Oroonoko replied, with a
deep sigh, and a languishing voice, "I am armed against their worst
efforts- for I know they will tell me Imoinda is no more- and after
that, you may spare the rest." Then, commanding him to rise, he laid
himself on a carpet, under a rich pavilion, and remained a good
while silent, and was hardly heard to sigh. When he was come a
little to himself, the messenger asked him leave to deliver that
part of his embassy which the prince had not yet divined, and the
prince cried, "I permit thee." Then he told him the affliction the old
king was in, for the rashness he had committed in his cruelty to
Imoinda; and how he deigned to ask pardon for his offense, and to
implore the prince would not suffer that loss to touch his heart too
sensibly, which now all the gods could not restore him, but might
recompense him in glory, which he begged he would pursue; and that
death, that common revenger of all injuries, would soon even the
account between him and a feeble old man.
Oroonoko bade him return his duty to his lord and master, and to
assure him, there was no account of revenge to be adjusted between
them: if there were, 'twas he was the aggressor, and that death
would be just, and, maugre his age, would see him righted; and he
was contented to leave his share of glory to youths more fortunate and
worthy of that favor from the gods; that henceforth he would never
lift a weapon, or draw a bow, but abandon the small remains of his
life to sighs and tears, and the continual thoughts of what his lord
and grandfather had thought good to send out of the world, with all
that youth, that innocence and beauty.
Pages:
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46