the history of caliph vathek-第7章

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y　and　the　white　flocks　sporting　upon　it；　no　sounds　were　audible　save　the　murmurs　of　the　Four　Fountains；　and　the　reeds　and　voices　of　shepherds　calling　to　each　other　from　different　eminences。

The　lovely　innocents　proceeding　to　the　destined　sacrifice　added　not　a　little　to　the　hilarity　of　the　scene；　they　approached　the　plain　full　of　sportiveness；　some　coursing　butterflies；　others　culling　flowers；　or　picking　up　the　shining　little　pebbles　that　attracted　their　notice。　　At　intervals　they　nimbly　started　from　each　other；　for　the　sake　of　being　caught　again；　and　mutually　imparting　a　thousand　caresses。

The　dreadful　chasm　at　whose　bottom　the　portal　of　ebony　was　placed　began　to　appear　at　a　distance；　it　looked　like　a　black　streak　that　divided　the　plain。　　Morakanabad　and　his　companions　took　it　for　some　work　which　the　Caliph　had　ordered；　unhappy　men！　little　did　they　surmise　for　what　it　was　destined。

Vathek；　not　liking　they　should　examine　it　too　nearly；　stopped　the　procession；　and　ordered　a　spacious　circle　to　be　formed　on　this　side；　at　some　distance　from　the　accursed　chasm。　　The　body…guard　of　eunuchs　was　detached　to　measure　out　the　lists　intended　for　the　games；　and　prepare　ringles　for　the　lines　to　keep　off　the　crowd。　The　fifty　competitors　were　soon　stripped；　and　presented　to　the　admiration　of　the　spectators　the　suppleness　and　grace　of　their　delicate　limbs；　their　eyes　sparkled　with　a　joy　which　those　of　their　fond　parents　reflected。　　Every　one　offered　wishes　for　the　little　candidate　nearest　his　heart；　and　doubted　not　of　his　being　victorious；　a　breathless　suspense　awaited　the　contest　of　these　amiable　and　innocent　victims。

The　Caliph；　awaiting　himself　of　the　first　moment　to　retire　from　the　crowd；　advanced　towards　the　chasm；　and　there　heard；　yet　not　without　shuddering；　the　voice　of　the　Indian；　who；　gnashing　his　teeth；　eagerly　demanded：　　〃Where　are　they？　where　are　they？　perceivest　thou　not　how　my　mouth　waters？〃

〃Relentless　Giaour！〃　answered　Vathek；　with　emotion；　〃can　nothing　content　thee　but　the　massacre　of　these　lovely　victims！　　Ah！　wert　thou　to　behold　their　beauty　it　must　certainly　move　thy　compassion。〃

〃Perdition　on　thy　compassion；　babbler！〃　cried　the　Indian。　　〃Give　them　me；　instantly　give　them；　or　my　portal　shall　be　closed　against　thee　for　ever！〃

〃Not　so　loudly；〃　replied　the　Caliph；　blushing。

〃I　understand　thee；〃　returned　the　Giaour；　with　the　grin　of　an　ogre；　〃thou　wantest　to　summon　up　more　presence　of　mind；　I　will　for　a　moment　forbear。〃

During　this　exquisite　dialogue　the　games　went　forward　with　all　alacrity；　and　at　length　concluded　just　as　the　twilight　began　to　overcast　the　mountains。　　Vathek；　who　was　still　standing　on　the　edge　of　the　chasm；　called　out；　with　all　his　might：　　〃Let　my　fifty　little　favourites　approach　me　separately；　and　let　them　come　in　the　order　of　their　success。　　To　the　first　I　will　give　my　diamond　bracelet；　to　the　second　my　collar　of　emeralds；　to　the　third　my　aigret　of　rubies；　to　the　fourth　my　girdle　of　topazes；　and　to　the　rest　each　a　part　of　my　dress；　even　down　to　my　slippers。〃

This　declaration　was　received　with　reiterated　acclamations；　and　all　extolled　the　liberality　of　a　prince　who　would　thus　strip　himself　for　the　amusement　of　his　subjects　and　the　encouragement　of　the　rising　generation。

The　Caliph　in　the　meantime　undressed　himself　by　degrees；　and；　raising　his　arm　as　high　as　he　was　able；　made　each　of　the　prizes　glitter　in　the　air；　but　whilst　he　delivered　it　with　one　hand　to　the　child；　who　sprang　forward　to　receive　it；　he　with　the　other　pushed　the　poor　innocent　into　the　gulf；　where　the　Giaour；　with　a　sullen　muttering；　incessantly　repeated；　〃More！　more！〃

This　dreadful　device　was　executed　with　so　much　dexterity　that　the　boy　who　was　approaching　him　remained　unconscious　of　the　fate　of　his　forerunner；　and　as　to　the　spectators；　the　shades　of　evening；　together　with　their　distance；　precluded　them　from　perceiving　any　object　distinctly。　　Vathek；　having　in　this　manner　thrown　in　the　last　of　the　fifty；　and　expecting　that　the　Giaour　on　receiving　them　would　have　presented　the　key；　already　fancied　himself　as　great　as　Soliman；　and　consequently　above　being　amenable　for　what　he　had　done：　　when；　to　his　utter　amazement；　the　chasm　closed；　and　the　around　became　as　entire　as　the　rest　of　the　plain。

