aying, he made a full Pass at
_Frankwit_, and run him thro' the left Arm, and quite thro' the Body of
the poor _Belvira_; that thrust immediately made her start, tho'
_Frankwit's_ Endeavours all before were useless. Strange! that her Death
reviv'd her! For ah! she felt, that now she only liv'd to die! Striving
thro' wild Amazement to run from such a Scene of Horror, as her
Apprehensions shew'd her; down she dropt, and _Frankwit_ seeing her
fall, (all Friendship disannull'd by such a Chain of Injuries) Draws,
fights with, and stabs his own loved _Wildvill_. Ah! Who can express the
Horror and Distraction of this fatal Misunderstanding! The House was
alarm'd, and in came poor _Celesia_, running in Confusion just as
_Frankwit_ was off'ring to kill himself, to die with a false Friend, and
perjur'd Mistress, for he suppos'd them such. Poor _Celesia_ now
bemoan'd her unhappiness of sight, and wish'd she again were blind.
_Wildvill_ dy'd immediately, and _Belvira_ only surviv'd him long enough
to unfold all their most unhappy fate, desiring _Frankwit_ with her
dying breath, if ever he lov'd her, (and now she said that she deserv'd
his love, since she had convinced him that she was not false) to marry
her poor dear _Celesia_, and love her tenderly for her _Belvira's_ sake;
leaving her, being her nearest Relation, all her fortune, and he, much
dearer than it all, to be added to her own; so joyning his and
_Celesia's_ Hands, she poured her last breath upon his Lips, and said,
'Dear _Frankwit_, _Frankwit_, I die yours.' With tears and wondrous
sorrow he promis'd to obey her Will, and in some months after her
interrment, he perform'd his promise.

NOTES: The Unfortunate Bride.

p. 401 _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 1-3/4 miles from
Portchester, 4-1/2 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 Ri