with such a vast profusion of beauties, that, according to Mrs. Behn's
description, nature seems to have joined with art to render it perfectly
elegant: her habitation in that country, called St. John's Hill, she has
challenged all the gardens in Italy, nay, all the globe of the world, to
shew so delightful a recess. It was there our poetess became acquainted
with the story and person of the American Prince Oroonoko, whose
adventures she has so feelingly and elegantly described in the
celebrated Novel of that name, upon which Mr. Southern has built his
Tragedy of Oroonoko, part of which is so entertaining and moving, that
it is almost too much for nature. Mrs. Behn tells us, that she herself
had often seen and conversed with that great man, and been a witness to
many of his mighty actions, and that at one time, he, and Imoinda his
wife, were scarce an hour in a day from her lodgings; that they eat
with her, and that she obliged them in all things she was capable of,
entertaining them with the lives of the Romans and great men, which
charmed him with her company; while she engaged his wife with teaching
her all the pretty works she was mistress of, relating stories of Nuns,
and endeavouring to bring her to the knowledge of the true God. This
intimacy between Oroonoko and Mrs. Behn occasioned some reflexions on
her conduct, from which the authoress of her life, already quoted,
justified her in the following manner; 'Here, says she, I can add
nothing to what she has given the world already, but a vindication of
her from some unjust aspersions I find are insinuated about this town,
in relation to that prince. I knew her intimately well, and I believe
she would not have concealed any love affair from me, being one of her
own sex, whose friendship and secrecy she had experienced, which makes
me assure the world that there was no intrigue between that Prince and
Astræa. She had a general value for his uncommon virtues, and when
he related the story of his woes, she might with the Desdemona of
Shakespear, cry out, That it was pitiful, wondrous pitiful, which never