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The History of Caliph Vathek

by William Beckford

February, 2000 [Etext #2060]

Project Gutenberg Etext The History of Caliph Vathek, by Beckford

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This etext was prepared by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk

from the 1887 Cassell and Company edition.

THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK

INTRODUCTION

William Beckford, born in 1759, the year before the accession of

King George the Third, was the son of an Alderman who became twice
Lord Mayor of London. His family, originally of Gloucestershire,
had thriven by the plantations in Jamaica; and his father, sent to
school in England, and forming a school friendship at Westminster
with Lord Mansfield, began the world in this country as a merchant,
with inheritance of an enormous West India fortune. William
Beckford the elder became Magistrate, Member of Parliament,
Alderman. Four years before the birth of William Beckford the
younger he became one of the Sheriffs of London, and three years
after his son's birth he was Lord Mayor. As Mayor he gave very
sumptuous dinners that made epochs in the lives of feeding men.
His son's famous "History of the Caliph Vathek" looks as if it had
been planned for an Alderman's dream after a very heavy dinner at
the Mansion House. There is devotion in it to the senses, emphasis
on heavy dining. Vathek piqued himself on being the greatest eater
alive; but when the Indian dined with him, though the tables were
thirty times covered, there was still want of more food for the
voracious guest. There is thirst: for at one part of the dream,
when Vathek's mother, his wives, and some eunuchs "assiduously
employed themselves in filling bowls of rock crystal, and emulously
presented them to him, it frequently happened that his avidity
exceeded their zeal, insomuch that he would prostrate himself upon
the ground to lap up the water, of which he could never have
enough." And the nightmare incidents of the Arabian tale all
culminate in a most terrible heartburn. Could the conception of
Vathek have first come to the son after a City dinner?

Though a magnificent host, the elder Beckford was no glutton. In

the year of his first Mayoralty, 1763, Beckford, stood by the side
of Alderman Wilkes, attacked for his No. 45 of The North Briton.
As champion of the popular cause, when he had been again elected to
the Mayoralty, Beckford, on the 23rd of May, 1770, went up to King
George the Third at the head of the Aldermen and Livery with an
address which the king snubbed with a short answer. Beckford asked
leave to reply, and before His Majesty recovered breath from his
astonishment, proceeded to reply in words that remain graven in
gold upon his monument in Guildhall. Young Beckford, the author of
"Vathek," was then a boy not quite eleven years old, an only son;
and he was left three years afterwards, by his father's death, heir
to an income of a hundred thousand a year, with a million of cash
in hand.

During his minority young Beckford's mother, who was a

granddaughter of the sixth Earl of Abercorn, placed him under a
private tutor. He was taught music by Mozart; and the Earl of
Chatham, who had been his father's friend, thought him so fanciful
a boy--"all air and fire"--that he advised his mother to keep the
Arabian Nights out of his way. Happily she could not, for Vathek
adds the thousand and second to the thousand and one tales, with
the difference that it joins to wild inventions in the spirit of
the East touches of playful extravagance that could come only from
an English humourist who sometimes laughed at his own tale, and did
not mind turning its comic side to the reader. The younger William
Beckford had been born at his father's seat in Wiltshire, Fonthill
Abbey; and at seventeen amused himself with a caricature "History
of Extraordinary Painters," encouraging the house-keeper of
Fonthill to show the pictures to visitors as works of Og of Basan
and other worthies in her usual edifying manner.

Young Beckford's education was continued for a year and a half at

Geneva. He then travelled in Italy and the Low Countries, and it
was at this time that he amused himself by writing, at the age of
about twenty-two, "Vathek" in French, at a single sitting; but he
gave his mind to it and the sitting lasted three days and two
nights. An English version of it was made by a stranger, and
published without permission in 1784. Beckford himself published
his tale at Paris and Lausanne in 1787, one year after the death of
a wife to whom he had been three years married, and who left him
with two daughters.

Beckford went to Portugal and Spain; returned to France, and was

present at the storming of the Bastille. He was often abroad; he
bought Gibbon's library at Lausanne, and shut himself up with it
for a time, having a notion of reading it through. He was
occasionally in Parliament, but did not care for that kind of
amusement. He wrote pieces of less enduring interest than
"Vathek," including two burlesques upon the sentimental novel of
his time. In 1796 he settled down at Fonthill, and began to spend
there abundantly on building and rebuilding. Perhaps he thought of
Vathek's tower when he employed workmen day and night to build a
tower for himself three hundred feet high, and set them to begin it
again when it fell down. He is said to have spent upon Fonthill a
quarter of a million, living there in much seclusion during the
last twenty years of his life. He died in 1844.

The happy thought of this William Beckford's life was "Vathek." It

is a story that paints neither man nor outward nature as they are,
but reproduces with happy vivacity the luxuriant imagery and wild
incidents of an Arabian tale. There is a ghost of a moral in the
story of a sensual Caliph going to the bad, as represented by his
final introduction to the Halls of Eblis. But the enjoyment given
by the book reflects the real enjoyment that the author had in
writing it--enjoyment great enough to cause it to be written at a
heat, in one long sitting, without flagging power. Young and
lively, he delivered himself up to a free run of fancy, revelled in
the piled-up enormities of the Wicked Mother, who had not brought
up Vathek properly, and certainly wrote some parts of his nightmare
tale as merrily as if he were designing matter for a pantomime.

Whoever, in reading "Vathek," takes it altogether seriously, does

not read it as it was written. We must have an eye for the vein of
caricature that now and then comes to the surface, and invites a
laugh without disturbing the sense of Eastern extravagance bent
seriously upon the elaboration of a tale crowded with incident and
action. Taken altogether seriously, the book has faults of
construction. But the faults turn into beauties when we catch the
twinkle in the writer's eye.

H. M.

THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK

Vathek, ninth Caliph of the race of the Abassides, was the son of
Motassem, and the grandson of Haroun Al Raschid. From an early
accession to the throne, and the talents he possessed to adorn it,
his subjects were induced to expect that his reign would be long
and happy. His figure was pleasing and majestic; but when he was
angry one of his eyes became so terrible that no person could bear
to behold it, and the wretch upon whom it was fixed instantly fell
backward, and sometimes expired. For fear, however, of
depopulating his dominions and making his palace desolate he but
rarely gave way to his anger.

Being much addicted to women and the pleasures of the table, he

sought by his affability to procure agreeable companions; and he
succeeded the better as his generosity was unbounded, and his
indulgences unrestrained, for he was by no means scrupulous, nor
did he think with the Caliph Omar Ben Abdalaziz that it was
necessary to make a hell of this world to enjoy Paradise in the
next.

He surpassed in magnificence all his predecessors. The palace of

Alkoremmi, which his father Motassem had erected on the hill of
Pied Horses, and which commanded the whole city of Samarah, was in
his idea far too scanty; he added therefore five wings, or rather
other palaces, which he destined for the particular gratification
of each of his senses.

In the first of these were tables continually covered with the most
exquisite dainties, which were supplied both by night and by day,
according to their constant consumption, whilst the most delicious
wines and the choicest cordials flowed forth from a hundred
fountains that were never exhausted. This palace was called "The
Eternal or Unsatiating Banquet."

The second was styled "The Temple of Melody, or the Nectar of the
Soul." It was inhabited by the most skilful musicians and admired
poets of the time, who not only displayed their talents within,
but, dispersing in bands without, caused every surrounding scene to
reverberate their songs, which were continually varied in the most
delightful succession.

The palace named "The Delight of the Eyes, or the Support of

Memory," was one entire enchantment. Rarities collected from every
corner of the earth were there found in such profusion as to dazzle
and confound, but for the order in which they were arranged. One
gallery exhibited the pictures of the celebrated Mani, and statues
that seemed to be alive. Here a well-managed perspective attracted
the sight; there the magic of optics agreeably deceived it; whilst
the naturalist on his part exhibited, in their several classes, the
various gifts that Heaven had bestowed on our globe. In a word,
Vathek omitted nothing in this palace that might gratify the
curiosity of those who resorted to it, although he was not able to
satisfy his own, for he was of all men the most curious.

"The Palace of Perfumes," which was termed likewise "The Incentive

to Pleasure," consisted of various halls, where the different
perfumes which the earth produces were kept perpetually burning in
censers of gold. Flambeaux and aromatic lamps were here lighted in
open day. But the too powerful effects of this agreeable delirium
might be avoided by descending into an immense garden, where an
assemblage of every fragrant flower diffused through the air the
purest odours.

The fifth palace, denominated "The Retreat of Joy, or the

Dangerous," was frequented by troops of young females beautiful as
the houris, and not less seducing, who never failed to receive with
caresses all whom the Caliph allowed to approach them; for he was
by no means disposed to be jealous, as his own women were secluded
within the palace he inhabited himself.

Notwithstanding the sensuality in which Vathek indulged, he

experienced no abatement in the love of his people, who thought
that a sovereign immersed in pleasure was not less tolerable to his
subjects than one that employed himself in creating them foes. But
the unquiet and impetuous disposition of the Caliph would not allow
him to rest there; he had studied so much for his amusement in the
lifetime of his father as to acquire a great deal of knowledge,
though not a sufficiency to satisfy himself; for he wished to know
everything, even sciences that did not exist. He was fond of
engaging in disputes with the learned, but liked them not to push
their opposition with warmth; he stopped the mouths of those with
presents whose mouths could be stopped, whilst others, whom his
liberality was unable to subdue, he sent to prison to cool their
blood: a remedy that often succeeded.

Vathek discovered also a predilection for theological controversy,

but it was not with the orthodox that he usually held. By this
means he induced the zealots to oppose him, and then persecuted
them in return; for he resolved at any rate to have reason on his
side.

The great prophet Mahomet, whose vicars the caliphs are, beheld
with indignation from his abode in the seventh heaven the
irreligious conduct of such a vicegerent. "Let us leave him to
himself," said he to the genii, who are always ready to receive his
commands; "let us see to what lengths his folly and impiety will
carry him; if he run into excess we shall know how to chastise him.
Assist him, therefore, to complete the tower which, in imitation of
Nimrod, he hath begun, not, like that great warrior, to escape
being drowned, but from the insolent curiosity of penetrating the
secrets of Heaven; he will not divine the fate that awaits him."

The genii obeyed, and when the workmen had raised their structure a
cubit in the day-time, two cubits more were added in the night.
The expedition with which the fabric arose was not a little
flattering to the vanity of Vathek. He fancied that even
insensible matter showed a forwardness to subserve his designs, not
considering that the successes of the foolish and wicked form the
first rod of their chastisement.

His pride arrived at its height when, having ascended for the first
time the eleven thousand stairs of his tower, he cast his eyes
below, and beheld men not larger than pismires, mountains than
shells, and cities than bee-hives. The idea which such an
elevation inspired of his own grandeur completely bewildered him;
he was almost ready to adore himself, till, lifting his eyes
upward, he saw the stars as high above him as they appeared when he
stood on the surface of the earth. He consoled himself, however,
for this transient perception of his littleness with the thought of
being great in the eyes of others, and flattered himself that the
light of his mind would extend beyond the reach of his sight, and
transfer to the stars the decrees of his destiny.

With this view the inquisitive prince passed most of his nights on
the summit of his tower, till he became an adept in the mysteries
of astrology, and imagined that the planets had disclosed to him
the most marvellous adventures, which were to be accomplished by an
extraordinary personage from a country altogether unknown.
Prompted by motives of curiosity, he had always been courteous to
strangers, but from this instant he redoubled his attention, and
ordered it to be announced by sound of trumpet, through all the
streets of Samarah, that no one of his subjects, on peril of
displeasure, should either lodge or detain a traveller, but
forthwith bring him to the palace.

Not long after this proclamation there arrived in his metropolis a

man so hideous that the very guards who arrested him were forced to
shut their eyes as they led him along. The Caliph himself appeared
startled at so horrible a visage, but joy succeeded to this emotion
of terror when the stranger displayed to his view such rarities as
he had never before seen, and of which he had no conception.

In reality, nothing was ever so extraordinary as the merchandise

this stranger produced; most of his curiosities, which were not
less admirable for their workmanship than splendour, had, besides,
their several virtues described on a parchment fastened to each.
There were slippers which enabled the feet to walk; knives that out
without the motion of a hand; sabres which dealt the blow at the
person they were wished to strike; and the whole enriched with gems
that were hitherto unknown.

The sabres, whose blades emitted a dazzling radiance, fixed more

than all the Caliph's attention, who promised himself to decipher
at his leisure the uncouth characters engraven on their sides.
Without, therefore, demanding their price, he ordered all the
coined gold to be brought from his treasury, and commanded the
merchant to take what he pleased; the stranger complied with
modesty and silence.

Vathek, imagining that the merchant's taciturnity was occasioned by

the awe which his presence inspired, encouraged him to advance, and
asked him, with an air of condescension, "Who he was? whence he
came? and where he obtained such beautiful commodities?" The man,
or rather monster, instead of making a reply, thrice rubbed his
forehead, which, as well as his body, was blacker than ebony, four
times clapped his paunch, the projection of which was enormous,
opened wide his huge eyes, which glowed like firebrands, began to
laugh with a hideous noise, and discovered his long amber-coloured
teeth bestreaked with green.

The Caliph, though a little startled, renewed his inquiries, but

without being able to procure a reply; at which, beginning to be
ruffled, he exclaimed: "Knowest thou, varlet, who I am? and at
whom thou art aiming thy gibes?" Then, addressing his guards,
"Have ye heard him speak? is he dumb?"

"He hath spoken," they replied, "though but little."

"Let him speak again, then," said Vathek, "and tell me who he is,
from whence he came, and where he procured these singular
curiosities, or I swear by the ass of Balaam that I will make him
rue his pertinacity."

The menace was accompanied by the Caliph with one of his angry and
perilous glances, which the stranger sustained without the
slightest emotion, although his eyes were fixed on the terrible eye
of the prince.

No words can describe the amazement of the courtiers when they

beheld this rude merchant withstand the encounter unshocked. They
all fell prostrate with their faces on the ground to avoid the risk
of their lives, and continued in the same abject posture till the
Caliph exclaimed in a furious tone, "Up, cowards! seize the
miscreant! see that he be committed to prison and guarded by the
best of my soldiers! Let him, however, retain the money I gave
him; it is not my intent to take from him his property; I only want
him to speak."

No sooner had he uttered these words than the stranger was

surrounded, pinioned with strong fetters, and hurried away to the
prison of the great tower, which was encompassed by seven
empalements of iron bars, and armed with spikes in every direction
longer and sharper than spits.

The Caliph, nevertheless, remained in the most violent agitation;

he sat down indeed to eat, but of the three hundred covers that
were daily placed before him could taste of no more than thirty-
two. A diet to which he had been so little accustomed was
sufficient of itself to prevent him from sleeping; what then must
be its effect when joined to the anxiety that preyed upon his
spirits? At the first glimpse of dawn he hastened to the prison,
again to importune this intractable stranger; but the rage of
Vathek exceeded all bounds on finding the prison empty, the gates
burst asunder, and his guards lying lifeless around him. In the
paroxysm of his passion he fell furiously on the poor carcases, and
kicked them till evening without intermission. His courtiers and
vizirs exerted their efforts to soothe his extravagance, but
finding every expedient ineffectual, they all united in one
vociferation: "The Caliph is gone mad! the Caliph is out of his
senses!"

This outcry, which soon resounded through the streets of Samarah,

at length reaching the ears of Carathis, his mother, she flew in
the utmost consternation to try her ascendency on the mind of her
son. Her tears and caresses called off his attention, and he was
prevailed upon by her entreaties to be brought back to the palace.

Carathis, apprehensive of leaving Vathek to himself, caused him to

be put to bed, and seating herself by him, endeavoured by her
conversation to heal and compose him. Nor could any one have
attempted it with better success, for the Caliph not only loved her
as a mother, but respected her as a person of superior genius; it
was she who had induced him, being a Greek herself, to adopt all
the sciences and systems of her country, which good Mussulmans hold
in such thorough abhorrence. Judicial astrology was one of those
systems in which Carathis was a perfect adept; she began,
therefore, with reminding her son of the promise which the stars
had made him, and intimated an intention of consulting them again.

"Alas!" sighed the Caliph, as soon as he could speak, "what a fool

have I been! not for the kicks bestowed on my guards who so tamely
submitted to death, but for never considering that this
extraordinary man was the same the planets had foretold, whom,
instead of ill-treating, I should have conciliated by all the arts
of persuasion."

"The past," said Carathis, "cannot be recalled, but it behoves us

to think of the future; perhaps you may again see the object you so
much regret; it is possible the inscriptions on the sabres will
afford information. Eat, therefore, and take thy repose, my dear
son; we will consider to-morrow in what manner to act."

Vathek yielded to her counsel as well as he could, and arose in the

morning with a mind more at ease. The sabres he commanded to be
instantly brought, and poring upon them through a green glass, that
their glittering might not dazzle, he set himself in earnest to
decipher the inscriptions; but his reiterated attempts were all of
them nugatory; in vain did he beat his head and bite his nails, not
a letter of the whole was he able to ascertain. So unlucky a
disappointment would have undone him again had not Carathis by good
fortune entered the apartment.

"Have patience, son!" said she; "you certainly are possessed of

every important science, but the knowledge of languages is a trifle
at best, and the accomplishment of none but a pedant. Issue forth
a proclamation that you will confer such rewards as become your
greatness upon any one that shall interpret what you do not
understand, and what it is beneath you to learn; you will soon find
your curiosity gratified."

"That may be," said the Caliph; "but in the meantime I shall be
horribly disgusted by a crowd of smatterers, who will come to the
trial as much for the pleasure of retailing their jargon as from
the hope of gaining the reward. To avoid this evil it will be
proper to add that I will put every candidate to death who shall
fail to give satisfaction; for, thank Heaven! I have skill enough
to distinguish between one that translates and one that invents."

"Of that I have no doubt," replied Carathis; "but to put the

ignorant to death is somewhat severe, and may be productive of
dangerous effects; content yourself with commanding their beards to
be burnt--beards in a state are not quite so essential as men."

The Caliph submitted to the reasons of his mother, and sending for
Morakanabad, his prime vizir, said: "Let the common criers
proclaim, not only in Samarah, but throughout every city in my
empire, that whosoever will repair hither, and decipher certain
characters which appear to be inexplicable, shall experience the
liberality for which I am renowned; but that all who fail upon
trial shall have their beards burnt off to the last hair. Let them
add also that I will bestow fifty beautiful slaves, and as many
jars of apricots from the Isle of Kirmith, upon any man that shall
bring me intelligence of the stranger."

The subjects of the Caliph, like their Sovereign, being great

admirers of women and apricots from Kirmith, felt their mouths
water at these promises, but were totally unable to gratify their
hankering, for no one knew which way the stranger had gone.

As to the Caliph's other requisition, the result was different.

The learned, the half-learned, and those who were neither, but
fancied themselves equal to both, came boldly to hazard their
beards, and all shamefully lost them.

The exaction of these forfeitures, which found sufficient

employment for the eunuchs, gave them such a smell of singed hair
as greatly to disgust the ladies of the seraglio, and make it
necessary that this new occupation of their guardians should be
transferred into other hands.

At length, however, an old man presented himself whose beard was a

cubit and a half longer than any that had appeared before him. The
officers of the palace whispered to each other, as they ushered him
in, "What a pity such a beard should be burnt!" Even the Caliph,
when he saw it, concurred with them in opinion, but his concern was
entirely needless. This venerable personage read the characters
with facility, and explained them verbatim as follows: "We were
made where everything good is made; we are the least of the wonders
of a place where all is wonderful, and deserving the sight of the
first potentate on earth."

"You translate admirably!" cried Vathek; "I know to what these

marvellous characters allude. Let him receive as many robes of
honour and thousands of sequins of gold as he hath spoken words. I
am in some measure relieved from the perplexity that embarrassed
me!"

Vathek invited the old main to dine, and even to remain some days
in the palace. Unluckily for him, he accepted the offer; for the
Caliph, having ordered him next morning to be called, said: "Read
again to me what you have read already; I cannot hear too often the
promise that is made me, the completion of which I languish to
obtain."

The old man forthwith put on his green spectacles, but they
instantly dropped from his nose on perceiving that the characters
he had read the day preceding had given place to others of
different import.

"What ails you?" asked the Caliph; "and why these symptoms of
wonder?"

"Sovereign of the world," replied the old man, "these sabres hold
another language to-day from that they yesterday held."

"How say you?" returned Vathek; "but it matters not! tell me, if
you can, what they mean."

"It is this, my lord," rejoined the old man: "Woe to the rash
mortal who seeks to know that of which he should remain ignorant,
and to undertake that which surpasseth his power!"

"And woe to thee!" cried the Caliph, in a burst of indignation;

"to-day thou art void of understanding. Begone from my presence;
they shall burn but the half of thy beard, because, thou wert
yesterday fortunate in guessing; my gifts I never resume."

The old man, wise enough to perceive he had luckily escaped,

considering the folly of disclosing so disgusting a truth,
immediately withdrew, and appeared not again.

But it was not long before Vathek discovered abundant reason to

regret his precipitation; for though he could not decipher the
characters himself, yet by constantly poring upon them he plainly
perceived that they every day changed, and unfortunately no other
candidate offered to explain them. This perplexing occupation
inflamed his blood, dazzled his sight, and brought on a giddiness
and debility that he could not support. He failed not, however,
though in so reduced a condition, to be often carried to his tower,
as he flattered himself that he might there read in the stars which
he went to consult something more congenial to his wishes: but in
this his hopes were deluded, for his eyes, dimmed by the vapours of
his head, began to subserve his curiosity so ill, that he beheld
nothing but a thick dun cloud, which he took for the most direful
of omens.

Agitated with so much anxiety, Vathek entirely lost all firmness; a

fever seized him, and his appetite failed. Instead of being one of
the greatest eaters, he became as distinguished for drinking. So
insatiable was the thirst which tormented him that his mouth, like
a funnel, was always open to receive the various liquors that might
be poured into it, and especially cold water, which calmed him more
than every other.

This unhappy prince being thus incapacitated for the enjoyment of

any pleasure, commanded the palaces of the five senses to be shut
up, forbore to appear in public, either to display his magnificence
or administer justice, and retired to the inmost apartment of his
harem. As he had ever been an indulgent husband, his wives,
overwhelmed with grief at his deplorable situation, incessantly
offered their prayers for his health, and unremittingly supplied
him with water.

In the meantime the Princess Carathis, whose affliction no words

can describe, instead of restraining herself to sobbing and tears,
was closeted daily with the Vizir Morakanabad, to find out some
cure or mitigation of the Caliph's disease. Under the persuasion
that it was caused by enchantment, they turned over together, leaf
by leaf, all the books of magic that might point out a remedy, and
caused the horrible stranger, whom they accused as the enchanter,
to be everywhere sought for with the strictest diligence.

