh ! con-
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 103

sider we are husbands and parents too, and have

things more dear to us than life ; our wives and
children, unfit for travel in those unpassable
woods, mountains and bogs. We have not only
difficult lands to overcome, but rivers to wade,
and mountains to encounter ; ravenous beasts of
prey. " To this Cæsar replied, " That honour
was the first principle in nature, that was to be
obeyed ; but as no man would pretend to that ,
without all the acts of virtue, compassion , charity,
love, justice and reason, he found it not inconsis-
tent with that, to take equal care of their wives
and children as they would of themselves ; and
that he did not design, when he led them to
freedom, and glorious liberty, that they should
leave that better part of themselves to perish by
the hand of the tyrant's whip : but if there were
a woman among them so degenerate from love
and virtue, to choose slavery before the pursuit of
her husband, and with the hazard of her life, to
share with him in his fortunes ; that such a one
ought to be abandoned, and left as a prey to the
common enemy. "
To which they all agreed--and bowed . After
this, he spoke of the impassable woods and rivers ;
and convinced them, the more danger the more
glory. He told them, that he had heard of one
Hannibal, a great captain, had cut his way through
104 OROONOKO ; OR,

mountains of solid rocks ; and should a few shrubs

oppose them, which they could fire before them ?
洋
No, 'twas a trifling excuse to men resolved to die,
or overcome. As for bogs, they are with a little
labour filled and hardened ; and the rivers could
be no obstacle, since they swam by nature, at
least by custom, from the first hour of their birth :
that when the children were weary, they must
carry them by turns, and the woods and their
own industry would afford them food . To this

they all assented with joy.

Tuscan then demanded, what he would do :
he said he would travel towards the sea, plant a
new colony, and defend it by their valour ; and
when they could find a ship, either driven by
stress of weather, or guided by Providence that
way, they would seize it, and make it a prize, till
it had transported them to their own countries :
at least they should be made free in his kingdom ,
and be esteemed as his fellow-sufferers, and men
that had the courage and the bravery to attempt,
at least, for liberty ; and if they died in the at-
tempt, it would be more brave, than to live in
perpetual slavery.
They bowed and kissed his feet at this resolu-
tion, and with one accord vowed to follow him
to death ; and that night was appointed to begin
their march. They made it known to their wives,
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 105

and directed them to tie their hammocks about

their shoulders, and under their arms, like a scarf,
and to lead their children that could go , and
carry those that could not. The wives, who pay
an entire obedience to their husbands, obeyed

and stayed for them where they were appointed :

the men stayed but to furnish themselves with
what defensive arms they could get ; and all met
at the rendezvous, where Cæsar made a new en-
couraging speech to them and led them out.
But as they could not march far that night,
on Monday early, when the overseers went to
call them together to go to work, they were ex-
tremely surprised to find not one upon the place,
but all fled with what baggage they had. You

may imagine this news was not only suddenly

spread all over the plantation, but soon reached
the neighbouring ones ; and we had by noon
about 600 men, they call the militia of the coun-
try, that came to assist us in the pursuit of the
fugitives but never did one see so comical an
army march forth to war. The men of any
fashion would not concern themselves, though it
were almost the common cause ; for such revolt-
ings are very ill examples, and have fatal conse-
quences oftentimes, in many colonies : but they
had a respect for Cæsar, and all hands were
against the Parhamites (as they called those of
 106 OROONOKO ; OR,

Parham plantation) because they did not in the

first place love the Lord- Governor ; and secondly,
they would have it, that Cæsar was ill used, and
baffled with and it is not impossible but some of
the best in the country was of his council in this
flight, and depriving us all of the slaves ; so that
they of the better sort would not meddle in the
matter. The Deputy- Governor, of whom I have
had no great occasion to speak, and who was the
most fawning fair-tongued fellow in the world,
and one that pretended the most friendship to
Cæsar, was now the only violent man against
him ; and though he had nothing, and so need
fear nothing, yet talked and looked bigger than
any man. He was a fellow whose character is
not fit to be mentioned with the worst of the
slaves : this fellow would lead his army forth to
meet Cæsar, or rather to pursue him. Most of
their arms were of those sort of cruel whips they
call " Cat with nine tails ; " some had rusty use-

less guns for shew ; others old basket hilts,

whose blades had never seen the light in this age ;
and others had long staffs and clubs. Mr.
Trefry went along, rather to be a mediator than
a conqueror in such a battle ; for he foresaw and
knew, if by fighting they put the negroes into
despair, they were a sort of sullen fellows that
would drown or kill themselves before they
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 107

would yield ; and he advised that fair means

was best but Byam was one that abounded
in his own wit, and would take his own
measures .

