The Prince having drank hard of Punch, and several Sorts of Wine, as did
all the rest, (for great Care was taken they should want nothing of that
Part of the Entertainment) was very merry, and in great Admiration of
the Ship, for he had never been in one before; so that he was curious of
beholding every Place where he decently might descend. The rest, no less
curious, who were not quite overcome with drinking, rambled at their
Pleasure _Fore_ and _Aft_, as their Fancies guided ’em: So that the
Captain, who had well laid his Design before, gave the Word, and seiz’d
on all his Guests; they clapping great Irons suddenly on the Prince,
when he was leap’d down into the Hold, to view that Part of the Vessel;
and locking him fast down, secur’d him. The same Treachery was used to
all the rest; and all in one Instant, in several Places of the Ship,
were lash’d fast in Irons, and betray’d to Slavery. That great Design
over, they set all Hands at Work to hoist Sail; and with as treacherous
as fair a Wind they made from the Shore with this innocent and glorious
Prize, who thought of nothing less than such an Entertainment.
Some have commended this Act, as brave in the Captain; but I will spare
my Sense of it, and leave it to my Reader to judge as he pleases. It may
be easily guess’d, in what Manner the Prince resented this Indignity,
who may be best resembled to a Lion taken in a Toil; so he raged, so he
struggled for Liberty, but all in vain: And they had so wisely managed
his Fetters, that he could not use a Hand in his Defence, to quit
himself of a Life that would by no Means endure Slavery; nor could he
move from the Place where he was ty’d, to any solid Part of the Ship,
against which he might have beat his Head, and have finish’d his
Disgrace that Way. So that being deprived of all other Means, he
resolv’d to perish for want of Food; and pleas’d at last with that
Thought, and toil’d and tir’d by Rage and Indignation, he laid himself
down, and sullenly resolv’d upon dying, and refused all Things that were
brought him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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