At the distance of a few miles from Samarah stood a high mountain,

whose sides were swarded with wild thyme and basil, and its summit
overspread with so delightful a plain, that it might be taken for
the paradise destined for the faithful. Upon it grew a hundred
thickets of eglantine and other fragrant shrubs, a hundred arbours
of roses, jessamine, and honeysuckle, as many clumps of orange
trees, cedar, and citron, whose branches, interwoven with the palm,
the pomegranate, and the vine, presented every luxury that could
regale the eye or the taste. The ground was strewed with violets,
hare-bells, and pansies, in the midst of which sprang forth tufts
of jonquils, hyacinths, and carnations, with every other perfume
that impregnates the air. Four fountains, not less clear than
deep, and so abundant as to slake the thirst of ten armies, seemed
profusely placed here to make the scene more resemble the garden of
Eden, which was watered by the four sacred rivers. Here the
nightingale sang the birth of the rose, her well-beloved, and at
the same time lamented its short-lived beauty; whilst the turtle
deplored the loss of more substantial pleasures, and the wakeful
lark hailed the rising light that re-animates the whole creation.
Here more than anywhere the mingled melodies of birds expressed the
various passions they inspired, as if the exquisite fruits which
they pecked at pleasure had given them a double energy.

To this mountain Vathek was sometimes brought for the sake of

breathing a purer air, and especially to drink at will of the four
fountains, which were reputed in the highest degree salubrious and
sacred to himself. His attendants were his mother, his wives, and
some eunuchs, who assiduously employed themselves in filling
capacious bowls of rock crystal, and emulously presenting them to
him; but it frequently happened that his avidity exceeded their
zeal, insomuch that he would prostrate himself upon the ground to
lap up the water, of which he could never have enough.

One day, when this unhappy prince had been long lying in so
debasing a posture, a voice, hoarse but strong, thus addressed him:
"Why assumest thou the function of a dog, O Caliph, so proud of thy
dignity and power?"

At this apostrophe he raised his head, and beheld the stranger that
had caused him so much affliction. Inflamed with anger at the
sight, he exclaimed -

"Accursed Giaour! what comest thou hither to do? Is it not enough

to have transformed a prince remarkable for his agility into one of
those leather barrels which the Bedouin Arabs carry on their camels
when they traverse the deserts? Perceivest thou not that I may
perish by drinking to excess no less than by a total abstinence?"

"Drink then this draught," said the stranger, as he presented to

him a phial of a red and yellow mixture; "and, to satiate the
thirst of thy soul as well as of thy body, know that I am an
Indian, but from a region of India which is wholly unknown."

The Caliph delighted to see his desires accomplished in part, and

flattering himself with the hope of obtaining their entire
fulfilment, without a moment's hesitation swallowed the potion, and
instantaneously found his health restored, his thirst appeased, and
his limbs as agile as ever.

In the transports of his joy Vathek leaped upon the neck of the
frightful Indian, and kissed his horrid mouth and hollow cheeks as
though they had been the coral lips and the lilies and roses of his
most beautiful wives; whilst they, less terrified than jealous at
the sight, dropped their veils to hide the blush of mortification
that suffused their foreheads.

Nor would the scene have closed here, had not Carathis, with all
the art of insinuation, a little repressed the raptures of her son.
Having prevailed upon him to return to Samarah, she caused a herald
to precede him, whom she commanded to proclaim as loudly as
possible: "The wonderful stranger hath appeared again; he hath
healed the Caliph; he hath spoken! he hath spoken!"

Forthwith all the inhabitants of this vast city quitted their

habitations, and ran together in crowds to see the procession of
Vathek and the Indian, whom they now blessed as much as they had
before execrated, incessantly shouting: "He hath healed our
sovereign; he hath spoken! he hath spoken!" Nor were these words
forgotten in the public festivals which were celebrated the same
evening, to testify the general joy; for the poets applied them as
a chorus to all the songs they composed.

The Caliph in the meanwhile caused the palaces of the senses to be

again set open; and, as he found himself prompted to visit that of
taste in preference to the rest, immediately ordered a splendid
entertainment, to which his great officers and favourite courtiers
were all invited. The Indian, who was placed near the prince,
seemed to think that as a proper acknowledgment of so distinguished
a privilege he could neither eat, drink, nor talk too much. The
various dainties were no sooner served up than they vanished, to
the great mortification of Vathek, who piqued himself on being the
greatest eater alive, and at this time in particular had an
excellent appetite.

The rest of the company looked round at each other in amazement;

but the Indian, without appearing to observe it, quaffed large
bumpers to the health of each of them, sung in a style altogether
extravagant, related stories at which he laughed immoderately, and
poured forth extemporaneous verses, which would not have been
thought bad but for the strange grimaces with which they were
uttered. In a word, his loquacity was equal to that of a hundred
astrologers; he ate as much as a hundred porters, and caroused in
proportion.

The Caliph, notwithstanding the table had been thirty times

covered, found himself incommoded by the voraciousness of his
guest, who was now considerably declined in the prince's esteem.
Vathek, however, being unwilling to betray the chagrin he could
hardly disguise, said in a whisper to Bababalouk, the chief of his
eunuchs: "You see how enormous his performances in every way are;
what would be the consequence should he get at my wives? Go!
redouble your vigilance, and be sure look well to my Circassians,
who would be more to his taste than all of the rest."

The bird of the morning had thrice renewed his song when the hour
of the Divan sounded. Vathek, in gratitude to his subjects, having
promised to attend, immediately rose from table and repaired
thither, leaning upon his vizir, who could scarcely support him, so
disordered was the poor prince by the wine he had drunk, and still
more by the extravagant vagaries of his boisterous guest.

The vizirs, the officers of the crown and of the law, arranged
themselves in a semicircle about their sovereign, and preserved a
respectful silence, whilst the Indian, who looked as cool as if
come from a fast, sat down without ceremony on the step of the
throne, laughing in his sleeve at the indignation with which his
temerity had filled the spectators.

The Caliph, however, whose ideas were confused and his head
embarrassed, went on administering justice at haphazard, till at
length the prime vizir, perceiving his situation, hit upon a sudden
expedient to interrupt the audience and rescue the honour of his
master, to whom he said in a whisper: "My Lord, the Princess
Carathis, who hath passed the night in consulting the planets,
informs you that they portend you evil, and the danger is urgent.
Beware lest this stranger, whom you have so lavishly recompensed
for his magical gewgaws, should make some attempt on your life; his
liquor, which at first had the appearance of effecting your cure,
may be no more than a poison of a sudden operation. Slight not
this surmise; ask him at least of what it was compounded, whence he
procured it, and mention the sabres which you seem to have
forgotten."

Vathek, to whom the insolent airs of the stranger became every

moment less supportable, intimated to his vizir by a wink of
acquiescence that he would adopt his advice, and at once turning
towards the Indian, said: "Get up and declare in full Divan of
what drugs the liquor was compounded you enjoined me to take, for
it is suspected to be poison; add also the explanation I have so
earnestly desired concerning the sabres you sold me, and thus show
your gratitude for the favours heaped on you."

Having pronounced these words in as moderate a tone as a caliph

well could, he waited in silent expectation for an answer. But the
Indian, still keeping his seat, began to renew his loud shouts of
laughter, and exhibit the same horrid grimaces he had shown them
before, without vouchsafing a word in reply. Vathek, no longer
able to brook such insolence, immediately kicked him from the
steps; instantly descending, repeated his blow, and persisted with
such assiduity as incited all who were present to follow his
example. Every foot was aimed at the Indian, and no sooner had any
one given him a kick than he felt himself constrained to reiterate
the stroke.

The stranger afforded them no small entertainment; for, being both

short and plump, he collected himself into a ball, and rolled round
on all sides at the blows of his assailants, who pressed after him
wherever he turned with an eagerness beyond conception, whilst
their numbers were every moment increasing. The ball, indeed, in
passing from one apartment to another, drew every person after it
that came in its way, insomuch that the whole palace was thrown
into confusion, and resounded with a tremendous clamour. The women
of the harem, amazed at the uproar, flew to their blinds to
discover the cause; but no sooner did they catch a glimpse of the
ball, than feeling themselves unable to refrain, they broke from
the clutches of their eunuchs, who to stop their flight pinched
them till they bled, but in vain; whilst themselves, though
trembling with terror at the escape of their charge, were as
incapable of resisting the attraction.

The Indian, after having traversed the halls, galleries, chambers,

kitchens, gardens, and stables of the palace, at last took his
course through the courts; whilst the Caliph, pursuing him closer
than the rest, bestowed as many kicks as he possibly could, yet not
without receiving now and then one, which his competitors in their
eagerness designed for the ball.

Carathis, Morakanabad, and two or three old vizirs, whose wisdom

had hitherto withstood the attraction, wishing to prevent Vathek
from exposing himself in the presence of his subjects, fell down in
his way to impede the pursuit; but he, regardless of their
obstruction, leaped over their heads, and went on as before. They
then ordered the Muezzins to call the people to prayers, both for
the sake of getting them out of the way and of endeavouring by
their petitions to avert the calamity; but neither of these
expedients was a whit more successful: the sight of this fatal
ball was alone sufficient to draw after it every beholder. The
Muezzins themselves, though they saw it but at a distance, hastened
down from their minarets and mixed with the crowd, which continued
to increase in so surprising a manner, that scarce an inhabitant
was left in Samarah, except the aged, the sick confined to their
beds, and infants at the breast, whose nurses could run more nimbly
without them. Even Carathis, Morakanabad, and the rest were all
become of the party.

The shrill screams of the females, who had broken from their
apartments, and were unable to extricate themselves from the
pressure of the crowd, together with those of the eunuchs jostling
after them, terrified lest their charge should escape from their
sight, increased by the execrations of husbands urging forward and
menacing both, kicks given and received, stumblings and overthrows
at every step; in a word, the confusion that universally prevailed
rendered Samarah like a city taken by storm and devoted to absolute
plunder.

At last the cursed Indian, who still preserved his rotundity of

figure, after passing through all the streets and public places,
and leaving them empty, rolled onwards to the plain of Catoul, and
traversed the valley at the foot of the mountain of the Four
Fountains.

As a continual fall of water had excavated an immense gulf in the

valley, whose opposite side was closed in by a steep acclivity, the
Caliph and his attendants were apprehensive lest the ball should
bound into the chasm, and, to prevent it, redoubled their efforts,
but in vain. The Indian persevered in his onward direction, and,
as had been apprehended, glancing from the precipice with the
rapidity of lightning, was lost in the gulf below.

Vathek would have followed the perfidious Giaour, had not an

invisible agency arrested his progress. The multitude that pressed
after him were at once checked in the same manner, and a calm
instantaneously ensued. They all gazed at each other with an air
of astonishment; and, notwithstanding that the loss of veils and
turbans, together with torn habits and dust blended with sweat,
presented a most laughable spectacle, there was not one smile to be
seen; on the contrary, all, with looks of confusion and sadness,
returned in silence to Samarah, and retired to their inmost
apartments, without ever reflecting that they had been impelled by
an invisible power into the extravagance for which they reproached
themselves; for it is but just that men, who so often arrogate to
their own merit the good of which they are but instruments, should
attribute to themselves the absurdities which they could not
prevent.

The Caliph was the only person that refused to leave the valley.
He commanded his tents to be pitched there, and stationed himself
on the very edge of the precipice, in spite of the representations
of Carathis and Morakanabad, who pointed out the hazard of its
brink giving way, and the vicinity to the magician that had so
severely tormented him. Vathek derided all their remonstrances,
and, having ordered a thousand flambeaux to be lighted, and
directed his attendants to proceed in lighting more, lay down on
the slippery margin, and attempted, by help of this artificial
splendour, to look through that gloom which all the fires of the
empyrean had been insufficient to pervade. One while he fancied to
himself voices arising from the depth of the gulf; at another he
seemed to distinguish the accents of the Indian, but all was no
more than the hollow murmur of waters, and the din of the cataracts
that rushed from steep to steep down the sides of the mountain.

Having passed the night in this cruel perturbation, the Caliph at

daybreak retired to his tent, where, without taking the least
sustenance, he continued to doze till the dusk of evening began
again to come on. He then resumed his vigils as before, and
persevered in observing them for many nights together. At length,
fatigued with so successless an employment, he sought relief from
change. To this end he sometimes paced with hasty strides across
the plain, and, as he wildly gazed at the stars, reproached them
with having deceived him; but, lo! on a sudden the clear blue sky
appeared streaked over with streams of blood, which reached from
the valley even to the city of Samarah. As this awful phenomenon
seemed to touch his tower, Vathek at first thought of re-pairing
thither to view it more distinctly, but feeling himself unable to
advance, and being overcome with apprehension, he muffled up his
face in his robe.

Terrifying as these prodigies were, this impression upon him was no

more than momentary, and served only to stimulate his love of the
marvellous. Instead, therefore, of returning to his palace, he
persisted in the resolution of abiding where the Indian vanished
from his view. One night, however, while he was walking as usual
on the plain, the moon and the stars at once were eclipsed, and a
total darkness ensued; the earth trembled beneath him, and a voice
came forth, the voice of the Giaour, who, in accents more sonorous
than thunder, thus addressed him: "Wouldest thou devote thyself to
me? Adore then the terrestrial influences, and abjure Mahomet. On
these conditions I will bring thee to the palace of subterranean
fire; there shalt thou behold in immense depositories the treasures
which the stars have promised thee, and which will be conferred by
those Intelligences whom thou shalt thus render propitious. It was
from thence I brought my sabres, and it is there that Soliman Ben
Daoud reposes, surrounded by the talismans that control the world."

The astonished Caliph trembled as he answered, yet in a style that

showed him to be no novice in preternatural adventures: "Where art
thou? be present to my eyes; dissipate the gloom that perplexes me,
and of which I deem thee the cause; after the many flambeaux I have
burnt to discover thee, thou mayst at least grant a glimpse of thy
horrible visage."

"Abjure, then, Mahomet," replied the Indian, "and promise me full

proofs of thy sincerity, otherwise thou shalt never behold me
again."

The unhappy Caliph, instigated by insatiable curiosity, lavished

his promises in the utmost profusion. The sky immediately
brightened; and by the light of the planets, which seemed almost to
blaze, Vathek beheld the earth open, and at the extremity of a vast
black chasm, a portal of ebony, before which stood the Indian,
still blacker, holding in his hand a golden key that caused the
lock to resound.

"How," cried Vathek, "can I descend to thee without the certainty

of breaking my neck? come, take me, and instantly open the portal."

"Not so fast," replied the Indian, "impatient Caliph! Know that I

am parched with thirst, and cannot open this door till my thirst be
thoroughly appeased. I require the blood of fifty of the most
beautiful sons of thy vizirs and great men, or neither can my
thirst nor thy curiosity be satisfied. Return to Samarah, procure
for me this necessary libation, come back hither, throw it thyself
into this chasm, and then shalt thou see!"

Having thus spoken, the Indian turned his back on the Caliph, who,
incited by the suggestion of demons, resolved on the direful
sacrifice. He now pretended to have regained his tranquillity, and
set out for Samarah amidst the acclamations of a people who still
loved him, and forbore not to rejoice when they believed him to
have recovered his reason. So successfully did he conceal the
emotion of his heart, that even Carathis and Morakanabad were
equally deceived with the rest. Nothing was heard of but festivals
and rejoicings; the ball, which no tongue had hitherto ventured to
mention, was again brought on the tapis; a general laugh went
round, though many, still smarting under the hands of the surgeon
from the hurts received in that memorable adventure, had no great
reason for mirth.

The prevalence of this gay humour was not a little grateful to

Vathek, as perceiving how much it conduced to his project. He put
on the appearance of affability to every one, but especially to his
vizirs and the grandees of his court, whom he failed not to regale
with a sumptuous banquet, during which he insensibly inclined the
conversation to the children of his guests. Having asked with a
good-natured air who of them were blessed with the handsomest boys,
every father at once asserted the pretensions of his own, and the
contest imperceptibly grew so warm that nothing could have
withholden them from coming to blows but their profound reverence
for the person of the Caliph. Under the pretence, therefore, of
reconciling the disputants, Vathek took upon him to decide; and
with this view commanded the boys to be brought.

It was not long before a troop of these poor children made their
appearance, all equipped by their fond mothers with such ornaments
as might give the greatest relief to their beauty or most
advantageously display the graces of their age. But whilst this
brilliant assemblage attracted the eyes and hearts of every one
besides, the Caliph scrutinized each in his turn with a malignant
avidity that passed for attention, and selected from their number
the fifty whom he judged the Giaour would prefer.

With an equal show of kindness as before, he proposed to celebrate

a festival on the plain for the entertainment of his young
favourites, who he said ought to rejoice still more than all at the
restoration of his health, on account of the favours he intended
for them.

The Caliph's proposal was received with the greatest delight, and
soon published through Samarah; litters, camels, and horses were
prepared. Women and children, old men and young, every one placed
himself in the station he chose. The cavalcade set forward,
attended by all the confectioners in the city and its precincts;
the populace following on foot composed an amazing crowd, and
occasioned no little noise; all was joy, nor did any one call to
mind what most of them had suffered when they first travelled the
road they were now passing so gaily.

The evening was serene, the air refreshing, the sky clear, and the
flowers exhaled their fragrance; the beams of the declining sun,
whose mild splendour reposed on the summit of the mountain, shed a
glow of ruddy light over its green declivity and the white flocks
sporting upon it; no sounds were audible save the murmurs of the
Four Fountains, and the reeds and voices of shepherds calling to
each other from different eminences.
The lovely innocents proceeding to the destined sacrifice added not
a little to the hilarity of the scene; they approached the plain
full of sportiveness, some coursing butterflies, others culling
flowers, or picking up the shining little pebbles that attracted
their notice. At intervals they nimbly started from each other,
for the sake of being caught again, and mutually imparting a
thousand caresses.

The dreadful chasm at whose bottom the portal of ebony was placed
began to appear at a distance; it looked like a black streak that
divided the plain. Morakanabad and his companions took it for some
work which the Caliph had ordered; unhappy men! little did they
surmise for what it was destined.

Vathek, not liking they should examine it too nearly, stopped the
procession, and ordered a spacious circle to be formed on this
side, at some distance from the accursed chasm. The body-guard of
eunuchs was detached to measure out the lists intended for the
games, and prepare ringles for the lines to keep off the crowd.
The fifty competitors were soon stripped, and presented to the
admiration of the spectators the suppleness and grace of their
delicate limbs; their eyes sparkled with a joy which those of their
fond parents reflected. Every one offered wishes for the little
candidate nearest his heart, and doubted not of his being
victorious; a breathless suspense awaited the contest of these
amiable and innocent victims.

The Caliph, awaiting himself of the first moment to retire from the
crowd, advanced towards the chasm, and there heard, yet not without
shuddering, the voice of the Indian, who, gnashing his teeth,
eagerly demanded: "Where are they? where are they? perceivest thou
not how my mouth waters?"

"Relentless Giaour!" answered Vathek, with emotion, "can nothing

content thee but the massacre of these lovely victims! Ah! wert
thou to behold their beauty it must certainly move thy compassion."

"Perdition on thy compassion, babbler!" cried the Indian. "Give

them me, instantly give them, or my portal shall be closed against
thee for ever!"

"Not so loudly," replied the Caliph, blushing.

"I understand thee," returned the Giaour, with the grin of an ogre;
"thou wantest to summon up more presence of mind; I will for a
moment forbear."

During this exquisite dialogue the games went forward with all
alacrity, and at length concluded just as the twilight began to
overcast the mountains. Vathek, who was still standing on the edge
of the chasm, called out, with all his might: "Let my fifty little
favourites approach me separately, and let them come in the order
of their success. To the first I will give my diamond bracelet, to
the second my collar of emeralds, to the third my aigret of rubies,
to the fourth my girdle of topazes, and to the rest each a part of
my dress, even down to my slippers."

This declaration was received with reiterated acclamations, and all

extolled the liberality of a prince who would thus strip himself
for the amusement of his subjects and the encouragement of the
rising generation.

The Caliph in the meantime undressed himself by degrees, and,

raising his arm as high as he was able, made each of the prizes
glitter in the air; but whilst he delivered it with one hand to the
child, who sprang forward to receive it, he with the other pushed
the poor innocent into the gulf, where the Giaour, with a sullen
muttering, incessantly repeated, "More! more!"

This dreadful device was executed with so much dexterity that the
boy who was approaching him remained unconscious of the fate of his
forerunner; and as to the spectators, the shades of evening,
together with their distance, precluded them from perceiving any
object distinctly. Vathek, having in this manner thrown in the
last of the fifty, and expecting that the Giaour on receiving them
would have presented the key, already fancied himself as great as
Soliman, and consequently above being amenable for what he had
done: when, to his utter amazement, the chasm closed, and the
around became as entire as the rest of the plain.

No language could express his rage and despair. He execrated the

perfidy of the Indian, loaded him with the most infamous
invectives, and stamped with his foot as resolving to be heard; he
persisted in this demeanour till his strength failed him, and then
fell on the earth like one void of sense. His vizirs and grandees,
who were nearer than the rest, supposed him at first to be sitting
on the grass at play with their amiable children; but at length,
prompted by doubt, they advanced towards the spot, and found the
Caliph alone, who wildly demanded what they wanted.

"Our children! our children!" cried they.

"It is assuredly pleasant," said he, "to make me accountable for

accidents; your children while at play fell from the precipice that
was here, and I should have experienced their fate had I not been
saved by a sudden start back."

At these words the fathers of the fifty boys cried out aloud, the
mothers repeated their exclamations an octave higher, whilst the
rest, without knowing the cause, soon drowned the voices of both
with still louder lamentations of their own.

"Our Caliph," said they--and the report soon circulated--"Our

Caliph has played us this trick to gratify his accursed Giaour.
Let us punish him for his perfidy! let us avenge ourselves! let us
avenge the blood of the innocent! let us throw this cruel prince
into the gulf that is near, and let his name be mentioned no more!"

At this rumour and these menaces, Carathis, full of consternation,

hastened to Morakanabad, and said: "Vizir, you have lost two
beautiful boys, and must necessarily be the most afflicted of
fathers, but you are virtuous; save your master."

"I will brave every hazard," replied the vizir, "to rescue him from
his present danger, but afterwards will abandon him to his fate.
Bababalouk," continued he, "put yourself at the head of your
eunuchs; disperse the mob, and, if possible, bring back this
unhappy prince to his palace." Bababalouk and his fraternity,
felicitating each other in a low voice on their disability of ever
being fathers, obeyed the mandate of the vizir; who, seconding
their exertions to the utmost of his power, at length accomplished
his generous enterprise, and retired as he resolved, to lament at
his leisure.

