the history of caliph vathek-第4章

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ving　that　the　characters　he　had　read　the　day　preceding　had　given　place　to　others　of　different　import。

〃What　ails　you？〃　asked　the　Caliph；　〃and　why　these　symptoms　of　wonder？〃

〃Sovereign　of　the　world；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃these　sabres　hold　another　language　to…day　from　that　they　yesterday　held。〃

〃How　say　you？〃　returned　Vathek；　〃but　it　matters　not！　tell　me；　if　you　can；　what　they　mean。〃

〃It　is　this；　my　lord；〃　rejoined　the　old　man：　　〃Woe　to　the　rash　mortal　who　seeks　to　know　that　of　which　he　should　remain　ignorant；　and　to　undertake　that　which　surpasseth　his　power！〃

〃And　woe　to　thee！〃　cried　the　Caliph；　in　a　burst　of　indignation；　〃to…day　thou　art　void　of　understanding。　　Begone　from　my　presence；　they　shall　burn　but　the　half　of　thy　beard；　because；　thou　wert　yesterday　fortunate　in　guessing；　my　gifts　I　never　resume。〃

The　old　man；　wise　enough　to　perceive　he　had　luckily　escaped；　considering　the　folly　of　disclosing　so　disgusting　a　truth；　immediately　withdrew；　and　appeared　not　again。

But　it　was　not　long　before　Vathek　discovered　abundant　reason　to　regret　his　precipitation；　for　though　he　could　not　decipher　the　characters　himself；　yet　by　constantly　poring　upon　them　he　plainly　perceived　that　they　every　day　changed；　and　unfortunately　no　other　candidate　offered　to　explain　them。　　This　perplexing　occupation　inflamed　his　blood；　dazzled　his　sight；　and　brought　on　a　giddiness　and　debility　that　he　could　not　support。　　He　failed　not；　however；　though　in　so　reduced　a　condition；　to　be　often　carried　to　his　tower；　as　he　flattered　himself　that　he　might　there　read　in　the　stars　which　he　went　to　consult　something　more　congenial　to　his　wishes：　　but　in　this　his　hopes　were　deluded；　for　his　eyes；　dimmed　by　the　vapours　of　his　head；　began　to　subserve　his　curiosity　so　ill；　that　he　beheld　nothing　but　a　thick　dun　cloud；　which　he　took　for　the　most　direful　of　omens。

Agitated　with　so　much　anxiety；　Vathek　entirely　lost　all　firmness；　a　fever　seized　him；　and　his　appetite　failed。　　Instead　of　being　one　of　the　greatest　eaters；　he　became　as　distinguished　for　drinking。　　So　insatiable　was　the　thirst　which　tormented　him　that　his　mouth；　like　a　funnel；　was　always　open　to　receive　the　various　liquors　that　might　be　poured　into　it；　and　especially　cold　water；　which　calmed　him　more　than　every　other。

This　unhappy　prince　being　thus　incapacitated　for　the　enjoyment　of　any　pleasure；　commanded　the　palaces　of　the　five　senses　to　be　shut　up；　forbore　to　appear　in　public；　either　to　display　his　magnificence　or　administer　justice；　and　retired　to　the　inmost　apartment　of　his　harem。　　As　he　had　ever　been　an　indulgent　husband；　his　wives；　overwhelmed　with　grief　at　his　deplorable　situation；　incessantly　offered　their　prayers　for　his　health；　and　unremittingly　supplied　him　with　water。

In　the　meantime　the　Princess　Carathis；　whose　affliction　no　words　can　describe；　instead　of　restraining　herself　to　sobbing　and　tears；　was　closeted　daily　with　the　Vizir　Morakanabad；　to　find　out　some　cure　or　mitigation　of　the　Caliph's　disease。　　Under　the　persuasion　that　it　was　caused　by　enchantment；　they　turned　over　together；　leaf　by　leaf；　all　the　books　of　magic　that　might　point　out　a　remedy；　and　caused　the　horrible　stranger；　whom　they　accused　as　the　enchanter；　to　be　everywhere　sought　for　with　the　strictest　diligence。

At　the　distance　of　a　few　miles　from　Samarah　stood　a　high　mountain；　whose　sides　were　swarded　with　wild　thyme　and　basil；　and　its　summit　overspread　with　so　delightful　a　plain；　that　it　might　be　taken　for　the　paradise　destined　for　the　faithful。　　Upon　it　grew　a　hundred　thickets　of　eglantine　and　other　fragrant　shrubs；　a　hundred　arbours　of　roses；　jessamine；　and　honeysuckle；　as　many　clumps　of　orange　trees；　cedar；　and　citron；　whose　branches；　interwoven　with　the　palm；　the　pomegranate；　and　the　vine；　presented　every　luxury　that　could　regale　the　eye　or　the　taste。　　The　ground　was　strewed　with　violets；　hare…bells；　and　pansies；　in　the　midst　of　which　sprang　forth　tufts　of　jonquils；　hyacinths；　and　carnations；　with　every　other　perfume　that　impregnates　the　air。　　Four　fountains；　not　less　clear　than　deep；　and　so　abundant　as　to　slake　the　thirst　of　ten　armies；　seemed　profusely　placed　here　to　make　the　scene　more　resemble　the　garden　of　Eden；　which　was　watered　by　the　four　sacred　rivers。　　Here　the　nightingale　sang　the　birth　of　the　rose；　her　well…beloved；　and　at　the　same　time　lamented　its　short…lived　beauty；　whilst　the　turtle　deplored　the　loss　of　more　substantial　pleasures；　and　the　wakeful　lark　hailed　the　rising　light　that　re…animates　the　whole　creation。　Here　more　than　anywhere　the　mingled　melodies　of　birds　expressed　the　various　passions　they　inspired；　as　if　the　exquisite　fruits　which　they　pecked　at　pleasure　had　given　them　a　double　energy。

