of Royal Tutor to this young Black, and
perceiving him very ready, apt, and quick of Apprehension, took a great
Pleasure to teach him Morals, Language and Science; and was for it
extremely belov'd and valu'd by him. Another Reason was, he lov'd when
he came from War, to see all the _English_ Gentlemen that traded
thither; and did not only learn their Language, but that of the
_Spaniard_ also, with whom he traded afterwards for Slaves.

I have often seen and conversed with this Great Man, and been a Witness
to many of his mighty Actions; and do assure my Reader, the most
illustrious Courts could not have produced a braver Man, both for
Greatness of Courage and Mind, a Judgment more solid, a Wit more quick,
and a Conversation more sweet and diverting. He knew almost as much as
if he had read much: He had heard of and admired the _Romans_: He had
heard of the late Civil Wars in _England_, and the deplorable Death of
our great Monarch; and would discourse of it with all the Sense and
Abhorrence of the Injustice imaginable. He had an extreme good and
graceful Mien, and all the Civility of a well-bred Great Man. He had
nothing of Barbarity in his Nature, but in all Points address'd himself
as if his Education had been in some _European_ Court.

This great and just Character of _Oroonoko_ gave me an extreme Curiosity
to see him, especially when I knew he spoke _French_ and _English_, and
that I could talk with him. But tho' I had heard so much of him, I was
as greatly surprized when I saw him, as if I had heard nothing of him;
so beyond all Report I found him. He came into the Room, and addressed
himself to me, and some other Women, with the best Grace in the World.
He was pretty tall, but of a Shape the most exact that can be fancy'd:
The most famous Statuary could not form the Figure of a Man more
admirably turn'd from Head to Foot. His Face was not of that brown rusty
Black which most of that Nation are, but a perfect Ebony, or polished
Jet. His Eyes were the most aweful that could be seen, and very
piercing; the White of 'em being like Snow, as were his Teeth. His Nose
was rising and _Roman_, instead of _African_ and flat: His Mouth the
finest shaped that could be seen; far from those great turn'd Lips,
which are so natural to the rest of the Negroes. The whole Proportion
and Air of his Face was so nobly and exactly form'd, that bating his
Colour, there could be nothing in Nature more beautiful, agreeable and
handsome. Th