It must only be guessed by Lovers, the perfect Joy these two receiv’d in the sight of each other.
Bellyaurd
received her as his Daughter; and the next Day made her so, with very great Solemnity, at which were
Vernole
and
Charlot
: Between
Rinaldo
and him was concluded a perfect Peace, and all thought themselves happy in this
double Union
.
Notes: Critical and Explanatory:
The Lucky Mistake
p. 398
double Union
. In a collection of Novels with running title:
The Deceived Lovers
(1696), we find No. V
The Curtezan Deceived
, ‘An Addition to The Lucky Mistake, Written by Mrs. A. Behn.’ This introduction of Mrs. Behn’s name was a mere bookseller’s trick to catch the unwary reader.
The Curtezan Deceived
is of no value. It has nothing to do with Aphra’s work and is as commonplace a little novel as an hundred others of its day.
THE UNFORTUNATE BRIDE;
OR, THE BLIND LADY A BEAUTY
TO RICHARD NORTON
18
18
To Richard Norton.
This Epistle Dedicatory is only to be found in the first edition of
The Unfortunate Bride; or, The Blind Lady a Beauty
, ‘Printed for Samuel Briscoe, in Charles-Street, Covent-Garden, 1698’, and also dated, on title page facing the portrait of Mrs. Behn, 1700.
Southwick, Hants, is a parish and village some 1¾ miles from Portchester, 4½ from Fareham. Richard Norton was son and heir of Sir Daniel Norton, who died seised of the manor in 1636. Richard Norton married Anne, daughter of Sir William Earle, by whom he had one child, Sarah. He was, in his county at least, a figure of no little importance. Tuesday, 12 August, 1701, Luttrell records that ‘an addresse from the grand jury of Hampshire.. was delivered by Richard Norton and Anthony Henly, esqs. to the lords justices, to be laid before his majestie.’ He aimed at being a patron of the fine arts, and under his superintendence Dryden’s
The Spanish Friar
was performed in the frater of Southwick Priory,
23
23
The house was one of Black (Austin) Canons.
the buildings of which had not been entirely destroyed at the suppression. Colley Cibber addresses the Dedicatory Epistle (January, 1695) of his first play,
Love’s Last Shift
(4to, 1696), to Norton in a highly eulogistic strain. The plate of Southwick Church (S. James), consisting of a communion cup, a standing paten, two flagons, an alms-dish, and a rat-tail spoon, is silver-gilt, and was presented by Richard Norton in 1691. He died 10 December, 1732.
OF SOUTHWICK IN
HANTSHIRE, ESQUIRE
Honour’d Sir,
Eminent Wit, Sir, no more than Eminent Beauty, can escape the Trouble and Presumption of Addresses; and that which can strike every body with Wonder, can never avoid the Praise which naturally flows from that Wonder: And Heaven is forc’d to hear the Addresses as well as praises of the Poor as Rich, of the Ignorant as Learned, and takes, nay rewards, the officious tho’ perhaps impertinent Zeal of its least qualify’d Devotees. Wherefore, Sir, tho’ your Merits meet with the Applause of the Learned and Witty, yet your Generosity will judge favourably of the untaught Zeal of an humbler Admirer, since what I do your eminent Vertues compel. The Beautiful will permit the most despicable of their Admirers to love them, tho’ they never intend to make him happy, as unworthy their Love, but they will not be angry at the fatal Effect of their own Eyes.
But what I want in my self, Sir, to merit your Regard, I hope my Authoress will in some measure supply, so far at least to lessen my Presumption in prefixing your Name to a Posthumous Piece of hers, whom all the Men of Wit, that were her Contemporaries, look’d on as the Wonder of her Sex; and in none of her Performances has she shew’d so great a Mastery as in her Novels, where Nature always prevails; and if they are not true, they are so like it, that they do the business every jot as well.
