OROONOKO. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. View of the Sea. Enter several PLANTERS. 1 Plan. Well, neighbours, Captain Driver has brought us a fresh supply-more slaves. 2 Plan. Ay, and I'm sure we had never more need of 'em. 3 Plan. That's true, indeed, and I'm afraid we shall never have less. 4 Plan. Yes, yes; we shall have enough of 'em, I warrant you, when they come to breed. 3 Plan. Breed! it's a sign you're a new comer; plague on 'em, a parcel of lazy, obstinate, untractable pagans;-half of 'em are so sulky, when they first come, that they won't eat their victuals when it's set before 'em, and a christian may beat 'em 'till he drops down, before he can make 'em eat, if they han't a mind to it. 2 Plan. Beat! aye, faith, he may beat those that will eat, long enough before they will work: And, what with their starving themselves, and what with the discipline they require, before they will putout their strength, they die as fast as rotten sheep, plague on em! The poor industrious planter loses the money they cost him, and his ground runs to ruin for want of their labour. 1 Plan. Ay, in truth, a christian colony has a hard time of it, that is forc'd to deal in this cursed heathen commodity: Here every time a ship comes in, my money goes for a great raw-boned negro fellow, that has the impudence to think he is my fellowcreature, with as much right to liberty as I have, and so grows sullen and refuses to work; or, for a young wench, who will howl night and day after a brat or a lover, forsooth. 4 Plan. Nay, as far as I see yet, the women are worse than the men; but 'Squire Blandford has got one that they say is not of their complexion. 3 Plan. So they say; but she's of the breed, I'll warrant her she's one of the sulky ones--the Lieutenant Governor has taken a fancy to her; and yet, wou'd you believe it, she gives herself airs, and will scarce speak to him. 2 Plan. I've heard of her; they call her Clemene. 4 Plan. "Tis a wonder, however, that his honour don't buy her. 3 Plan. She was in a lot that Mr. Blandford drew for the Lord Governor himself, who you know is expected by the next ship from England, and she cannot besold without his consent. 4 Plan. In a lot drawn for the Lord Governor?I don't yet perfectly understand this method of drawing lots. 1 Plan. No! why nothing is so easy; the colony agrees with the buccaneer to bring a certain number of slaves, at so much a head; and when they come in, we draw for them to prevent disputes; for, as they're all of a price, every one, you know, wou'd be for picking out the best-come along with us to the market, and you'll see how it is presently; the slaves are now coming on shore. [Exeunt. SCENE II. An open Place. Enter LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BLANDFORD, and STANMORE. Gov. There's no resisting your fortune, Blandford; you draw all the prizes. Blan. I draw for our Lord Governor, you know; his fortune favours me. Gov. I grudge him nothing this time; but if fortune had favour'd me in the last sale, the fair slave had been mine; Clemene had been mine. Blan. Are you still in love with her? Enter CAPTAIN DRIVER, teazed and pulled about by several PLANTERS, MEN and WOMEN. Wom. Here have I six slaves in my lot, and not a man among them; all women and children; what can I do with 'em, Captain? pray consider I am a woman myself. 1 Plan. I have all men in mine: pray, Captain, let the men and women be mingled together, for the good of the plantation. 2 Plan. Ay, ay, a man and a woman, Captain, for the good of the plantation. Capt. Let them mingle together, and be damn'd, what care I? would you have me pimp for the good of the plantation ? 1 Plan. I am a constant customer, Captain, Wom. I am always ready money to you, Captain. 1 Plan. For that matter, mistress, my money is as ready as yours. Wom. Pray hear me, Captain. Capt. Look you, I have done my part by you; I have brought the number of slaves you bargain'd for; your lots have not pleas'd you, you must draw again among yourselves. if 3 Plan. I am contented with my lot. 4 Plan. I am very well satisfied. 3 Plan. We'll have no drawing again. Capt. Do you hear, mistress? you may hold your tongue: For my part I expect my money. Wom. Captain, nobody questions or scruples the payment: But I won't hold my tongue; 'tis too much to pray and pay too: One may speak for one's own, I hope. Capt. Well, what would you say? Wom. I say no more than I can make out. Wom. I say, Things have not been so fair carried as they might have been. How do I know but you have juggled together in my absence? You drew the lots before I came, I'm sure. Capt. That's your own fault, mistress; you might have come sooner. Wom. Then here's a prince, as they say, among the slaves, and you set him down to go as a common man. Capt. Why, what should make him worth more than a common man? He'll not do the more work for being a prince, will he? Gov. Where are the slaves, Captain; They are long coming. Blan. And who is this prince that's fallen to my lot for the Lord Governor? Let me know something of him, that I may treat him accordingly? who is he? Capt. He's the devil of a fellow, I can tell you? a prince every inch of him: You have paid dear enough for him, for all the good he'll do you: I was forc'd to clap him in irons, and did not think the ship safe neither. You are in hostility with the Indians; they say, they threaten you daily: You had best have an eye upon him. Blan. But who is he? Gov. And how do you know him to be a prince? Capt. He is son and heir to the great King of Angola, a mischievous monarch in those parts, who, by his good will, would never let any of his neighbours be in quiet. This son was his general; a plaguy fighting fellow. I have formerly had dealings with him for slaves, which he took prisoners, and have got pretty roundly by him. But the wars being at an end, and nothing more to be got by the trade of that country, I made bold to bring the prince along with me. Gov. How could you do that? Blan. What! steal a prince out of his own country! impossible. Capt. 'Twas hard indeed; but I did it. You must know this Oroonoko Blan. Is that his Name? Capt. Ay, Oroonoko. Capt. Is naturally inquisitive manners of the white nations. about the men and Because I could give him some account of the other parts of the world, I grew very much into his favour: In return of so great an honour, you know I could do no less, upon my coming away, than invite him on board me: never having |