Anonymous

Vertue Rewarded; or, the Irish Princess. A New Novel

London

Printed for R. Bentley

1693

"Though the oddness of Celadon's adventure did for some time employ the Prince's mind, yet at last, by a long chain of thought, he returned to the accustomed Subject his Mistress: For as the Jack of the Lanthorn is said to lead the benighted Country-man about, and makes him tread many a weary step in fruitless rounds, yet leaves him near the same place where it found him at first; so Love's deluding fire, after enticing the blinded mind through many restless thoughts, brings it about again to its beloved Idea, that enchanting circle it can never leave."

[...] The fair Stranger, with a pitying smile, told him, That she was sorry he had suffered so much by her means, and said, that to shew she did no way consent to it, she would send one who should shew him the House; and if he would carry a Constable with him, he might recover all his things again. The Prince, who had laughed till he was weary, bad Celadon call up the Centry, him he sent for a File of Musqueteers, and desiring the beautiful Stranger to send a Guide with them to the House, sent Celadon with them. The young Gentlewoman, bidding the Prince good morrow, went to her Uncle and Aunt to give them some share of the Laughter, and ordering one of the Servants to go with the Souldiers to the House, there Celadon found his last nights Mistress, and having recovered his Cloaths and his Watch, he sent for the same Constable, who had conducted him so carefully to the Justice's, and leaving his Mistress, and her fellow Nuns to the publick Justice, he came back to the Prince very well satisfied that he had come off so well, and bought his experience so cheap. Though the oddness of Celadon's adventure did for some time employ the Prince's mind, yet at last, by a long chain of thought, he returned to the accustomed Subject his Mistress: For as the Jack of the Lanthorn is said to lead the benighted Country-man about, and makes him tread many a weary step in fruitless rounds, yet leaves him near the same place where it found him at first; so Love's deluding fire, after enticing the blinded mind through many restless thoughts, brings it about again to its beloved Idea, that enchanting circle it can never leave; 'twas this bewitching Passion which brought our Prince from Celadon's adventure to the fair Strangers, and from hers to his own; and when he call'd to mind the Story of her Lover, and his success over her heart, he pleased himself with hopes of the like Fortune in his own Amour, and thought it very probable, that a Prince, who had several advantages over one of a private Fortune, might expect the same success, and not fear the like disappointment, since he had no power to over-awe, or check his Love, or Relations to controul it. Finding a great deal of diversion in this melancholly entertainment, he resolved on a walk, as well to take the Air, as to prevent the engaging himself in any Company, which might come to seek him at his Lodgings; when he had walked about half a mile, he found himself on the top of a Hill, whence after having looked a while on the adjacent Town, and with a curious Eye searched out that part of it, which his admired Beauty made happy with her presence, he laid him down under the shade of two or three large Trees, whose spreading Boughs nature had woven so close together, that neither the heat of the Sun, nor storm of the fiercest Wind could violate the pleasant shade, which was made as a general defence, no less against the scorching of the one, than the nipping of the other; they seemed to have been first planted there, for the shelter of those who came thither to drink; for just by there bubbled up a clear and plentiful Spring, of which, from an ancient Irish Chronicle, let me give you this Story. [...]
(pp. 48-51)

Fetters::Chain Light::Lantern::Jack of the Lanthorn Fire

C-H Lion

Vertue Rewarded; or, the Irish Princess. A New Novel (London: Printed for R. Bentley, 1693)

06/17/2013