It was not hard to find these fugitives ; for as

they fled, they were forced to fire and cut the
woods before them ; so that night or day they
pursued them by the light they made, and by the
path they had cleared . But as soon as Cæsar
found he was pursued, he put himself in a pos-
ture of defence, placing all the women and
children in the rear ; and himself with Tuscan by
his side, or next to him, all promising to die or
conquer. Encouraged thus they never stood to
parley, but fell on pell-mell on the English ,
and killed some, and wounded a great many ;
they having recourse to their whips, as the best
of their weapons. And as they observed no

order, they perplexed the enemy so sorely, with

lashing them in the eyes ; and the women and
children seeing their husbands so treated, being
of fearful and cowardly dispositions, and hearing
the English cry out, " Yield, and live ! Yield ,
and be pardoned ! " they all ran in amongst their
husbands and fathers, and hung about them, cry-
ing out, " Yield ! yield ! and leave Cæsar to
their revenge " that by degrees the slaves aban-
doned Cæsar, and left him only Tuscan and his

4
24
108 OROONOKO ; OR,

heroic Imoinda, who grown as high as she was,

did nevertheless press near her lord, having a
bow and a quiver full of poisoned arrows, which
she managed with such dexterity that she woun-
ded several, and shot the governor into the shoul-
der ; of which wound he had liked to have died,
but that an Indian woman, his mistress, sucked
the wound, and cleansed it from the venom :
but, however, he stirred not from the place till he
had parleyed with Cæsar, who he found was re-
solved to die fighting, and would not be taken ;
no more would Tuscan or Imoinda. But he,
more thirsting after revenge of another sort than
that of depriving him of life, now made use of all
his art of talking and dissembling, and besought
Cæsar to yield himself upon terms which he
himself should propose, and should be sacredly
assented to, and kept by him. He told him, it
was not that he any longer feared him, or could
believe the force of two men and a young hero-
ine could overthrow all them, and with all the
slaves now on their side also ; but it was the vast

esteem he had for his person , the desire he had

to serve so gallant a man, and to hinder himself
from the reproach hereafter, of having been the
occasion of the death of a Prince, whose valour
and magnanimity deserved the empire of the
world. He protested to him, he looked upon
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 109

his action as gallant and brave, however tending

to the prejudice of his lord and master, who
would by it have lost so considerable a number of
slaves ; that this flight of his should be looked on
as a heat of youth, and a rashness of too forward
courage, and an unconsidered impatience of
liberty, and no more ; and that he laboured in
vain to accomplish that which they would effectu-
ally perform as soon as any ship arrived that
would touch on his coast : " So that if you will
be pleased," continued he, " to surrender yourself,
all imaginable respect shall be paid you ; and
yourself, your wife and child, if it be born here,
shall depart free out of our land . " But Cæsar
would hear of no composition ! though Byam
urged, if he pursued, and went on in his
design, he would inevitably perish, either
by great snakes, wild beasts or hunger ; and he-
ought to have regard to his wife, whose condi-
tion required ease, and not the fatigues of tedious:
travel, where she could not be secured from being
devoured . But Cæsar told him there was no

faith in the white men, or the gods they adored ; .

who instructed them in principles so false, that .
honest men could not live amongst them ; though
no people professed so much, none performed so
little that he knew what he had to do when he
dealt with men of honour ; but with them a man
110 OROONOKO ; OR,

ought to be eternally on his guard, and never to

eat and drink with Christians, without his wea-
pon of defence in his hand ; and, for his own
security, never to credit one word they spoke.
As for the rashness and inconsiderateness of his

action, he would confess the governor is in the

right ; and that he was ashamed of what he had
done, in endeavouring to make those free who
were by nature slaves, poor wretched rogues, fit
to be used as Christians' tools ; dogs, treacherous
and cowardly, fit for such masters ; and they
wanted only but to be whipped into the know-
ledge of the Christian gods, to be the vilest of
all creeping things ; to learn to worship such
deities as had not power to make them just,
brave, or honest : in fine, after a thousand things
of this nature, not fit here to be recited, he told
Byam he had rather die than live upon the same
earth with such dogs. But Trefry and Byam