This I hope, Sir, will induce you to pardon my Presumption in dedicating this Novel to you, and declaring my self, Sir,
Your most obedient
and most humble Servant,
S. Briscoe.
THE UNFORTUNATE BRIDE:
or, The Blind Lady a Beauty
Frankwit
and
Wildvill
, were two young Gentlemen of very considerable Fortunes, both born in
Staffordshire
, and, during their Minority, both educated together, by which Opportunity they contracted a very inviolable Friendship, a Friendship which grew up with them; and though it was remarkably known to every Body else, they knew it not themselves; they never made Profession of it in Words, but Actions; so true a Warmth their Fires could boast, as needed not the Effusion of their Breath to make it live.
Wildvill
was of the richest Family, but
Frankwit
of the noblest;
Wildvill
was admired for outward Qualifications, as Strength, and manly Proportions,
Frankwit
for a much softer Beauty, for his inward Endowments, Pleasing in his Conversation, of a free, and moving Air, humble in his Behaviour, and if he had any Pride, it was but just enough to shew that he did not affect Humility; his Mind bowed with a Motion as unconstrained as his Body, nor did he force this Vertue in the least, but he allowed it only. So aimable he was, that every Virgin that had Eyes, knew too she had a Heart, and knew as surely she should lose it. His
Cupid
could not be reputed blind, he never shot for him, but he was sure to wound. As every other Nymph admired him, so he was dear to all the Tuneful Sisters; the Muses were fired with him as much as their own radiant God
Apollo
; their loved Springs and Fountains were not so grateful to their Eyes as he, him they esteemed their
Helicon
and
Parnassus
too; in short, when ever he pleased, he could enjoy them all. Thus he enamour’d the whole Female Sex, but amongst all the sighing Captives of his Eyes,
Belvira
only boasted Charms to move him; her Parents lived near his, and even from their Childhood they felt mutual Love, as if their Eyes, at their first meeting, had struck out such Glances, as had kindled into amorous Flame. And now
Belvira
in her fourteenth Year, (when the fresh Spring of young Virginity began to cast more lively Bloomings in her Cheeks, and softer Longings in her Eyes) by her indulgent Father’s Care was sent to
London
to a Friend, her Mother being lately dead: When, as if Fortune ordered it so,
Frankwit’s
Father took a Journey to the other World, to let his Son the better enjoy the Pleasures and Delights of this: The young Lover now with all imaginable haste interred his Father, nor did he shed so many Tears for his Loss, as might in the least quench the Fire which he received from his
Belvira’s
Eyes, but (Master of seventeen Hundred Pounds a Year, which his Father left him) with all the Wings of Love flies to
London
, and sollicits
Belvira
with such Fervency, that it might be thought he meant Death’s Torch should kindle
Hymen’s
; and now as soon as he arrives at his Journey’s end, he goes to pay a Visit to the fair Mistress of his Soul, and assures her, That tho’ he was absent from her, yet she was still with him; and that all the Road he travell’d, her beauteous Image danced before him, and like the ravished Prophet, he saw his Deity in every Bush; in short, he paid her constant Visits, the Sun ne’er rose or set, but still he saw it in her Company, and every Minute of the Day he counted by his Sighs. So incessantly he importuned her that she could no longer hold out, and was pleased in the surrender of her Heart, since it was he was Conqueror; and therefore felt a Triumph in her yielding. Their Flames now joyned, grew more and more, glowed in their Cheeks, and lightened in their Glances: Eager they looked, as if there were Pulses beating in their Eyes; and all endearing, at last she vowed, that
Frankwit
living she would ne’er be any other Man’s. Thus they past on some time, while every Day rowl’d over fair; Heaven showed an Aspect all serene, and the Sun seemed to smile at what was done. He still caressed his Charmer, with an Innocence becoming his Sincerity; he lived upon her tender Breath, and basked in the bright Lustre of her Eyes, with Pride, and secret Joy.
