the history of caliph vathek-第2章

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　This　palace　was　called　〃The　Eternal　or　Unsatiating　Banquet。〃

The　second　was　styled　〃The　Temple　of　Melody；　or　the　Nectar　of　the　Soul。〃　　It　was　inhabited　by　the　most　skilful　musicians　and　admired　poets　of　the　time；　who　not　only　displayed　their　talents　within；　but；　dispersing　in　bands　without；　caused　every　surrounding　scene　to　reverberate　their　songs；　which　were　continually　varied　in　the　most　delightful　succession。

The　palace　named　〃The　Delight　of　the　Eyes；　or　the　Support　of　Memory；〃　was　one　entire　enchantment。　　Rarities　collected　from　every　corner　of　the　earth　were　there　found　in　such　profusion　as　to　dazzle　and　confound；　but　for　the　order　in　which　they　were　arranged。　　One　gallery　exhibited　the　pictures　of　the　celebrated　Mani；　and　statues　that　seemed　to　be　alive。　　Here　a　well…managed　perspective　attracted　the　sight；　there　the　magic　of　optics　agreeably　deceived　it；　whilst　the　naturalist　on　his　part　exhibited；　in　their　several　classes；　the　various　gifts　that　Heaven　had　bestowed　on　our　globe。　　In　a　word；　Vathek　omitted　nothing　in　this　palace　that　might　gratify　the　curiosity　of　those　who　resorted　to　it；　although　he　was　not　able　to　satisfy　his　own；　for　he　was　of　all　men　the　most　curious。

〃The　Palace　of　Perfumes；〃　which　was　termed　likewise　〃The　Incentive　to　Pleasure；〃　consisted　of　various　halls；　where　the　different　perfumes　which　the　earth　produces　were　kept　perpetually　burning　in　censers　of　gold。　　Flambeaux　and　aromatic　lamps　were　here　lighted　in　open　day。　　But　the　too　powerful　effects　of　this　agreeable　delirium　might　be　avoided　by　descending　into　an　immense　garden；　where　an　assemblage　of　every　fragrant　flower　diffused　through　the　air　the　purest　odours。

The　fifth　palace；　denominated　〃The　Retreat　of　Joy；　or　the　Dangerous；〃　was　frequented　by　troops　of　young　females　beautiful　as　the　houris；　and　not　less　seducing；　who　never　failed　to　receive　with　caresses　all　whom　the　Caliph　allowed　to　approach　them；　for　he　was　by　no　means　disposed　to　be　jealous；　as　his　own　women　were　secluded　within　the　palace　he　inhabited　himself。

Notwithstanding　the　sensuality　in　which　Vathek　indulged；　he　experienced　no　abatement　in　the　love　of　his　people；　who　thought　that　a　sovereign　immersed　in　pleasure　was　not　less　tolerable　to　his　subjects　than　one　that　employed　himself　in　creating　them　foes。　　But　the　unquiet　and　impetuous　disposition　of　the　Caliph　would　not　allow　him　to　rest　there；　he　had　studied　so　much　for　his　amusement　in　the　lifetime　of　his　father　as　to　acquire　a　great　deal　of　knowledge；　though　not　a　sufficiency　to　satisfy　himself；　for　he　wished　to　know　everything；　even　sciences　that　did　not　exist。　　He　was　fond　of　engaging　in　disputes　with　the　learned；　but　liked　them　not　to　push　their　opposition　with　warmth；　he　stopped　the　mouths　of　those　with　presents　whose　mouths　could　be　stopped；　whilst　others；　whom　his　liberality　was　unable　to　subdue；　he　sent　to　prison　to　cool　their　blood：　　a　remedy　that　often　succeeded。

Vathek　discovered　also　a　predilection　for　theological　controversy；　but　it　was　not　with　the　orthodox　that　he　usually　held。　　By　this　means　he　induced　the　zealots　to　oppose　him；　and　then　persecuted　them　in　return；　for　he　resolved　at　any　rate　to　have　reason　on　his　side。

The　great　prophet　Mahomet；　whose　vicars　the　caliphs　are；　beheld　with　indignation　from　his　abode　in　the　seventh　heaven　the　irreligious　conduct　of　such　a　vicegerent。　　〃Let　us　leave　him　to　himself；〃　said　he　to　the　genii；　who　are　always　ready　to　receive　his　commands；　〃let　us　see　to　what　lengths　his　folly　and　impiety　will　carry　him；　if　he　run　into　excess　we　shall　know　how　to　chastise　him。　Assist　him；　therefore；　to　complete　the　tower　which；　in　imitation　of　Nimrod；　he　hath　begun；　not；　like　that　great　warrior；　to　escape　being　drowned；　but　from　the　insolent　curiosity　of　penetrating　the　secrets　of　Heaven；　he　will　not　divine　the　fate　that　awaits　him。〃

The　genii　obeyed；　and　when　the　workmen　had　raised　their　structure　a　cubit　in　the　day…time；　two　cubits　more　were　added　in　the　night。　The　expedition　with　which　the　fabric　arose　was　not　a　little　flattering　to　the　vanity　of　Vathek。　　He　fancied　that　even　insensible　matter　showed　a　forwardness　to　subserve　his　designs；　not　considering　that　the　successes　of　the　foolish　and　wicked　form　the　first　rod　of　their　chastisement。