pleaded and protested together so much, that

Trefry, believing the governor to mean what he
said , and speaking very cordially himself, gener-
ously put himself into Cæsar's hands, and took
him aside, and persuaded him, even with tears,
to live, by surrendering himself, and to name his
conditions. Cæsar was overcome by his wit and
reasons, and in consideration of Imoinda ; and
demanding what he desired, and that it should
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 111

be ratified by their hands in writing, because he

had perceived that was the common way of con-
tract between man and man amongst the whites ;
all this was performed, and Tuscan's pardon was
put in, and they surrendered to the governor,
who walked peaceably down into the plantation
with them, after giving order to bury their dead.
Cæsar was very much toiled with the bustle of
the day, for he had fought like a fury ; and what
mischief was done, he and Tuscan performed
alone ; and gave their enemies a fatal proof that
they durst do anything, and feared no mortal
force.

But they were no sooner arrived at the place

where all the slaves receive their punishments of
whipping, but they laid hands on Cæsar and
Tuscan, faint with heat and toil ; and surprising
them , bound them to two several stakes, and
whipped them in a most deplorable and inhuman
manner, rending the very flesh from their bones,
especially Cæsar, who was not perceived to make
any moan, or to alter his face, only to roll his
eyes on the faithless governor, and those he be-
lieved guilty, with fierceness and indignation ;
and to complete his rage, he saw every one of
those slaves who but a few days before adored
him as something more than mortal, now had a
whip to give him some lashes, while he strove
112 OROONOKO ; OR,

not to break his fetters ; though if he had, it were

impossible but he pronounced a woe and re-
venge from his eyes, that darted fire, which was
at once both awful and terrible to behold.
When they thought they were sufficiently re-
venged on him, they untied him, almost fainting
with loss of blood, from a thousand wounds all
over his body ; from which they had rent his
clothes, and led him bleeding and naked as he
was, and loaded him all over with irons ; and
then rubbed his wounds to complete their cruelty
with Indian pepper, which had like to have made
him raving mad ; and in this condition made

him so fast to the ground, that he could not stir,

if his pains and wounds would have given him
leave. They spared Imoinda, and did not let
her see this barbarity committed towards her
lord, but carried her down to Parham, and shut
her up ; which was not in kindness to her, but

for fear she should die with the sight, or mis-

carry, and then they should lose a young slave,
and perhaps the mother.
You must know, that when the news was
brought on Monday morning, that Cæsar had be-
taken himself to the woods and carried with him
all the negroes, we were possessed with extreme
fear, which no persuasions could dissipate, that
he would secure himself till night, and then
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 113

would come down and cut all our throats. This

apprehension made all the females of us fly down
the river, to be secured ; and while we were
away, they acted this cruelty ; for I suppose I

had authority and interest enough there, had I

suspected any such thing, to have prevented it :
but we had not gone many leagues, but the news
overtook us that Cæsar was taken and whipped
like a common slave. We met on the river with
Colonel Martin, a man of great gallantry, wit,
and goodness, and whom I have celebrated in a
character of my new comedy, by his own name,
in memory of so brave a man. He was

wise and eloquent, and, from the fineness

of his parts, bore a great sway over the hearts
of all the Colony. He was a friend to Cæsar,
and resented this false dealing with him very
much. We carried him back to Parham,
thinking to have made an accommodation ; when
he came, the first news we heard was that the
governor was dead of a wound Imoinda had

given him ; but it was not so well . But it seems,

he would have the pleasure of beholding the
revenge he took on Cæsar ; and before the cruel

ceremony was finished, he dropped down ; and

they perceived the wound he had on his shoulder
was by a venomed arrow, which, as I said, his
Indian mistress healed by sucking the wound.
H
114 OROONOKO ; OR,

We were no sooner arrived, but we went up

to the plantation to see Cæsar ; whom we found
in a very miserable and inexpressible condition
and I have a thousand times admired how he

lived in so much tormenting pain. We said all

things to him, that trouble, pity, and good-nature
could suggest, protesting our innocence of the
fact, and our abhorrence of such cruelties ; måk-
ing a thousand professions and services to him,
and begging as many pardons for the offenders,
till we said so much that he believed we had no
hand in his ill treatment ; but told us, he could
never pardon Byam ; as for Trefry, he confessed
he saw his grief and sorrow for his suffering,
which he could not hinder, but was like to have
been beaten down by the very slaves for speak-
ing in his defence : but for Byam, who was their
leader, their head - and should, by his justice
and honour, have been an example to them-for
him, he wished to live to take a dire revenge of
him ; and said, " It had been well for him if he
had sacrificed me, instead of giving me the con-
temptible whip. " He refused to talk much ; but
begging us to give him our hands, he took them,
and protested never to lift up his to do us any
harm . He had a great respect for Colonel Mar-
tin, and always took his counsel like that of a
parent ; and assured him he would obey him in
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 115

