the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第25章
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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
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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；
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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 enclosure in its natural freshness； the white eunuchs went
continually round it with their red water… vessels。 The waving of fans
was heard near the imperial pavilion； where； by the voluptuous light that
glowed through the muslins； the Caliph enjoyed at full view all the
attractions of Nouronihar。 Inebriated with delight； he was all ear to her
charming voice； which accompanied the lute； while she was not less
captivated with his descriptions of Samarah and the tower full of wonders；
but especially with his relation of the adventure of the ball； and the chasm
of the Giaour； with its ebony portal。
In this manner they conversed for a day and a night； they bathed
together in a basin of black marble； which admirably relieved the fairness
of Nouronihar。 Bababalouk； whose good graces this beauty had regained；
spared no attention that their repasts might be served up with the minutest
exactness； some exquisite rarity was ever placed before them； and he sent
even to Schiraz for that fragrant and delicious wine which had been
hoarded up in bottles prior to the birth of Mahomet； he had excavated little
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ovens in the rock to bake the nice manchets which were prepared by the
hands of Nouronihar； from whence they had derived a flavour so grateful
to Vathek； that he regarded the ragouts of his other wives as entirely
mawkish； whilst they would have died at the Emir's of chagrin at finding
themselves so neglected； if Fakreddin； notwithstanding his resentment；
had not taken pity upon them。
The Sultana Dilara； who till then had been the favourite； took this
dereli
