the history of caliph vathek-第17章

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ewn　out　in　the　rock；　ascended　them　undismayed；　the　light；　which　was　now　gradually　enlarging；　appeared　above　her　on　the　summit　of　the　mountain；　at　length　she　distinguished　a　plaintive　and　melodious　union　of　voices；　proceeding　from　a　sort　of　cavern；　that　resembled　the　dirges　which　are　sung　over　tombs；　a　sound；　likewise；　like　that　which　arises　from　the　filling　of　baths；　at　the　same　time　struck　her　ear；　she　continued　ascending；　and　discovered　large　wax　torches　in　full　blaze　planted　here　and　there　in　the　fissures　of　the　rock；　this　preparation　filled　her　with　fear；　whilst　the　subtle　and　potent　odour　which　the　torches　exhaled　caused　her　to　sink　almost　lifeless　at　the　entrance　of　the　grot。

Casting　her　eyes　within　in　this　kind　of　trance；　she　beheld　a　large　cistern　of　gold　filled　with　a　water；　whose　vapour　distilled　on　her　face　a　dew　of　the　essence　of　roses；　a　soft　symphony　resounded　through　the　grot；　on　the　sides　of　the　cistern　she　noticed　appendages　of　royalty；　diadems；　and　feathers　of　the　heron；　all　sparkling　with　carbuncles；　whilst　her　attention　was　fixed　on　this　display　of　magnificence；　the　music　ceased；　and　a　voice　instantly　demanded：

〃For　what　monarch　were　these　torches　kindled；　this　bath　prepared；　and　these　habiliments；　which　belong；　not　only　to　the　sovereigns　of　the　earth；　but　even　to　the　Talismanic　Powers？〃

To　which　a　second　voice　answered：　　〃They　are　for　the　charming　daughter　of　the　Emir　Fakreddin。〃

〃What；〃　replied　the　first；　〃for　that　trifler；　who　consumes　her　time　with　a　giddy　child；　immersed　in　softness；　and　who　at　best　can　make　but　an　enervated　husband？〃

〃And　can　she；〃　rejoined　the　other　voice；　〃be　amused　with　such　empty　trifles；　whilst　the　Caliph；　the　sovereign　of　the　world；　he　who　is　destined　to　enjoy　the　treasures　of　the　pre…adamite　Sultans；　a　prince　six　feet　high；　and　whose　eyes　pervade　the　inmost　soul　of　a　female；　is　inflamed　with　the　love　of　her。　　No！　she　will　be　wise　enough　to　answer　that　passion　alone　that　can　aggrandise　her　glory；　no　doubt　she　will；　and　despise　the　puppet　of　her　fancy。　　Then　all　the　riches　this　place　contains；　as　well　as　the　carbuncle　of　Giamschid；　shall　be　hers。〃

〃You　judge　right；〃　returned　the　first　voice；　〃and　I　haste　to　Istakar　to　prepare　the　palace　of　subterranean　fire　for　the　reception　of　the　bridal　pair。〃

The　voices　ceased；　the　torches　were　extinguished；　the　most　entire　darkness　succeeded；　and　Nouronihar；　recovering　with　a　start；　found　herself　reclined　on　a　sofa　in　the　harem　of　her　father。　　She　clapped　her　hands；　and　immediately　came　together　Gulchenrouz　and　her　women；　who；　in　despair　at　having　lost　her；　had　despatched　eunuchs　to　seek　her　in　every　direction；　Shaban　appeared　with　the　rest；　and　began　to　reprimand　her　with　an　air　of　consequence：

〃Little　impertinent；〃　said　he；　〃whence　got　you　false　keys？　or　are　you　beloved　of　some　Genius　that　hath　given　you　a　pick…lock？　　I　will　try　the　extent　of　your　power；　come；　to　your　chamber！　through　the　two　skylights；　and　expect　not　the　company　of　Gulchenrouz；　be　expeditious！　　I　will　shut　you　up　in　the　double　tower。〃

At　these　menaces　Nouronihar　indignantly　raised　her　head；　opened　on　Shaban　her　black　eyes；　which；　since　the　important　dialogue　of　the　enchanted　grot；　were　considerably　enlarged；　and　said：　　〃Go；　speak　thus　to　slaves；　but　learn　to　reverence　her　who　is　born　to　give　laws；　and　subject　all　to　her　power。〃

She　was　proceeding　in　the　same　style；　but　was　interrupted　by　a　sudden　exclamation　of　〃The　Caliph！　　The　Caliph！〃　　The　curtains　at　once　were　thrown　open；　and　the　slaves　prostrate　in　double　rows；　whilst　poor　little　Gulchenrouz　hid　himself　beneath　the　elevation　of　a　sofa。　　At　first　appeared　a　file　of　black　eunuchs；　trailing　after　them　long　trains　of　muslin　embroidered　with　gold；　and　holding　in　their　hands　censers；　which　dispensed　as　they　passed　the　grateful　perfume　of　the　wood　of　aloes；　next　marched　Bababalouk　with　a　solemn　strut；　and　tossing　his　head　as　not　over…pleased　at　the　visit；　Vathek　came　close　after；　superbly　robed；　his　gait　was　unembarrassed　and　noble；　and　his　presence　would　have　engaged　admiration；　though　he　had　not　been　the　sovereign　of　the　world；　he　approached　Nouronihar　with　a　throbbing　heart；　and　seemed　enraptured　at　the　full　effulgence　of　her　radiant　eyes；　of　which　he　had　before　caught　but　a　few　glimpses；　but　she　instantly　depressed　them；　and　her　confusion　augmented　her　beauty。