There-
any thing, but his revenge on Byam : "
fore, " said he, " for his own safety, let him
speedily dispatch me ; for if I could dispatch
myself I would not, till that justice were done
to my injured person, and the contempt of a
soldier : no, I would not kill myself, even after
a whipping, but will be content to live with that
infamy, and be pointed at by every grinning
slave, till I have completed my revenge ; and
then you shall see, that Oroonoko scorns to live
with the indignity that was put on Cæsar." All
we could do could get no more words from him ;
and we took care to have him put immediately
into a healing bath, to rid him of his pepper,
and ordered a chirurgeon to anoint him with
healing balm, which he suffered, and in some
time he began to be able to walk and eat. We

failed not to visit him every day, and to that end

had him brought to an apartment at Parham.
The governor was no sooner recovered, and
had heard of the menaces of Cæsar, but he
called his council, who (not to disgrace them, or
burlesque the government) consisted of such
notorious villains as Newgate never transported ;
and, possibly, originally were such who under-
stood neither the laws of God nor man, and had

no sort of principles to make them worthy the

name of men ; but at the very council-table
116 OROONOKO ; OR,

would contradict and fight with one another,

and swear so bloodily, that it was terrible to
hear and see them. (Some of them were after-
wards hanged, when the Dutch took possession
of the place, others sent off in chains. ) But call-
ing these special rulers of the nation together,
and requiring their counsel in this weighty affair,
they all concluded, that (damn them) it might
be their own cases ; and that Cæsar ought to be
made an example to all the negroes, to fright
them 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 Cæsar should be hanged.
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 could 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 reached, and all that belonged to it ;
the rest of the country, as Byam was lieutenant
to his lord, he might exercise his tyranny upon.
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 117

Trefry had others as powerful, or more, that in-

terested themselves in Cæsar's life, and absolutely
said, he should 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 lodging place, and would admit none but
those we called friends to us and Cæsar.
The governor having remained wounded at
Parham , till his recovery was completed, Cæsar
did not know but he was still there, and indeed
for the most part, his time was spent there for
he was one that loved to live at other people's
expense, and if he were a day absent, he was
ten present there ; and used to play, and walk,
and hunt, and fish with Cæsar : so that Cæsar
did not at all doubt, if he once recovered
strength, but he should find an opportunity of
being revenged on him ; though, after such a
revenge, he could not hope to live : for if he
escaped the fury of the English mobile, who
perhaps would have been glad of the occasion to
have killed him, he was resolved not to survive
his whipping ; yet he had some tender hours, a
repenting softness, which he called his fits of
cowardice, wherein he struggled with love for
the victory of his heart, which took part with his
charming Imoinda there ; but for the most part,
his time was passed in melancholy thoughts, and
118 OROONOKO ; OR,

black designs. He considered , if he should 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 enraged multitude ; his great heart
could not endure that thought. " Perhaps, " said
he, " she may be first ravished by every brute ;
exposed first to their nasty lusts, and then a
shameful death. " No, he could not live a mo-
ment 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 en-
raged him ; pleasing his great heart with the
fancied slaughter he should make over the whole
face of the plantation ; he first resolved on a
deed (that however horrid it first appeared to
us all) , when we had heard his reasons, we
thought it brave and just. Being able to walk,
and, as he believed, fit for the execution of his
great design, he begged Trefry to trust him into
the air, believing a walk would do him good ;
which was granted him ; and taking Imoinda
with him, as he used 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 gushed ,
in spite of him, from his eyes) he told her his
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 119

design, first of killing her, and then his enemies,

and next himself, and the impossibility of escap-
ing, and, therefore, he told her the necessity of
dying. He found the heroic wife faster pleading
for deatht han he was to propose it, when she
found his fixed resolution ; and, on her knees,
besought him not to leave her a prey to his ene-
mies. He, grieved to death, yet pleased 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
trickled down his cheeks, hers were smiling with
joy she should die by so noble a hand, and be
sent into her own country (for that is their notion
of the next world) by him she so tenderly loved,
and so truly adored 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 resolved on ; and ' tis