No sooner had the Caliph re-entered his palace than Carathis

commanded the doors to be fastened; but, perceiving the tumult to
be still violent, and hearing the imprecations which resounded from
all quarters, she said to her son: "Whether the populace be right
or wrong, it behoves you to provide for your safety; let us retire
to your own apartment, and from thence through the subterranean
passage, known only to ourselves, into your tower; there, with the
assistance of the mutes who never leave it, we may be able to make
some resistance. Bababalouk, supposing us to be still in the
palace, will guard its avenues for his own sake; and we shall soon
find, without the counsels of that blubberer Morakanabad, what
expedient may be the best to adopt."

Vathek, without making the least reply, acquiesced in his mother's

proposal, and repeated as he went: "Nefarious Giaour! where art
thou! hast thou not yet devoured those poor children? where are thy
sabres? thy golden key? thy talismans?"

Carathis, who guessed from these interrogations a part of the

truth, had no difficulty to apprehend in getting at the whole, as
soon as he should be a little composed in his tower. This princess
was so far from being influenced by scruples that she was as wicked
as woman could be, which is not saying a little, for the sex pique
themselves on their superiority in every competition. The recital
of the Caliph, therefore, occasioned neither terror nor surprise to
his mother; she felt no emotion but from the promises of the
Giaour, and said to her son: "This Giaour, it must be confessed,
is somewhat sanguinary in his taste, but the terrestrial powers are
always terrible; nevertheless, what the one hath promised and the
others can confer will prove a sufficient indemnification; no
crimes should be thought too dear for such a reward! forbear then
to revile the Indian; you have not fulfilled the conditions to
which his services are annexed; for instance, is not a sacrifice to
the subterranean Genii required? and should we not be prepared to
offer it as soon as the tumult is subsided? This charge I will
take on myself, and have no doubt of succeeding by means of your
treasures, which, as there are now so many others in store, may
without fear be exhausted."

Accordingly the princess, who possessed the most consummate skill

in the art of persuasion, went immediately back through the
subterranean passage; and presenting herself to the populace, from
a window of the palace, began to harangue them with all the address
of which she was mistress, whilst Bababalouk showered money from
both hands amongst the crowd, who by these united means were soon
appeased; every person retired to his home, and Carathis returned
to the tower.

Prayer at break of day was announced, when Carathis and Vathek

ascended the steps which led to the summit of the tower, where they
remained for some time, though the weather was lowering and wet.
This impending gloom corresponded with their malignant
dispositions; but when the sun began to break through the clouds
they ordered a pavilion to be raised, as a screen from the
intrusion of his beams. The Caliph, overcome with fatigue, sought
refreshment from repose, at the same time hoping that significant
dreams might attend on his slumbers; whilst the indefatigable
Carathis, followed by a party of her mutes, descended to prepare
whatever she judged proper for the oblation of the approaching
night.

By secret stairs, known only to herself and to her son, she first
repaired to the mysterious recesses in which were deposited the
mummies that had been brought from the catacombs of the ancient
Pharaohs; of these she ordered several to be taken. From thence
she resorted to a gallery where, under the guard of fifty female
negroes, mute and blind of the right eye, were preserved the oil of
the most venomous serpents, rhinoceros' horns, and woods of a
subtle and penetrating odour procured from the interior of the
Indies, together with a thousand other horrible rarities. This
collection had been formed for a purpose like the present by
Carathis herself, from a presentment that she might one day enjoy
some intercourse with the infernal powers to whom she had ever been
passionately attached, and to whose taste she was no stranger.
To familiarise herself the better with the horrors in view, the
princess remained in the company of her negresses, who squinted in
the most amiable manner from the only eye they had, and leered with
exquisite delight at the skulls and skeletons which Carathis had
drawn forth from her cabinets, whose key she entrusted to no one;
all of them making contortions, and uttering a frightful jargon,
but very amusing to the princess; till at last, being stunned by
their gibbering, and suffocated by the potency of their
exhalations, she was forced to quit the gallery, after stripping it
of a part of its treasures.

Whilst she was thus occupied, the Caliph, who, instead of the
visions he expected, had acquired in these insubstantial regions a
voracious appetite, was greatly provoked at the negresses; for,
having totally forgotten their deafness, he had impatiently asked
them for food, and seeing them regardless of his demand, he began
to cuff, pinch, and push them, till Carathis arrived to terminate a
scene so indecent, to the great content of these miserable
creatures, who, having been brought up by her, understood all her
signs, and communicated in the same way their thoughts in return.

"Son! what means all this?" said she, panting for breath. "I
thought I heard as I came up the shrieks of a thousand bats tearing
from their crannies in the recesses of a cavern; and it was the
outcry only of these poor mutes, whom you were so unmercifully
abusing. In truth you but ill deserve the admirable provision I
have brought you."

"Give it me instantly," exclaimed the Caliph; "I am perishing for

hunger!"

"As to that," answered she, "you must have an excellent stomach if

it can digest what I have been preparing."

"Be quick," replied the Caliph; "but, oh, heavens! what horrors!
what do you intend?"

"Come, come," returned Carathis, "be not so squeamish, but help me

to arrange everything properly, and you shall see that what you
reject with such symptoms of disgust will soon complete your
felicity. Let us get ready the pile for the sacrifice of to-night,
and think not of eating till that is performed; know you not that
all solemn rites are preceded by a rigorous abstinence?"

The Caliph, not daring to object, abandoned himself to grief and

the wind that ravaged his entrails, whilst his mother went forward
with the requisite operations. Phials of serpents' oil, mummies,
and bones were soon set in order on the balustrade of the tower;
the pile began to rise, and in three hours was as many cubits high.
At length darkness approached, and Carathis, having stripped
herself to her inmost garment, clapped her hands in an impulse of
ecstasy and struck light with all her force. The mutes followed
her example; but Vathek, extenuated with hunger and impatience, was
unable to support himself, and fell down in a swoon. The sparks
had already kindled the dry wood, the venomous oil burst into a
thousand blue flames, the mummies dissolving emitted a thick dun
vapour, and the rhinoceros' horns beginning to consume, all
together diffused such a stench, that the Caliph, recovering,
started from his trance, and gazed wildly on the scene in full
blaze around him. The oil gushed forth in a plenitude of streams;
and the negresses, who supplied it without intermission, united
their cries to those of the princess. At last the fire became so
violent, and the flames reflected from the polished marble so
dazzling, that the Caliph, unable to withstand the heat and the
blaze, effected his escape, and clambered up the imperial standard.

In the meantime the inhabitants of Samarah, scared at the light

which shone over the city, arose in haste, ascended their roofs,
beheld the tower on fire, and hurried half naked to the square.
Their love to their sovereign immediately awoke; and, apprehending
him in danger of perishing in his tower, their whole thoughts were
occupied with the means of his safety. Morakanabad flew from his
retirement, wiped away his tears, and cried out for water like the
rest. Bababalouk, whose olfactory nerves were more familiarised to
magical odours, readily conjecturing that Carathis was engaged in
her favourite amusements, strenuously exhorted them not to be
alarmed. Him, however, they treated as an old poltroon, and
forbore not to style him a rascally traitor. The camels and
dromedaries were advancing with water, but no one knew by which way
to enter the tower. Whilst the populace was obstinate in forcing
the doors a violent east wind drove such a volume of flame against
them, as at first forced them off, but afterwards re-kindled their
zeal; at the same time the stench of the horns and mummies
increasing, most of the crowd fell backward in a state of
suffocation; those that kept their feet mutually wondered at the
cause of the smell, and admonished each other to retire.
Morakanabad, more sick than the rest, remained in a piteous
condition; holding his nose with one hand, he persisted in his
efforts with the other to burst open the doors and obtain
admission. A hundred and forty of the strongest and most resolute
at length accomplished their purpose; having gained the staircase
by their violent exertions, they attained a great height in a
quarter of an hour.

Carathis, alarmed at the signs of her mutes, advanced to the

staircase, went down a few steps, and heard several voices calling
out from below: "You shall in a moment have water!" Being rather
alert, considering her age, she presently regained the top of the
tower, and bade her son suspend the sacrifice for some minutes,
adding: "We shall soon be enabled to render it more grateful;
certain dolts of your subjects, imagining no doubt that we were on
fire, have been rash enough to break through those doors which had
hitherto remained inviolate, for the sake of bringing up water;
they are very kind, you must allow, so soon to forget the wrongs
you have done them, but that is of little moment. Let us offer
them to the Giaour; let them come up; our mutes, who neither want
strength nor experience, will soon despatch them, exhausted as they
are with fatigue."

"Be it so," answered the Caliph, "provided we finish and I dine."

In fact, these good people, out of breath from ascending eleven

thousand stairs in such haste, and chagrined at having spilt by the
way the water they had taken, were no sooner arrived at the top
than the blaze of the flames and the fumes of the mummies at once
overpowered their senses. It was a pity; for they beheld not the
agreeable smile with which the mutes and the negresses adjusted the
cord to their necks; these amiable personages rejoiced, however, no
less at the scene; never before had the ceremony of strangling been
performed with so much facility; they all fell without the least
resistance or struggle, so that Vathek in the space of a few
moments found himself surrounded by the dead bodies of his
faithfullest subjects, all which were thrown on the top of the
pile.

Carathis, whose presence of mind never forsook her, perceiving that

she had carcases sufficient to complete her oblation, commanded the
chains to be stretched across the staircase, and the iron doors
barricaded, that no more might come up.

No sooner were these orders obeyed than the tower shook, the dead
bodies vanished in the flames, which at once changed from a swarthy
crimson to a bright rose colour; an ambient vapour emitted the most
exquisite fragrance, the marble columns rang with harmonious
sounds, and the liquefied horns diffused a delicious perfume.
Carathis, in transports, anticipated the success of her enterprise,
whilst her mutes and negresses, to whom these sweets had given the
colic, retired to their cells grumbling.

Scarcely were they gone when, instead of the pile, horns, mummies,
and ashes, the Caliph both saw and felt, with a degree of pleasure
which he could not express, a table covered with the most
magnificent repast; flagons of wine and vases of exquisite sherbet
floating on snow. He availed himself without scruple of such an
entertainment and had already laid hands on a lamb stuffed with
pistachios, whilst Carathis was privately drawing from a filigree
urn a parchment that seemed to be endless, and which had escaped
the notice of her son; totally occupied in gratifying an
importunate appetite he left her to peruse it without interruption,
which, having finished, she said to him in an authoritative tone,
"Put an end to your gluttony, and hear the splendid promises with
which you are favoured!" She then read as follows: "Vathek, my
well-beloved, thou hast surpassed my hopes; my nostrils have been
regaled by the savour of thy mummies, thy horns, and still more by
the lives devoted on the pile. At the full of the moon cause the
bands of thy musicians and thy tymbals to be heard; depart from thy
palace surrounded by all the pageants of majesty; thy most faithful
slaves, thy best beloved wives, thy most magnificent litters, thy
richest leaden camels, and set forward on thy way to Istakhar;
there await I thy coming; that is the region of wonders; there
shalt thou receive the diadem of Gian Ben Gian, the talismans of
Soliman, and the treasures of the Preadamite Sultans; there shalt
thou be solaced with all kinds of delight. But beware how thou
enterest any dwelling on thy route, or thou shalt feel the effects
of my anger."

The Caliph, who, notwithstanding his habitual luxury, had never

before dined with so much satisfaction, gave full scope to the joy
of these golden tidings, and betook himself to drinking anew.
Carathis, whose antipathy to wine was by no means insuperable,
failed not to supply a reason for every bumper, which they
ironically quaffed to the health of Mahomet. This infernal liquor
completed their impious temerity, and prompted them to utter a
profusion of blasphemies; they gave a loose to their wit at the
expense of the ass of Balaam, the dog of the seven sleepers, and
the other animals admitted into the paradise of Mahomet. In this
sprightly humour they descended the eleven thousand stairs,
diverting themselves as they went at the anxious faces they saw on
the square through the oilets of the tower, and at length arrived
at the royal apartments by the subterranean passage. Bababalouk
was parading to and fro, and issuing his mandates with great pomp
to the eunuchs, who were snuffing the lights and painting the eyes
of the Circassians. No sooner did he catch sight of the Caliph and
his mother than he exclaimed, "Hah! you have then, I perceive,
escaped from the flames; I was not, however, altogether out of
doubt."

"Of what moment is it to us what you thought, or think?" cried

Carathis; "go, speed, tell Morakanabad that we immediately want
him; and take care how you stop by the way to make your insipid
reflections."

Morakanabad delayed not to obey the summons, and was received by

Vathek and his mother with great solemnity; they told him, with an
air of composure and commiseration, that the fire at the top of the
tower was extinguished; but that it had cost the lives of the brave
people who sought to assist them.

"Still more misfortunes," cried Morakanabad, with a sigh. "Ah,

Commander of the Faithful, our holy Prophet is certainly irritated
against us! it behoves you to appease him."

"We will appease him hereafter!" replied the Caliph, with a smile
that augured nothing of good. "You will have leisure sufficient
for your supplications during my absence; for this country is the
bane of my health; I am disgusted with the mountain of the Four
Fountains, and am resolved to go and drink of the stream of
Rocnabad; I long to refresh myself in the delightful valleys which
it waters. Do you, with the advice of my mother, govern my
dominions, and take care to supply whatever her experiments may
demand; for you well know that our tower abounds in materials for
the advancement of science."

The tower but ill suited Morakanabad's taste. Immense treasures

had been lavished upon it; and nothing had he ever seen carried
thither but female negroes, mutes, and abominable drugs. Nor did
he know well what to think of Carathis, who, like a chameleon,
could assume all possible colours; her cursed eloquence had often
driven the poor Mussulman to his last shifts. He considered,
however, that if she possessed but few good qualities, her son had
still fewer; and that the alternative on the whole would be in her
favour. Consoled, therefore, with this reflection, he went in good
spirits to soothe the populace, and make the proper arrangements
for his master's journey.

Vathek, to conciliate the Spirits of the subterranean palace,

resolved that his expedition should be uncommonly splendid. With
this view he confiscated on all sides the property of his subjects,
whilst his worthy mother stripped the seraglios she visited of the
gems they contained. She collected all the sempstresses and
embroiderers of Samarah and other cities to the distance of sixty
leagues, to prepare pavilions, palanquins, sofas, canopies, and
litters for the train of the monarch. There was not left in
Masulipatam a single piece of chintz, and so much muslin had been
bought up to dress out Bababalouk and the other black eunuchs, that
there remained not an ell in the whole Irak of Babylon.

During these preparations Carathis, who never lost sight of her

great object, which was to obtain favour with the Powers of
Darkness, made select parties of the fairest and most delicate
ladies of the city; but in the midst of their gaiety she contrived
to introduce serpents amongst them, and to break pots of scorpions
under the table; they all bit to a wonder; and Carathis would have
left them to bite, were it not that, to fill up the time, she now
and then amused herself in curing their wounds with an excellent
anodyne of her own invention, for this good princess abhorred being
indolent.

Vathek, who was not altogether so active as his mother, devoted his
time to the sole gratification of his senses, in the palaces which
were severally dedicated to them; he disgusted himself no more with
the Divan or the Mosque. One half of Samarah followed his example,
whilst the other lamented the progress of corruption.

In the midst of these transactions the embassy returned which had

been sent in pious times to Mecca. It consisted of the most
reverend Moullahs, who had fulfilled their commission and brought
back one of those precious besoms which are used to sweep the
sacred Caaba: a present truly worthy of the greatest potentate on
earth!

The Caliph happened at this instant to be engaged in an apartment

by no means adapted to the reception of embassies, though adorned
with a certain magnificence, not only to render it agreeable, but
also because he resorted to it frequently, and stayed a
considerable time together. Whilst occupied in this retreat he
heard the voice of Bababalouk calling out from between the door and
the tapestry that hung before it: "Here are the excellent Mahomet
Ebn Edris al Shafei, and the seraphic Al Mouhadethin, who have
brought the besom from Mecca, and with tears of joy intreat they
may present it to your majesty in person."

"Let them bring the besom hither; it may be of use," said Vathek,
who was still employed, not having quite racked off his wine.

"How!" said Bababalouk, half aloud and amazed.

"Obey," replied the Caliph, "for it is my sovereign will; go

instantly, vanish; for here will I receive the good folk, who have
thus filled thee with joy."

The eunuch departed muttering, and bade the venerable train attend
him. A sacred rapture was diffused amongst these reverend old men.
Though fatigued with the length of their expedition, they followed
Bababalouk with an alertness almost miraculous, and felt themselves
highly flattered, as they swept along the stately porticoes, that
the Caliph would not receive them like ambassadors in ordinary in
his hall of audience. Soon reaching the interior of the harem
(where, through blinds of Persian, they perceived large soft eyes,
dark and blue, that went and came like lightning), penetrated with
respect and wonder, and full of their celestial mission, they
advanced in procession towards the small corridors that appeared to
terminate in nothing, but nevertheless led to the cell where the
Caliph expected their coming.

"What! is the Commander of the Faithful sick?" said Ebn Edris al

Shafei in a low voice to his companion.

"I rather think he is in his oratory," answered Al Mouhadethin.

Vathek, who heard the dialogue, cried out: "What imports it you
how I am employed? approach without delay."

They advanced, and Bababalouk almost sunk with confusion, whilst

the Caliph, without showing himself, put forth his hand from behind
the tapestry that hung before the door, and demanded of them the
besom. Having prostrated themselves as well as the corridor would
permit, and even in a tolerable semicircle, the venerable Al
Shafei, drawing forth the besom from the embroidered and perfumed
scarves in which it had been enveloped, and secured from the
profane gaze of vulgar eyes, arose from his associates, and
advanced, with an air of the most awful solemnity, towards the
supposed oratory; but with what astonishment! with what horror was
he seized! Vathek, bursting out into a villainous laugh, snatched
the besom from his trembling hand, and, fixing upon some cobwebs
that hung suspended from the ceiling, gravely brushed away till not
a single one remained. The old men, overpowered with amazement,
were unable to lift their heards from the ground; for, as Vathek
had carelessly left the tapestry between them half drawn, they were
witnesses to the whole transaction; their tears gushed forth on the
marble; Al Mouhadethin swooned through mortification and fatigue;
whilst the Caliph, throwing himself backward on his seat, shouted
and clapped his hands without mercy. At last, addressing himself
to Bababalouk: "My dear black," said he, "go, regale these pious
poor souls with my good wine from Shiraz; and, as they can boast of
having seen more of my palace than any one besides, let them also
visit my office courts, and lead them out by the back steps that go
to my stables." Having said this, he threw the besom in their
face, and went to enjoy the laugh with Carathis. Bababalouk did
all in his power to console the ambassadors, but the two most
infirm expired on the spot; the rest were carried to their beds,
from whence, being heart-broken with sorrow and shame, they never
arose.

The succeeding night Vathek, attended by his mother, ascended the

tower to see if everything were ready for his journey; for he had
great faith in the influence of the stars. The planets appeared in
their most favourable aspects. The Caliph, to enjoy so flattering
a sight, supped gaily on the roof, and fancied that he heard during
his repast loud shouts of laughter resound through the sky, in a
manner that inspired the fullest assurance.

All was in motion at the palace; lights were kept burning through
the whole of the night; the sound of implements and of artisans
finishing their work, the voices of women and their guardians who
sung at their embroidery, all conspired to interrupt the stillness
of nature and infinitely delight the heart of Vathek, who imagined
himself going in triumph to sit upon the throne of Soliman.

The people were not less satisfied than himself; all assisted to
accelerate the moment which should rescue them from the wayward
caprices of so extravagant a master.

The day preceding the departure of this infatuated prince was

employed by Carathis in repeating to him the decrees of the
mysterious parchment, which she had thoroughly gotten by heart, and
in recommending him not to enter the habitation of any one by the
way; "for well thou knowest," added she, "how liquorish thy taste
is after good dishes and young damsels; let me, therefore, enjoin
thee to be content with thy old cooks, who are the best in the
world, and not to forget that in thy ambulatory seraglio there are
three dozen pretty faces, which Bababalouk hath not yet unveiled.
I myself have a great desire to watch over thy conduct, and visit
the subterranean palace, which no doubt contains whatever can
interest persons like us; there is nothing so pleasing as retiring
to caverns; my taste for dead bodies and everything like mummy is
decided; and I am confident thou wilt see the most exquisite of
their kind. Forget me not, then, but the moment thou art in
possession of the talismans which are to open to thee the mineral
kingdoms and the centre of the earth itself, fail not to despatch
some trusty genius to take me and my cabinet, for the oil of the
serpents I have pinched to death will be a pretty present to the
Giaour, who cannot but be charmed with such dainties."

Scarcely had Carathis ended this edifying discourse when the sun,
setting behind the mountain of the Four Fountains, gave place to
the rising moon; this planet, being that evening at full, appeared
of unusual beauty and magnitude in the eyes of the women, the
eunuchs, and the pages, who were all impatient to set forward. The
city re-echoed with shouts of joy and flourishing of trumpets;
nothing was visible but plumes nodding on pavilions, and aigrets
shining in the mild lustre of the moon; the spacious square
resembled an immense parterre, variegated with the most stately
tulips of the East.

Arrayed in the robes which were only worn it the most distinguished
ceremonials, and supported by his Vizir and Bababalouk, the Caliph
descended the grand staircase of the tower in the sight of all his
people; he could not forbear pausing at intervals to admire the
superb appearance which everywhere courted his view, whilst the
whole multitude, even to the camels with their sumptuous burdens,
knelt down before him. For some time a general stillness
prevailed, which nothing happened to disturb but the shrill screams
of some eunuchs in the rear; these vigilant guards, having remarked
certain cages of the ladies swagging somewhat awry, and discovered
that a few adventurous gallants had contrived to get in, soon
dislodged the enraptured culprits. The majesty of so magnificent a
spectacle was not, however, violated by incidents like these.
Vathek meanwhile saluted the moon with an idolatrous air, that
neither pleased Morakanabad nor the Doctors of the Law, any more
than the vizirs and the grandees of his court, who were all
assembled to enjoy the last view of their sovereign.

At length the clarions and trumpets from the top of the tower
announced the prelude of departure; though the instruments were in
unison with each other, yet a singular dissonance was blended with
their sounds; this proceeded from Carathis, who was singing her
direful orisons to the Giaour, whilst the negresses and mutes
supplied thorough-base without articulating a word. The good
Mussulmans fancied that they heard the sullen hum of those
nocturnal insects which presage evil, and importuned Vathek to
beware how he ventured his sacred person.