He saw his Rivals languish for that Bliss, those Charms, those Raptures and extatick Transports, which he engrossed alone. But now some eighteen Months (some Ages in a Lover’s Kalendar) winged with Delights, and fair
Belvira
now grown fit for riper Joys, knows hardly how she can deny her pressing Lover, and herself, to crown their Vows, and joyn their Hands as well as Hearts. All this while the young Gallant wash’d himself clean of that shining Dirt, his Gold; he fancied little of Heaven dwelt in his yellow Angels, but let them fly away, as it were on their own golden Wings; he only valued the smiling Babies in
Belvira’s
Eyes. His Generosity was boundless, as his Love, for no Man ever truly loved, that was not generous. He thought his Estate, like his Passion, was a sort of a
Pontick
Ocean, it could never know an Ebb; But now he found it could be fathom’d, and that the Tide was turning, therefore he sollicits with more impatience the consummation of their Joys, that both might go like Martyrs from their Flames immediately to Heaven; and now at last it was agreed between them, that they should both be one, but not without some Reluctancy on the Female side; for ’tis the Humour of our Sex, to deny most eagerly those Grants to Lovers, for which most tenderly we sigh, so contradictory are we to our selves, as if the Deity had made us with a seeming Reluctancy to his own Designs; placing as much Discords in our Minds, as there is Harmony in our Faces. We are a sort of aiery Clouds, whose Lightning flash out one way, and the Thunder another. Our Words and Thoughts can ne’er agree. So this young charming Lady thought her Desires could live in their own longings, like Misers wealth-devouring Eyes; and e’er she consented to her Lover, prepared him first with speaking Looks, and then with a fore-running Sigh, applyed to the dear Charmer thus: ‘
Frankwit
, I am afraid to venture the Matrimonial Bondage, it may make you think your self too much confined, in being only free to one.’ ‘Ah! my dear
Belvira
,’ he replied, ‘That one, like
Manna
, has the Taste of all, why should I be displeased to be confined to Paradice, when it was the Curse of our Forefathers to be set at large, tho’ they had the whole World to roam in: You have, my love, ubiquitary Charms, and you are all in all, in every Part.’ ‘Ay, but,’ reply’d
Belvira
, ‘we are all like Perfumes, and too continual Smelling makes us seem to have lost our Sweets, I’ll be judged by my Cousin
Celesia
here, if it be not better to live still in mutual Love, without the last Enjoyment.’ (I had forgot to tell my Reader that
Celesia
was an Heiress, the only Child of a rich
Turkey
Merchant, who, when he dyed, left her Fifty thousand Pound in Money, and some Estate in Land; but, poor Creature, she was Blind to all these Riches, having been born without the use of Sight, though in all other Respects charming to a wonder.) ‘Indeed,’ says
Celesia
, (for she saw clearly in her Mind) ‘I admire you should ask my Judgment in such a Case, where I have never had the least Experience; but I believe it is but a sickly Soul which cannot nourish its Offspring of Desires without preying upon the Body.’ ‘Believe me,’ reply’d
Frankwit
, ‘I bewail your want of Sight, and I could almost wish you my own Eyes for a Moment, to view your charming Cousin, where you would see such Beauties as are too dazling to be long beheld; and if too daringly you gazed, you would feel the Misfortune of the loss of Sight, much greater than the want of it: And you would acknowledge, that in too presumptuously seeing, you would be blinder then, than now unhappily you are.’
‘Ah! I must confess,’ reply’d
Belvira
, ‘my poor, dear Cousin is Blind, for I fancy she bears too great an Esteem for
Frankwit
, and only longs for Sight to look on him.’ ‘Indeed,’ reply’d
Celesia
, ‘I would be glad to see
Frankwit
, for I fancy he’s as dazling, as he but now describ’d his Mistress, and if I fancy I see him, sure I do see him, for Sight is Fancy, is it not? or do you feel my Cousin with your Eyes?’ ‘This is indeed, a charming Blindness,’ reply’d
Frankwit
, ‘and the fancy of your Sight excels the certainty of ours. Strange! that there should be such Glances even in blindness? You, fair Maid, require not Eyes to conquer, if your Night has such Stars, what Sunshine would your Day of Sight have, if ever you should see?’ ‘I fear those Stars you talk of,’ said
Belvira