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.
120 OROONOKO ; OR,

All that love could say in such cases being

ended, and all the intermitting irresolutions
being adjusted, the lovely, young and adored
victim lays herself down before the sacrificer ;
while he, with a hand resolved, and a heart
breaking within, gave the fatal stroke, first cut-
ting her throat, and then severing her yet smiling
face from that delicate body, pregnant as it was
with the fruits of tenderest love. As soon as he

had done, he laid the body decently on leaves

and flowers, of which he made a bed, and con-
cealed 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 re-
trieve, never more to bless him with her eyes
and soft language, his grief swelled up to rage ;
he tore, he raved , he roared like some monster
of the wood, calling on the loved name of
Imoinda. A thousand times he turned 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 would cry out, " No , since I have
sacrificed Imoinda to my revenge, shall I lose
that glory which I have purchased so dear, as at
the price of the fairest, dearest, softest creature
that ever nature made ? No, no ! " Then at
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 121

her name grief would get the ascendant of rage,

and he would 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 from the sight of this dear object ,
now more beloved and more adored than ever.

He remained in this deplorable condition for

two days, and never rose from the ground where
he had made her sad sacrifice ; at last rousing
from her side, and accusing himself with living
too long, now Imoinda was dead, and that the
deaths of those barbarous enemies were deferred

too long, he resolved now to finish the great

work : but offering to rise, he found his strength
so decayed that he reeled to and fro, like
boughs assailed 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

turned round, and his eyes were dizzy, and ob-

jects appeared not the same to him they were
wont to do ; his breath was short and all his
limbs surprised with a faintness he had never felt
before. He had not eat in two days, which was
one occasion of his feebleness, but excess of grief
was the greatest ; yet still he hoped he should re-
cover vigour to act his design, and lay expecting
it yet six days longer still mourning over the
122 OROONOKO ; OR,

dead idol of his heart, and striving every day to

rise, but could not.
In all this time you may believe we were in
no little affliction for Cæsar and his wife ; some
were of opinion he was escaped, never to return ;
others thought some accident had happened to
him. But, however, we failed not to send out a
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 re-
conciled 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
noisome, that can be distinguished among such a
quantity of natural sweets, as every inch of that
land produces ; so that they concluded that they
should find him dead, or some body that was so ;
they passed on towards it, as loathsome as it was,
and made such rustling among the leaves that lie
thick on the ground , by continual falling, that
Cæsar heard he was approached ; and though he
had, during the space of these eight days, en-
deavoured to rise, but found he wanted strength,
yet looking up, and seeing his pursuers, he rose,
and reeled to a neighbouring tree, against which
he fixed his back ; and being within a dozen
yards of those that advanced and saw him, he .
called out to them, and bid them , approach no
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 123

nearer, if they would be safe. So that they stood

still, and hardly believing their eyes, that would
persuade them that it was Cæsar that spoke to
them, so much he was altered ; they asked him ,
what he had done with his wife, for they smelt a
stink that almost struck them dead ? He point-

ing to the dead body, sighing, cried, " Behold

her there." They put off the flowers that covered
her, with their sticks, and found that she was
killed, and cried out, " Oh, monster ! thou has
murdered 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, " continued he, " and tell the faithless
governor, he may thank fortune that I am

breathing my last ; and that my arm is too feeble

99
to obey my heart, in what it had designed him ."
But his tongue faltering, and trembling, he could
scarce end what he was saying. The English
taking advantage by his weakness, cried, " Let
""
us take him alive by all means ." He heard them ;

and, as if he had revived from a fainting, or a

dream , he cried out, " No, gentlemen, you are
deceived ; you will find no more Cæsars to be
whipped ; no more find a faith in me ; feeble as
you think me, I have strength yet left to secure
ine from a second indignity." They swore all
anew ; and he only shook his head, and beheld
124 OROONOKO ; OR,

them with scorn. Then they cried out, " Who

will venture on this single man ? Will nobody? "
They stood all silent, while Cæsar replied , “ Fatal
will be the attempt of 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, " tis 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 them,
"yet still I would live if I could, till I had per-
fected my revenge, but, oh ! it cannot be ; I feel
life gliding from my eyes and heart ; and if I
make not haste, I shall fall a victim to the
shameful whip." At that, he riped up his own
belly, and took his bowels and pulled them out,
with what strength he could ; while some, on
their knees imploring, besought him to hold his
hand . But when they saw him tottering, they
cried out, " Will none venture on him ? " A bold

