the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第23章
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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
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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
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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。
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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。〃
