Даниэль Дефо - Roxana

He came several times after this, on the same Errand, that is, about the Settlement, the Grant, requiring several things yet to be done, for making it payable, without going every time to the Prince again for a fresh Warrant; the Particulars of this Part I did not understand; but as soon as it was finish’d, which was above two Months, the Gentleman came one Afternoon, and said, his Highness design’d to visit me in the Evening; but desir’d to be admitted without Ceremony.

I prepar’d not my Rooms only, but myself; and when he came in, there was no-body appear’d in the House but his Gentleman, and my Maid Amy ; and of her I bid the Gentleman acquaint his Highness , that she was an English Woman; that she did not understand a Word of French ; and that she was one also that might be trusted.

When he came into my Room, I fell down at his Feet, before he could come, to salute me, and with Words that I had prepar’d, full of Duty and Respect, thank’d him for his Bounty and Goodness to a poor desolate Woman, oppress’d under the Weight of so terrible a Disaster, and refus’d to rise till he would allow me the Honour to kiss his Hand.

Levez vous done , [88] Levez vous donc , then arise. says the Prince, taking me in his Arms, I design more Favours for you, than this Trifle; and going on, he added, You shall, for the future, find a Friend where you did not look for it; and I resolve to let you see how kind I can be, to one, who is to me the most agreeable Creature on Earth.

I was dress’d in a kind of half-Mourning, had turn’d off my Weeds, [89] had turn’d off my Weeds : had given up wearing full widow’s mourning. and my Head, [90] my Head : ‘Head’ was the general term for a headdress, anything from an indoor cap to an elaborate arrangement of the hair, drawn up over a cushion, powdered and pomaded, and decorated with ribbons and lace. tho’ I had yet no Ribbands or Lace , was so dress’d, as fail’d not to set me out with Advantage enough, for I began to understand his Meaning; and the Prince profess’d, I was the most beautiful Creature on Earth; and where have I liv’d ? says he; and how ill have I been serv’d, that I should never, till now, be shew’d the finest Woman in France?

This was the Way, in all the World, the most likely to break in upon my Virtue, if I had been Mistress of any, for I was now become the vainest Creature upon Earth, and particularly, of my Beauty; which, as other People admir’d, so I became every Day more foolishly in Love with myself, than before.

He said some very kind Things to me after this, and sat down with me, for an Hour, or more; when getting up, and calling his Gentleman, by his Name, he threw open the Door, Au Boir, [91] Au Boir : bring something to drink. says he ; upon which, his Gentleman immediately brought up a little Table, cover’d with a fine Damask Cloth, the Table no bigger than he cou’d bring in his two Hands; but upon it, was set two Decanters, one of Champaign, [92] Champaign : In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries champagne generally referred to a well-known, still, red wine (in England often fortified with brandy), rather than to the sparkling white wine, discovered in the late seventeenth century, which we know today. and the other of Water, six Silver Plates, and a Service of fine Sweet-Meats in fine China Dishes, on a Sett of Rings standing up about twenty Inches high, one above another; below, was three roasted Partriges, and a Quail; as soon as his Gentleman had set it all down, he order’d him to withdraw; now, says the Prince , I intend to Sup with you.

When he sent away his Gentleman, I stood up, and offer’d to wait on his Highness while he Eat, but he positively refus’d, and told me, No, To-Morrow you shall be the Widow of Monsieur — the Jeweller, but to-Night you shall be my Mistress; therefore sit here, says he , and Eat with me, or I will get up and serve.

I would then have call’d up my Woman, Amy , but I thought that would not be proper neither; so I made my Excuse, that since his Highness wou’d not let his own Servant wait, I wou’d not presume to let my Woman come up; but if he wou’d please to let me wait, it would be my Honour to fill his Highness’s Wine; but, as before, he would by no means allow me; so we sat and Eat together.

Now, Madam, says the Prince , give me leave to lay aside my Character; let us talk together with the Freedom of Equals; my Quality sets me at a Distance from you, and makes you ceremonious; your Beauty exalts you to more than an Equality, I must then treat you, as Lovers do their Mistresses, but I cannot speak the Language; ’tis enough to tell you, how agreeable you are to me; how I am surpriz’d at your Beauty, and resolve to make you happy, and to be happy with you.

I knew not what to say to him a good-while, but blush’d, and looking up towards him, said, I was already made happy, in the Favour of a Person of such Rank; and had nothing to ask of his Highness , but that he would believe me infinitely oblig’d.

After he had Eaten, he pour’d the Sweet-Meats into my Lap; and the Wine being out, he call’d his Gentleman again, to take away the Table, who, at first, only took the Cloth, and the Remains of what was to Eat, away; and laying another Cloth, set the Table on one side of the Room, with a noble Service of Plate upon it, worth, at least, 200 Pistoles; then having set the two Decanters again upon the Table, fill’d, as before, he withdrew, for I found the Fellow understood his Business very well, and his Lord’s Business too.

About half an Hour after, the Prince told me, that I offer’d to wait a little before; that if I would now take the Trouble, he would give me leave to give him some Wine; so I went to the Table, fill’d a Glass of Wine, and brought it to him, on a fine Salver, which the Glasses stood on, and brought the Bottle, or Decanter for Water, in my other Hand, to mix it as he thought fit.

He smil’d, and bid me look on that Salver, which I did, and admir’d it much, for it was a very fine one, indeed: You may see, says he , I resolve to have more of your Company, for my Servant shall leave you that Plate, for my Use: I told him, I believ’d his Highness wou’d not take it ill, that I was not Furnish’d fit to Entertain a Person of his Rank; and that I would take great Care of it, and value myself infinitely upon the Honour of his Highness’s Visit.

It now began to grow late, and he began to take Notice of it; but, says he , I cannot leave you; have you not a spare Lodging, for one Night? I told him, I had but a homely Lodging to Entertain such a Guest; he said something exceeding kind on that Head, but not fit to repeat, adding, that my Company would make him amends.

About Midnight he sent his Gentleman of an Errand, after telling him, aloud, that he intended to stay here all Night; in a little time his Gentleman brought him a Night-Gown, Slippers, two Caps, a Neckcloth, and Shirt, which he gave me to carry into his Chamber, and sent his Man home; and then turning to me, said, I shou’d do him the Honour to be his Chamberlain of the Household, and his Dresser also: I smil’d, and told him, I wou’d do myself the Honour to wait on him upon all Occasions.

About One in the Morning, while his Gentleman was yet with him, I begg’d Leave to withdraw, supposing he wou’d go to-Bed; but he took the Hint, and said, I’m not going to-Bed yet; pray let me see you again.

I took this time to undress me, and to come in a new Dress, which was, in a manner, une Deshabile, [93] une Deshabile : a house-dress, or informal morning dress (from the French déshabillé) . but so fine, and all about me so clean, and so agreeable, that he seem’d surpriz’d: I thought, says he , you could not have dress’d to more Advantage, than you had done before; but now, says he , you Charm me a. thousand times more, if that be possible.