Englishman cried, " 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 rushed on him. Cæsar with his armed
hand, met him so fairly, as stuck him to the
heart, and he fell dead at his feet. Tuscan
seeing that, cried out, " I love thee, O Cæsar ! and
therefore will not let thee die, if possible ; " and
running to him, took him in his arms ; but at the
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 125

same time, warding a blow that Cæsar made at

his bosom, he received it quite through his arm ;
and Cæsar having not strength to pluck the
knife forth though he attempted it, Tuscan
neither pulled it out himself, nor suffered it to be
pulled out, but came down with it sticking in his
arm ; and the reason he gave for it, was because
the air should not get into the wound . They
put their hands across, and carried Cæsar be-
tween six of them, 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
dressed his wounds, and sewed up his belly, and
used 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 altered that his face was like a death's-head

blacked over, nothing but teeth and eye-holes.

For some days we suffered nobody to speak to
him, but caused cordials to be poured down his
throat ; which sustained his life, and in six or
seven days he recovered his senses, for you must
know that wounds are almost to a miracle cured
in the Indies ; unless wounds in the legs, which
they rarely ever cure.
When he was well enough to speak, we talked
to him, and asked him some questions about his
126 OROONOKO ; OR,

wife, and the reasons why he killed her ; and he

then told us what I have related of that resolu-
tion, and of his parting, and he besought us we
would let him die, and was extremely afflicted
to think it was possible he might live, he assured
us, if we did not dispatch him, he would prove
very fatal to a great many. We said all we
could to make him live, and gave him new
assurances ; but he begged we would not think
so poorly of him, or of his love to Imoinda, to
imagine we could flatter him to life again. But
the chirurgeon assured him he could not live, and
therefore he need not fear. We were all (but
Cæsar) afflicted at this news, and the sight was
ghastly ; his discourse was sad, and the earthy
smell about him so strong, that I was persuaded
to leave the place for some time (being myself
but sickly, and very apt to fall into fits of
dangerous illness upon any extraordinary
melancholy) . The servants, and Trefry, and the
chirurgeons, promised all to take what possible
care they could of the life of Cæsar ; and I,
taking boat, went with other company to

Colonel Martin's, about three days' journey

down the river. But I was no sooner gone

than the governor, taking Trefry about some

pretended earnest business a day's journey up
the river, having communicated his design to
 THE ROYAL SLAVE. 127

one Banister, a wild Irishman, one of the

Council, a fellow of absolute barbarity, and fit to

execute any villainy, but rich ; he came up to
Parham, and forcibly took Cæsar, and had him
carried to the same post where he was whipped ;
and causing him to be tied to it, and a great fire
made before him, he told him he should die like
a dog, as he was. Cæsar replied , this was the
first piece of bravery that ever Banister did, and
he never spoke sense till he pronounced that word;
and if he would keep it, he would declare, in
the other world, that he was the only man, of all

the whites, that ever he heard speak truth. And

turning to the men that had bound him, he said,
"My friends, am I to die, or to be whipped ?
And they cried, " Whipped ! no, you shall not
escape so well. " And then he replied, smiling, “A
"}
blessing on thee ; and assured them they need
not tie him, for he would stand fixed like a rock,
and endure death so as should encourage them
to die, but if you whip me (said he) be sure you
tie me fast.

He had learned to take tobacco ; and when he

was assured he should die, he desired they would
give him a pipe in his mouth, ready lighted ;
which they did : and the executioner came, and
first cut off his members, and threw them into
the fire ; after that, with an ill-favoured knife,
128 OROONOKO ; OR,

they cut off his ears and his nose, and burned
them ; he still smoked on, as if nothing had
touched him ; then they hacked off one of his
arms, and still he bore up and held his pipe ; but
at the cutting off the other arm, his head sunk,
and his pipe dropped, and he gave up the ghost,
without a groan or a reproach. My mother and
sister were by him all the while, but not suffered
to save him ; so rude and wild were the rabble,
and so inhuman were the justices who stood by
to see the execution, who after paid dear enough
for their insolence. They cut Cæsar into
quarters, and sent them to several of the chief
plantations ; one quarter was sent to Colonel
Martin, who refused it, and swore he had
rather see the quarters of Banister, and the
governor himself, than those of Cæsar, on his
plantations ; and that he could govern his
negroes without terrifying and grieving them
with frightful spectacles of a mangled King.
Thus, died this great man, worthy of a better
fate, and a more sublime wit than mine to write
his praise ; yet I hope the reputation of my pen
is considerable enough to make his glorious name
to survive to all ages, with that of the brave, the
beautiful and the constant Imoinda.

THE END.
 MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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