ure from her; for he told her the Necessity,
and his Commands, but should depart satisfy'd in this, That since the
old King had hitherto not been able to deprive him of those Enjoyments
which only belonged to him, he believed for the future he would be less
able to injure him; so that, abating the Scandal of the Veil, which was
no otherwise so, than that she was Wife to another, he believed her
safe, even in the Arms of the King, and innocent; yet would he have
ventur'd at the Conquest of the World, and have given it all to have had
her avoided that Honour of receiving the _Royal Veil_. 'Twas thus,
between a thousand Caresses, that both bemoan'd the hard Fate of Youth
and Beauty, so liable to that cruel Promotion: 'Twas a Glory that could
well have been spared here, tho' desired and aim'd at by all the young
Females of that Kingdom.

But while they were thus fondly employ'd, forgetting how Time ran on,
and that the Dawn must conduct him far away from his only Happiness,
they heard a great Noise in the _Otan_, and unusual Voices of Men; at
which the Prince, starting from the Arms of the frighted _Imoinda_, ran
to a little Battle-Ax he used to wear by his Side; and having not so
much Leisure as to put on his Habit, he opposed himself against some who
were already opening the Door: which they did with so much Violence,
that _Oroonoko_ was not able to defend it; but was forced to cry out
with a commanding Voice, 'Whoever ye are that have the Boldness to
attempt to approach this Apartment thus rudely; know, that I, the Prince
_Oroonoko_, will revenge it with the certain Death of him that first
enters: Therefore stand back, and know, this Place is sacred to Love and
Me this Night; To-morrow 'tis the King's.'

This he spoke with a Voice so resolv'd and assur'd, that they soon
retired from the Door; but cry'd, ''Tis by the King's Command we are
come; and being satisfy'd by thy Voice, O Prince, as much as if we had
enter'd, we can report to the King the Truth of all his Fears, and leave
thee to provide for thy own Safety, as thou art advis'd by thy Friends.'

At these Words they departed, and left the Prince to take a short and
sad Leave of his _Imoinda_; who, trusting in the Strength of her Charms,
believed she should appease the Fury of a jealous King, by saying, she
was surprized, and that it was by Force of Arms he got into her
Apartment. All her Concern now was for his Life, and therefore she
hasten'd him to the Camp, and