wait tedious Years; till Fate should bow the old
King to his Grave, even that would not leave me _Imoinda_ free; but
still that Custom that makes it so vile a Crime for a Son to marry his
Father's Wives or Mistresses, would hinder my Happiness; unless I would
either ignobly set an ill Precedent to my Successors, or abandon my
Country, and fly with her to some unknown World who never heard our
Story.'

But it was objected to him, That his Case was not the same: for
_Imoinda_ being his lawful Wife by solemn Contract, 'twas he was the
injur'd Man, and might, if he so pleas'd, take _Imoinda_ back, the
Breach of the Law being on his Grandfather's Side; and that if he could
circumvent him, and redeem her from the _Otan_, which is the Palace of
the King's Women, a sort of _Seraglio_, it was both just and lawful for
him so to do.

This Reasoning had some Force upon him, and he should have been entirely
comforted, but for the Thought that she was possess'd by his
Grandfather. However, he lov'd her so well, that he was resolv'd to
believe what most favour'd his Hope, and to endeavour to learn from
_Imoinda's_ own Mouth, what only she could satisfy him in, whether she
was robb'd of that Blessing which was only due to his Faith and Love.
But as it was very hard to get a Sight of the Women, (for no Men ever
enter'd into the _Otan_ but when the King went to entertain himself with
some one of his Wives or Mistresses; and 'twas Death, at any other Time,
for any other to go in) so he knew not how to contrive to get a Sight of
her.

While _Oroonoko_ felt all the Agonies of Love, and suffer'd under a
Torment the most painful in the World, the old King was not exempted
from his Share of Affliction. He was troubled, for having been forc'd,
by an irresistible Passion, to rob his Son of a Treasure, he knew, could
not but be extremely dear to him; since she was the most beautiful that
ever had been seen, and had besides, all the Sweetness and Innocence of
Youth and Modesty, with a Charm of Wit surpassing all. He found, that
however she was forc'd to expose her lovely Person to his wither'd Arms,
she could only sigh and weep there, and think of _Oroonoko_; and
oftentimes could not forbear speaking of him, tho' her Life were, by
Custom, forfeited by owning her Passion. But she spoke not of a Lover
only, but of a Prince dear to him to whom she spoke; and of the Praises
of a Man, who, 'till now, fill'd the old Man's Soul with Joy at every
Reci