Chapter Imoinda to Infant Endowed with Speech of I by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Imoinda to Infant Endowed with Speech

Imoinda , daughter of a white man, who went to the court of Angola, changed his religion, and grew great as commander of the forces. His daughter was married to prince Oroonoko. Soon afterwards the young prince was trapanned by captain Driver, taken to Surinam, and sold for a slave. Here he met his young wife, whom the lieutenant-governor wanted to make his mistress, and Oroonoko headed a rising of the slaves. The end of the story is that Imoinda slew herself; and Oroonoko, having stabbed the lieutenant-governor, put an end to his own life.—Southern: Oroonoko (1696).

Impertinent (The Curious), an Italian, who, to make trial of his wife’s fidelity, persuades his friend to try and seduce her. The friend succeeds in winning the lady’s love, and the impertinent curiosity of the husband is punished by the loss of his friend and wife too.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. iv. 5 (an episode, 1605).

Impostors (Literary). (See Forgers And Forgeries.)

Improvisators.

(1) Accolti (Bernardo), of Arezzo, called the Unico Aretino (1465–1535).

(2) Aquilano (Serafino), born at Aquila (1466–1500).

(3) Bandettini (Teresa), (1763-*). Marone, Quercio, and Silvio Antoniano (eighteenth century).

(4) Beronicius (P. J.), who could convert extempore into Latin or Greek verse, a Dutch newspaper or anything else which he heard (died 1676).

(5) Christopher, an Italian, was surnamed Altissimo, for his talent in improvising (1514).

(6) Corilla (Maria Maddelana Fernandes), of Pistoia. Mde. de Staël has borrowed her Corinne from this improvisatrix. Crowned at Rome in 1776 (1740–1800).

(7) Gianni (Francesco), an Italian, made imperial poet by Napoleon, whose victories he celebrated in verse (1759–1822).

(8) Jehán (Núr), of Bengal, during the sultanship of Jehángher. She was the inventor of the otto of roses (died 1645).

(9) Karschin (Anna Louisa), of Germany (1722–1971).

(10) Marone (Andreas), (1474–1527).

(11) Mazza (Angelo), the most talented of all improvisators (1741–1817).

(12) Metastasio (P. A. D. B.), of Assisi, who developed at the age of ten a wonderful talent for extemporizing in verse (1698–1782).

(13) Perfetti (Bernardino), of Sienna, who received a laurel crown in the capitol, an honour conferred only on Petrarch and Tasso (1681–1747).

(14) Petrarch (Frencesco), who introduced the amusement of improvisation (1304–1374).

(15) Querno (Camillo), (1470–1528).

(16) Rossi, beheaded at Naples in 1799.

(17) Serafino D’Aquila. (See above, “Aquilano.”)

(18) Serio, beheaded at Naples in 1799.