按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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：
43
… Page 44…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
〃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；
44
… Page 45…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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
45
… Page 46…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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