His　pride　arrived　at　its　height　when；　having　ascended　for　the　first　time　the　eleven　thousand　stairs　of　his　tower；　he　cast　his　eyes　below；　and　beheld　men　not　larger　than　pismires；　mountains　than　shells；　and　cities　than　bee…hives。　　The　idea　which　such　an　elevation　inspired　of　his　own　grandeur　completely　bewildered　him；　he　was　almost　ready　to　adore　himself；　till；　lifting　his　eyes　upward；　he　saw　the　stars　as　high　above　him　as　they　appeared　when　he　stood　on　the　surface　of　the　earth。　　He　consoled　himself；　however；　for　this　transient　perception　of　his　littleness　with　the　thought　of　being　great　in　the　eyes　of　others；　and　flattered　himself　that　the　light　of　his　mind　would　extend　beyond　the　reach　of　his　sight；　and　transfer　to　the　stars　the　decrees　of　his　destiny。

With　this　view　the　inquisitive　prince　passed　most　of　his　nights　on　the　summit　of　his　tower；　till　he　became　an　adept　in　the　mysteries　of　astrology；　and　imagined　that　the　planets　had　disclosed　to　him　the　most　marvellous　adventures；　which　were　to　be　accomplished　by　an　extraordinary　personage　from　a　country　altogether　unknown。　Prompted　by　motives　of　curiosity；　he　had　always　been　courteous　to　strangers；　but　from　this　instant　he　redoubled　his　attention；　and　ordered　it　to　be　announced　by　sound　of　trumpet；　through　all　the　streets　of　Samarah；　that　no　one　of　his　subjects；　on　peril　of　displeasure；　should　either　lodge　or　detain　a　traveller；　but　forthwith　bring　him　to　the　palace。

Not　long　after　this　proclamation　there　arrived　in　his　metropolis　a　man　so　hideous　that　the　very　guards　who　arrested　him　were　forced　to　shut　their　eyes　as　they　led　him　along。　　The　Caliph　himself　appeared　startled　at　so　horrible　a　visage；　but　joy　succeeded　to　this　emotion　of　terror　when　the　stranger　displayed　to　his　view　such　rarities　as　he　had　never　before　seen；　and　of　which　he　had　no　conception。

In　reality；　nothing　was　ever　so　extraordinary　as　the　merchandise　this　stranger　produced；　most　of　his　curiosities；　which　were　not　less　admirable　for　their　workmanship　than　splendour；　had；　besides；　their　several　virtues　described　on　a　parchment　fastened　to　each。　There　were　slippers　which　enabled　the　feet　to　walk；　knives　that　out　without　the　motion　of　a　hand；　sabres　which　dealt　the　blow　at　the　person　they　were　wished　to　strike；　and　the　whole　enriched　with　gems　that　were　hitherto　unknown。

The　sabres；　whose　blades　emitted　a　dazzling　radiance；　fixed　more　than　all　the　Caliph's　attention；　who　promised　himself　to　decipher　at　his　leisure　the　uncouth　characters　engraven　on　their　sides。　Without；　therefore；　demanding　their　price；　he　ordered　all　the　coined　gold　to　be　brought　from　his　treasury；　and　commanded　the　merchant　to　take　what　he　pleased；　the　stranger　complied　with　modesty　and　silence。

Vathek；　imagining　that　the　merchant's　taciturnity　was　occasioned　by　the　awe　which　his　presence　inspired；　encouraged　him　to　advance；　and　asked　him；　with　an　air　of　condescension；　〃Who　he　was？　whence　he　came？　and　where　he　obtained　such　beautiful　commodities？〃　　The　man；　or　rather　monster；　instead　of　making　a　reply；　thrice　rubbed　his　forehead；　which；　as　well　as　his　body；　was　blacker　than　ebony；　four　times　clapped　his　paunch；　the　projection　of　which　was　enormous；　opened　wide　his　huge　eyes；　which　glowed　like　firebrands；　began　to　laugh　with　a　hideous　noise；　and　discovered　his　long　amber…coloured　teeth　bestreaked　with　green。

The　Caliph；　though　a　little　startled；　renewed　his　inquiries；　but　without　being　able　to　procure　a　reply；　at　which；　beginning　to　be　ruffled；　he　exclaimed：　　〃Knowest　thou；　varlet；　who　I　am？　and　at　whom　thou　art　aiming　thy　gibes？〃　　Then；　addressing　his　guards；　〃Have　ye　heard　him　speak？　is　he　dumb？〃

〃He　hath　spoken；〃　they　replied；　〃though　but　little。〃

〃Let　him　speak　again；　then；〃　said　Vathek；　〃and　tell　me　who　he　is；　from　whence　he　came；　and　where　he　procured　these　singular　curiosities；　or　I　swear　by　the　ass　of　Balaam　that　I　will　make　him　rue　his　pertinacity。〃

The　menace　was　accompanied　by　the　Caliph　with　one　of　his　angr