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 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-favorites 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 favor could so absolutely oblige the prince, he failed
not to sigh in her ear, and to look with eyes all soft upon her, and
gave her hope that she had made some impressions 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 overjoyed with this good news, and besought
him if it were possible to caress her so as to engage her entirely,
which he could 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 'twas with impatience they waited
the next opportunity of going to the otan.

  The wars came on, the time of taking the field approached; and 'twas
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. 'Twas 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 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 antic
postures the woman-royal made, to divert the kind, 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 perceived 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 'tis in pity of me you condescend to this kind confession.
But, Madam, words are used to be so small a part of our
country-courtship that 'tis 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 I 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 'em in
his. He would have refused 'em, crying, "Madam, these are not the
proofs of your love that I expect; 'tis opportunity, 'tis 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." 'Twas thus agreed, and she left him, that no notice
might be taken of their speaking together.

  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 'twas 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