The king, enraged at this delay, hastily demanded the name of the
bold man that had married a woman of her degree without his consent.
Imoinda, seeing his eyes fierce, and his hands tremble (whether with
age or anger, I know not, but she fancied the last), almost repented
she had said so much, for now she feared the storm would fall on the
prince; she therefore said a thousand things to appease the raging
of his flame, and to prepare him to hear who it was with calmness: but
before she spoke, he imagined who she meant, but would not seem to
do so, but commanded her to lay aside her mantle, and suffer herself
to receive his caresses, or, by his gods he swore, that happy man whom
she was going to name should die, though it were even Oroonoko
himself. "Therefore," said he, "deny this marriage, and swear
thyself a maid." "That," replied Imoinda, "by all our powers I do; for
I am not yet known to my husband." "'Tis enough," said the king, "'tis
enough both to satisfy my conscience and my heart." And rising from
his seat, he went and led her into the bath; it being in vain for
her to resist.
In this time, the prince, who was returned from hunting, went to
visit his Imoinda, but found her gone; and not only so, but heard
she had received the royal veil. This raised him to a storm; and in
his madness, they had much ado to save him from laying violent hands
on himself. Force first prevailed, and then reason: they urged all
to him that might oppose his rage; but nothing weighed so greatly with
him as the king's old age, uncapable of injuring him with Imoinda.
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