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！
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
68
… Page 69…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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
69
… Page 70…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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；
70
… Page 71…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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