, ‘have some Influence on you, and by the Compass you sail by now, I guess you are steering to my Cousin. She is indeed charming enough to have been another Offspring of bright
Venus
, Blind like her Brother
Cupid
.’ ‘That
Cupid
,’ reply’d
Celesia
, ‘I am afraid has shot me, for methinks I would not have you marry
Frankwit
, but rather live as you do without the last Enjoyment, for methinks if he were marry’d, he would be more out of Sight than he already is.’ ‘Ah, Madam,’ return’d
Frankwit
, ‘Love is no Camelion, it cannot feed on Air alone.’ ‘No but,’ rejoyn’d
Celesia
, ‘you Lovers that are not Blind like Love it self, have am’rous Looks to feed on.’ ‘Ah! believe it,’ said
Belvira
, ‘’tis better,
Frankwit
, not to lose Paradice by too much Knowledge; Marriage Enjoyments does but wake you from your sweet golden Dreams: Pleasure is but a Dream, dear
Frankwit
, but a Dream, and to be waken’d.’ ‘Ah! Dearest, but unkind
Belvira
,’ answer’d
Frankwit
, ‘sure there’s no waking from Delight, in being lull’d on those soft Breasts of thine.’ ‘Alas! (reply’d the Bride to be) it is that very lulling wakes you; Women enjoy’d, are like Romances read, or Raree-shows once seen, meer Tricks of the slight of Hand, which, when found out, you only wonder at your selves for wondering so before at them. ’Tis Expectation endears the Blessing; Heaven would not be Heaven, could we tell what ’tis. When the Plot’s out you have done with the Play, and when the last Act’s done, you see the Curtain drawn with great indifferency.’ ‘O my
Belvira
’, answered
Frankwit
, ‘that Expectation were indeed a Monster which Enjoyment could not satisfy: I should take no pleasure,’ he rejoin’d, ‘running from Hill to Hill, like Children chasing that Sun, which I could never catch.’ ‘O thou shalt have it then, that Sun of Love,’ reply’d
Belvira
, fir’d by this Complaint, and gently rush’d into Arms, (rejoyn’d) so
Phœbus
rushes radiant and unsullied, into a gilded Cloud. ‘Well then, my dear
Belvira
,’ answered
Frankwit
, ‘be assured I shall be ever yours, as you are mine; fear not you shall never draw Bills of Love upon me so fast, as I shall wait in readiness to pay them; but now I talk of Bills, I must retire into
Cambridgeshire
, where I have a small Concern as yet unmortgaged, I will return thence with a Brace of thousand Pounds within a Week at furthest, with which our Nuptials, by their Celebration, shall be worthy of our Love. And then, my Life, my Soul, we shall be join’d, never to part again.’ This tender Expression mov’d
Belvira
to shed some few Tears, and poor
Celesia
thought herself most unhappy that she had not Eyes to weep with too; but if she had, such was the greatness of her Grief, that sure she would have soon grown Blind with weeping. In short, after a great many soft Vows, and Promises of an inviolable Faith, they parted with a pompous sort of pleasing Woe; their Concern was of such a mixture of Joy and Sadness, as the Weather seems, when it both rains and shines. And now the last, the very last Adieu’s was over, for the Farewels of Lovers hardly ever end, and
Frankwit
(the Time being Summer) reach’d
Cambridge
that Night, about Nine a Clock; (Strange! that he should have made such Haste to fly from what so much he lov’d!) and now, tir’d with the fatigue of his Journey, he thought fit to refresh himself by writing some few Lines to his belov’d
Belvira
; for a little Verse after the dull Prose Company of his Servant, was as great an Ease to him, (from whom it flow’d as naturally and unartificially, as his Love or his Breath) as a Pace or Hand-gallop, after a hard, uncouth, and rugged Trot. He therefore, finding his
Pegasus
was no way tir’d with his Land-travel, takes a short Journey thro’ the Air, and writes as follows:
My dearest dear
Belvira,
YOU knew my Soul, you knew it yours before,
I told it all, and now can tell no more;
Your Presents never wants fresh Charms to move,
But now more strange, and unknown Pow’r you prove,
For now your very Absence ’tis I love.
Something there is which strikes my wandring View,
And still before my Eyes I fancy you.
Charming you seem, all charming, heavenly fair,
Bright as a Goddess, does my Love appear,
You seem,
Belvira
, what indeed you are.
Like the Angelick Off-spring of the Skies,
With beatifick Glories in your Eyes:
Sparkling with radiant Lustre all Divine,
Angels, and Gods! oh Heavens! how bright they shine!
Are you
Belvira
? can I think you mine!
