his Words, and defend himself against the ungrateful
Things he had to relate. _Oroonoko_ reply'd, with a deep Sigh, and a
languishing Voice,--_I am armed against their worst Efforts--For I know
they will tell me, +Imoinda+ is no more--And after that, you may spare
the rest._ Then, commanding him to rise, he laid himself on a Carpet,
under a rich Pavilion, and remained a good while silent, and was hardly
heard to sigh. When he was come a little to himself, the Messenger asked
him Leave to deliver that Part of his Embassy which the Prince had not
yet divin'd: And the Prince cry'd, _I permit thee_--Then he told him the
Affliction the old King was in, for the Rashness he had committed in his
Cruelty to _Imoinda_; and how he deign'd to ask Pardon for his Offence,
and to implore the Prince would not suffer that Loss to touch his Heart
too sensibly, which now all the Gods could not restore him, but might
recompense him in Glory, which he begged he would pursue; and that
Death, that common Revenger of all Injuries, would soon even the Account
between him and a feeble old Man.

_Oroonoko_ bad him return his Duty to his Lord and Master; and to assure
him, there was no Account of Revenge to be adjudged between them; If
there was, he was the Aggressor, and that Death would be just, and,
maugre his Age, would see him righted; and he was contented to leave his
Share of Glory to Youths more fortunate and worthy of that Favour from
the Gods: That henceforth he would never lift a Weapon, or draw a Bow,
but abandon the small Remains of his Life to Sighs and Tears, and the
continual Thoughts of what his Lord and Grandfather had thought good to
send out of the World, with all that Youth, that Innocence and Beauty.

After having spoken this, whatever his greatest Officers and Men of the
best Rank could do, they could not raise him from the Carpet, or
persuade him to Action, and Resolutions of Life; but commanding all to
retire, he shut himself into his Pavilion all that Day, while the Enemy
was ready to engage: and wondring at the Delay, the whole Body of the
chief of the Army then address'd themselves to him, and to whom they had
much ado to get Admittance. They fell on their Faces at the Foot of his
Carpet, where they lay, and besought him with earnest Prayers and Tears
to lead them forth to Battle, and not let the Enemy take Advantages of
them; and implored him to have Regard to his Glory, and to the World,
that depended on his Courage