The Works of Aphra Behn

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Behn Aphra. The Works of Aphra Behn

THE ADVENTURE. OF THE BLACK LADY

THE COURT OF. THE KING OF BANTAM

THE. UNFORTUNATE HAPPY LADY: A TRUE HISTORY

THE FAIR JILT

INTRODUCTION

TO2. HENRY PAIN, ESQ;

THE FAIR JILT:3. or, The Amours of Prince Tarquin and Miranda

OROONOKO; OR. THE ROYAL SLAVE

INTRODUCTION

EPISTLE DEDICATORY.8

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SLAVE

AGNES DE CASTRO

INTRODUCTION

THE HISTORY OF. AGNES de CASTRO

THE HISTORY OF THE NUN; OR, THE FAIR VOW-BREAKER

INTRODUCTION

THE HISTORY OF THE NUN; or, The Fair Vow-Breaker

THE NUN; OR, THE PERJUR’D BEAUTY

THE LUCKY MISTAKE

TO GEORGE GREENVIEL, ESQ;17

THE LUCKY MISTAKE: A New Novel

THE UNFORTUNATE BRIDE; OR, THE BLIND LADY A BEAUTY

TO RICHARD NORTON18 OF SOUTHWICK IN. HANTSHIRE, ESQUIRE

THE UNFORTUNATE BRIDE: or, The Blind Lady a Beauty

THE DUMB VIRGIN; OR, THE FORCE OF IMAGINATION

INTRODUCTION

THE DUMB VIRGIN: or, the Force of Imagination

THE WANDERING BEAUTY

THE UNHAPPY MISTAKE; OR, THE IMPIOUS VOW PUNISH’D

APPENDIX

NOTES

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This Money certainly is a most devilish Thing! I’m sure the Want of it had like to have ruin’d my dear Philibella, in her Love to Valentine Goodland; who was really a pretty deserving Gentleman, Heir to about fifteen hundred Pounds a Year; which, however, did not so much recommend him, as the Sweetness of his Temper, the Comeliness of his Person, and the Excellency of his Parts: In all which Circumstances my obliging Acquaintance equal’d him, unless in the Advantage of their Fortune. Old Sir George Goodland knew of his Son’s Passion for Philibella; and tho’ he was generous, and of a Humour sufficiently complying, yet he could by no means think it convenient, that his only Son should marry with a young Lady of so slender a Fortune as my Friend, who had not above five hundred Pound, and that the Gift of her Uncle Sir Philip Friendly: tho’ her Virtue and Beauty might have deserv’d, and have adorn’d the Throne of an Alexander or a Cæsar.

Sir Philip himself, indeed, was but a younger Brother, tho’ of a good Family, and of a generous Education; which, with his Person, Bravery, and Wit, recommended him to his Lady Philadelphia, Widow of Sir Bartholomew Banquier, who left her possess’d of two thousand Pounds per Annum, besides twenty thousand Pounds in Money and Jewels; which oblig’d him to get himself dubb’d, that she might not descend to an inferior Quality. When he was in Town, he liv’d – let me see! in the Strand; or, as near as I can remember, somewhere about Charing-Cross; where first of all Mr. Would-be King, a Gentleman of a large Estate in Houses, Land and Money, of a haughty, extravagant and profuse Humour, very fond of every new Face, had the Misfortune to fall passionately in love with Philibella, who then liv’d with her Uncle.

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He was all the Discourse of the Town; some laughing at his Title, others reverencing it: Some cry’d, that he was an Imposter; others, that he had made his Title as plain, as if Tarquin had reign’d but a Year ago. Some made Friendships with him, others would have nothing to say to him: But all wonder’d where his Revenue was, that supported this Grandeur; and believ’d, tho’ he could make his Descent from the Roman Kings very well out, that he could not lay so good a Claim to the Roman Land. Thus every body meddled with what they had nothing to do; and, as in other Places, thought themselves on the surer Side, if, in these doubtful Cases, they imagin’d the worst.

But the Men might be of what Opinion they pleas’d concerning him; the Ladies were all agreed that he was a Prince, and a young handsome Prince, and a Prince not to be resisted: He had all their Wishes, all their Eyes, and all their Hearts. They now dress’d only for him; and what Church he grac’d, was sure, that Day, to have the Beauties, and all that thought themselves so.

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