The prince returned to court with quite another humor 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 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 whisperers, but
Imoinda! Imoinda!

  'Twill be imagined Oroonoko staid not long before he made his second
visit; nor, considering 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 conversation 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 favor 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 before. 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
honor, if such a distinction may be made in love; and especially in
that country, where men take to themselves as many as they can
maintain; and where the only crime and sin with 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 honor, 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 condescended to receive him for her husband; or
rather, received him as the greatest honor the gods could do her.

  There is a certain ceremony in these cases to be observed, which I
forgot to ask how 'twas performed; but 'twas concluded on both sides
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 thousand 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 began 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
confirmed 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 that 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 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 present, 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 'twas past doubt whether she loved Oroonoko entirely.
This gave the old king some affliction; 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 to his apartment but he sent the
royal veil to Imoinda; that is the ceremony of invitation: he sends
the lady he has a mind to honor with his bed, a veil, with which she
is covered, and secured for the king's use; and 'tis death to disobey;
besides, held a most impious disobedience.

  'Tis 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 should be brought to him, they (after disrobing her) led her
to the bath, and making fast the doors, 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