Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Adventures of Eovaai

London

Printed for S. Baker

1736

"Here I had an Opportunity of observing how little the Toils of the Body are to be held in competition with those of the Mind."

Here I had an Opportunity of observing how little the Toils of the Body are to be held in competition with those of the Mind: The poor Fellow having nothing to disturb his Thinking Faculties, immediately fell into a profound Sleep; while I, tho' much more fatigued, as I had been less accustom'd to such tiresome Journeys, could not indulge one Moment's Slumber; the Unkindness of a Father, the exiled and distrest State to which I was reduced by the Villany of Ochihatou, the Miseries of a Country I was born to rule, and the little Probability there seemed of any Turn of Fortune in our favour, ran too strongly in my Head to suffer me to close my Eyes. But intent and fixed as I was on this melancholly Entertainment, I was rouzed from it by an Apparition too tremendous to be remember'd, without a Horror scarce to be conceived. Huge whirling Clouds, black as the direful Shades, where Tyrants and Oppressors mourn their past Crimes in everlasting Anguish, covered the whole Hemisphere, and blotted out the Stars: then bursting suddenly, high in the Air, two Forms of more than Giant-size by their own Lightnings showed themselves plain to my wond'ring Eyes.--Enraged, and fierce, they seemed in Combat:--the Weapons with which they fought, were Thunders and Elemental Fires:--A while the Victory was doubtful.--Earth shook, as fearful of the Event.—Noises, of which no Description can be given, eccho'd from the Arch of Heaven, and I expected no less than that the End of all things was approaching; when, from the Firmament, a mighty Comet darted from a superior, but unseen, Hand, fell upon one of the Contending Powers, and with its Excess of Blaze, struck me for a moment blind. My Sight restored, I cast my Eyes up again, and saw all was serene, and but one of the majestic Figures remained.—I fell upon my Knees, and would have implored the Protection of the Celestial Conqueror; but Amazement had locked up Utterance, and internal Devotions were all I was able to offer. Rise, Prince, said a Voice, which had in it somewhat that inspired Rapture, and take up what you see before you. [...]

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4 entries in ESTC (1736, 1741). Retitled in second edition as The Unfortunate Princess: or the Life and Surprizing Adventures of the Princess of Ijaveo.

See Adventures of Eovaai. Princess of Ijaveo. A Pre-Adamitical History. Interspersed with a great Number of remarkable Occurrences, which happened, and may again happen, to several Empires, Kingdoms, Republicks, and particular Great Men. With some Account of the Religion, Laws, Customs, and Policies of those Times. Written originally in the Language of Nature, (of later Years but little understood.) First translated into Chinese, at the command of the Emperor, by a Cabal of Seventy Philosophers; and now retranslated into English, by the Son of a Mandarin, residing in London. (London: Printed for S. Baker, 1736). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>

Text from Women Writers Online. <Link to WWO>

09/23/2013