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,
withdraw 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
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 showed a face not
at all betraying his heart: so that in a little time, the old man,
being entirely 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 certainly 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 color": for I have seen
'em 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, 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 bemoaned 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 'em its right of love, which none was more
willing to resign than she. And 'twas this powerful language alone
that in an instant conveyed 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
Onahal (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 flowers for the dalliance of the king, who immediately
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, "O
Imoinda!" When Onahal had finished her necessary affair within,
shutting the door, she came forth, to wait till the king called; and
hearing someone sighing in the other room, she passed on, and found
the prince in that deplorable 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 reassume his courage; and all sitting
down on the carpet, the prince said so many obliging 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 assumed 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 without. 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
'em, and received the present ordained as a 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 was
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 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 their honors they rob them
of; envying them those satisfactions, those gallantries and
presents, that were once made to themselves, while youth and beauty
lasted, and which they now saw pass, as it were regardless 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 abandoned ladies therefore
endeavor to revenge all the despites and decays of time, on these
flourishing 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 was now retired to a window with Aboan.