Bababalouk；　who　was　a　thorough　adept　in　coincidences　of　this　nature；　and　knew　that　the　worst　game　should　be　played　with　the　best　face；　immediately　made　a　signal　for　all　to　retire；　and　no　sooner　did　he　perceive　beneath　the　sofa　the　little　one's　feet；　than　he　drew　him　forth　without　ceremony；　set　him　upon　his　shoulders；　and　lavished　on　him　as　he　went　off　a　thousand　odious　caresses；　Gulchenrouz　cried　out；　and　resisted　till　his　cheeks　became　the　colour　of　the　blossom　of　the　pomegranate；　and　the　tears　that　started　into　his　eyes　shot　forth　a　gleam　of　indignation；　he　cast　a　significant　glance　at　Nouronihar；　which　the　Caliph　noticing；　asked：　〃Is　that　then　your　Gulchenrouz？〃

〃Sovereign　of　the　world？〃　answered　she；　〃spare　my　cousin；　whose　innocence　and　gentleness　deserve　not　your　anger。〃

〃Take　comfort；〃　said　Vathek；　with　a　smile；　〃he　is　in　good　hands。　Bababalouk　is　fond　of　children；　and　never　goes　without　sweetmeats　and　comfits。〃

The　daughter　of　Fakreddin　was　abashed；　and　suffered　Gulchenrouz　to　be　borne　away　without　adding　a　word。　　The　tumult　of　her　bosom　betrayed　her　confusion；　and　Vathek；　becoming　still　more　impassioned；　gave　a　loose　to　his　frenzy；　which　had　only　not　subdued　the　last　faint　strugglings　of　reluctance；　when　the　Emir；　suddenly　bursting　in；　threw　his　face　upon　the　ground　at　the　feet　of　the　Caliph；　and　said：

〃Commander　of　the　Faithful！　abase　not　yourself　to　the　meanness　of　your　slave。〃

〃No；　Emir；〃　replied　Vathek；　〃I　raise　her　to　an　equality　with　myself；　I　declare　her　my　wife；　and　the　glory　of　your　race　shall　extend　from　one　generation　to　another。〃

〃Alas！　my　lord；〃　said　Fakreddin；　as　he　plucked　off　the　honours　of　his　beard；　〃cut　short　the　days　of　your　faithful　servant；　rather　than　force　him　to　depart　from　his　word。　　Nouronihar；　as　her　hands　evince；　is　solemnly　promised　to　Gulchenrouz；　the　son　of　my　brother　Ali　Hassan；　they　are　united　also　in　heart；　their　faith　is　mutually　plighted；　and　affiances　so　sacred　cannot　be　broken。〃

〃What　then！〃　replied　the　Caliph；　bluntly；　〃would　you　surrender　this　divine　beauty　to　a　husband　more　womanish　than　herself？　and　can　you　imagine　that　I　will　suffer　her　charms　to　decay　in　hands　so　inefficient　and　nerveless？　　No！　she　is　destined　to　live　out　her　life　within　my　embraces：　　such　is　my　will；　retire；　and　disturb　not　the　time　I　devote　to　the　homage　of　her　charms。〃

The　irritated　Emir　drew　forth　his　sabre；　presented　it　to　Vathek；　and　stretching　out　his　neck；　said　in　a　firm　tone　of　voice：　　〃Strike　your　unhappy　host；　my　lord！　he　has　lived　long　enough；　since　he　hath　seen　the　Prophet's　Vicegerent　violate　the　rites　of　hospitality。〃

At　his　uttering　these　words　Nouronihar；　unable　to　support　any　longer　the　conflict　of　her　passions；　sank　down　in　a　swoon。　　Vathek；　both　terrified　for　her　life　and　furious　at　an　opposition　to　his　will；　bade　Fakreddin　assist　his　daughter；　and　withdrew；　darting　his　terrible　look　at　the　unfortunate　Emir；　who　suddenly　fell　backward；　bathed　in　a　sweat　cold　as　the　damp　of　death。

Gulchenrouz；　who　had　escaped　from　the　hands　of　Bababalouk；　and　was　that　instant　returned；　called　out　for　help　as　loudly　as　he　could；　not　having　strength　to　afford　it　himself。　　Pale　and　panting；　the　poor　child　attempted　to　revive　Nouronihar　by　caresses；　and　it　happened　that　the　thrilling　warmth　of　his　lips　restored　her　to　life。　　Fakreddin　beginning　also　to　recover　from　the　look　of　the　Caliph；　with　difficulty　tottered　to　a　seat；　and　after　warily　casting　round　his　eye　to　see　if　this　dangerous　prince　was　gone；　sent　for　Shaban　and　Sutlememe；　and　said　to　them　apart：

〃My　friends！　violent　evils　require　as　violent　remedies；　the　Caliph　has　brought　desolation　and　horror　into　my　family；　and　how　shall　we　resist　his　power？　another　of　his　looks　will　send　me　to　my　grave。　Fetch　then　that　narcotic　powder　which　the　Dervish　brought　me　from　Aracan；　a　dose　of　it；　the　effect　of　which　will　continue　three　days；　must