the history of caliph vathek-第23章
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st 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 of hospitality； by seducing the daughter of the Emir； after having partaken of his bread and his salt。 Such a conduct cannot but be delightful to the Giaour； and if on thy march thou canst signalise thyself by an additional crime； all will still go well； and thou shalt enter the palace of Soliman in triumph。 Adieu！ Alboufaki and my negresses are waiting。〃
The Caliph had nothing to offer in reply； he wished his mother a prosperous journey； and ate on till he had finished his supper。 At midnight the camp broke up； amidst the flourishing of trumpets and other martial instruments； but loud indeed must have been the sound of the tymbals to overpower the blubbering of the Emir and his long…beards； who； by an excessive profusion of tears； had so far exhausted the radical moisture； that their eyes shrivelled up in their sockets； and their hairs dropped off by the roots。 Nouronihar； to whom such a symphony was painful； did not grieve to get out of hearing； she accompanied the Caliph in the imperial litter； where they amused themselves with imagining the splendour which was soon to surround them。 The other women； overcome with dejection； were dolefully rocked in their cages； whilst Dilara consoled herself with anticipating the joy of celebrating the rites of fire on the stately terraces of Istakar。
In four days they reached the spacious valley of Rocnabad。 The season of spring was in all its vigour； and the grotesque branches of the almond trees in full blossom fantastically chequered the clear blue sky； the earth； variegated with hyacinths and jonquils； breathed forth a fragrance which diffused through the soul a divine repose； myriads of bees； and scarce fewer of Santons； had there taken up their abode； on the banks of the stream hives and oratories were alternately ranged； and their neatness and whiteness were set off by the deep green of the cypresses that spired up amongst them。 These pious personages amused themselves with cultivating little gardens that abounded with flowers and fruits； especially musk…melons of the best flavour that Persia could boast； sometimes dispersed over the meadow； they entertained themselves with feeding peacocks whiter than snow； and turtles more blue than the sapphire； in this manner were they occupied when the harbingers of the imperial procession began to proclaim： 〃Inhabitants of Rocnabad！ prostrate yourselves on the brink of your pure waters； and tender your thanksgivings to Heaven； that vouchsafeth to show you a ray of its glory； for lo！ the Commander of the Faithful draws near。〃
The poor Santons； filled with holy energy； having bustled to light up wax torches in their oratories and expand the Koran on their ebony desks； went forth to meet the Caliph with baskets of honeycomb； dates； and melons。 But； whilst they were advancing in solemn procession and with measured steps； the horses； camels； and guards wantoned over their tulips and other flowers； and made a terrible havoc amongst them。 The Santons could not help casting from one eye a look of pity on the ravages committing around them； whilst the other was fixed upon the Caliph and heaven。 Nouronihar； enraptured with the scenery of a place which brought back to her remembrance the pleasing solitudes where her infancy had passed； entreated Vathek to stop； but he； suspecting that each oratory might be deemed by the Giaour a distinct habitation； commanded his pioneers to level them all； the Santons stood motionless with horror at the barbarous mandate； and at last broke out into lamentations； but these were uttered with so ill a grace； that Vathek bade his eunuchs to kick them from his presence。 He then descended from the litter with Nouronihar； they sauntered together in the meadow； and amused themselves with culling flowers； and passing a thousand pleasantries on each other。 But the bees； who were staunch Mussulmans； thinking it their duty to revenge the insult on their dear masters the Santons； assembled so zealously to do it with effect； that the Caliph and Nouronihar were glad to find their tents prepared to receive them。
Bababalouk； who in capacity of purveyor had acquitted himself with applause as to peacocks and turtles； lost no time in consigning some dozens to the spit； and as many more to be fricasseed。 Whilst they were feasting； laughing； carousing； and blaspheming at pleasure on the banquet so liberally furnished； the Moullahs； the Sheiks； the Cadis and Imams of Schiraz （who seemed not to have met the Santons） arrived； leading by bridles of riband inscribed from the Koran； a train of asses； which were loaded with the choicest fruits the country could boast； having presented their offerings to the Caliph； they petitioned him to honour their city and mosques with his presence。
〃Fancy not；〃 said Vathek； 〃that you can detain me； your presents I condescend to accept； but beg you will let me be quiet； for I am not over…fond of resisting temptation； retire； then； yet； as it is not decent for personages so reverend to return on foot； and as you have not the appearance of expert riders； my eunuchs shall tie you on your asses； with the precaution that your backs be not turned towards me； for they understand etiquette。〃
In this deputation were some high…stomached Sheiks； who； taking Vathek for a fool； scrupled not to speak their opinion。 These Bababalouk girded with double cords； and； having well disciplined their asses with nettles behind； they all started with a preternatural alertness； plunging； kicking； and running foul of each other in the most ludicrous manner imaginable。
Nouronihar and the Caliph mutually contended who should most enjoy so degrading a sight； they burst out in volleys of laughter to see the old men and their asses fall into the stream； the leg of one was fractured； the shoulder of another dislocated； the teeth of a third dashed out； and the rest suffered still worse。
Two days more； undisturbed by fresh embassies； having been devoted to the pleasures of Rocnabad； the expedition proceeded； leaving Shiraz on the right； and verging towards a large plain； from whence were discernible on the edge of the horizon the dark summits of the mountains of Istakar。
At this prospect the Caliph and Nouronihar were unable to repress their transports； they bounded from their litter to the ground； and broke forth into such wild exclamations； as amazed all within hearing。 Interrogating each other； they shouted； 〃Are we not approaching the radiant palace of light？ or gardens more delightful than those of Sheddad？〃 Infatuated mortals！ they thus indulged delusive conjecture； unable to fathom the decrees of the Most High！
The good Genii； who had not totally relinquished the superintendence of Vathek； repairing to Mahomet in the seventh heaven； said： 〃Merciful Prophet！ stretch forth thy propitious arms towards thy Vicegerent； who is ready to fall irretrievably into the snare which his enemies； the Dives； have prepared to destroy him； the Giaour is awaiting his arrival in the abominable palace of fire； where； if he once set his foot； his perdition
