The Works of Aphra Behn: v. 4: Seneca Unmask'd and Other Prose Translated

Janet Todd

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781351259187
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Collections
• Index: Literature

Aphra Behn (1640-1689) was one of the most successful dramatists of the Restoration theatre and a popular poet. This is the fourth volume in a set of seven which comprises a complete edition of all her works.

TO

PETER WESTON, Esq;^a

OF THE

Honourable Society

OF THE

INNER-TEMPLE.^b

SIR,

When I had ended this little unlaboured Piece, the Watch, I resolv’d to dedicate it to some One, whom I cou’d fancy, the nearest approacht the charming Damon. Many fine Gentleman I had in view, of Wit and Beauty; but still, through their Education, or a natural Propensity to Debauchery, I found those Vertues wanting, that shou’d compleat that delicate Character, Iris gives her Lover; and which, at first Thought of You, I found center’d there to Perfection.

Yes Sir, I found You had all the Youth of Damon; without the forward noisy Confidence, which usually attends your Sex. You have all the attracting Beauty of my young Hero; all that can charm the Fair; without the Affectation of those, that set out for Conquests (though You make a Thousand, without knowing it, or the Vanity of believing it). You have our Damon’s Wit, with all his agreeable Modesty: Two Vertues that rarely shine together: And the last makes You conceal the noble Sallies of the first, with that Industry and Care, You wou’d an Amour: And You would no more boast of either of these, than of your undoubted Bravery.

You are (like our Lover too) so discreet, that the bashful Maid may, without Fear or Blushing, venture the soft Confession of her Soul with You; reposing the dear Secret in Yours, with more Safety, than with her own Thoughts. You have all the Sweetness of Youth, with the Sobriety and Prudence of Age. You have all the Power of the gay Vices of Man; but the Angel in your Mind, has subdu’d You to the Vertues of a God! And all the vicious, and industrious Examples of the roving Wits of the mad Town, have only serv’d to give You the greater Abhorrence to Lewdness. And You look down with Contempt and Pity on that wretched unthinking Number, who pride themselves in their mean Victories over little Hearts; and boast their common Prizes with the Vanity, that declares ’em capable of no higher Joy, than that of the Ruin of some credulous Unfortunate: And no Glory like that, of the Discovery of the brave Atchievement, over the next Bottle, to the Fool that shall applaud ’em.

How does the Generosity, and Sweetness of your Disposition despise these false Entertainments, that turns the noble Passion of Love into Ridicule, and Man into Brute.

Methinks I cou’d form another Watch (that shou’d remain a Pattern to succeeding Ages) how divinely You pass your more sacred Hours, how nobly and usefully you divide your Time; in which, no precious Minute is lost, not one glides idly by; but all turns to wondrous Account. And all Your Life is one continu’d Course of the Vertue and Honour. Happy the Parents, that have the Glory to own You! Happy the Man, that has the Honour of your Friendship! But, Oh! How much more happy the fair She, for whom you shall sigh! Which surely, can never be in vain. There will be such a Purity in Your Flame: All You ask, will be so chaste: and noble, and utter’d with a Voice so modest, and a Look so charming, as must, by a gentle Force, compel that Heart to yield, that knows the true Value of Wit, Beauty, and Vertue.

Since then, in all the Excellencies of Mind and Body (where no one Grace is wanting) You so resemble the All-perfect Damon, suffer me to dedicate this Watch to You. It brings You nothing but Rules for Love; delicate as Your Thoughts, and innocent as Your Conversation. And possibly, ’tis the only Vertue of the Mind, You are not perfectly Master of; the only noble Mystery of the Soul, You have not yet studied. And though they are Rules for every Hour, You will find, they will neither rob Heaven, nor Your Friends of their Due; those so valuable Devoirs of Your Life: They will teach You Love; but Love, so pure, and so devout, that You may mix it, even with Your Religion; and I know, Your fine Mind can admit of no other. When ever the God enters there (fond and wanton as he is, full of Arts and Guiles) he will be reduc’d to that Native Innocency, that made him so ador’d, before inconstant Man corrupted his Divinity, and made him wild and wandring. How happy will Iris’s Watch be, to inspire such a Heart! How honour’d under the Patronage of so excellent a Man! Whose Wit will credit, whose Goodness will defend it; and whose noble and vertuous Qualities so justly merit the Character, Iris has given Damon; And which is believed so very much your Due, by

SIR,

Your most Obliged, and

Most Humble Servant,

A. Behn.

La Montre.

THE ARGUMENT.

’Tis in the most Happy and August Court of the best and greatest Monarch of the World, that Damon, a young Nobleman, whom we will render under that Name, languishes for a Maid of Quality, who will give us leave to call her Iris.

Their Births are equally Illustrious: They are both Rich, and both Young: Their Beauty such, as I dare not too nicely particularize, lest I should discover (which I am not permitted to do) who these charming Lovers are. Let it suffice, that Iris is the most fair and accomplisht Person that ever adorn’d a Court; and that Damon is only worthy of the Glory of her Favour; for he has all that can render him Lovely, in the fair Eyes of the Amiable Iris. Nor is he Master of those Superficial Beauties alone, that please at first Sight: He can charm the Soul with a thousand Arts of Wit and Gallantry. And, in a word, I may say, without flattering either, that there is no one Beauty, no one Grace, no Perfection of Mind and Body, that wants to compleat a Victory on both sides.

The Agreement of Age, Fortunes, Quality and Humours in the two fair Lovers, made the impatient Damon hope, that nothing would oppose his Passion; and if he saw himself every Hour, languishing for the Adorable Maid, he did not however despair: And if Iris sigh’d, it was not for fear of being one day more happy.

In the midst of the Tranquility of these two Lovers, Iris was obliged to go into the Country for some Months, whither ’twas impossible for Damon to wait on her, he being obliged to attend the King, his Master; and being the most Amorous of his Sex, suffer’d with extream Impatience the Absence of his Mistress. Nevertheless, the fail’d not to send to her every day, and gave up all his melancholy Hours to Thinking, Sighing, and Writing to her the softest Letters that Love could inspire, So that Iris even blessed that Absence, that gave her so tender and convincing Proofs of his Passion; and found this dear way of Conversing, even recompenced all her Sighs for his Absence.

After a little Intercourse of this kind, Damon bethought himself to ask Iris a Discretion, which he had won of her, before she left the Town; and in a Bil...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Copy Texts used
• Textual Introduction
• Acknowledgements
• Preface to Lysander
• Seneca Unmasqued
• A Discovery of New Worlds
• The History of Oracles
• La Montre
• Lycidus
• Appendix I
• Appendix II
• Appendix III
• Emendations