This old dead hero had one only daughter left of his race,
a beauty, that to describe her truly, one need say only, she was
female to the noble male; the beautiful black Venus to our young Mars;
as charming in her person as he, and of delicate virtues. I have
seen a hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows
at her feet, all in vain, and unsuccessful. And she was indeed too
great for any but a prince of her own nation to adore.
Oroonoko coming from the wars (which were now ended), after he had
made his court to his grandfather he thought in honor he ought to make
a visit to Imoinda, the daughter of his foster-father, the dead
general; and to make some excuses to her, because his preservation was
the occasion of her father's death; and to present her with those
slaves that had been taken in this last battle, as the trophies of her
father's victories. When he came, attended by all the young soldiers
of any merit, he was infinitely surprised at the beauty of this fair
Queen of Night, whose face and person was so exceeding all he had ever
beheld, that lovely modesty with which she received him, that softness
in her look and sighs, upon the melancholy occasion of this honor that
was done by so great a man as Oroonoko, and a prince of whom she had
heard such admirable things; the awfulness wherewith she received him,
and the sweetness of her words and behavior while he staid, gained a
perfect conquest over his fierce heart, and made him feel the victor
could be subdued.
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