On a given signal the great standard of the Califat was displayed,

twenty thousand lances shone around it, and the Caliph, treading
loyally on the cloth of gold which had been spread for his feet,
ascended his litter amidst the general awe that possessed his
subjects.

The expedition commenced with the utmost order and so entire a

silence, that even the locusts were heard from the thickets on the
plain of Catoul. Gaiety and good-humour prevailing, six good
leagues were past before the dawn; and the morning star was still
glittering in the firmament when the whole of this numerous train
had halted on the banks of the Tigris, where they encamped to
repose for the rest of the day.

The three days that followed were spent in the same manner; but on
the fourth the heavens looked angry, lightnings broke forth in
frequent flashes, re-echoing peals of thunder succeeded, and the
trembling Circassians clung with all their might to their ugly
guardians. The Caliph himself was greatly inclined to take shelter
in the large town of Gulchissar, the governor of which came forth
to meet him, and tendered every kind of refreshment the place could
supply; but, having examined his tablets, he suffered the rain to
soak him almost to the bone, notwithstanding the importunity of his
first favourites. Though he began to regret the palace of the
senses, yet he lost not sight of his enterprise, and his sanguine
expectations confirmed his resolution; his geographers were ordered
to attend him, but the weather proved so terrible that these poor
people exhibited a lamentable appearance; and, as no long journeys
had been undertaken since the time of Haroun al Raschid, their maps
of the different countries were in a still worse plight than
themselves; every one was ignorant which way to turn; for Vathek,
though well versed in the course of the heavens, no longer knew his
situation on earth; he thundered even louder than the elements, and
muttered forth certain hints of the bow-string, which were not very
soothing to literary ears. Disgusted at the toilsome weariness of
the way, he determined to cross over the craggy heights and follow
the guidance of a peasant, who undertook to bring him in four days
to Rocnabad. Remonstrances were all to no purpose; his resolution
was fixed, and an invasion commenced on the province of the goats,
who sped away in large troops before them. It was curious to view
on these half calcined rocks camels richly caparisoned, and
pavilions of gold and silk waving on their summits, which till then
had never been covered but with sapless thistles and fern.

The females and eunuchs uttered shrill wailings at the sight of the
precipices below them, and the dreary prospects that opened in the
vast gorges of the mountains. Before they could reach the ascent
of the steepest rock, night overtook them, and a boisterous tempest
arose, which, having rent the awnings of the palanquins and cages,
exposed to the raw gusts the poor ladies within, who had never
before felt so piercing a cold. The dark clouds that overcast the
face of the sky deepened the horrors of this disastrous night,
insomuch that nothing could be heard distinctly but the mewling of
pages and lamentations of sultanas.

To increase the general misfortune, the frightful uproar of wild

beasts resounded at a distance, and there were soon perceived, in
the forest they were skirting, the glaring of eyes which could
belong only to devils or tigers. The pioneers, who, as well as
they could, had marked out a track, and a part of the advanced
guard were devoured before they had been in the least apprized of
their danger. The confusion that prevailed was extreme; wolves,
tigers, and other carnivorous animals, invited by the howling of
their companions, flocked together from every quarter; the crashing
of bones was heard on all sides, and a fearful rush of wings
overhead, for now vultures also began to be of the party.

The terror at length reached the main body of the troops which
surrounded the monarch and his harem, at the distance of two
leagues from the scene. Vathek (voluptuously reposed in his
capacious litter upon cushions of silk, with two little pages
beside him of complexions more fair than the enamel of Franguestan,
who were occupied in keeping off flies) was soundly asleep, and
contemplating in his dreams the treasures of Soliman. The shrieks,
however, of his wives awoke him with a start, and, instead of the
Giaour with his key of gold, he beheld Bababalouk full of
consternation.

"Sire," exclaimed this good servant of the most potent of monarchs,

"misfortune is arrived at its height; wild beasts, who entertain no
more reverence for your sacred person than for that of a dead ass,
have beset your camels and their drivers; thirty of the richest
laden are already become their prey, as well as your confectioners,
your cooks, and purveyors; and, unless our holy Prophet should
protect us, we shall have all eaten our last meal."

At the mention of eating the Caliph lost all patience; he began to

bellow, and even beat himself (for there was no seeing in the
dark). The rumour every instant increased, and Bababalouk, finding
no good could be done with his master, stopped both his ears
against the hurly-burly of the harem, and called out aloud: "Come,
ladies and brothers! all hands to work! strike light in a moment!
never shall it be said that the Commander of the Faithful served to
regale these infidel brutes."

Though there wanted not in this bevy of beauties a sufficient

number of capricious and wayward, yet on the present occasion they
were all compliance; fires were visible in a twinkling in all their
cages; ten thousand torches were lighted at once; the Caliph
himself seized a large one of wax; every person followed his
example, and, by kindling ropes' ends dipped in oil and fastened on
poles, an amazing blaze was spread. The rocks were covered with
the splendour of sunshine; the trails of sparks wafted by the wind
communicated to the dry fern, of which there was plenty. Serpents
were observed to crawl forth from their retreats with amazement and
hissings, whilst the horses snorted, stamped the ground, tossed
their noses in the air, and plunged about without mercy.

One of the forests of cedar that bordered their way took fire, and
the branches that overhung the path, extending their flames to the
muslins and chintzes which covered the cages of the ladies, obliged
them to jump out, at the peril of their necks. Vathek, who vented
on the occasion a thousand blasphemies, was himself compelled to
touch with his sacred feet the naked earth.

Never had such an incident happened before. Full of mortification,

shame, and despondence, and not knowing how to walk, the ladies
fell into the dirt. "Must I go on foot?" said one; "Must I wet my
feet?" cried another; "Must I soil my dress?" asked a third;
"Execrable Bababalouk!" exclaimed all; "Outcast of hell! what hadst
thou to do with torches? Better were it to be eaten by tigers than
to fall into our present condition! we are for ever undone! Not a
porter is there in the army, nor a currier of camels, but hath seen
some part of our bodies, and, what is worse, our very faces!" On
saying this the most bashful amongst them hid their foreheads on
the ground, whist such as had more boldness flew at Bababalouk; but
he, well apprized of their humour, and not wanting in shrewdness,
betook himself to his heels along with his comrades, all dropping
their torches and striking their tymbals.

It was not less light than in the brightest of the dog-days, and
the weather was hot in proportion; but how degrading was the
spectacle, to behold the Caliph bespattered like an ordinary
mortal! As the exercise of his faculties seemed to be suspended,
one of his Ethiopian wives (for he delighted in variety) clasped
him in her arms, threw him upon her shoulder like a sack of dates,
and finding that the fire was hemming them in, set off with no
small expedition, considering the weight of her burden. The other
ladies, who had just learnt the use of their feet, followed her,
their guards galloped after, and the camel-drivers brought up the
rear as fast as their charge would permit.

They soon reached the spot where the wild beasts had commenced the
carnage, and which they had too much spirit to leave,
notwithstanding the approaching tumult and the luxurious supper
they had made; Bababalouk nevertheless seized on a few of the
plumpest, which were unable to budge from the place, and began to
flay them with admirable adroitness. The cavalcade being got so
far from the conflagration as that the heat felt rather grateful
than violent, it was immediately resolved on to halt. The tattered
chintzes were picked up, the scraps left by the wolves and tigers
interred, and vengeance was taken on some dozens of vultures that
were too much glutted to rise on the wing. The camels, which had
been left unmolested to make sal ammoniac, being numbered, and the
ladies once more enclosed in their cages, the imperial tent was
pitched on the levellest ground they could find.

Vathek, reposing upon a mattress of down, and tolerably recovered

from the jolting of the Ethiopian, who to his feelings seemed the
roughest trotting jade he had hitherto mounted, called out for
something to eat. But, alas! those delicate cakes which had been
baked in silver ovens for his royal mouth, those rich manchets,
amber comfits, flagons of Schiraz wine, porcelain vases of snow,
and grapes from the banks of the Tigris, were all irremediably
lost! And nothing had Bababalouk to present in their stead but a
roasted wolf, vultures a la daube, aromatic herbs of the most acrid
poignancy, rotten truffles, boiled thistles, and such other wild
plants as most ulcerate the throat and parch up the tongue. Nor
was he better provided in the article of drink, for he could
procure nothing to accompany these irritating viands but a few
vials of abominable brandy, which had been secreted by the
scullions in their slippers.

Vathek made wry faces at so savage a repast, and Bababalouk

answered them with shrugs and contortions; the Caliph, however, ate
with tolerable appetite, and fell into a nap that lasted six hours.
The splendour of the sun reflected from the white cliffs of the
mountains, in spite of the curtains that enclosed him, at length
disturbed his repose; he awoke terrified, and stung to the quick by
those wormwood-coloured flies, which emit from their wings a
suffocating stench. The miserable monarch was perplexed how to
act, though his wits were not idle in seeking expedients, whilst
Bababalouk lay snoring amidst a swarm of those insects, that busily
thronged to pay court to his nose. The little pages, famished with
hunger, had dropped their fans on the ground, and exerted their
dying voices in bitter reproaches on the Caliph, who now for the
first time heard the language of truth.
Thus stimulated, he renewed his imprecations against the Giaour,
and bestowed upon Mahomet some soothing expressions. "Where am I?"
cried he; "what are these dreadful rocks? these valleys of
darkness? are we arrived at the horrible Kaf? is the Simurgh coming
to pluck out my eyes, as a punishment for undertaking this impious
enterprise!" Having said this, he bellowed like a calf and turned
himself towards an outlet in the side of his pavilion; but, alas!
what objects occurred to his view! on one side a plain of black
sand that appeared to be unbounded, and on the other perpendicular
crags, bristled over with those abominable thistles which had so
severely lacerated his tongue. He fancied, however, that he
perceived, amongst the brambles and briers, some gigantic flowers,
but was mistaken; for these were only the dangling palampores and
variegated tatters of his gay retinue. As there were several
clefts in the rock from whence water seemed to have flowed, Vathek
applied his ear, with the hope of catching the sound of some latent
runnel, but could only distinguish the low murmurs of his people,
who were repining at their journey, and complaining for the want of
water.

"To what purpose," asked they, "have we been brought hither? Hath
our Caliph another tower to build? or have the relentless Afrits,
whom Carathis so much loves, fixed in this place their abode?"

At the name of Carathis Vathek recollected the tablets he had

received from his mother, who assured him they were fraught with
preternatural qualities, and advised him to consult them as
emergencies might require. Whilst he was engaged in turning them
over he heard a shout of joy and a loud clapping of hands; the
curtains of his pavilion were soon drawn back, and he beheld
Bababalouk, followed by a troop of his favourites, conducting two
dwarfs, each a cubit high, who brought between them a large basket
of melons, oranges, and pomegranates. They were singing in the
sweetest tones the words that follow:

"We dwell on the top of these rocks in a cabin of rushes and canes;
the eagles envy us our nest; a small spring supplies us with
Abdest, and we daily repeat prayers which the Prophet approves. We
love you, O Commander of the Faithful! our master, the good Emir
Fakreddin, loves you also; he reveres in your person the vicegerent
of Mahomet. Little as we are, in us he confides; he knows our
hearts to be good as our bodies are contemptible, and hath placed
us here to aid those who are bewildered on these dreary mountains.
Last night, whilst we were occupied within our cell in reading the
holy Koran, a sudden hurricane blew out our lights and rocked our
habitation; for two whole hours a palpable darkness prevailed, but
we heard sounds at a distance which we conjectured to proceed from
the bells of a Cafila passing over the rocks; our ears were soon
filled with deplorable shrieks, frightful roarings, and the sound
of tymbals. Chilled with terror, we concluded that the Deggial,
with his exterminating angels, had sent forth their plagues on the
earth. In the midst of these melancholy reflections we perceived
flames of the deepest red glow in the horizon, and found ourselves
in a few moments covered with flakes of fire; amazed at so strange
an appearance, we took up the volume dictated by the blessed
Intelligence, and, kneeling by the light of the fire that
surrounded us, we recited the verse which says: 'Put no trust in
anything but the mercy of Heaven; there is no help save in the holy
Prophet; the mountain of Kaf itself may tremble, it is the power of
Allah only that cannot be moved.' After having pronounced these
words we felt consolation, and our minds were hushed into a sacred
repose; silence ensued, and our ears clearly distinguished a voice
in the air, saying: 'Servants of my faithful servant! go down to
the happy valley of Fakreddin; tell him that an illustrious
opportunity now offers to satiate the thirst of his hospitable
heart. The Commander of true believers is this day bewildered
amongst these mountains, and stands in need of thy aid.' We obeyed
with joy the angelic mission, and our master, filled with pious
zeal, hath culled with his own hands these melons, oranges, and
pomegranates; he is following us with a hundred dromedaries laden
with the purest waters of his fountains, and is coming to kiss the
fringe of your consecrated robe, and implore you to enter his
humble habitation, which, placed amidst these barren wilds,
resembles an emerald set in lead." The dwarfs, having ended their
address, remained still standing, and, with hands crossed upon
their bosoms, preserved a respectful silence.

Vathek in the midst of this curious harangue, seized the basket,

and long before it was finished the fruits had dissolved in his
mouth; as he continued to eat his piety increased, and in the same
breath which recited his prayers he called for the Koran and sugar.

Such was the state of his mind when the tablets, which were thrown
by at the approach of the dwarfs, again attracted his eye; he took
them up, but was ready to drop on the ground when he beheld, in
large red characters, these words inscribed by Carathis, which were
indeed enough to make him tremble:

"Beware of thy old doctors, and their puny messengers of but one
cubit high; distrust their pious frauds, and, instead of eating
their melons, impale on a spit the bearers of them. Shouldst thou
be such a fool as to visit them, the portal of the subterranean
palace will be shut in thy face, and with such force as shall shake
thee asunder; thy body shall be spit upon, and bats will engender
in thy belly."

"To what tends this ominous rhapsody?" cries the Caliph. "And must
I then perish in these deserts with thirst, whilst I may refresh
myself in the valley of melons and cucumbers! Accursed be the
Giaour, with his portal of ebony! he hath made me dance attendance
too long already. Besides, who shall prescribe laws to me? I
forsooth must not enter any one's habitation! Be it so; but what
one can I enter that is not my own?"

Bababalouk, who lost not a syllable of this soliloquy, applauded it

with all his heart, and the ladies for the first time agreed with
him in opinion.

The dwarfs were entertained, caressed, and seated with great

ceremony on little cushions of satin. The symmetry of their
persons was the subject of criticism; not an inch of them was
suffered to pass unexamined; knick-knacks and dainties were offered
in profusion, but all were declined with respectful gravity. They
clambered up the sides of the Caliph's seat, and, placing
themselves each on one of his shoulders, began to whisper prayers
in his ears; their tongues quivered like the leaves of a poplar,
and the patience of Vathek was almost exhausted, when the
acclamations of the troops announced the approach of Fakreddin, who
was come with a hundred old grey-beards and as many Korans and
dromedaries; they instantly set about their ablutions, and began to
repeat the Bismillah; Vathek, to get rid of these officious
monitors, followed their example, for his hands were burning.

The good Emir, who was punctiliously religious, and likewise a

great dealer in compliments, made an harangue five times more
prolix and insipid than his harbingers had already delivered. The
Caliph, unable any longer to refrain, exclaimed -

"For the love of Mahomet, my dear Fakreddin, have done! let us

proceed to your valley, and enjoy the fruits that Heaven hath
vouchsafed you."

The hint of proceeding put all into motion; the venerable

attendants of the Emir set forward somewhat slowly, but Vathek,
having ordered his little pages in private to goad on the
dromedaries, loud fits of laughter broke forth from the cages, for
the unwieldy curvetting of these poor beasts, and the ridiculous
distress of their superannuated riders, afforded the ladies no
small entertainment.

They descended, however, unhurt into the valley, by the large steps
which the Emir had cut in the rock; and already the murmuring of
streams and the rustling of leaves began to catch their attention.
The cavalcade soon entered a path which was skirted by flowering
shrubs, and extended to a vast wood of palm-trees, whose branches
overspread a building of hewn stone. This edifice was crowned with
nine domes, and adorned with as many portals of bronze, on which
was engraven the following inscription: "This is the asylum of
pilgrims, the refuge of travellers, and the depository of secrets
for all parts of the world."

Nine pages, beautiful as the day, and clothed in robes of Egyptian

linen, very long and very modest, were standing at each door. They
received the whole retinue with an easy and inviting air. Four of
the most amiable placed the Caliph on a magnificent taktrevan, four
others, somewhat less graceful, took charge of Bababalouk, who
capered for joy at the snug little cabin that fell to his share;
the pages that remained waited on the rest of the train.

When everything masculine was gone out of sight the gate of a large
enclosure on the right turned on its harmonious hinges and a young
female of a slender form came forth; her light brown hair floated
in the hazy breeze of the twilight; a troop of young maidens, like
the Pleiades, attended her on tip-toe. They hastened to the
pavilions that contained the sultanas, and the young lady,
gracefully bending, said to them:

"Charming Princesses, everything is ready; we have prepared beds

for your repose, and strewed your apartments with jasmine; no
insects will keep off slumber from visiting your eyelids, we will
dispel them with a thousand plumes; come then, amiable ladies!
refresh your delicate feet and your ivory limbs in baths of rose
water; and, by the light of perfumed lamps your servants will amuse
you with tales."

The sultanas accepted with pleasure these obliging offers, and

followed the young lady to the Emir's harem, where we must for a
moment leave them, and return to the Caliph.

Vathek found himself beneath a vast dome, illuminated by a thousand

lamps of rock crystal; as many vases of the same material, filled
with excellent sherbet, sparkled on a large table, where a
profusion of viands were spread; amongst others were sweetbreads
stewed in milk of almonds, saffron soups, and lamb a la creme, of
all which the Caliph was amazingly fond. He took of each as much
as he was able, testified his sense of the Emir's friendship by the
gaiety of his heart, and made the dwarfs dance against their will,
for these little devotees durst not refuse the Commander of the
Faithful; at last he spread himself on the sofa, and slept sounder
than he had ever before.

Beneath this dome a general silence prevailed, for there was

nothing to disturb it but the jaws of Bababalouk, who had untrussed
himself to eat with greater advantage, being anxious to make amends
for his fast in the mountains. As his spirits were too high to
admit of his sleeping, and not loving to be idle, he proposed with
himself to visit the harem, and repair to his charge of the ladies,
to examine if they had been properly lubricated with the balm of
Mecca, if their eyebrows and tresses were in order, and, in a word,
to perform all the little offices they might need. He sought for a
long time together, but without being able to find out the door; he
durst not speak aloud, for fear of disturbing the Caliph, and not a
soul was stirring in the precincts of the palace; he almost
despaired of effecting his purpose, when a low whispering just
reached his ear; it came from the dwarfs who were returned to their
old occupation, and for the nine hundred and ninety-ninth time in
their lives, were reading over the Koran. They very politely
invited Bababalouk to be of their party, but his head was full of
other concerns. The dwarfs, though scandalised at his dissolute
morals, directed him to the apartments he wanted to find; his way
thither lay through a hundred dark corridors, along which he groped
as he went, and at last began to catch from the extremity of a
passage the charming gossiping of the women, which not a little
delighted his heart. "Ah, ha! what, not yet asleep!" cried he;
and, taking long strides as he spoke. "Did you not suspect me of
abjuring my charge? I stayed but to finish what my master had
left."

Two of the black eunuchs, on hearing a voice so loud, detached a

party in haste, sabre in hand, to discover the cause; but presently
was repeated on all sides: "'Tis only Bababalouk! no one but
Bababalouk!" This circumspect guardian, having gone up to a thin
veil of carnation-coloured silk that hung before the doorway,
distinguished, by means of the softened splendour that shone
through it, an oval bath of dark porphyry, surrounded by curtains
festooned in large folds; through the apertures between them, as
they were not drawn close, groups of young slaves were visible,
amongst whom Bababalouk perceived his pupils, indulgingly expanding
their arms, as if to embrace the perfumed water and refresh
themselves after their fatigues. The looks of tender languor,
their confidential whispers, and the enchanting smiles with which
they were imparted, the exquisite fragrance of the roses, all
combined to inspire a voluptuousness, which even Bababalouk himself
was scarce able to withstand.

He summoned up, however, his usual solemnity, and, in the

peremptory tone of authority, commanded the ladies instantly to
leave the bath. Whilst he was issuing these mandates the young
Nouronihar, daughter of the Emir, who was sprightly as an antelope,
and full of wanton gaiety, beckoned one of her slaves to let down
the great swing, which was suspended to the ceiling by cords of
silk, and whilst this was doing, winked to her companions in the
bath, who, chagrined to be forced from so soothing a state of
indolence, began to twist it round Bababalouk, and tease him with a
thousand vagaries.

When Nouronihar perceived that he was exhausted with fatigue, she

accosted him with an arch air of respectful concern, and said: "My
lord, it is not by any means decent that the chief eunuch of the
Caliph, our Sovereign, should thus continue standing; deign but to
recline your graceful person upon this sofa, which will burst with
vexation if it have not the honour to receive you."

Caught by these flattering accents, Bababalouk gallantly replied:

"Delight of the apple of my eye! I accept the invitation of thy
honeyed lips; and, to say truth, my senses are dazzled with the
radiance that beams from thy charms."

"Repose, then, at your ease," replied the beauty, and placed him on
the pretended sofa, which, quicker than lightning, gave way all at
once. The rest of the women, having aptly conceived her design,
sprang naked from the bath, and plied the swing with such
unmerciful jerks, that it swept through the whole compass of a very
lofty dome, and took from the poor victim all power of respiration;
sometimes his feet rased the surface of the water, and at others
the skylight almost flattened his nose; in vain did he pierce the
air with the cries of a voice that resembled the ringing of a
cracked basin, for their peals of laughter were still more
predominant.

Nouronihar, in the inebriety of youthful spirits, being used only

to eunuchs of ordinary harems, and having never seen anything so
royal and disgusting, was far more diverted than all of the rest;
she began to parody some Persian verses, and sang with an accent
most demurely piquant:

"O gentle white dove, as thou soar'st through the air,

Vouchsafe one kind glance on the mate of thy love;
Melodious Philomel, I am thy rose;
Warble some couplet to ravish my heart!"

The sultanas and their slaves, stimulated by these pleasantries,

persevered at the swing with such unremitted assiduity, that at
length the cord which had secured it snapped suddenly asunder, and
Bababalouk fell floundering like a turtle to the bottom of the
bath. This accident occasioned a universal shout; twelve little
doors, till now unobserved, flew open at once, and the ladies in an
instant made their escape, after throwing all the towels on his
head, and putting out the lights that remained.

