Anonymous

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

London

Printed for R. Bentley

1693

"Now I would know what my success may be, if I go on, and accordingly I will either nourish this Passion, or tear it from my Breast?"

You may understand then, that my business is nothing but Love; it is one so violent, and yet so unreasonable, that I am unable to curb it, nor have I any hopes of success, if I let it go on, and 'tis just with me now, as with a Souldier, whom his too hoyling Valour has engaged so far in the Battel, that his Enemies have surrounded him; there's no retreating for him, because the Foe is behind, nor any likelihood of breaking through, because there are too many before him: So am I surrounded with difficulties, pushed forward by Love, and opposed by Despair; carried on by her Charms, and driven back by her Disdain, now I would know what my success may be, if I go on, and accordingly I will either nourish this Passion, or tear it from my Breast? I cannot see, (said the Indian) what should discourage your Highness from proceeding, since there are those perfections in your Highness, which give you desert enough to pretend to the best of Women: I fancy your Highness has fallen in Love with some one below you, and that your Love and Ambition are at variance, whether that shall draw Love up, or Love draw that down: I know these two generally tend two contrary ways, the one, like Earth, descending, the other, like Fire, still aspiring upwards: You guess as right, (said the Prince) as if you had seen my Heart; and if you can tell me how I shall succeed in my Love, I'll make that, or my Ambition, conform it self to the other: I dont on one who is beneath me; when I made my first Addresses, she seemed Pliant enough, as if she had no aversion to my Love; nay, I over-heard her once confessing to a Confident, that she had a kindness for me; and when I thought her my own, I found my self most deceived; for some Capricio or other made her, that she would never since admit me into her Company; I went several times to enquire for her at home, but the Servant still shifted me off, either denying her, or pretending she was sick; I contrived last Night's Ball, in hopes to entice her thither, but it failed; I Serenaded her last Night with a Song, in answer to one I heard her Sing, that time she confessed a Love for me, but before it was ended, I was interrupted by some Night Adventurer, who attempted to kill me, which makes me suspect 'tis some Rival; inform me by your Art, whether this is a Favourite that supplants me in her Heart, or whether it be Virgin Niceness, Hypocritical Modesty, or what else it is that has put this sudden stop to my Success?
(pp. 120-122)

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C-H Lion

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

06/17/2013