Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

The history of the nun, or, The fair vow-breaker written by Mrs. A. Behn

London

Printed for A. Baskervile ...,

1689

"Ah, Sister! (reply'd the dejected Henault) your Counsel comes too late, and your Reasons are of too feeble force, to rebate those Arrows, the Charming Isabella's Eyes have fix'd in my Heart and Soul"

When she had rag'd and struggled with this unruly Passion, 'till she was quite tir'd and breathless, finding all her forcein vain, she fill'd her fancy with a thousand charming Idea's of the lovely Henanlt, and, in that soft fit, had a mind to satisfy her panting Heart, and give it one Joy more, by beholding the Lord of its Desires, and the Author of its Pains: Pleas'd, yet trembling, at this resolve, she rose from the Bed where she was laid, and softly advanc'd to the Stair-Case, from whence there open'd that Room where, Dame Katteriena was, and where there was a private Grate, at which, she was entertaining her Brother; they were earnest in Discourse, and so loud, that Isabella could easrly hear all they said, and the first words were from Katteriena, who, in a sort of Anger, cry'd, Vrge me no more? My Virtue is too [Page 49 ]nite, to become an Advocate for a Passion, that can tend to nothing but your Ruin, for, suppose I should tell the fair Ifabella, you dye for her, what can it wait you? What hope can any Man heue, to move the Heart of a Virgin, so averse to Love? A Virgin, whose Modesty, and Virtue is so very curious, it would fly the very word, Love, as some monstrous Witchcraft, or the foolest of Sins, who would loath me for bringing so lewd a Message, and banish for her Sight, as the Object of her Hose and Scorn; is it unknown to (gap: 1 letter) ou, how many of the noblest Youths of Flanders have address'd themselves to her in vain, when yet she was in the World? Have you been ignorant, how the young Count De Villenoys languish'd, in vain, almost to Death for her? And, that no Persuasions, no Attractions in him, no worldly Advantages, or all his Pleadings, who had a Wit and Spirit capable of prevailing [Page 50] on any Heart, less severe and barsh, than hers? Do you not know, that all was lost on this insensible fair one, even when she was a proper Object for the Adoration of the Young and Amorous? And can you hope, now she has so (gap: 1 word) wedded her future days to Devotion, and given all to Heaven; nay, lives a Life here more like a Saint, than a Woman; rather an Angel, than a mortal Creature? Do you imagin, with any Rhetorick you can deliver, now to turn the Heart, and whole Nature, of this Divine Maid, to consider your Earthly Passion? No, 'its fondness, and an injury to her Virtue, to harbour such a Thought; quit it, quit it, my dear Brother! before it ruin your Repose. Ah, Sister! (reply'd the dejected Henault) your Counsel comes too late, and your Reasons are of too feeble force, to rebate those Arrows, the Charming Isabella's Eyes have fix'd in my Heart and [Page 51] Soul, and I am undone, unless she know my Pain, which I shall dye, before I shall ever dare mention to her; but you, young Maids, have a thousand Familiarities together, can jest, and play, and say a thousand things between Railery and Earnest, that may first hint what you would deliver, and insinuate into each others Hearts a kind of Curiosity to know more; for naturally, (my dear Sister) Maids, are curious and vain; and however Divine the Mind of the fair Isabella may be, it bears the Tincture still of Mortal Woman.
(pp. 48-51)

Body::Wound::Arrow

Reading. Text from EEBO.

10/09/2005