The deplorable animal, in water to the chin, overwhelmed with

darkness, and unable to extricate himself from the wrap that
embarrassed him, was still doomed to hear for his further
consolation the fresh bursts of merriment his disaster occasioned.
He bustled, but in vain, to get from the bath, for the margin was
become so slippery with the oil spilt in breaking the lamps, that
at every effort he slid back with a plunge, which resounded aloud
through the hollow of the dome. These cursed peals of laughter at
every relapse were redoubled; and he, who thought the place
infested rather by devils than women, resolved to cease groping,
and abide in the bath, where he amused himself with soliloquies,
interspersed with imprecations, of which his malicious neighbours
reclining on down suffered not an accent to escape. In this
delectable plight the morning surprised him. The Caliph, wondering
at his absence, had caused him to be everywhere sought for. At
last he was drawn forth, almost smothered from the wisp of linen,
and wet even to the marrow. Limping and chattering his teeth, he
appeared before his master, who inquired what was the matter, and
how he came soused in so strange a pickle.

"And why did you enter this cursed lodge?" answered Bababalouk,
gruffly. "Ought a monarch like you to visit with his harem the
abode of a grey-bearded Emir, who knows nothing of life? And with
what gracious damsels doth the place, too, abound! Fancy to
yourself how they have soaked me like a burnt crust, and made me
dance like a jack-pudding the live-long night through, on their
damnable swing! What an excellent lesson for your sultanas to
follow, into whom I have instilled such reserve and decorum!"

Vathek, comprehending not a syllable of all this invective, obliged

him to relate minutely the transaction; but instead of sympathising
with the miserable sufferer, he laughed immoderately at the device
of the swing, and the figure of Bababalouk mounting upon it. The
stung eunuch could scarcely preserve the semblance of respect.

"Ay, laugh, my lord! laugh," said he; "but I wish this Nouronihar
would play some trick on you; she is too wicked to spare even
majesty itself."

Those words made for the present but a slight impression on the
Caliph; but they not long after recurred to his mind.

This conversation was cut short by Fakreddin, who came to request

that Vathek would join in the prayers and ablutions to be
solemnised on a spacious meadow, watered by innumerable streams.
The Caliph found the waters refreshing, but the prayers abominably
irksome; he diverted himself, however, with the multitude of
Calenders, Santons, and Dervises, who were continually coming and
going, but especially with the Brahmins, Fakirs, and other
enthusiasts, who had travelled from the heart of India, and halted
on their way with the Emir. These latter had, each of them, some
mummery peculiar to himself. One dragged a huge chain wherever he
went, another an ouranoutang, whilst a third was furnished with
scourges, and all performed to a charm; some clambered up trees,
holding one foot in the air; others poised themselves over a fire,
and without mercy filliped their noses. There were some amongst
them that cherished vermin, which were not ungrateful in requiting
their caresses. These rambling fanatics revolted the hearts of the
Dervises, the Calenders, and Santons; however, the vehemence of
their aversion soon subsided, under the hope that the presence of
the Caliph would cure their folly, and convert them to the
Mussulman faith; but, alas! how great was their disappointment! for
Vathek, instead of preaching to them, treated them as buffoons,
bade them present his compliments to Visnow and Ixhora, and
discovered a predilection for a squat old man from the isle of
Serendib, who was more ridiculous than any of the rest.

"Come!" said he, "for the love of your gods bestow a few slaps on
your chops to amuse me."

The old fellow, offended at such an address, began loudly to weep;

but, as he betrayed a villainous drivelling in his tears, the
Caliph turned his back and listened to Bababalouk, who whispered,
whilst he held the umbrella over him: "Your Majesty should be
cautious of this odd assembly which hath been collected I know not
for what. Is it necessary to exhibit such spectacles to a mighty
potentate, with interludes of Talapoins more mangy than dogs? Were
I you, I would command a fire to be kindled, and at once purge the
earth of the Emir, his harem, and all his menagerie."

"Tush, dolt!" answered Vathek; "and know that all this infinitely
charms me; nor shall I leave the meadow till I have visited every
hive of these pious mendicants."

Wherever the Caliph directed his course objects of pity were sure
to swarm round him: the blind, the purblind, smarts without noses,
damsels without ears, each to extol the munificence of Fakreddin,
who, as well as his attendant grey-beards, dealt about gratis
plasters and cataplasms to all that applied. At noon a superb
corps of cripples made its appearance, and soon after advanced by
platoons on the plain, the completest association of invalids that
had ever been embodied till then. The blind went groping with the
blind, the lame limped on together, and the maimed made gestures to
each other with the only arm that remained; the sides of a
considerable waterfall were crowded by the deaf, amongst whom were
some from Pegu with ears uncommonly handsome and large, but were
still less able to hear than the rest; nor were there wanting
others in abundance with humpbacks, wenny necks, and even horns of
an exquisite polish.

The Emir, to aggrandise the solemnity of the festival in honour of

his illustrious visitant, ordered the turf to be spread on all
sides with skins and table-cloths, upon which were served up for
the good Mussulmans pilaus of every line, with other orthodox
dishes; and, by the express order of Vathek, who was shamefully
tolerant, small plates of abominations for regaling the rest. This
prince, on seeing so many mouths put in motion, began to think it
time for employing his own; in spite, therefore, of every
remonstrance from the chief of his eunuchs, he resolved to have a
dinner dressed on the spot. The complaisant Emir immediately gave
orders for a table to be placed in the shade of the willows. The
first service consisted of fish, which they drew from a river
flowing over sands of gold at the foot of a lofty hill; these were
broiled as fast as taken, and served up with a sauce of vinegar,
and small herbs that grow on Mount Sinai; for everything with the
Emir was excellent and pious.

The dessert was not quite set on when the sound of lutes from the
hill was repeated by the echoes of the neighbouring mountains. The
Caliph, with an emotion of pleasure and surprise, had no sooner
raised up his head than a handful of jasmine dropped on his face;
an abundance of tittering succeeded the frolic, and instantly
appeared through the bushes the elegant forms of several young
females, skipping and bounding like roes. The fragrance diffused
from their hair struck the sense of Vathek, who, in an ecstasy,
suspending his repast, said to Bababalouk:

"Are the Peris come down from their spheres? Note her in
particular whose form is so perfect, venturously running on the
brink of the precipice, and turning back her head, as regardless of
nothing but the graceful flow of her robe; with what captivating
impatience doth she contend with the bushes for her veil! could it
be she who threw the jasmine at me?"

"Ay! she it was; and you too would she throw from the top of the
rock," answered Bababalouk; "for that is my good friend Nouronihar,
who so kindly lent me her swing; my dear lord and master," added
he, twisting a twig that hung by the rind from a willow, "let me
correct her for want of respect; the Emir will have no reason to
complain, since (bating what I owe to his piety) he is much to be
censured for keeping a troop of girls on the mountains, whose sharp
air gives their blood too brisk a circulation."

"Peace, blasphemer!" said the Caliph; "speak not thus of her who
over her mountains leads my heart a willing captive; contrive
rather that my eyes may be fixed upon hers, that I may respire her
sweet breath, as she bounds panting along these delightful wilds!"
On saying these words, Vathek extended his arms towards the hill,
and directing his eyes with an anxiety unknown to him before,
endeavoured to keep within view the object that enthralled his
soul; but her course was as difficult to follow as the flight of
one of those beautiful blue butterflies of Cashmere, which are at
once so volatile and rare.

The Caliph, not satisfied with seeing, wished also to hear

Nouronihar, and eagerly turned to catch the sound of her voice; at
last he distinguished her whispering to one of her companions
behind the thicket from whence she had thrown the jasmine: "A
Caliph, it must be owned, is a fine thing to see, but my little
Gulchenrouz is much more amiable; one lock of his hair is of more
value to me than the richest embroidery of the Indies; I had rather
that his teeth should mischievously press my finger than the
richest ring of the imperial treasure. Where have you left him,
Sutlememe? and why is he now not here?"

The agitated Caliph still wished to hear more, but she immediately
retired, with all her attendants; the fond monarch pursued her with
his eyes till she was gone out of sight, and then continued like a
bewildered and benighted traveller, from whom the clouds had
obscured the constellation that guided his way; the curtain of
night seemed dropped before him; everything appeared discoloured;
the falling waters filled his soul with dejection, and his tears
trickled down the jasmines he had caught from Nouronihar, and
placed in his inflamed bosom; he snatched up a shining pebble, to
remind him of the scene where he felt the first tumults of love.
Two hours were elapsed, and evening drew on before he could resolve
to depart from the place; he often, but in vain, attempted to go; a
soft languor enervated the powers of his mind; extending himself on
the brink of the stream, he turned his eyes towards the blue
summits of the mountain, and exclaimed: "What concealest thou
behind thee? what is passing in thy solitudes? Whither is she
gone? O Heaven! perhaps she is now wandering in thy grottos, with
her happy Gulchenrouz!"

In the meantime the damps began to descend, and the Emir,

solicitous for the health of the Caliph, ordered the imperial
litter to be brought. Vathek, absorbed in his reveries, was
imperceptibly removed, and conveyed back to the saloon that
received him the evening before.

But let us leave the Caliph, immersed in his new passion, and
attend Nouronihar beyond the rocks, where she had again joined her
beloved Gulchenrouz. This Gulchenrouz was the son of Ali Hassan,
brother to the Emir, and the most delicate and lovely creature in
the world. Ali Hassan, who had been absent ten years on a voyage
to the unknown seas, committed at his departure this child, the
only survivor of many, to the care and protection of his brother.
Gulchenrouz could write in various characters with precision, and
paint upon vellum the most elegant arabesques that fancy could
devise; his sweet voice accompanied the lute in the most enchanting
manner, and when he sang the loves of Megnoun and Leileh, or some
unfortunate lovers of ancient days, tears insensibly overflowed the
cheeks of his auditors; the verses he composed (for, like Megnoun,
he too was a poet) inspired that unresisting languor so frequently
fatal to the female heart; the women all doted upon him; for though
he had passed his thirteenth year, they still detained him in the
harem; his dancing was light as the gossamer waved by the zephyrs
of spring, but his arms, which twined so gracefully with those of
the young girls in the dance, could neither dart the lance in the
chase, nor curb the steeds that pastured his uncle's domains. The
bow, however, he drew with a certain aim, and would have excelled
his competitors in the race, could he have broken the ties that
bound him to Nouronihar.

The two brothers had mutually engaged their children to each other,
and Nouronihar loved her cousin more than her eyes; both had the
same tastes and amusements, the same long, languishing looks, the
same tresses, the same fair complexions, and when Gulchenrouz
appeared in the dress of his cousin he seemed to be more feminine
than even herself. If at any time he left the harem to visit
Fakreddin, it was with all the bashfulness of a fawn, that
consciously ventures from the lair of its dam; he was however,
wanton enough to mock the solemn old grey-beards to whom he was
subject, though sure to be rated without mercy in return; whenever
this happened he would plunge into the recesses of the harem, and
sobbing, take refuge in the arms of Nouronihar, who loved even his
faults beyond the virtues of others.

It fell out this evening that, after leaving the Caliph in the
meadow, she ran with Gulchenrouz over the green sward of the
mountain that sheltered the vale where Fakreddin had chosen to
reside. The sun was dilated on the edge of the horizon; and the
young people, whose fancies were lively and inventive, imagined
they beheld in the gorgeous clouds of the west the domes of
Shadukiam and Amberabad, where the Peris have fixed their abode.
Nouronihar, sitting on the slope of the hill, supported on her
knees the perfumed head of Gulchenrouz; the air was calm, and no
sound stirred but the voices of other young girls, who were drawing
cool water from the streams below. The unexpected arrival of the
Caliph, and the splendour that marked his appearance, had already
filled with emotion the ardent soul of Nouronihar; her vanity
irresistibly prompted her to pique the prince's attention, and this
she before took good care to effect whilst he picked up the jasmine
she had thrown upon him. But when Gulchenrouz asked after the
flowers he had culled for her bosom, Nouronihar was all in
confusion; she hastily kissed his forehead, arose in a flutter, and
walked with unequal steps on the border of the precipice. Night
advanced, and the pure gold of the setting sun had yielded to a
sanguine red, the glow of which, like the reflection of a burning
furnace, flushed Nouronihar's animated countenance. Gulchenrouz,
alarmed at the agitation of his cousin, said to her with a
supplicating accent:

"Let us be gone; the sky looks portentous, the tamarisks tremble

more than common, and the raw wind chills my very heart; come! let
us be gone; 'tis a melancholy night!"
Then, taking hold of her hand, he drew it towards the path he
besought her to go. Nouronihar unconsciously followed the
attraction, for a thousand strange imaginations occupied her
spirit; she passed the large round of honeysuckles, her favourite
resort, without ever vouchsafing it a glance, yet Gulchenrouz could
not help snatching off a few shoots in his way, though he ran as if
a wild beast were behind.

The young females seeing him approach in such haste, and according
to custom expecting a dance, instantly assembled in a circle, and
took each other by the hand; but Gulchenrouz, coming up out of
breath, fell down at once on the grass. This accident struck with
consternation the whole of this frolicsome party; whilst
Nouronihar, half distracted, and overcome, both by the violence of
her exercise and the tumult of her thoughts, sunk feebly down at
his side, cherished his cold hands in her bosom, and chafed his
temples with a fragrant unguent. At length he came to himself,
and, wrapping up his head in the robe of his cousin, entreated that
she would not return to the harem; he was afraid of being snapped
at by Shaban, his tutor, a wrinkled old eunuch of a surly
disposition; for having interrupted the stated walk of Nouronihar,
he dreaded lest the churl should take it amiss. The whole of this
sprightly group, sitting round upon a mossy knoll, began to
entertain themselves with various pastimes, whilst their
superintendents the eunuchs were gravely conversing at a distance.
The nurse of the Emir's daughter, observing her pupil sit
ruminating with her eyes on the ground, endeavoured to amuse her
with diverting tales, to which Gulchenrouz, who had already
forgotten his inquietudes, listened with a breathless attention; he
laughed, he clapped his hands, and passed a hundred little tricks
on the whole of the company, without omitting the eunuchs, whom he
provoked to run after him, in spite of their age and decrepitude.

During these occurrences the moon arose, the wind subsided, and the
evening became so serene and inviting, that a resolution was taken
to sup on the spot. Sutlememe, who excelled in dressing a salad,
having filled large bowls of porcelain with eggs of small birds,
curds turned with citron juice, slices of cucumber, and the inmost
leaves of delicate herbs, handed it round from one to another, and
gave each their shares in a large spoon of Cocknos. Gulchenrouz,
nestling as usual in the bosom of Nouronihar, pouted out his
vermilion little lips against the offer of Sutlememe, and would
take it only from the hand of his cousin, on whose mouth he hung
like a bee inebriated with the quintessence of flowers. One of the
eunuchs ran to fetch melons, whilst others were employed in
showering down almonds from the branches that overhung this amiable
party.

In the midst of this festive scene there appeared a light on the

top of the highest mountain, which attracted the notice of every
eye; this light was not less bright than the moon when at full, and
might have been taken for her, had it not been that the moon was
already risen. The phenomenon occasioned a general surprise, and
no one could conjecture the cause; it could not be a fire, for the
light was clear and bluish, nor had meteors ever been seen of that
magnitude or splendour. This strange light faded for a moment, and
immediately renewed its brightness; it first appeared motionless at
the foot of the rock, whence it darted in an instant to sparkle in
a thicket of palm-trees; from thence it glided along the torrent,
and at last fixed in a glen that was narrow and dark. The moment
it had taken its direction, Gulchenrouz, whose heart always
trembled at anything sudden or rare, drew Nouronihar by the robe,
and anxiously requested her to return to the harem; the women were
importunate in seconding the entreaty, but the curiosity of the
Emir's daughter prevailed; she not only refused to go back, but
resolved at all hazards to pursue the appearance. Whilst they were
debating what was best to be done, the light shot forth so dazzling
a blaze, that they all fled away shrieking; Nouronihar followed
them a few steps, but, coming to the turn of a little bye-path,
stopped, and went back alone; as she ran with an alertness peculiar
to herself, it was not long before she came to the place where they
had just been supping. The globe of fire now appeared stationary
in the glen, and burned in majestic stillness. Nouronihar,
compressing her hands upon her bosom, hesitated for some moments to
advance; the solitude of her situation was new, the silence of the
night awful, and every object inspired sensations which till then
she never had felt: the affright of Gulchenrouz recurred to her
mind, and she a thousand times turned to go back, but this luminous
appearance was always before her; urged on by an irresistible
impulse, she continued to approach it, in defiance of every
obstacle that opposed her progress.

At length she arrived at the opening of the glen; but, instead of

coming up to the light, she found herself surrounded by darkness,
excepting that at a considerable distance a faint spark glimmered
by fits. She stopped a second time; the sound of water-falls
mingling their murmurs, the hollow rustlings amongst the palm-
branches, and the funereal screams of the birds from their rifted
trunks, all conspired to fill her with terror; she imagined every
moment that she trod on some venomous reptile; all the stories of
malignant Dives and dismal Gouls thronged into her memory; but her
curiosity was, notwithstanding, more predominant than her fears;
she therefore firmly entered a winding track that led towards the
spark, but, being a stranger to the path, she had not gone far till
she began to repent of her rashness.

"Alas!" said she, "that I were but in those secure and illuminated
apartments where my evenings glided on with Gulchenrouz! Dear
child! how would thy heart flutter with terror wert thou wandering
in these wild solitudes like me!" At the close of this apostrophe
she regained her road, and, coming to steps hewn out in the rock,
ascended them undismayed; the light, which was now gradually
enlarging, appeared above her on the summit of the mountain; at
length she distinguished a plaintive and melodious union of voices,
proceeding from a sort of cavern, that resembled the dirges which
are sung over tombs; a sound, likewise, like that which arises from
the filling of baths, at the same time struck her ear; she
continued ascending, and discovered large wax torches in full blaze
planted here and there in the fissures of the rock; this
preparation filled her with fear, whilst the subtle and potent
odour which the torches exhaled caused her to sink almost lifeless
at the entrance of the grot.

Casting her eyes within in this kind of trance, she beheld a large
cistern of gold filled with a water, whose vapour distilled on her
face a dew of the essence of roses; a soft symphony resounded
through the grot; on the sides of the cistern she noticed
appendages of royalty, diadems, and feathers of the heron, all
sparkling with carbuncles; whilst her attention was fixed on this
display of magnificence, the music ceased, and a voice instantly
demanded:

"For what monarch were these torches kindled, this bath prepared,
and these habiliments, which belong, not only to the sovereigns of
the earth, but even to the Talismanic Powers?"

To which a second voice answered: "They are for the charming

daughter of the Emir Fakreddin."

"What," replied the first, "for that trifler, who consumes her time
with a giddy child, immersed in softness, and who at best can make
but an enervated husband?"

"And can she," rejoined the other voice, "be amused with such empty
trifles, whilst the Caliph, the sovereign of the world, he who is
destined to enjoy the treasures of the pre-adamite Sultans, a
prince six feet high, and whose eyes pervade the inmost soul of a
female, is inflamed with the love of her. No! she will be wise
enough to answer that passion alone that can aggrandise her glory;
no doubt she will, and despise the puppet of her fancy. Then all
the riches this place contains, as well as the carbuncle of
Giamschid, shall be hers."

"You judge right," returned the first voice, "and I haste to

Istakar to prepare the palace of subterranean fire for the
reception of the bridal pair."

The voices ceased, the torches were extinguished, the most entire
darkness succeeded, and Nouronihar, recovering with a start, found
herself reclined on a sofa in the harem of her father. She clapped
her hands, and immediately came together Gulchenrouz and her women,
who, in despair at having lost her, had despatched eunuchs to seek
her in every direction; Shaban appeared with the rest, and began to
reprimand her with an air of consequence:

"Little impertinent," said he, "whence got you false keys? or are
you beloved of some Genius that hath given you a pick-lock? I will
try the extent of your power; come, to your chamber! through the
two skylights; and expect not the company of Gulchenrouz; be
expeditious! I will shut you up in the double tower."

At these menaces Nouronihar indignantly raised her head, opened on

Shaban her black eyes, which, since the important dialogue of the
enchanted grot, were considerably enlarged, and said: "Go, speak
thus to slaves, but learn to reverence her who is born to give
laws, and subject all to her power."

She was proceeding in the same style, but was interrupted by a

sudden exclamation of "The Caliph! The Caliph!" The curtains at
once were thrown open, and the slaves prostrate in double rows,
whilst poor little Gulchenrouz hid himself beneath the elevation of
a sofa. At first appeared a file of black eunuchs, trailing after
them long trains of muslin embroidered with gold, and holding in
their hands censers, which dispensed as they passed the grateful
perfume of the wood of aloes; next marched Bababalouk with a solemn
strut, and tossing his head as not over-pleased at the visit;
Vathek came close after, superbly robed; his gait was unembarrassed
and noble, and his presence would have engaged admiration, though
he had not been the sovereign of the world; he approached
Nouronihar with a throbbing heart, and seemed enraptured at the
full effulgence of her radiant eyes, of which he had before caught
but a few glimpses; but she instantly depressed them, and her
confusion augmented her beauty.

Bababalouk, who was a thorough adept in coincidences of this

nature, and knew that the worst game should be played with the best
face, immediately made a signal for all to retire; and no sooner
did he perceive beneath the sofa the little one's feet, than he
drew him forth without ceremony, set him upon his shoulders, and
lavished on him as he went off a thousand odious caresses;
Gulchenrouz cried out, and resisted till his cheeks became the
colour of the blossom of the pomegranate, and the tears that
started into his eyes shot forth a gleam of indignation; he cast a
significant glance at Nouronihar, which the Caliph noticing, asked:
"Is that then your Gulchenrouz?"

"Sovereign of the world?" answered she, "spare my cousin, whose

innocence and gentleness deserve not your anger."

"Take comfort," said Vathek, with a smile; "he is in good hands.

Bababalouk is fond of children, and never goes without sweetmeats
and comfits."

The daughter of Fakreddin was abashed, and suffered Gulchenrouz to

be borne away without adding a word. The tumult of her bosom
betrayed her confusion; and Vathek, becoming still more
impassioned, gave a loose to his frenzy, which had only not subdued
the last faint strugglings of reluctance, when the Emir, suddenly
bursting in, threw his face upon the ground at the feet of the
Caliph, and said:

"Commander of the Faithful! abase not yourself to the meanness of

your slave."

"No, Emir," replied Vathek; "I raise her to an equality with

myself; I declare her my wife, and the glory of your race shall
extend from one generation to another."

