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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
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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。
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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
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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 HeavenHope。 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。
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