To　this　mountain　Vathek　was　sometimes　brought　for　the　sake　of　breathing　a　purer　air；　and　especially　to　drink　at　will　of　the　four　fountains；　which　were　reputed　in　the　highest　degree　salubrious　and　sacred　to　himself。　　His　attendants　were　his　mother；　his　wives；　and　some　eunuchs；　who　assiduously　employed　themselves　in　filling　capacious　bowls　of　rock　crystal；　and　emulously　presenting　them　to　him；　but　it　frequently　happened　that　his　avidity　exceeded　their　zeal；　insomuch　that　he　would　prostrate　himself　upon　the　ground　to　lap　up　the　water；　of　which　he　could　never　have　enough。

One　day；　when　this　unhappy　prince　had　been　long　lying　in　so　debasing　a　posture；　a　voice；　hoarse　but　strong；　thus　addressed　him：　〃Why　assumest　thou　the　function　of　a　dog；　O　Caliph；　so　proud　of　thy　dignity　and　power？〃

At　this　apostrophe　he　raised　his　head；　and　beheld　the　stranger　that　had　caused　him　so　much　affliction。　　Inflamed　with　anger　at　the　sight；　he　exclaimed　…

〃Accursed　Giaour！　what　comest　thou　hither　to　do？　　Is　it　not　enough　to　have　transformed　a　prince　remarkable　for　his　agility　into　one　of　those　leather　barrels　which　the　Bedouin　Arabs　carry　on　their　camels　when　they　traverse　the　deserts？　　Perceivest　thou　not　that　I　may　perish　by　drinking　to　excess　no　less　than　by　a　total　abstinence？〃

〃Drink　then　this　draught；〃　said　the　stranger；　as　he　presented　to　him　a　phial　of　a　red　and　yellow　mixture；　〃and；　to　satiate　the　thirst　of　thy　soul　as　well　as　of　thy　body；　know　that　I　am　an　Indian；　but　from　a　region　of　India　which　is　wholly　unknown。〃

The　Caliph　delighted　to　see　his　desires　accomplished　in　part；　and　flattering　himself　with　the　hope　of　obtaining　their　entire　fulfilment；　without　a　moment's　hesitation　swallowed　the　potion；　and　instantaneously　found　his　health　restored；　his　thirst　appeased；　and　his　limbs　as　agile　as　ever。

In　the　transports　of　his　joy　Vathek　leaped　upon　the　neck　of　the　frightful　Indian；　and　kissed　his　horrid　mouth　and　hollow　cheeks　as　though　they　had　been　the　coral　lips　and　the　lilies　and　roses　of　his　most　beautiful　wives；　whilst　they；　less　terrified　than　jealous　at　the　sight；　dropped　their　veils　to　hide　the　blush　of　mortification　that　suffused　their　foreheads。

Nor　would　the　scene　have　closed　here；　had　not　Carathis；　with　all　the　art　of　insinuation；　a　little　repressed　the　raptures　of　her　son。　Having　prevailed　upon　him　to　return　to　Samarah；　she　caused　a　herald　to　precede　him；　whom　she　commanded　to　proclaim　as　loudly　as　possible：　　〃The　wonderful　stranger　hath　appeared　again；　he　hath　healed　the　Caliph；　he　hath　spoken！　he　hath　spoken！〃

Forthwith　all　the　inhabitants　of　this　vast　city　quitted　their　habitations；　and　ran　together　in　crowds　to　see　the　procession　of　Vathek　and　the　Indian；　whom　they　now　blessed　as　much　as　they　had　before　execrated；　incessantly　shouting：　　〃He　hath　healed　our　sovereign；　he　hath　spoken！　he　hath　spoken！〃　　Nor　were　these　words　forgotten　in　the　public　festivals　which　were　celebrated　the　same　evening；　to　testify　the　general　joy；　for　the　poets　applied　them　as　a　chorus　to　all　the　songs　they　composed。

The　Caliph　in　the　meanwhile　caused　the　palaces　of　the　senses　to　be　again　set　open；　and；　as　he　found　himself　prompted　to　visit　that　of　taste　in　preference　to　the　rest；　immediately　ordered　a　splendid　entertainment；　to　which　his　great　officers　and　favourite　courtiers　were　all　invited。　　The　Indian；　who　was　placed　near　the　prince；　seemed　to　think　that　as　a　proper　acknowledgment　of　so　distinguished　a　privilege　he　could　neither　eat；　drink；　nor　talk　too　much。　　The　various　dainties　were　no