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！
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。
65
… Page 66…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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
66
… Page 67…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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
67
… Page 68…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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 mo