the history of caliph vathek-第20章
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lation 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 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； 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 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 dereliction of the Caliph to heart with a vehemence natural to her character； for during her continuance in favour she had imbibed from Vathek many of his extravagant fancies； and was filed with impatience to behold the superb tombs of Istakar； and the palace of forty columns； besides； having been brought up amongst the Magi； she had fondly cherished the idea of the Caliph's devoting himself to the worship of fire； thus his voluptuous and desultory life with her rival was to her a double source of affliction。 The transient piety of Vathek had occasioned her some serious alarms； but the present was an evil of far greater magnitude； she resolved； therefore； without hesitation； to write to Carathis； and acquaint her that all things went ill； that they had eaten； slept； and revelled at an old Emir's； whose sanctity was very formidable； and that after all； the prospect of possessing the treasures of the pre…adamite Sultans was no less remote than before。 This letter was entrusted to the care of two wood…men； who were at work on one of the great forests of the mountains； and； being acquainted with the shortest cuts； arrived in ten days at Samarah。
The Princess Carathis was engaged at chess with Morakanabad； when the arrival of these wood…fellers was announced。 She； after some weeks of Vathek's absence； had forsaken the upper regions of her tower； because everything appeared in confusion among the stars； whom she consulted relative to the fate of her son。 In vain did she renew her fumigations； and extend herself on the roof to obtain mystic visions； nothing more could she see in her dreams than pieces of brocade； nosegays of flowers； and other unmeaning gewgaws。 These disappointments had thrown her into a state of dejection； which no drug in her power was sufficient to remove； her only resource was in Morakanabad； who was a good man； and endowed with a decent share of confidence； yet whilst in her company he never thought himself on roses。
No person knew aught of Vathek； and a thousand ridiculous stories were propagated at his expense。 The eagerness of Carathis may be easily guessed at receiving the letter； as well as her rage at reading the dissolute conduct of her son。 〃Is it so？〃 said she； 〃either I will perish； or Vathek shall enter the palace of fire。 Let me expire in flam
