And heard her speak, I offered up myself
To be the sacrifice. She bow'd and blush'd,
I wonder❜d and ador'd. The sacred pow'r
That had subdu'd me, then inspir'd my tongue,
Inclin'd her heart, and all our talk was love.
Blan. Then you were happy.

Oro. Oh, I was too happy!

I marry'd her: and, though my country's custom
Indulg'd the privilege of many wives,

I swore myself never to know but her.
She grew with child, and I grew happier still.
Oh, my Imoinda! but it could not last.
Her fatal beauty reach'd my father's ears:
He sent for her to court, where, cursed court!
No woman comes but for his amorous use.
He raging to possess her, she was forc'd
To own herself my wife. The furious king
Started at incest; but grown desperate,
Not daring to enjoy what he desir'd,

In mad revenge, (which I could never learn)
He poison'd her, or sent her far, far off,
Far from my hopes ever to see her more.

Blan. Most barbarous of fathers! The sad tale

Has struck me dumb with wonder.

Oro. I have done.

I'll trouble you no farther. Now and then

A sigh will have its way; that shall be all.

Enter STANMORE.

Stan. Blandford, the lieutenant-governor is gone to

your plantation. He desires you would bring the royal slave with you. The sight of his fair mistress, he says, is an entertainment for a prince. He would have his opinion of her.

Oro. Is he a lover?

Blan. So he says himself: he flatters a beautiful slave that I have, and calls her mistress.

Oro. Must he then flatter her to call her mistress? who thinks himself

I pity the proud man,
Above being in love.
She may deserve him.

What, tho' she be a slave,

Blan. You shall judge of that when you see her,

Sir.

Oro. I go with you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Plantation. Lieutenant Governor following IMOINDA.

Gov. I have disturb'd you. I confess my faults, My fair Clemene; "but begin again,

"And I will listen to your mournful song,
"Sweet as the soft, complaining nightingale's;
"While every note calls out my trembling soul,
"And leaves me silent, as the midnight groves,
"Only to shelter you." Sing, sing again,
And let me wonder at the many ways

You have to ravish me.

Imo. Oh, I can weep

Enough for

you

and me,

if that will please you.

Gov. You must not weep: I come to dry your

tears,

And raise you from your sorrow. Look upon me: "Look with the eyes of kind indulging love, "That I may have full cause for what I say:" I came to offer you your liberty,

And be myself the slave. You turn away;

[Following her.

But every thing becomes you. I may take
This pretty hand: I know your modesty
Would draw it back; but you would take it ill
If I should let it go; I know ye would.

You shall be gently forc'd to please yourself:
That you will thank me for.

[She ftruggles and gets her hand from him, then he offers to

kiss her.

Nay, if you struggle with me, I must take

Imo. You may my life, that I can part with freely.

[Exit.

Enter BLANDFORD, STANMORE, and OROONOKO. Blan. So, Governor, we don't disturb you, I hope.

Your mistress has left you. You were making love : She's thankful for the honour, I suppose.

Gov. Quite insensible to all I say and do. When I speak to her, she sighs, or weeps; But never answers me as I would have her.

Stan. There's something nearer than her slavery` that touches her.

45

Blan. What do her fellow slaves say of her? Can't they find the cause.

Gov. Some of them, who pretend to be wiser than the rest, and hate her, I suppose, for being used better than they are, will needs have it that she is with child.

Blan. Poor wretch! if it be so, I pity her. She has lost a husband, that, perhaps, was dear To her; and then you cannot blame her.

Oro. If it be so, indeed you cannot blame her.

Gov. No, no, it is not so. If it be so, I must still love her; and, desiring still, I must enjoy her.

[Sighing.

Blan. Try what you can do with fair means, and welcome.

Gov. I'll give you ten slaves for her.

Blan. You know she is our lord governor's; but, if I could dispose of her, I would not now, especially

to you.

Gov. Why not to me?

Blan. I mean against her will. You are in love

with her;

And we all know what your desires would have.
Love stops at nothing but possession.

"Were she within your pow'r, you do not know
"How soon you would be tempted to forget
"The nature of the deed, and, may be, act
"A violence you after would repent."

Oro. 'Tis godlike in you to protect the weak.

Gov. Fie, fie! I would not force her. Tho' she be A slave, her mind is free, and should consent.

Oro. Such honour will engage her to consent:

And then, if you're in love, she's worth the having. Shall we not see the wonder?

Gov. Have a care;

You have a heart, and she has conqu❜ring eyes.

Ora. I have a heart; but if it could be false To my first vows, ever to love again, These honest hands should tear it from my breast, And throw the traitor from me. Oh, Imoinda, Living, or dead, I can be only thine!

Blan. Imoinda was his wife: she's either dead, Or, living, dead to him: forc'd from his arms By an inhuman father. Another time

I'll tell you all.

[To the Gov. and Stan. Stan. Hark! the slaves have done their work; And now begins their evening merriment.

Blan. The men are all in love with fair Clemene As much as you are; and the women hate her, From an instinct of natural jealousy.

They sing, and dance, and try their little tricks
To entertain her, and divert her sadness.

May be she is among them. Shall we see. [Exeunt.