"Alas! my lord," said Fakreddin, as he plucked off the honours of

his beard, "cut short the days of your faithful servant, rather
than force him to depart from his word. Nouronihar, as her hands
evince, is solemnly promised to Gulchenrouz, the son of my brother
Ali Hassan; they are united also in heart, their faith is mutually
plighted, and affiances so sacred cannot be broken."

"What then!" replied the Caliph, bluntly, "would you surrender this
divine beauty to a husband more womanish than herself? and can you
imagine that I will suffer her charms to decay in hands so
inefficient and nerveless? No! she is destined to live out her
life within my embraces: such is my will; retire, and disturb not
the time I devote to the homage of her charms."

The irritated Emir drew forth his sabre, presented it to Vathek,

and stretching out his neck, said in a firm tone of voice: "Strike
your unhappy host, my lord! he has lived long enough, since he hath
seen the Prophet's Vicegerent violate the rites of hospitality."

At his uttering these words Nouronihar, unable to support any

longer the conflict of her passions, sank down in a swoon. Vathek,
both terrified for her life and furious at an opposition to his
will, bade Fakreddin assist his daughter, and withdrew, darting his
terrible look at the unfortunate Emir, who suddenly fell backward,
bathed in a sweat cold as the damp of death.

Gulchenrouz, who had escaped from the hands of Bababalouk, and was
that instant returned, called out for help as loudly as he could,
not having strength to afford it himself. Pale and panting, the
poor child attempted to revive Nouronihar by caresses; and it
happened that the thrilling warmth of his lips restored her to
life. Fakreddin beginning also to recover from the look of the
Caliph, with difficulty tottered to a seat, and after warily
casting round his eye to see if this dangerous prince was gone,
sent for Shaban and Sutlememe, and said to them apart:

"My friends! violent evils require as violent remedies; the Caliph

has brought desolation and horror into my family, and how shall we
resist his power? another of his looks will send me to my grave.
Fetch then that narcotic powder which the Dervish brought me from
Aracan; a dose of it, the effect of which will continue three days,
must be administered to each of these children; the Caliph will
believe them to be dead, for they will have all the appearance of
death; we shall go as if to inter them in the cave of Meimoune, at
the entrance of the great desert of sand, and near the cabin of my
dwarfs. When all the spectators shall be withdrawn, you, Shaban,
and four select eunuchs, shall convey them to the lake, where
provisions shall be ready to support them a month; for one day
allotted to the surprise this event will occasion, five to the
tears, a fortnight to reflection, and the rest to prepare for
renewing his progress, will, according to my calculation, fill up
the whole time that Vathek will tarry, and I shall then be freed
from his intrusion."

"Your plan," said Sutlememe, "is a good one, if it can but be

effected. I have remarked that Nouronihar is well able to support
the glances of the Caliph, and that he is far from being sparing of
them to her; be assured, therefore, notwithstanding her fondness
for Gulchenrouz, she will never remain quiet while she knows him to
be here, unless we can persuade her that both herself and
Gulchenrouz are really dead, and that they were conveyed to those
rocks for a limited season to expiate the little faults of which
their love was the cause; we will add that we killed ourselves in
despair, and that your dwarfs, whom they never yet saw, will preach
to them delectable sermons. I will engage that everything shall
succeed to the bent of your wishes."

"Be it so!" said Fakreddin. "I approve your proposal; let us lose
not a moment to give it effect."

They forthwith hastened to seek for the powder, which, being mixed
in a sherbet, was immediately drank by Gulchenrouz and Nouronihar.
Within the space of an hour both were seized with violent
palpitations, and a general numbness gradually ensued; they arose
from the floor, where they had remained ever since the Caliph's
departure, and, ascending to the sofa, reclined themselves at full
length upon it, clasped in each other's embraces.

"Cherish me, my dear Nouronihar!" said Gulchenrouz; "put thy hand

upon my heart, for it feels as if it were frozen. Alas! thou art
as cold as myself! Hath the Caliph murdered us both with his
terrible look?"
"I am dying!" cried she in a faltering voice; "press me closer; I
am ready to expire!"

"Let us die then together," answered the little Gulchenrouz, whilst

his breast laboured with a convulsive sigh; "let me at least
breathe forth my soul on thy lips!" They spoke no more, and became
as dead.

Immediately the most piercing cries were heard through the harem,
whilst Shaban and Sutlememe personated with great adroitness the
parts of persons in despair. The Emir, who was sufficiently
mortified to be forced into such untoward expedients, and had now
for the first time made a trial of his powder, was under no
necessity of counterfeiting grief. The slaves, who had flocked
together from all quarters, stood motionless at the spectacle
before them; all lights were extinguished save two lamps, which
shed a wan glimmering over the faces of these lovely flowers, that
seemed to be faded in the spring-time of life; funeral vestments
were prepared, their bodies were washed with rose-water, their
beautiful tresses were braided and incensed, and they were wrapped
in simars whiter than alabaster. At the moment that their
attendants were placing two wreaths of their favourite jasmines on
their brows, the Caliph, who had just heard of the tragical
catastrophe, arrived; he looked not less pale and haggard than the
Gouls, that wander at night among graves; forgetful of himself and
every one else, he broke through the midst of the slaves, fell
prostrate at the foot of the sofa, beat his bosom, called himself
"atrocious murderer!" and invoked upon his head a thousand
imprecations; with a trembling hand he raised the veil that covered
the countenance of Nouronihar, and, uttering a loud shriek, fell
lifeless on the floor. The chief of the eunuchs dragged him off
with horrible grimaces, and repeated as he went: "Ay, I foresaw
she would play you some ungracious turn!"

No sooner was the Caliph gone than the Emir commanded biers to be
brought, and forbad that any one should enter the harem. Every
window was fastened, all instruments of music were broken, and the
Imams began to recite their prayers; towards the close of this
melancholy day Vathek sobbed in silence, for they had been forced
to compose with anodynes his convulsions of rage and desperation.

At the dawn of the succeeding morning the wide folding doors of the
palace were set open, and the funeral procession moved forward for
the mountain. The wailful cries of "La Ilah illa Allah!" reached
to the Caliph, who was eager to cicatrise himself and attend the
ceremonial; nor could he have been dissuaded, had not his excessive
weakness disabled him from walking; at the few first steps he fell
on the ground, and his people were obliged to lay him on a bed,
where he remained many days in such a state of insensibility, as
excited compassion in the Emir himself.

When the procession was arrived at the grot of Meimoune, Shaban and
Sutlememe dismissed the whole of the train, excepting the four
confidential eunuchs who were appointed to remain. After resting
some moments near the biers, which had been left in the open air,
they caused them to be carried to the brink of a small lake, whose
banks were overgrown with a hoary moss; this was the great resort
of herons and storks, which preyed continually on little blue
fishes. The dwarfs, instructed by the Emir, soon repaired thither,
and, with the help of the eunuchs, began to construct cabins of
rushes and reeds, a work in which they had admirable skill; a
magazine also was contrived for provisions, with a small oratory
for themselves, and a pyramid of wood neatly piled, to furnish the
necessary fuel, for the air was bleak in the hollows of the
mountains.

At evening two fires were kindled on the brink of the lake, and the
two lovely bodies, taken from their biers, were carefully deposited
upon a bed of dried leaves within the same cabin. The dwarfs began
to recite the Koran with their clear shrill voices, and Shaban and
Sutlememe stood at some distance, anxiously waiting the effects of
the powder. At length Nouronihar and Gulchenrouz faintly stretched
out their arms, and gradually opening their eyes, began to survey
with looks of increasing amazement every object around them; they
even attempted to rise, but for want of strength fell back again;
Sutlememe on this administered a cordial, which the Emir had taken
care to provide.

Gulchenrouz, thoroughly aroused, sneezed out aloud, and raising

himself with an effort that expressed his surprise, left the cabin,
and inhaled the fresh air with the greatest avidity.

"Yes," said he, "I breathe again! again do I exist! I hear sounds!
I behold a firmament spangled over with stars!"

Nouronihar, catching these beloved accents, extricated herself from

the leaves, and ran to clasp Gulchenrouz to her bosom. The first
objects she remarked were their long simars, their garlands of
flowers, and their naked feet; she hid her face in her hands to
reflect; the vision of the enchanted bath, the despair of her
father, and, more vividly than both, the majestic figure of Vathek
recurred to her memory; she recollected also that herself and
Gulchenrouz had been sick and dying; but all these images
bewildered her mind. Not knowing where she was, she turned her
eyes on all sides, as if to recognise the surrounding scene; this
singular lake, those flames reflected from its glassy surface, the
pale hues of its banks, the romantic cabins, the bulrushes that
sadly waved their drooping heads, the storks whose melancholy cries
blended with the shrill voices of the dwarfs, everything conspired
to persuade them that the Angel of Death had opened the portal of
some other world.

Gulchenrouz on his part, lost in wonder, clung to the neck of his

cousin: he believed himself in the region of phantoms, and was
terrified at the silence she preserved; at length addressing her:

"Speak," said he, "where are we? do you not see those spectres that
are stirring the burning coals? are they Monker and Nakir, come to
throw us into them? does the fatal bridge cross this lake, whose
solemn stillness perhaps conceals from us an abyss, in which for
whole ages we shall be doomed incessantly to sink?"

"No, my children!" said Sutlememe, going towards them, "take

comfort! the exterminating Angel, who conducted our souls hither
after yours, hath assured us that the chastisement of your indolent
and voluptuous life shall be restricted to a certain series of
years, which you must pass in this dreary abode, where the sun is
scarcely visible, and where the soil yields neither fruits nor
flowers. These," continued she, pointing to the dwarfs, "will
provide for our wants, for souls so mundane as ours retain too
strong a tincture of their earthly extraction; instead of meats
your food will be nothing but rice, and your bread shall be
moistened in the fogs that brood over the surface of the lake."

At this desolating prospect the poor children burst into tears, and
prostrated themselves before the dwarfs, who perfectly supported
their characters, and delivered an excellent discourse of a
customary length upon the sacred camel, which after a thousand
years was to convey them to the paradise of the faithful.

The sermon being ended, and ablutions performed, they praised Allah
and the Prophet, supped very indifferently, and retired to their
withered leaves. Nouronihar and her little cousin consoled
themselves on finding that, though dead, they yet lay in one cabin.
Having slept well before, the remainder of the night was spent in
conversation on what had befallen them, and both, from a dread of
apparitions, betook themselves for protection to one another's
arms.

In the morning, which was lowering and rainy, the dwarfs mounted
high poles like minarets, and called them to prayers; the whole
congregation, which consisted of Sutlememe, Shaban, the four
eunuchs, and some storks, were already assembled. The two children
came forth from their cabin with a slow and dejected pace; as their
minds were in a tender and melancholy mood, their devotions were
performed with fervour. No sooner were they finished, than
Gulchenrouz demanded of Sutlememe and the rest, "how they happened
to die so opportunely for his cousin and himself."
"We killed ourselves," returned Sutlememe, "in despair at your
death."

On this, said Nouronihar, who, notwithstanding what was past, had

not yet forgotten her vision: "And the Caliph! is he also dead of
his grief? and will he likewise come hither?"

The dwarfs, who were prepared with an answer, most demurely

replied: "Vathek is damned beyond all redemption!"

"I readily believe so," said Gulchenrouz, "and I am glad from my

heart to hear it; for I am convinced it was his horrible look that
sent us hither to listen to sermons and mess upon rice."

One week passed away on the side of the lake unmarked by any
variety; Nouronihar ruminating on the grandeur of which death had
deprived her, and Gulchenrouz applying to prayers and to panniers,
along with the dwarfs, who infinitely pleased him.

Whilst this scene of innocence was exhibiting in the mountains, the

Caliph presented himself to the Emir in a new light; the instant he
recovered the use of his senses, with a voice that made Bababalouk
quake, he thundered out: "Perfidious Giaour! I renounce thee for
ever! it is thou who hast slain my beloved Nouronihar! and I
supplicate the pardon of Mahomet, who would have preserved her to
me had I been more wise; let water be brought to perform my
ablutions, and let the pious Fakreddin be called to offer up his
prayers with mine, and reconcile me to him; afterwards we will go
together and visit the sepulchre of the unfortunate Nouronihar; I
am resolved to become a hermit, and consume the residue of my days
on this mountain, in hope of expiating my crimes."

Nouronihar was not altogether so content, for though she felt a

fondness for Gulchenrouz, who, to augment the attachment, had been
left at full liberty with her, yet she still regarded him as but a
bauble, that bore no competition with the carbuncle of Giamschid.
At times she indulged doubts on the mode of her being, and scarcely
could believe that the dead had all the wants and the whims of the
living. To gain satisfaction, however, on so perplexing a topic,
she arose one morning whilst all were asleep, with a breathless
caution, from the side of Gulchenrouz, and, after having given him
a soft kiss, began to follow the windings of the lake till it
terminated with a rock, whose top was accessible, though lofty;
this she clambered up with considerable toil, and having reached
the summit, set forward in a run, like a doe that unwittingly
follows her hunter; though she skipped along with the alertness of
an antelope, yet at intervals she was forced to desist, and rest
beneath the tamarisks to recover her breath. Whilst she, thus
reclined, was occupied with her little reflections on the
apprehension that she had some knowledge of the place, Vathek, who,
finding himself that morning but ill at ease, had gone forth before
the dawn, presented himself on a sudden to her view; motionless
with surprise, he durst not approach the figure before him, which
lay shrouded up in a simar, extended on the ground, trembling and
pale, but yet lovely to behold. At length Nouronihar, with a
mixture of pleasure and affliction, raising her fine eyes to him,
said: "My lord, are you come hither to eat rice and hear sermons
with me?"

"Beloved phantom!" cried Vathek; "dost thou speak? hast thou the
same graceful form? the same radiant features? art thou palpable
likewise?" and, eagerly embracing her, added: "here are limbs and
a bosom animated with a gentle warmth! what can such a prodigy
mean?"

Nouronihar with diffidence answered: "You know, my lord, that I

died on the night you honoured me with your visit; my cousin
maintains it was from one of your glances, but I cannot believe
him; for to me they seem not so dreadful. Gulchenrouz died with
me, and we were both brought into a region of desolation, where we
are fed with a wretched diet. If you be dead also, and are come
hither to join us, I pity your lot; for you will be stunned with
the noise of the dwarfs and the storks; besides, it is mortifying
in the extreme that you, as well as myself, should have lost the
treasures of the subterranean palace."

At the mention of the subterranean palace the Caliph suspended his

caresses, to seek from Nouronihar an explanation of her meaning.
She then recapitulated her vision, what immediately followed, and
the history of her pretended death, adding also a description of
the place of expiation from whence she had fled, and all in a
manner that would have extorted his laughter, had not the thoughts
of Vathek been too deeply engaged. No sooner, however, had she
ended, than he again clasped her to his bosom, and said:

"Light of my eyes! the mystery is unravelled; we both are alive!

your father is a cheat, who, for the sake of dividing, hath deluded
us both; and the Giaour, whose design, as far as I can discover, is
that we shall proceed together, seems scarce a whit better; it
shall be some time at least before he find us in his palace of
fire. Your lovely little person in my estimation is far more
precious than all the treasures of the pre-adamite Sultans, and I
wish to possess it at pleasure, and in open day, for many a moon,
before I go to burrow underground like a mole. Forget this little
trifler, Gulchenrouz, and--"

"Ah! my lord!" interposed Nouronihar, "let me entreat that you do

him no evil."

"No, no!" replied Vathek, "I have already bid you forbear to alarm
yourself for him; he has been brought up too much on milk and sugar
to stimulate my jealousy; we will leave him with the dwarfs, who,
by the bye, are my old acquaintances; their company will suit him
far better than yours. As to other matters, I will return no more
to your father's; I want not to have my ears dinned by him and his
dotards with the violation of the rites of hospitality; as if it
were less an honour for you to espouse the sovereign of the world
than a girl dressed up like a boy!"

Nouronihar could find nothing to oppose in a discourse so eloquent;

she only wished the amorous monarch had discovered more ardour for
the carbuncle of Giamschid; but flattered herself it would
gradually increase, and therefore yielded to his will with the most
bewitching submission.

When the Caliph judged it proper, he called for Bababalouk, who was
asleep in the cave of Meimoune, and dreaming that the phantom of
Nouronihar, having mounted him once more on her swing, had just
given him such a jerk, that he one moment soared above the
mountains, and the next sunk into the abyss; starting from his
sleep at the voice of his master, he ran gasping for breath, and
had nearly fallen backward at the sight, as he believed, of the
spectre by whom he had so lately been haunted in his dream.

"Ah, my lord!" cried he, recoiling ten steps, and covering his eyes
with both hands: "do you then perform the office of a Goul? 'tis
true you have dug up the dead, yet hope not to make her your prey;
for after all she hath caused me to suffer, she is even wicked
enough to prey upon you."

"Cease thy folly," said Vathek, "and thou shalt soon be convinced
that it is Nouronihar herself, alive and well, whom I clasp to my
breast; go only and pitch my tents in the neighbouring valley;
there will I fix my abode with this beautiful tulip, whose colours
I soon shall restore; there exert thy best endeavours to procure
whatever can augment the enjoyments of life, till I shall disclose
to thee more of my will."

The news of so unlucky an event soon reached the ears of the Emir,
who abandoned himself to grief and despair, and began, as did all
his old grey-beards, to begrime his visage with ashes. A total
supineness ensued, travellers were no longer entertained, no more
plaisters were spread, and, instead of the charitable activity that
had distinguished this asylum, the whole of its inhabitants
exhibited only faces of a half cubit long, and uttered groans that
accorded with their forlorn situation

Though Fakreddin bewailed his daughter as lost to him for ever, yet
Gulchenrouz was not forgotten. He despatched immediate instruction
to Sutlememe, Shaban, and the dwarfs, enjoining them not to
undeceive the child in respect to his state, but, under some
pretence, to convey him far from the lofty rock at the extremity of
the lake, to a place which he should appoint, as safer from danger;
for he suspected that Vathek intended him evil.

Gulchenrouz in the meanwhile was filled with amazement at not

finding his cousin; nor were the dwarfs at all less surprised; but
Sutlememe, who had more penetration, immediately guessed what had
happened. Gulchenrouz was amused with the delusive hope of once
more embracing Nouronihar in the interior recesses of the
mountains, where the ground, strewed over with orange blossoms and
jasmines, offered beds much more inviting than the withered leaves
in their cabin, where they might accompany with their voices the
sounds of their lutes, and chase butterflies in concert. Sutlememe
was far gone in this sort of description, when one of the four
eunuchs beckoned her aside to apprise her of the arrival of a
messenger from their fraternity, who had explained the secret of
the flight of Nouronihar, and brought the commands of the Emir. A
council with Shaban and the dwarfs was immediately held; their
baggage being stowed in consequence of it, they embarked in a
shallop, and quietly sailed with the little one, who acquiesced in
all their proposals; their voyage proceeded in the same manner till
they came to the place where the lake sinks beneath the hollow of
the rock; but as soon as the bark had entered it, and Gulchenrouz
found himself surrounded with darkness, he was seized with a
dreadful consternation, and incessantly uttered the most piercing
outcries; for he now was persuaded he should actually be damned for
having taken too much freedom in his life-time with his cousin.

But let us return to the Caliph and her who ruled over his heart.
Bababalouk had pitched the tents, and closed up the extremities of
the valley with magnificent screens of India cloth, which were
guarded by Ethiopian slaves with their drawn sabres; to preserve
the verdure of this beautiful enclosure in its natural freshness,
the white eunuchs went continually round it with their red water-
vessels. The waving of fans was heard near the imperial pavilion,
where, by the voluptuous light that glowed through the muslins, the
Caliph enjoyed at full view all the attractions of Nouronihar.
Inebriated with delight, he was all ear to her charming voice,
which accompanied the lute; while she was not less captivated with
his descriptions of Samarah and the tower full of wonders, but
especially with his relation of the adventure of the ball, and the
chasm of the Giaour, with its ebony portal.

In this manner they conversed for a day and a night; they bathed
together in a basin of black marble, which admirably relieved the
fairness of Nouronihar. Bababalouk, whose good graces this beauty
had regained, spared no attention that their repasts might be
served up with the minutest exactness; some exquisite rarity was
ever placed before them; and he sent even to Schiraz for that
fragrant and delicious wine which had been hoarded up in bottles
prior to the birth of Mahomet; he had excavated little ovens in the
rock to bake the nice manchets which were prepared by the hands of
Nouronihar, from whence they had derived a flavour so grateful to
Vathek, that he regarded the ragouts of his other wives as entirely
mawkish; whilst they would have died at the Emir's of chagrin at
finding themselves so neglected, if Fakreddin, notwithstanding his
resentment, had not taken pity upon them.

The Sultana Dilara, who till then had been the favourite, took this
dereliction of the Caliph to heart with a vehemence natural to her
character, for during her continuance in favour she had imbibed
from Vathek many of his extravagant fancies, and was filed with
impatience to behold the superb tombs of Istakar, and the palace of
forty columns; besides, having been brought up amongst the Magi,
she had fondly cherished the idea of the Caliph's devoting himself
to the worship of fire; thus his voluptuous and desultory life with
her rival was to her a double source of affliction. The transient
piety of Vathek had occasioned her some serious alarms, but the
present was an evil of far greater magnitude; she resolved,
therefore, without hesitation, to write to Carathis, and acquaint
her that all things went ill; that they had eaten, slept, and
revelled at an old Emir's, whose sanctity was very formidable, and
that after all, the prospect of possessing the treasures of the
pre-adamite Sultans was no less remote than before. This letter
was entrusted to the care of two wood-men, who were at work on one
of the great forests of the mountains, and, being acquainted with
the shortest cuts, arrived in ten days at Samarah.

The Princess Carathis was engaged at chess with Morakanabad, when

the arrival of these wood-fellers was announced. She, after some
weeks of Vathek's absence, had forsaken the upper regions of her
tower, because everything appeared in confusion among the stars,
whom she consulted relative to the fate of her son. In vain did
she renew her fumigations, and extend herself on the roof to obtain
mystic visions; nothing more could she see in her dreams than
pieces of brocade, nosegays of flowers, and other unmeaning
gewgaws. These disappointments had thrown her into a state of
dejection, which no drug in her power was sufficient to remove; her
only resource was in Morakanabad, who was a good man, and endowed
with a decent share of confidence, yet whilst in her company he
never thought himself on roses.