Beyond ev’n Thought, I do thy Beauties see,
Can such a Heaven of Heavens be kept for me!
Oh be assur’d, I shall be ever true,
I must —
For if I would, I can’t be false to you.
Oh! how I wish I might no longer stay,
Tho’ I resolve I will no Time delay,
One Tedious Week, and then I’ll fleet away.
Tho’ Love be blind, he shall conduct my Road,
Wing’d with almighty Love, to your Abode,
I’ll fly, and grow Immortal as a God.
Short is my stay, yet my impatience strong,
Short tho’ it is, alas! I think it long.
I’ll come, my Life, new Blessings to pursue,
Love then shall fly a Flight he never flew,
I’ll stretch his balmy Wings; I’m yours, —
Adieu
.
Frankwit.
This Letter
Belvira
receiv’d with unspeakable Joy, and laid it up safely in her Bosom; laid it, where the dear Author of it lay before, and wonderfully pleas’d with his Humour of writing Verse, resolv’d not to be at all behind-hand with him, and so writ as follows:
My dear Charmer,
YOU knew before what Power your Love could boast,
But now your constant Faith confirms me most.
Absent Sincerity the best assures,
Love may do much, but Faith much more allures,
For now your Constancy has bound me yours.
I find, methinks, in Verse some Pleasure too,
I cannot want a Muse, who write to you.
Ah! soon return, return, my charming Dear,
Heav’n knows how much we Mourn your Absence here:
My poor
Celesia
now would Charm your Soul,
Her Eyes, once Blind, do now Divinely rowl.
An aged Matron has by Charms unknown,
Given her clear Sight as perfect as thy own.
And yet, beyond her Eyes, she values thee,
’Tis for thy Sake alone she’s glad to see.
She begg’d me, pray remember her to you,
That is a Task which now I gladly do.
Gladly, since so I only recommend
A dear Relation, and a dearer Friend,
Ne’re shall my Love – but here my Note must end.
Your ever true
Belvira.
When this Letter was written, it was strait shown to
Celesia
, who look’d upon any Thing that belong’d to
Frankwit
, with rejoycing Glances; so eagerly she perus’d it, that her tender Eyes beginning to Water, she cry’d out, (fancying she saw the Words dance before her View) ‘Ah! Cousin, Cousin, your Letter is running away, sure it can’t go itself to
Frankwit
.’ A great Deal of other pleasing innocent Things she said, but still her Eyes flow’d more bright with lustrous Beams, as if they were to shine out; now all that glancing Radiancy which had been so long kept secret, and, as if, as soon as the Cloud of Blindness once was broke, nothing but Lightnings were to flash for ever after. Thus in mutual Discourse they spent their Hours, while
Frankwit
was now ravished with the Receipt of this charming Answer of
Belvira’s
, and blest his own Eyes which discovered to him the much welcome News of fair
Celesia’s
. Often he read the Letters o’re and o’re, but there his Fate lay hid, for ’twas that very Fondness proved his Ruin. He lodg’d at a Cousin’s House of his, and there, (it being a private Family) lodged likewise a Blackamoor Lady, then a Widower; a whimsical Knight had taken a Fancy to enjoy her:
Enjoy her did I say? Enjoy the Devil in the Flesh at once!
