of a
well bred Great Man. He had nothing of Barbarity in his Nature, but
in all Points addressed himself as if his Education had been in
some European Court.

This great and just character of Oroonoko gave me an extreme
Curiosity to see him, especially when I knew he spoke French and
English, and that I could talk with him. But though I had heard so
much of him, I was as greatly surprised when I saw him, as if I had
heard nothing of him; so beyond all Report I found him. He came
into the Room, and addressed himself to me and some other Women
with the best Grace in the World. He was pretty tall, but of a
Shape the most exact that can be fancyed: The most famous Statuary
could not form the figure of a Man more admirably turned from Head
to Foot. His face was not of that brown lusty Black which most of
that Nation are, but a perfect Ebony or polished Jet. His Eyes were
the most aweful that could be seen, and very piercing; the White of
'em being like Snow, as were his teeth. His Nose was rising and
Roman, instead of African and flat. His Mouth the finest Shape that
could be seen; far from those great turn'd Lips which are so
natural to the rest of the Negroes. The whole Proportion and Air of
his Face was nobly and exactly form'd, that bating his Colour,
there would be nothing in Nature more beautiful, agreeable and
handsome. There was no one Grace wanting that bears the Standard of
true Beauty. His Hair came down to his Shoulders, by the aids of
Art, which was by pulling it out with a quill, and keeping it
comb'd; of which he took particular care. Nor did the perfections
of his Mind come short of those of his Person; for his Discourse
was admirable upon almost any Subject; and whoever had heard him
speak, would have been convinced of their Errors, that all fine Wit
is confined to the white Men, especially to those of Christendom;
and would have confessed that Oroonoko was as capable even of
reigning well, and of governing as wisely, had as great a Soul, as
politick Maxims, and was as sensible of Power, as any Prince
civilized in the most refined Schools of Humanity and Learning, or
the most illustrious Courts.[89]

"Oroonoko" is the only one of Mrs Behn's stories which has a didactic
aim or a special interest of any kind. Her other works of fiction are
short tales, usually founded on fac