was he learned so much humanity: or, to give his accomplishments a
juster name, where 'twas he got that real greatness of soul, those
refined notions of true honor, that absolute generosity, and that
softness that was capable of the highest passions of love and
gallantry, whose objects were almost continually fighting men, or
those 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 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 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 a shape the most
exact that can be fancied: the most famous statuary could not form the
figure of a man more admirably turned from head to foot. His face
was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are, but
of perfect ebony, or polished jet. His eyes were the most awful that
could be seen, and very piercing; the white of 'em 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 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 color, 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 learning, 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
grandfather, as I said) as capable of love as 'twas possible for a
brave and gallant man to be; and 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 sighing 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 honor 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 all the young soldiers
of any merit, he was infinitely surprised at the beauty of this fair
Queen of Night, whose face and person was so exceeding 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 honor 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 behavior while he staid, gained a
perfect conquest over his fierce heart, and made him feel the victor
could be subdued. So that having made his first compliments, and
presented her an hundred and fifty slaves in fetters, he told her with
his eyes that he was not insensible of her charms; while Imoinda,
who wished for nothing more than so glorious a conquest, was pleased
to believe she understood that silent language of new-born love;
and, from that moment, put on all her additions to beauty.