No person knew aught of Vathek, and a thousand ridiculous stories

were propagated at his expense. The eagerness of Carathis may be
easily guessed at receiving the letter, as well as her rage at
reading the dissolute conduct of her son. "Is it so?" said she;
"either I will perish, or Vathek shall enter the palace of fire.
Let me expire in flames, provided he may reign on the throne of
Soliman!" Having said this, and whirled herself round in a magical
manner, which struck Morakanabad with such terror as caused him to
recoil, she ordered her great camel Alboufaki to be brought, and
the hideous Nerkes with the unrelenting Cafour to attend. "I
require no other retinue," said she to Morakanabad; "I am going on
affairs of emergency; a truce therefore to parade! Take you care
of the people; fleece them well in my absence; for we shall expend
large sums, and one knows not what may betide."

The night was uncommonly dark, and a pestilential blast ravaged the
plain of Catoul that would have deterred any other traveller,
however urgent the call; but Carathis enjoyed most whatever filled
others with dread. Nerkes concurred in opinion with her, and
Cafour had a particular predilection for a pestilence. In the
morning this accomplished caravan, with the wood-fellers who
directed their route, halted on the edge of an extensive marsh,
from whence so noxious a vapour arose as would have destroyed any
animal but Alboufaki, who naturally inhaled these malignant fogs.
The peasants entreated their convoy not to sleep in this place.

"To sleep," cried Carathis; "what an excellent thought! I never

sleep but for visions; and, as to my attendants, their occupations
are too many to close the only eye they each have."

The poor peasants, who were not over-pleased with their party,
remained open-mouthed with surprise.

Carathis alighted, as well as her negresses, and severally

stripping off their outer garments, they all ran in their drawers,
to cull from those spots where the sun shone fiercest the venomous
plants that grew on the marsh; this provision was made for the
family of the Emir, and whoever might retard the expedition to
Istakar. The woodmen were overcome with fear when they beheld
these three horrible phantoms run, and, not much relishing the
company of Alboufaki, stood aghast at the command of Carathis to
set forward, notwithstanding it was noon, and the heat fierce
enough to calcine even rocks. In spite, however, of every
remonstrance, they were forced implicitly to submit.

Alboufaki, who delighted in solitude, constantly snorted whenever

he perceived himself near a habitation; and Carathis, who was apt
to spoil him with indulgence, as constantly turned him aside, so
that the peasants were precluded from procuring subsistence; for
the milch goats and ewes, which Providence had sent towards the
district they traversed, to refresh travellers with their milk, all
fled at the sight of the hideous animal and his strange riders. As
to Carathis, she needed no common aliment, for her invention had
previously furnished her with an opiate to stay her stomach, some
of which she imparted to her mutes.

At the fall of night Alboufaki, making a sudden stop, stamped with

his foot, which to Carathis, who understood his paces, was a
certain indication that she was near the confines of some cemetery.
The moon shed a bright light on the spot, which served to discover
a long wall, with a large door in it standing ajar, and so high
that Alboufaki might easily enter. The miserable guides, who
perceived their end approaching, humbly implored Carathis, as she
had now so good an opportunity, to inter them, and immediately gave
up the ghost. Nerkes and Cafour, whose wit was of a style peculiar
to themselves, were by no means parsimonious of it on the folly of
these poor people, nor could anything have been found more suited
to their tastes than the site of the burying-ground, and the
sepulchres which its precincts contained; there were at least two
thousand of them on the declivity of a hill: some in the form of
pyramids, others like columns, and, in short, the variety of their
shapes was endless. Carathis was too much immersed in her sublime
contemplations to stop at the view, charming as it appeared in her
eyes; pondering the advantages that might accrue from her present
situation, she could not forbear to exclaim:

"So beautiful a cemetery must be haunted by Gouls! and they want

not for intelligence; having heedlessly suffered my guides to
expire, I will apply for directions to them, and as an inducement
will invite them to regale on these fresh corpses."

After this short soliloquy she beckoned to Nerkes and Cafour, and
made signs with her fingers, as much as to say, "Go, knock against
the sides of the tombs, and strike up your delightful warblings,
that are so like to those of the guests whose company I wish to
obtain."

The negresses, full of joy at the behests of their mistress, and

promising themselves much pleasure from the society of the Gouls,
went with an air of conquest, and began their knockings at the
tombs; as their strokes were repeated a hollow noise was heard in
the earth, the surface hove up into heaps, and the Gouls on all
sides protruded their noses, to inhale the effluvia which the
carcases of the wood-men began to emit.

They assembled before a sarcophagus of white marble, where Carathis

was seated between the bodies of her miserable guides; the princess
received her visitants with distinguished politeness, and, when
supper was ended, proceeded with them to business. Having soon
learnt from them everything she wished to discover, it was her
intention to set forward forthwith on her journey, but her
negresses, who were forming tender connections with the Gouls,
importuned her with all their fingers to wait at least till the
dawn. Carathis, however, being chastity in the abstract, and an
implacable enemy to love and repose, at once rejected their prayer,
mounted Alboufaki, and commanded them to take their seats in a
moment; four days and four nights she continued her route, without
turning to the right hand or left; on the fifth she traversed the
mountains and half-burnt forests, and arrived on the sixth before
the beautiful screens which concealed from all eyes the voluptuous
wanderings of her son.

It was daybreak, and the guards were snoring on their posts in

careless security, when the rough trot of Alboufaki awoke them in
consternation. Imagining that a group of spectres ascended from
the abyss was approaching, they all without ceremony took to their
heels. Vathek was at that instant with Nouronihar in the bath,
hearing tales, and laughing at Bababalouk, who related them; but no
sooner did the outcry of his guards reach him, than he flounced
from the water like a carp, and as soon threw himself back at the
sight of Carathis, who, advancing with her negresses upon
Alboufaki, broke through the muslin awnings and veils of the
pavilion; at this sudden apparition Nouronihar (for she was not at
all times free from remorse) fancied that the moment of celestial
vengeance was come, and clung about the Caliph in amorous
despondence.

Carathis, still seated on her camel, foamed with indignation at the

spectacle which obtruded itself on her chaste view; she thundered
forth without check or mercy: "Thou double-headed and four-legged
monster! what means all this winding and writhing? art thou not
ashamed to be seen grasping this limber sapling, in preference to
the sceptre of the pre-adamite Sultans? is it then for this paltry
doxy that thou hast violated the conditions in the parchment of our
Giaour? is it on her thou hast lavished thy precious moments? is
this the fruit of the knowledge I have taught thee? is this the end
of thy journey? tear thyself from the arms of this little
simpleton, drown her in the water before me, and instantly follow
my guidance."

In the first ebullition of his fury Vathek resolved to make a

skeleton of Alboufaki, and to stuff the skins of Carathis and her
blacks; but the ideas of the Giaour, the palace of Istakar, the
sabres and the talismans, flashing before his imagination with the
simultaneousness of lightning, he became more moderate, and said to
his mother, in a civil but decisive tone: "Dread lady! you shall
be obeyed, but I will not drown Nouronihar; she is sweeter to me
than a Myrabolan comfit, and is enamoured of carbuncles, especially
that of Giamschid, which hath also been promised to be conferred
upon her; she therefore shall go along with us, for I intend to
repose with her beneath the canopies of Soliman; I can sleep no
more without her."

"Be it so!" replied Carathis, alighting, and at the same time

committing Alboufaki to the charge of her women.

Nouronihar, who had not yet quitted her hold, began to take
courage, and said, with an accent of fondness to the Caliph: "Dear
Sovereign of my soul! I will follow thee, if it be thy will,
beyond the Kaf in the land of the Afrits; I will not hesitate to
climb for thee the nest of the Simurgh, who, this lady excepted, is
the most awful of created existences."

"We have here then," subjoined Carathis, "a girl both of courage
and science!"

Nouronihar had certainly both; but, notwithstanding all her

firmness, she could not help casting back a look of regret upon the
graces of her little Gulchenrouz, and the days of tenderness she
had participated with him; she even dropped a few tears, which
Carathis observed, and inadvertently breathed out with a sigh:
"Alas! my gentle cousin! what will become of him!"

Vathek at this apostrophe knitted up his brows, and Carathis

inquired what it could mean.

"She is preposterously sighing after a stripling with languishing

eyes and soft hair, who loves her," said the Caliph.

"Where is he?" asked Carathis. "I must be acquainted with this

pretty child; for," added she, lowering her voice, "I design before
I depart to regain the favour of the Giaour; there is nothing so
delicious in his estimation as the heart of a delicate boy,
palpitating with the first tumults of love."

Vathek, as he came from the bath, commanded Bababalouk to collect

the women and other movables of his harem, embody his troops, and
hold himself in readiness to march in three days; whilst Carathis
retired alone to a tent, where the Giaour solaced her with
encouraging visions; but at length waking, she found at her feet
Nerkes and Cafour, who informed her by their signs that, having led
Alboufaki to the borders of a lake, to browse on some moss that
looked tolerably venomous, they had discovered certain blue fishes
of the same kind with those in the reservoir on the top of the
tower.

"Ah! ha!" said she, "I will go thither to them; these fish are past
doubt of a species that, by a small operation, I can render
oracular; they may tell me where this little Gulchenrouz is, whom I
am bent upon sacrificing." Having thus spoken, she immediately set
out with her swarthy retinue.

It being but seldom that time is lost in the accomplishment of a

wicked enterprise, Carathis and her negresses soon arrived at the
lake, where, after burning the magical drugs with which they were
always provided, they, stripping themselves naked, waded to their
chins, Nerkes and Cafour waving torches around them, and Carathis
pronouncing her barbarous incantations. The fishes with one accord
thrust forth their heads from the water, which was violently
rippled by the flutter of their fins, and, at length finding
themselves constrained by the potency of the charm, they opened
their piteous mouths, and said: "From gills to tail we are yours;
what seek ye to know?"

"Fishes," answered she, "I conjure you, by your glittering scales,

tell me where now is Gulchenrouz?"

"Beyond the rock," replied the shoal in full chorus; "will this
content you? for we do not delight in expanding our mouths."

"It will," returned the princess; "I am not to learn that you like
not long conversations; I will leave you therefore to repose,
though I had other questions to propound." The instant she had
spoken the water became smooth, and the fishes at once disappeared.

Carathis, inflated with the venom of her projects, strode hastily

over the rock, and found the amiable Gulchenrouz asleep in an
arbour, whilst the two dwarfs were watching at his side, and
ruminating their accustomed prayers. These diminutive personages
possessed the gift of divining whenever an enemy to good Mussulmans
approached; thus they anticipated the arrival of Carathis, who,
stopping short, said to herself: "How placidly doth he recline his
lovely little head! how pale and languishing are his looks! it is
just the very child of my wishes!"

The dwarfs interrupted this delectable soliloquy by leaping

instantly upon her, and scratching her face with their utmost zeal.
But Nerkes and Cafour, betaking themselves to the succour of their
mistress, pinched the dwarfs so severely in return, that they both
gave up the ghost, imploring Mahomet to inflict his sorest
vengeance upon this wicked woman and all her household.

At the noise which this strange conflict occasioned in the valley,

Gulchenrouz awoke, and, bewildered with terror, sprung impetuously
upon an old figtree that rose against the acclivity of the rocks;
from thence gained their summits, and ran for two hours without
once looking back. At last, exhausted with fatigue, he fell as if
dead into the arms of a good old Genius, whose fondness for the
company of children had made it his sole occupation to protect
them, and who, whilst performing his wonted rounds through the air,
happening on the cruel Giaour at the instant of his growling in the
horrible chasm, rescued the fifty little victims which the impiety
of Vathek had devoted to his maw; these the Genius brought up in
nests still higher than the clouds, and himself fixed his abode in
a nest more capacious than the rest, from which he had expelled the
possessors that had built it.
These inviolable asylums were defended against the Dives and the
Afrits by waving streamers, on which were inscribed, in characters
of gold that flashed like lightning, the names of Allah and the
Prophet. It was there that Gulchenrouz, who as yet remained
undeceived with respect to his pretended death, thought himself in
the mansions of eternal peace, he admitted without fear the
congratulations of his little friends, who were all assembled in
the nest of the venerable Genius, and vied with each other in
kissing his serene forehead and beautiful eyelids. This he found
to be the state congenial to his soul; remote from the inquietudes
of earth, the impertinence of harems, the brutality of eunuchs, and
the lubricity of women: in this peacable society, his days,
months, and years glided on; nor was he less happy than the rest of
his companions; for the Genius, instead of burthening his pupils
with perishable riches and the vain sciences of the world,
conferred upon them the boon of perpetual childhood.

Carathis, unaccustomed to the loss of her prey, vented a thousand

execrations on her negresses for not seizing the child, instead of
amusing themselves with pinching to death the dwarfs, from which
they could gain no advantage. She returned into the valley
murmuring, and finding that her son was not risen from the arms of
Nouronihar, discharged her ill-humour upon both. The idea,
however, of departing next day for Istakar, and cultivating,
through the good offices of the Giaour, an intimacy with Eblis
himself, at length consoled her chagrin. But Fate had ordained it
otherwise.

In the evening, as Carathis was conversing with Dilara, who,

through her contrivance, had become of the party, and whose taste
resembled her own, Bababalouk came to acquaint her "that the sky
towards Samarah looked of a fiery red, and seemed to portend some
alarming disaster." Immediately, recurring to her astrolabes and
instruments of magic, she took the altitude of the planets, and
discovered by her calculations, to her great mortification, that a
formidable revolt had taken place at Samarah; that Motavakel,
availing himself of the disgust which was inveterate against his
brother, had incited commotions amongst the populace, made himself
master of the palace, and actually invested the great tower, to
which Morakanabad had retired, with a handful of the few that still
remained faithful to Vathek.

"What!" exclaimed she; "must I lose then my tower! my mutes! my

negresses! my mummies! and, worse than all, the laboratory in which
I have spent so many a night, without knowing at least if my hair-
brained son will complete his adventure? No! I will not be the
dupe! Immediately will I speed to support Morakanabad; by my
formidable art the clouds shall sleet hailstones in the faces of
the assailants, and shafts of red-hot iron on their heads; I will
spring mines of serpents and torpedos from beneath them, and we
shall soon see the stand they will make against such an explosion!"

Having thus spoken, Carathis hastened to her son, who was

tranquilly banqueting with Nouronihar in his superb carnation-
coloured tent.

"Glutton that thou art!" cried she, "were it not for me, thou
wouldst soon find thyself the commander only of pies. Thy faithful
subjects have abjured the faith they swore to thee; Motavakel, thy
brother, now reigns on the hill of pied horses, and had I not some
slight resources in the tower, would not be easily persuaded to
abdicate; but, that time may not be lost, I shall only add four
words: Strike tent to-night, set forward, and beware how thou
loiterest again by the way; though thou hast forfeited the
conditions of the parchment, I am not yet without hope; for it
cannot be denied that thou hast violated to admiration the laws of
hospitality, by seducing the daughter of the Emir, after having
partaken of his bread and his salt. Such a conduct cannot but be
delightful to the Giaour; and if on thy march thou canst signalise
thyself by an additional crime, all will still go well, and thou
shalt enter the palace of Soliman in triumph. Adieu! Alboufaki
and my negresses are waiting."

The Caliph had nothing to offer in reply; he wished his mother a

prosperous journey, and ate on till he had finished his supper. At
midnight the camp broke up, amidst the flourishing of trumpets and
other martial instruments; but loud indeed must have been the sound
of the tymbals to overpower the blubbering of the Emir and his
long-beards, who, by an excessive profusion of tears, had so far
exhausted the radical moisture, that their eyes shrivelled up in
their sockets, and their hairs dropped off by the roots.
Nouronihar, to whom such a symphony was painful, did not grieve to
get out of hearing; she accompanied the Caliph in the imperial
litter, where they amused themselves with imagining the splendour
which was soon to surround them. The other women, overcome with
dejection, were dolefully rocked in their cages, whilst Dilara
consoled herself with anticipating the joy of celebrating the rites
of fire on the stately terraces of Istakar.

In four days they reached the spacious valley of Rocnabad. The

season of spring was in all its vigour, and the grotesque branches
of the almond trees in full blossom fantastically chequered the
clear blue sky; the earth, variegated with hyacinths and jonquils,
breathed forth a fragrance which diffused through the soul a divine
repose; myriads of bees, and scarce fewer of Santons, had there
taken up their abode; on the banks of the stream hives and
oratories were alternately ranged, and their neatness and whiteness
were set off by the deep green of the cypresses that spired up
amongst them. These pious personages amused themselves with
cultivating little gardens that abounded with flowers and fruits,
especially musk-melons of the best flavour that Persia could boast;
sometimes dispersed over the meadow, they entertained themselves
with feeding peacocks whiter than snow, and turtles more blue than
the sapphire; in this manner were they occupied when the harbingers
of the imperial procession began to proclaim: "Inhabitants of
Rocnabad! prostrate yourselves on the brink of your pure waters,
and tender your thanksgivings to Heaven, that vouchsafeth to show
you a ray of its glory; for lo! the Commander of the Faithful draws
near."

The poor Santons, filled with holy energy, having bustled to light
up wax torches in their oratories and expand the Koran on their
ebony desks, went forth to meet the Caliph with baskets of
honeycomb, dates, and melons. But, whilst they were advancing in
solemn procession and with measured steps, the horses, camels, and
guards wantoned over their tulips and other flowers, and made a
terrible havoc amongst them. The Santons could not help casting
from one eye a look of pity on the ravages committing around them,
whilst the other was fixed upon the Caliph and heaven. Nouronihar,
enraptured with the scenery of a place which brought back to her
remembrance the pleasing solitudes where her infancy had passed,
entreated Vathek to stop; but he, suspecting that each oratory
might be deemed by the Giaour a distinct habitation, commanded his
pioneers to level them all; the Santons stood motionless with
horror at the barbarous mandate, and at last broke out into
lamentations; but these were uttered with so ill a grace, that
Vathek bade his eunuchs to kick them from his presence. He then
descended from the litter with Nouronihar; they sauntered together
in the meadow, and amused themselves with culling flowers, and
passing a thousand pleasantries on each other. But the bees, who
were staunch Mussulmans, thinking it their duty to revenge the
insult on their dear masters the Santons, assembled so zealously to
do it with effect, that the Caliph and Nouronihar were glad to find
their tents prepared to receive them.

Bababalouk, who in capacity of purveyor had acquitted himself with

applause as to peacocks and turtles, lost no time in consigning
some dozens to the spit, and as many more to be fricasseed. Whilst
they were feasting, laughing, carousing, and blaspheming at
pleasure on the banquet so liberally furnished, the Moullahs, the
Sheiks, the Cadis and Imams of Schiraz (who seemed not to have met
the Santons) arrived, leading by bridles of riband inscribed from
the Koran, a train of asses, which were loaded with the choicest
fruits the country could boast; having presented their offerings to
the Caliph, they petitioned him to honour their city and mosques
with his presence.

"Fancy not," said Vathek, "that you can detain me; your presents I
condescend to accept, but beg you will let me be quiet, for I am
not over-fond of resisting temptation; retire, then; yet, as it is
not decent for personages so reverend to return on foot, and as you
have not the appearance of expert riders, my eunuchs shall tie you
on your asses, with the precaution that your backs be not turned
towards me, for they understand etiquette."

In this deputation were some high-stomached Sheiks, who, taking

Vathek for a fool, scrupled not to speak their opinion. These
Bababalouk girded with double cords, and, having well disciplined
their asses with nettles behind, they all started with a
preternatural alertness, plunging, kicking, and running foul of
each other in the most ludicrous manner imaginable.

Nouronihar and the Caliph mutually contended who should most enjoy
so degrading a sight; they burst out in volleys of laughter to see
the old men and their asses fall into the stream; the leg of one
was fractured, the shoulder of another dislocated, the teeth of a
third dashed out, and the rest suffered still worse.

Two days more, undisturbed by fresh embassies, having been devoted

to the pleasures of Rocnabad, the expedition proceeded, leaving
Shiraz on the right, and verging towards a large plain, from whence
were discernible on the edge of the horizon the dark summits of the
mountains of Istakar.

At this prospect the Caliph and Nouronihar were unable to repress

their transports; they bounded from their litter to the ground, and
broke forth into such wild exclamations, as amazed all within
hearing. Interrogating each other, they shouted, "Are we not
approaching the radiant palace of light? or gardens more delightful
than those of Sheddad?" Infatuated mortals! they thus indulged
delusive conjecture, unable to fathom the decrees of the Most High!

The good Genii, who had not totally relinquished the

superintendence of Vathek, repairing to Mahomet in the seventh
heaven, said: "Merciful Prophet! stretch forth thy propitious arms
towards thy Vicegerent, who is ready to fall irretrievably into the
snare which his enemies, the Dives, have prepared to destroy him;
the Giaour is awaiting his arrival in the abominable palace of
fire, where, if he once set his foot, his perdition will be
inevitable."

Mahomet answered with an air of indignation: He hath too well

deserved to be resigned to himself, but I permit you to try if one
effort more will be effectual to divert him from pursuing his
ruin."

One of these beneficent Genii, assuming without delay the exterior

of a shepherd, more renowned for his piety than all the Dervises
and Santons of the region, took his station near a flock of white
sheep on the slope of a hill, and began to pour forth from his
flute such airs of pathetic melody as subdued the very soul, and,
awakening remorse, drove far from it every frivolous fancy. At
these energetic sounds the sun hid himself beneath a gloomy cloud,
and the waters of two little lakes, that were naturally clearer
than crystal, became of a colour like blood. The whole of this
superb assembly was involuntarily drawn towards the declivity of
the hill; with downcast eyes they all stood abashed, each
upbraiding himself with the evil he had done; the heart of Dilara
palpitated, and the chief of the eunuchs with a sigh of contrition
implored pardon of the women, whom for his own satisfaction he had
so often tormented.

Vathek and Nouronihar turned pale in their litter, and, regarding

each other with haggard looks, reproached themselves--the one with
a thousand of the blackest crimes, a thousand projects of impious
ambition--the other with the desolation of her family, and the
perdition of the amiable Gulchenrouz. Nouronihar persuaded herself
that she heard in the fatal music the groans of her dying father,
and Vathek the sobs of the fifty children he had sacrificed to the
Giaour. Amidst these complicated pangs of anguish they perceived
themselves impelled towards the shepherd, whose countenance was so
commanding, that Vathek for the first time felt overawed, whilst
Nouronihar concealed her face with her hands.

The music paused, and the Genius, addressing the Caliph, said:
"Deluded Prince! to whom Providence hath confided the care of
innumerable subjects, is it thus that thou fulfillest thy mission?
Thy crimes are already completed, and art thou now hastening
towards thy punishment? Thou knowest that beyond these mountains
Eblis and his accursed Dives hold their infernal empire; and,
seduced by a malignant phantom, thou art proceeding to surrender
thyself to them! This moment is the last of grace allowed thee;
abandon thy atrocious purpose; return; give back Nouronihar to her
father, who still retains a few sparks of life; destroy thy tower
with all its abominations; drive Carathis from thy councils; be
just to thy subjects; respect the ministers of the Prophet;
compensate for thy impieties by an exemplary life; and, instead of
squandering thy days in voluptuous indulgence, lament thy crimes on
the sepulchres of thy ancestors. Thou beholdest the clouds that
obscure the sun; at the instant he recovers his splendour, if thy
heart be not changed, the time of mercy assigned thee will be past
for ever."