I know not how it was, but he would fain have been a Bed with her, but she not consenting on unlawful Terms, (
but sure all Terms are with her unlawful
) the Knight soon marry’d her, as if there were not hell enough in Matrimony, but he must wed the Devil too. The Knight a little after died, and left this Lady of his (whom I shall
Moorea
) an Estate of six thousand Pounds
per Ann
. Now this
Moorea
observed the joyous
Frankwit
with an eager Look, her Eyes seemed like Stars of the first Magnitude glaring in the Night; she greatly importuned him to discover the Occasion of his transport, but he denying it, (as ’tis the Humour of our Sex) made her the more Inquisitive; and being Jealous that it was from a Mistress, employ’d her Maid to steal it, and if she found it such, to bring it her: accordingly it succeeded, for
Frankwit
having drank hard with some of the Gentlemen of that Shire, found himself indisposed, and soon went to Bed, having put the Letter in his Pocket: The Maid therefore to
Moorea
contrived that all the other Servants should be out of the Way, that she might plausibly officiate in the Warming the Bed of the indisposed Lover, but likely, had it not been so, she had warmed it by his Intreaties in a more natural Manner; he being in Bed in an inner Room, she slips out the Letter from his Pocket, carries it to her Mistress to read, and so restores it whence she had it; in the Morning the poor Lover wakened in a violent Fever, burning with a Fire more hot than that of Love. In short, he continued Sick a considerable while, all which time the Lady
Moorea
constantly visited him, and he as unwillingly saw her (poor Gentleman) as he would have seen a Parson; for as the latter would have perswaded, so the former scared him to Repentance. In the mean while, during his sickness, several Letters were sent to him by his dear
Belvira
, and
Celesia
too, (then learning to write) had made a shift to give him a line or two in Postscript with her Cousin, but all was intercepted by the jealousy of the Black
Moorea
, black in her mind, and dark, as well as in her body.
Frankwit
too writ several Letters as he was able, complaining of her unkindness, those likewise were all stopt by the same Blackmoor Devil. At last, it happened that
Wildvill
, (who I told my Reader was
Frankwit’s
friend) came to
London
, his Father likewise dead, and now Master of a very plentiful fortune, he resolves to marry, and paying a visit to
Belvira
, enquires of her concerning
Frankwit
, she all in mourning for the loss, told him his friend was dead. ‘Ah!
Wildvill
, he is dead,’ said she, ‘and died not mine, a Blackmoor Lady had bewitched him from me; I received a Letter lately which informed me all; there was no name subscribed to it, but it intimated, that it was written at the request of dying
Frankwit
.’ ‘Oh! I am sorry at my Soul,’ said
Wildvill
, ‘for I loved him with the best, the dearest friendship; no doubt then,’ rejoyned he, ‘’tis Witchcaft indeed that could make him false to you; what delight could he take in a Blackmoor Lady, tho’ she had received him at once with a Soul as open as her longing arms, and with her Petticoat put off her modesty. Gods! How could he change a whole
Field Argent
into downright
Sables
.’ ‘’Twas done,’ returned
Celesia
, ‘with no small blot, I fancy, to the Female ’Scutcheon.’ In short, after some more discourse, but very sorrowful,
Wildvill
takes his leave, extreamly taken with the fair
Belvira
, more beauteous in her cloud of woe; he paid her afterwards frequent visits, and found her wonder for the odd inconstancy of
Frankwit
, greater than her sorrow, since he dy’d so unworthy of her.
Wildvill
attack’d her with all the force of vigorous love, and she (as she thought) fully convinc’d of
Frankwit’s
death, urg’d by the fury and impatience of her new ardent Lover, soon surrender’d, and the day of their Nuptials now arriv’d, their hands were joyn’d. In the mean time
Frankwit
(for he still liv’d) knew nothing of the Injury the base
Moorea
practis’d, knew not that ’twas thro’ her private order, that the fore-mention’d account of his falshood and his death was sent; but impatient to see his Dear
Belvira
, tho’ yet extremely weak, rid post to
London
, and that very day arriv’d there, immediately after the Nuptials of his Mistress and his Friend were celebrated. I was at this time in
Cambridge
, and having some small acquaintance with this Blackmoor Lady, and sitting in her Room that evening, after
Frankwit’s
departure thence, in
Moorea’s
absence, saw inadvertently a bundle of Papers, which she had gathered up, as I suppose, to burn, since now they grew but useless, she having no farther Hopes of him: I fancy’d I knew the Hand, and thence my Curiosity only led me to see the Name and finding
Belvira
subscrib’d, I began to guess there was some foul play in Hand.
Belvira
being my particularly intimate Acquaintance, I read one of them, and finding the Contents, convey’d them all secretly out with me, as I thought, in Point of Justice I was bound, and sent them to
Belvira
by that Night’s Post; so that they came to her Hands soon after the Minute of her Marriage, with an Account how, and by what Means I came to light on them. No doubt but they exceedingly surpriz’d her: But Oh! Much more she grew amaz’d immediately after, to see the Poor, and now unhappy
Frankwit
, who private