the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第28章
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stripping themselves naked； waded to their chins； Nerkes and Cafour
waving torches around them； and Carathis pronouncing her barbarous
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incantations。 The fishes with one accord thrust forth their heads from the
water； which was violently rippled by the flutter of their fins； and； at
length finding themselves constrained by the potency of the charm； they
opened their piteous mouths； and said： 〃From gills to tail we are yours；
what seek ye to know？〃
〃Fishes；〃 answered she； 〃I conjure you； by your glittering scales； tell
me where now is Gulchenrouz？〃
〃Beyond the rock；〃 replied the shoal in full chorus； 〃will this content
you？ for we do not delight in expanding our mouths。〃
〃It will；〃 returned the princess； 〃I am not to learn that you like not long
conversations； I will leave you therefore to repose； though I had other
questions to propound。〃 The instant she had spoken the water became
smooth； and the fishes at once disappeared。
Carathis； inflated with the venom of her projects； strode hastily over
the rock； and found the amiable Gulchenrouz asleep in an arbour； whilst
the two dwarfs were watching at his side； and ruminating their accustomed
prayers。 These diminutive personages possessed the gift of divining
whenever an enemy to good Mussulmans approached； thus they
anticipated the arrival of Carathis； who； stopping short； said to herself：
〃How placidly doth he recline his lovely little head！ how pale and
languishing are his looks！ it is just the very child of my wishes！〃
The dwarfs interrupted this delectable soliloquy by leaping instantly
upon her； and scratching her face with their utmost zeal。 But Nerkes and
Cafour； betaking themselves to the succour of their mistress； pinched the
dwarfs so severely in return； that they both gave up the ghost； imploring
Mahomet to inflict his sorest vengeance upon this wicked woman and all
her household。
At the noise which this strange conflict occasioned in the valley；
Gulchenrouz awoke； and； bewildered with terror； sprung impetuously
upon an old figtree that rose against the acclivity of the rocks； from thence
gained their summits； and ran for two hours without once looking back。
At last； exhausted with fatigue； he fell as if dead into the arms of a good
old Genius； whose fondness for the company of children had made it his
sole occupation to protect them； and who； whilst performing his wonted
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rounds through the air； happening on the cruel Giaour at the instant of his
growling in the horrible chasm； rescued the fifty little victims which the
impiety of Vathek had devoted to his maw； these the Genius brought up in
nests still higher than the clouds； and himself fixed his abode in a nest
more capacious than the rest； from which he had expelled the possessors
that had built it。
These inviolable asylums were defended against the Dives and the
Afrits by waving streamers； on which were inscribed； in characters of gold
that flashed like lightning； the names of Allah and the Prophet。 It was
there that Gulchenrouz； who as yet remained undeceived with respect to
his pretended death； thought himself in the mansions of eternal peace； he
admitted without fear the congratulations of his little friends； who were all
assembled in the nest of the venerable Genius； and vied with each other in
kissing his serene forehead and beautiful eyelids。 This he found to be the
state congenial to his soul； remote from the inquietudes of earth； the
impertinence of harems； the brutality of eunuchs； and the lubricity of
women： in this peacable society； his days； months； and years glided on；
nor was he less happy than the rest of his companions； for the Genius；
instead of burthening his pupils with perishable riches and the vain
sciences of the world； conferred upon them the boon of perpetual
childhood。
Carathis； unaccustomed to the loss of her prey； vented a thousand
execrations on her negresses for not seizing the child； instead of amusing
themselves with pinching to death the dwarfs； from which they could gain
no advantage。 She returned into the valley murmuring； and finding that
her son was not risen from the arms of Nouronihar； discharged her ill…
humour upon both。 The idea； however； of departing next day for Istakar；
and cultivating； through the good offices of the Giaour； an intimacy with
Eblis himself； at length consoled her chagrin。 But Fate had ordained it
otherwise。
In the evening； as Carathis was conversing with Dilara； who； through
her contrivance； had become of the party； and whose taste resembled her
own； Bababalouk came to acquaint her 〃that the sky towards Samarah
looked of a fiery red； and seemed to portend some alarming disaster。〃
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Immediately； recurring to her astrolabes and instruments of magic； she
took the altitude of the planets； and discovered by her calculations； to her
great mortification； that a formidable revolt had taken place at Samarah；
that Motavakel； availing himself of the disgust which was inveterate
against his brother； had incited commotions amongst the populace； made
himself master of the palace； and actually invested the great tower； to
which Morakanabad had retired； with a handful of the few that still
remained faithful to Vathek。
〃What！〃 exclaimed she； 〃must I lose then my tower！ my mutes！ my
negresses！ my mummies！ and； worse than all； the laboratory in which I
have spent so many a night； without knowing at least if my hair… brained
son will complete his adventure？ No！ I will not be the dupe！
Immediately will I speed to support Morakanabad； by my formidable art
the clouds shall sleet hailstones in the faces of the assailants； and shafts of
red…hot iron on their heads； I will spring mines of serpents and torpedos
from beneath them； and we shall soon see the stand they will make against
such an explosion！〃
Having thus spoken； Carathis hastened to her son； who was tranquilly
banqueting with Nouronihar in his superb carnation… coloured tent。
〃Glutton that thou art！〃 cried she； 〃were it not for me； thou wouldst
soon find thyself the commander only of pies。 Thy faithful subjects have
abjured the faith they swore to thee； Motavakel； thy brother； now reigns on
the hill of pied horses； and had I not some slight resources in the tower；
would not be easily persuaded to abdicate； but； that time may not be lost； I
shall only add four words： Strike tent to…night； set forward； and beware
how thou loiterest again by the way； though thou hast forfeited the
conditions of the parchment； I am not yet without hope； for it cannot be
denied that thou hast violated to admiration the laws