No　language　could　express　his　rage　and　despair。　　He　execrated　the　perfidy　of　the　Indian；　loaded　him　with　the　most　infamous　invectives；　and　stamped　with　his　foot　as　resolving　to　be　heard；　he　persisted　in　this　demeanour　till　his　strength　failed　him；　and　then　fell　on　the　earth　like　one　void　of　sense。　　His　vizirs　and　grandees；　who　were　nearer　than　the　rest；　supposed　him　at　first　to　be　sitting　on　the　grass　at　play　with　their　amiable　children；　but　at　length；　prompted　by　doubt；　they　advanced　towards　the　spot；　and　found　the　Caliph　alone；　who　wildly　demanded　what　they　wanted。

〃Our　children！　our　children！〃　cried　they。

〃It　is　assuredly　pleasant；〃　said　he；　〃to　make　me　accountable　for　accidents；　your　children　while　at　play　fell　from　the　precipice　that　was　here；　and　I　should　have　experienced　their　fate　had　I　not　been　saved　by　a　sudden　start　back。〃

At　these　words　the　fathers　of　the　fifty　boys　cried　out　aloud；　the　mothers　repeated　their　exclamations　an　octave　higher；　whilst　the　rest；　without　knowing　the　cause；　soon　drowned　the　voices　of　both　with　still　louder　lamentations　of　their　own。

〃Our　Caliph；〃　said　theyand　the　report　soon　circulated〃Our　Caliph　has　played　us　this　trick　to　gratify　his　accursed　Giaour。　Let　us　punish　him　for　his　perfidy！　let　us　avenge　ourselves！　let　us　avenge　the　blood　of　the　innocent！　let　us　throw　this　cruel　prince　into　the　gulf　that　is　near；　and　let　his　name　be　mentioned　no　more！〃

At　this　rumour　and　these　menaces；　Carathis；　full　of　consternation；　hastened　to　Morakanabad；　and　said：　　〃Vizir；　you　have　lost　two　beautiful　boys；　and　must　necessarily　be　the　most　afflicted　of　fathers；　but　you　are　virtuous；　save　your　master。〃

〃I　will　brave　every　hazard；〃　replied　the　vizir；　〃to　rescue　him　from　his　present　danger；　but　afterwards　will　abandon　him　to　his　fate。　Bababalouk；〃　continued　he；　〃put　yourself　at　the　head　of　your　eunuchs；　disperse　the　mob；　and；　if　possible；　bring　back　this　unhappy　prince　to　his　palace。〃　　Bababalouk　and　his　fraternity；　felicitating　each　other　in　a　low　voice　on　their　disability　of　ever　being　fathers；　obeyed　the　mandate　of　the　vizir；　who；　seconding　their　exertions　to　the　utmost　of　his　power；　at　length　accomplished　his　generous　enterprise；　and　retired　as　he　resolved；　to　lament　at　his　leisure。

No　sooner　had　the　Caliph　re…entered　his　palace　than　Carathis　commanded　the　doors　to　be　fastened；　but；　perceiving　the　tumult　to　be　still　violent；　and　hearing　the　imprecations　which　resounded　from　all　quarters；　she　said　to　her　son：　　〃Whether　the　populace　be　right　or　wrong；　it　behoves　you　to　provide　for　your　safety；　let　us　retire　to　your　own　apartment；　and　from　thence　through　the　subterranean　passage；　known　only　to　ourselves；　into　your　tower；　there；　with　the　assistance　of　the　mutes　who　never　leave　it；　we　may　be　able　to　make　some　resistance。　　Bababalouk；　supposing　us　to　be　still　in　the　palace；　will　guard　its　avenues　for　his　own　sake；　and　we　shall　soon　find；　without　the　counsels　of　that　blubberer　Morakanabad；　what　expedient　may　be　the　best　to　adopt。〃

Vathek；　without　making　the　least　reply；　acquiesced　in　his　mother's　proposal；　and　repeated　as　he　went：　　〃Nefarious　Giaour！　where　art　thou！　hast　thou　not　yet　devoured　those　poor　children？　where　are　thy　sabres？　thy　golden　key？　thy　talismans？〃

Carathis；　who　guessed　from　these　interrogations　a　part　of　the　truth；　had　no　difficulty　to　apprehend　in　getting　at　the　whole；　as　soon　as　he　should　be　a　little　composed　in　his　tower。　　This　princess　was　so　far　from　being　influenced　by　scruples　that　she　was　as　wicked　as　woman　could　be；　which　is　not　saying　a　little；　for　the　sex　pique　themselves　on　their　superiority　in　every　competition。　　The　recital　of　the　Caliph；　therefore；　occasioned　neither　terror　nor　surprise　to　his　mother；　she　felt　no　emotion　but　from　the　promises　of　the　Giaour；　and　said　to　her　son：　　〃This　Giaour；　it　must　be　confessed；　is　somewhat　sanguinary　in　his　taste；　but　the　terrestrial　powers　are　always　terrible；　nevertheless；　what　the　one　hath　promised　and　the　others　ca