Trefry was a very good mathematician and a linguist; could speak
French and Spanish; and in the three days they remained in the boat
(for so long were they going from the ship to the plantation) he
entertained Oroonoko so agreeably with his art and discourse that he
was no less pleased with Trefry than he was with the prince; and he
thought himself, at least, fortunate in this, that since he was a
slave, as long as he would suffer himself to remain so he had a man of
so excellent wit and parts for a master. So that before they had
finished their voyage up the river, he made no scruple of declaring to
Trefry all his fortunes, and most part of what I have here related,
and put himself wholly into the hands of his new friend, whom he found
resenting all the injuries were done him, and was charmed with all the
greatnesses of his actions; which were recited with that modesty,
and delicate sense, as wholly vanquished him, and subdued him to his
interest. And he promised him on his word and honor he would find
the means to re-conduct him to his own country again; assuring him, he
had a perfect abhorrence of so dishonorable an action, and that he
would sooner have died than have been the author of such a perfidy. He
found the prince was very much concerned to know what became of his
friends, and how they took their slavery; and Trefry promised to
take care about the inquiring after their condition, and that he
should have an account of 'em.
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