Vathek, depressed with fear, was on the point of prostrating

himself at the feet of the shepherd, whom he perceived to be of a
nature superior to man; but, his pride prevailing, he audaciously
lifted his head, and, glancing at him one of his terrible looks,
said: "Whoever thou art, withhold thy useless admonitions; thou
wouldst either delude me, or art thyself deceived. If what I have
done be so criminal as thou pretendest, there remains not for me a
moment of grace; I have traversed a sea of blood to acquire a power
which will make thy equals tremble; deem not that I shall retire
when in view of the port, or that I will relinquish her who is
dearer to me than either my life or thy mercy. Let the sun appear!
let him illumine my career! it matters not where it may end." On
uttering these words, which made even the Genius shudder, Vathek
threw himself into the arms of Nouronihar, and commanded that his
horse should be forced back to the road.

There was no difficulty in obeying these orders, for the attraction

had ceased; the sun shone forth in all his glory, and the shepherd
vanished with a lamentable scream.

The fatal impression of the music of the Genius remained,

notwithstanding, in the heart of Vathek's attendants; they viewed
each other with looks of consternation; at the approach of night
almost all of them escaped, and of this numerous assemblage there
only remained the chief of the eunuchs, some idolatrous slaves,
Dilara and a few other women, who, like herself, were votaries of
the religion of the Magi.

The Caliph, fired with the ambition of prescribing laws to the

Intelligences of Darkness, was but little embarrassed at this
dereliction; the impetuosity of his blood prevented him from
sleeping, nor did he encamp any more as before. Nouronihar, whose
impatience, if possible, exceeded his own, importuned him to hasten
his march, and lavished on him a thousand caresses to beguile all
reflection; she fancied herself already more potent than Balkis,
and pictured to her imagination the Genii falling prostrate at the
foot of her throne. In this manner they advanced by moonlight,
till they came within view of the two towering rocks that form a
kind of portal to the valley, at whose extremity rose the vast
ruins of Istakar. Aloft on the mountain glimmered the fronts of
various royal mausoleums, the horror of which was deepened by the
shadows of night. They passed through two villages almost
deserted, the only inhabitants remaining being a few feeble old
men, who, at the sight of horses and litters, fell upon their knees
and cried out:

"O Heaven! is it then by these phantoms that we have been for six
months tormented? Alas! it was from the terror of these spectres
and the noise beneath the mountains, that our people have fled, and
left us at the mercy of maleficent spirits!"

The Caliph, to whom these complaints were but unpromising auguries,

drove over the bodies of these wretched old men, and at length
arrived at the foot of the terrace of black marble; there he
descended from his litter, handing down Nouronihar; both with
beating hearts stared wildly around them, and expected with an
apprehensive shudder the approach of the Giaour; but nothing as yet
announced his appearance.

A death-like stillness reigned over the mountain and through the

air; the moon dilated on a vast platform the shades of the lofty
columns, which reached from the terrace almost to the clouds; the
gloomy watch-towers, whose numbers could not be counted, were
veiled by no roof, and their capitals, of an architecture unknown
in the records of the earth, served as an asylum for the birds of
darkness, which, alarmed at the approach of such visitants, fled
away croaking.

The chief of the eunuchs, trembling with fear, besought Vathek that
a fire might be kindled.

"No!" replied he, "there is no time left to think of such trifles;

abide where thou art, and expect my commands."

Having thus spoken, he presented his hand to Nouronihar, and,

ascending the steps of a vast staircase, reached the terrace, which
was flagged with squares of marble, and resembled a smooth expanse
of water, upon whose surface not a leaf ever dared to vegetate; on
the right rose the watch-towers, ranged before the ruins of an
immense palace, whose walls were embossed with various figures; in
front stood forth the colossal forms of four creatures, composed of
the leopard and the griffin; and, though but of stone, inspired
emotions of terror; near these were distinguished by the splendour
of the moon, which streamed full on the place, characters like
those on the sabres of the Giaour, that possessed the same virtue
of changing every moment; these, after vacillating for some time,
at last fixed in Arabic letters, and prescribed to the Caliph the
following words:

"Vathek! thou hast violated the conditions of my parchment, and

deservest to be sent back; but, in favour to thy companion, and as
the meed for what thou hast done to obtain it, EBLIS permitteth
that the portal of his palace shall be opened, and the subterranean
fire will receive thee into the number of its adorers."

He scarcely had read these words before the mountain against which
the terrace was reared trembled, and the watch-towers were ready to
topple headlong upon them; the rock yawned, and disclosed within it
a staircase of polished marble that seemed to approach the abyss;
upon each stair were planted two large torches, like those
Nouronihar had seen in her vision, the camphorated vapour ascending
from which gathered into a cloud under the hollow of the vault.

This appearance, instead of terrifying, gave new courage to the

daughter of Fakreddin. Scarcely deigning to bid adieu to the moon
and the firmament, she abandoned without hesitation the pure
atmosphere to plunge into these infernal exhalations. The gait of
those impious personages was haughty and determined; as they
descended by the effulgence of the torches they gazed on each other
with mutual admiration, and both appeared so resplendent, that they
already esteemed themselves spiritual Intelligences; the only
circumstance that perplexed them was their not arriving at the
bottom of the stairs; on hastening their descent with an ardent
impetuosity, they felt their steps accelerated to such a degree,
that they seemed not walking, but falling from a precipice. Their
progress, however, was at length impeded by a vast portal of ebony,
which the Caliph without difficulty recognised; here the Giaour
awaited them with the key in his hand.

"Ye are welcome," said he to them, with a ghastly smile, "in spite
of Mahomet and all his dependants. I will now admit you into that
palace where you have so highly merited a place."

Whilst he was uttering these words he touched the enamelled lock

with his key, and the doors at once expanded, with a noise still
louder than the thunder of mountains, and as suddenly recoiled the
moment they had entered.

The Caliph and Nouronihar beheld each other with amazement, at

finding themselves in a place which, though roofed with a vaulted
ceiling, was so spacious and lofty that at first they took it for
an immeasurable plain. But their eyes at length growing familiar
to the grandeur of the objects at hand, they extended their view to
those at a distance, and discovered rows of columns and arcades,
which gradually diminished till they terminated in a point, radiant
as the sun when he darts his last beams athwart the ocean; the
pavement, strewed over with gold dust and saffron, exhaled so
subtle an odour as almost overpowered them; they, however, went on,
and observed an infinity of censers, in which ambergris and the
wood of aloes were continually burning; between the several columns
were placed tables, each spread with a profusion of viands, and
wines of every species sparkling in vases of crystal. A throng of
Genii and other fantastic spirits of each sex danced in troops, at
the sound of music which issued from beneath.

In the midst of this immense hall a vast multitude was incessantly

passing, who severally kept their right hands on their hearts,
without once regarding anything around them; they had all the livid
paleness of death; their eyes, deep sunk in their sockets,
resembled those phosphoric meteors that glimmer by night in places
of interment. Some stalked slowly on, absorbed in profound
reverie; some, shrieking with agony, ran furiously about, like
tigers wounded with poisoned arrows; whilst others, grinding their
teeth in rage, foamed along, more frantic than the wildest maniac.
They all avoided each other, and, though surrounded by a multitude
that no one could number, each wandered at random, unheedful of the
rest, as if alone on a desert which no foot had trodden.
Vathek and Nouronihar, frozen with terror at a sight so baleful,
demanded of the Giaour what these appearances might mean, and why
these ambulating spectres never withdrew their hands from their
hearts.

"Perplex not yourselves," replied he bluntly, "with so much; at

once you will soon be acquainted with all; let us haste and present
you to Eblis."

They continued their way through the multitude but, notwithstanding

their confidence at first, they were not sufficiently composed to
examine with attention the various perspectives of halls and of
galleries that opened on the right hand and left, which were all
illuminated by torches and braziers, whose flames rose in pyramids
to the centre of the vault. At length they came to a place where
long curtains, brocaded with crimson and gold, fell from all parts
in striking confusion; here the choirs and dances were heard no
longer; the light which glimmered came from afar.

After some time Vathek and Nouronihar perceived a gleam brightening

through the drapery, and entered a vast tabernacle carpeted with
the skins of leopards; an infinity of elders with streaming beards,
and Afrits in complete armour, had prostrated themselves before the
ascent of a lofty eminence, on the top of which, upon a globe of
fire, sat the formidable Eblis. His person was that of a young
man, whose noble and regular features seemed to have been tarnished
by malignant vapours; in his large eyes appeared both pride and
despair; his flowing hair retained some resemblance to that of an
angel of light; in his hand, which thunder had blasted, he swayed
the iron sceptre that causes the monster Ouranabad, the Afrits, and
all the powers of the abyss to tremble; at his presence the heart
of the Caliph sank within him, and for the first time he fell
prostrate on his face. Nouronihar, however, though greatly
dismayed, could not help admiring the person of Eblis; for she
expected to have seen some stupendous giant. Eblis, with a voice
more mild than might be imagined, but such as transfused through
the soul the deepest melancholy, said:

"Creatures of clay, I receive you into mine empire; ye are numbered

amongst my adorers; enjoy whatever this palace affords; the
treasures of the pre-adamite Sultans, their bickering sabres, and
those talismans that compel the Dives to open the subterranean
expanses of the mountain of Kaf, which communicate with these;
there, insatiable as your curiosity may be, shall you find
sufficient to gratify it; you shall possess the exclusive privilege
of entering the fortress of Aherman, and the halls of Argenk, where
are portrayed all creatures endowed with intelligence, and the
various animals that inhabited the earth prior to the creation of
that contemptible being whom ye denominate the Father of Mankind."
Vathek and Nouronihar, feeling themselves revived and encouraged by
this harangue, eagerly said to the Giaour:

"Bring us instantly to the place which contains these precious

talismans."

"Come!" answered this wicked Dive, with his malignant grin, "come!
and possess all that my sovereign hath promised, and more."

He then conducted them into a long aisle adjoining the tabernacle,

preceding them with hasty steps, and followed by his disciples with
the utmost alacrity. They reached, at length, a hall of great
extent, and covered with a lofty dome, around which appeared fifty
portals of bronze, secured with as many fastenings of iron; a
funereal gloom prevailed over the whole scene; here, upon two beds
of incorruptible cedar, lay recumbent the fleshless forms of the
pre-adamite kings, who had been monarchs of the whole earth; they
still possessed enough of life to be conscious of their deplorable
condition; their eyes retained a melancholy motion; they regarded
each other with looks of the deepest dejection; each holding his
right hand motionless on his heart; at their feet were inscribed
the events of their several reigns, their power, their pride, and
their crimes; Soliman Raad, Soliman Daki, and Soliman Di Gian Ben
Gian, who, after having chained up the Dives in the dark caverns of
Kaf, became so presumptuous as to doubt of the Supreme Power; all
these maintained great state, though not to be compared with the
eminence of Soliman Ben Daoud.

This king, so renowned for his wisdom, was on the loftiest

elevation, and placed immediately under the dome; he appeared to
possess more animation than the rest; though from time to time he
laboured with profound sighs, and, like his companions, kept his
right hand on his heart; yet his countenance was more composed, and
he seemed to be listening to the sullen roar of a vast cataract,
visible in part through the grated portals: this was the only
sound that intruded on the silence of these doleful mansions. A
range of brazen vases surrounded the elevation.

"Remove the covers from these cabalistic depositories," said the

Giaour to Vathek, "and avail thyself of the talismans, which will
break asunder all these gates of bronze; and not only render thee
master of the treasures contained within them, but also of the
spirits by which they are guarded."

The Caliph, whom this ominous preliminary had entirely

disconcerted, approached the vases with faltering footsteps, and
was ready to sink with terror when he heard the groans of Soliman.
As he proceeded a voice from the livid lips of the Prophet
articulated these words:
"In my life-time I filled a magnificent throne, having on my right
hand twelve thousand seats of gold, where the patriarchs and the
prophets heard my doctrines; on my left the sages and doctors, upon
as many thrones of silver, were present at all my decisions.
Whilst I thus administered justice to innumerable multitudes, the
birds of the air librating over me served as a canopy from the rays
of the sun; my people flourished, and my palace rose to the clouds;
I erected a temple to the Most High, which was the wonder of the
universe; but I basely suffered myself to be seduced by the love of
women, and a curiosity that could not be restrained by sublunary
things; I listened to the counsels of Aherman and the daughter of
Pharaoh, and adored fire and the hosts of heaven; I forsook the
holy city, and commanded the Genii to rear the stupendous palace of
Istakar, and the terrace of the watch-towers, each of which was
consecrated to a star; there for a while I enjoyed myself in the
zenith of glory and pleasure; not only men, but supernatural
existences were subject also to my will. I began to think, as
these unhappy monarchs around had already thought, that the
vengeance of Heaven was asleep; when at once the thunder burst my
structures asunder and precipitated me hither; where, however, I do
not remain, like the other inhabitants, totally destitute of hope,
for an angel of light hath revealed that, in consideration of the
piety of my early youth, my woes shall come to an end when this
cataract shall for ever cease to flow; till then I am in torments,
ineffable torments! an unrelenting fire preys on my heart."

Having uttered this exclamation, Soliman raised his hands towards

heaven, in token of supplication, and the Caliph discerned through
his bosom, which was transparent as crystal, his heart enveloped in
flames. At a sight so full of horror Nouronihar fell back, like
one petrified, into the arms of Vathek, who cried out with a
convulsive sob:

"O Giaour! whither hast thou brought us? Allow us to depart, and I
will relinquish all thou hast promised. O Mahomet! remains there
no more mercy?"

"None! none!" replied the malicious Dive. "Know, miserable prince!

thou art now in the abode of vengeance and despair; thy heart also
will be kindled, like those of the other votaries of Eblis. A few
days are allotted thee previous to this fatal period; employ them
as thou wilt; recline on these heaps of gold; command the Infernal
Potentates; range at thy pleasure through these immense
subterranean domains; no barrier shall be shut against thee; as for
me, I have fulfilled my mission; I now leave thee to thyself." At
these words he vanished.

The Caliph and Nouronihar remained in the most abject affliction;

their tears unable to flow, scarcely could they support themselves.
At length, taking each other despondingly by the hand, they went
faltering from this fatal hall, indifferent which way they turned
their steps; every portal opened at their approach; the Dives fell
prostrate before them; every reservoir of riches was disclosed to
their view; but they no longer felt the incentives of curiosity,
pride, or avarice. With like apathy they heard the chorus of
Genii, and saw the stately banquets prepared to regale them; they
went wandering on from chamber to chamber, hall to hall, and
gallery to gallery, all without bounds or limit, all
distinguishable by the same lowering gloom, all adorned with the
same awful grandeur, all traversed by persons in search of repose
and consolation, but who sought them in vain; for every one carried
within him a heart tormented in flames: shunned by these various
sufferers, who seemed by their looks to be upbraiding the partners
of their guilt, they withdrew from them to wait in direful suspense
the moment which should render them to each other the like objects
of terror.

"What!" exclaimed Nouronihar; "will the time come when I shall

snatch my hand from thine!"

"Ah!" said Vathek; "and shall my eyes ever cease to drink from
thine long draughts of enjoyment! Shall the moments of our
reciprocal ecstasies be reflected on with horror? It was not thou
that broughtest me hither; the principles by which Carathis
perverted my youth have been the sole cause of my perdition!"
Having given vent to these painful expressions, he called to an
Afrit, who was stirring up one of the braziers, and bade him fetch
the Princess Carathis from the palace of Samarah.

After issuing these orders, the Caliph and Nouronihar continued

walking amidst the silent crowd, till they heard voices at the end
of the gallery; presuming them to proceed from some unhappy beings,
who, like themselves, were awaiting their final doom, they followed
the sound, and found it to come from a small square chamber, where
they discovered sitting on sofas five young men of goodly figure,
and a lovely female, who were all holding a melancholy conversation
by the glimmering of a lonely lamp; each had a gloomy and forlorn
air, and two of them were embracing each other with great
tenderness. On seeing the Caliph and the daughter of Fakreddin
enter, they arose, saluted, and gave them place; then he who
appeared the most considerable of the group addressed himself thus
to Vathek:

"Strangers! who doubtless are in the same state of suspense with

ourselves, as you do not yet bear your hands on your hearts, if you
are come hither to pass the interval allotted previous to the
infliction of our common punishment, condescend to relate the
adventures that have brought you to this fatal place, and we in
return will acquaint you with ours, which deserve but too well to
be heard; we will trace back our crimes to their source, though we
are not permitted to repent; this is the only employment suited to
wretches like us!"

The Caliph and Nouronihar assented to the proposal, and Vathek

began, not without tears and lamentations, a sincere recital of
every circumstance that had passed. When the afflicting narrative
was closed, the young man entered on his own. Each person
proceeded in order, and when the fourth prince had reached the
midst of his adventures, a sudden noise interrupted him, which
caused the vault to tremble and to open.

Immediately a cloud descended, which gradually dissipating,

discovered Carathis on the back of an Afrit, who grievously
complained of his burden. She, instantly springing to the ground,
advanced towards her son, and said:

"What dost thou here in this little square chamber? As the Dives
are become subject to thy beck, I expected to have found thee on
the throne of the pre-adamite kings."

"Execrable woman!" answered the Caliph; "cursed be the day thou

gavest me birth! go, follow this Afrit; let him conduct thee to the
hall of the Prophet Soliman, there thou wilt learn to what these
palaces are destined, and how much I ought to abhor the impious
knowledge thou hast taught me."

"The height of power to which thou art arrived has certainly turned
thy brain," answered Carathis; "but I ask no more than permission
to show my respect for the Prophet. It is, however, proper thou
shouldest know, that (as the Afrit has informed me neither of us
shall return to Samarah) I requested his permission to arrange my
affairs, and he politely consented; availing myself, therefore, of
the few moments allowed me, I set fire to the tower, and consumed
in it the mutes, negresses, and serpents which have rendered me so
much good service; nor should I have been less kind to Morakanabad,
had he not prevented me by deserting at last to thy brother. As
for Bababalouk, who had the folly to return to Samarah, and all the
good brotherhood to provide husbands for thy wives, I undoubtedly
would have put them to the torture, could I but have allowed them
the time; being, however, in a hurry, I only hung him after having
caught him in a snare with thy wives, whilst them I buried alive by
the help of my negresses, who thus spent their last moments greatly
to their satisfaction. With respect to Dilara, who ever stood high
in my favour, she hath evinced the greatness of her mind by fixing
herself near in the service of one of the Magi, and I think will
soon be our own."

Vathek, too much cast down to express the indignation excited by

such a discourse, ordered the Afrit to remove Carathis from his
presence, and continued immersed in thought, which his companion
durst not disturb.

Carathis, however, eagerly entered the dome of Soliman, and,

without regarding in the least the groans of the Prophet,
undauntedly removed the covers of the vases, and violently seized
on the talismans; then, with a voice more loud than had hitherto
been heard within these mansions, she compelled the Dives to
disclose to her the most secret treasures, the most profound
stores, which the Afrit himself had not seen; she passed by rapid
descents, known only to Eblis and his most favoured potentates, and
thus penetrated the very entrails of the earth, where breathes the
Sansar, or icy wind of death; nothing appalled her dauntless soul;
she perceived, however, in all the inmates who bore their hands on
their hearts a little singularity, not much to her taste. As she
was emerging from one of the abysses, Eblis stood forth to her
view; but, notwithstanding he displayed the full effulgence of his
infernal majesty, she preserved her countenance unaltered, and even
paid her compliments with considerable firmness.

This superb monarch thus answered: "Princess, whose knowledge and

whose crimes have merited a conspicuous rank in my empire, thou
dost well to employ the leisure that remains; for the flames and
torments, which are ready to seize on thy heart, will not fail to
provide thee with full employment." He said this, and was lost in
the curtains of his tabernacle.

Carathis paused for a moment with surprise; but, resolved to follow

the advice of Eblis, she assembled all the choirs of Genii, and all
the Dives, to pay her homage; thus marched she in triumph through a
vapour of perfumes, amidst the acclamations of all the malignant
spirits, with most of whom she had formed a previous acquaintance;
she even attempted to dethrone one of the Solimans for the purpose
of usurping his place, when a voice, proceeding from the abyss of
Death, proclaimed, "All is accomplished!" Instantaneously the
haughty forehead of the intrepid princess was corrugated with
agony; she uttered a tremendous yell, and fixed, no more to be
withdrawn, her right hand upon her heart, which was become a
receptacle of eternal fire.

In this delirium, forgetting all ambitious projects and her thirst

for that knowledge which should ever be hidden from mortals, she
overturned the offerings of the Genii, and, having execrated the
hour she was begotten and the womb that had borne her, glanced off
in a whirl that rendered her invisible, and continued to revolve
without intermission.

At almost the same instant the same voice announced to the Caliph,
Nouronihar, the five princes, and the princess, the awful and
irrevocable decree. Their hearts immediately took fire, and they
at once lost the most precious of the gifts of Heaven--Hope. These
unhappy beings recoiled with looks of the most furious distraction;
Vathek beheld in the eyes of Nouronihar nothing but rage and
vengeance, nor could she discern aught in his but aversion and
despair. The two princes who were friends, and till that moment
had preserved their attachment, shrank back, gnashing their teeth
with mutual and unchangeable hatred. Kalilah and his sister made
reciprocal gestures of imprecation, whilst the two other princes
testified their horror for each other by the most ghastly
convulsions, and screams that could not be smothered. All
severally plunged themselves into the accursed multitude, there to
wander in an eternity of unabating anguish.

Such was, and such should be, the punishment of unrestrained

passions and atrocious actions! Such is, and such should be, the
chastisement of blind ambition, that would transgress those bounds
which the Creator hath prescribed to human knowledge; and, by
aiming at discoveries reserved for pure Intelligence, acquire that
infatuated pride, which perceives not that the condition appointed
to man is to be ignorant and humble.

Thus the Caliph Vathek, who, for the sake of empty pomp and
forbidden power, had sullied himself with a thousand crimes, became
a prey to grief without end, and remorse without mitigation; whilst
the humble and despised Gulchenrouz passed whole ages in
undisturbed tranquillity, and the pure happiness of childhood.

End of Project Gutenberg Etext The History of Caliph Vathek, by Beckford