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 opportunity, and took her dear Aboan to her
own; where he showed the height of complaisance for his prince,
when, to give him an opportunity, he suffered himself to be caressed
in bed by Onahal.
The prince softly wakened 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 resisting those arms where she
so longed to be; and having opportunity, night, and silence, youth,
love, and desire, he soon prevailed, and ravished in a moment what his
old grandfather had been endeavoring 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-honor; the gods, in mercy and justice,
having reserved that for her plighted lord, to whom of right it
belonged. And 'tis impossible to express the transports he suffered,
while he listened to a discourse so charming from her loved lips;
and 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 honor of receiving the royal veil.
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