the history of caliph vathek-第10部分

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their　cages；　the　imperial　tent　was　pitched　on　the　levellest　ground　they　could　find。

Vathek；　reposing　upon　a　mattress　of　down；　and　tolerably　recovered　from　the　jolting　of　the　Ethiopian；　who　to　his　feelings　seemed　the　roughest　trotting　jade　he　had　hitherto　mounted；　called　out　for　something　to　eat。　　But；　alas！　those　delicate　cakes　which　had　been　baked　in　silver　ovens　for　his　royal　mouth；　those　rich　manchets；　amber　comfits；　flagons　of　Schiraz　wine；　porcelain　vases　of　snow；　and　grapes　from　the　banks　of　the　Tigris；　were　all　irremediably　lost！　　And　nothing　had　Bababalouk　to　present　in　their　stead　but　a　roasted　wolf；　vultures　a　la　daube；　aromatic　herbs　of　the　most　acrid　poignancy；　rotten　truffles；　boiled　thistles；　and　such　other　wild　plants　as　most　ulcerate　the　throat　and　parch　up　the　tongue。　　Nor　was　he　better　provided　in　the　article　of　drink；　for　he　could　procure　nothing　to　accompany　these　irritating　viands　but　a　few　vials　of　abominable　brandy；　which　had　been　secreted　by　the　scullions　in　their　slippers。

Vathek　made　wry　faces　at　so　savage　a　repast；　and　Bababalouk　answered　them　with　shrugs　and　contortions；　the　Caliph；　however；　ate　with　tolerable　appetite；　and　fell　into　a　nap　that　lasted　six　hours。　The　splendour　of　the　sun　reflected　from　the　white　cliffs　of　the　mountains；　in　spite　of　the　curtains　that　enclosed　him；　at　length　disturbed　his　repose；　he　awoke　terrified；　and　stung　to　the　quick　by　those　wormwood…coloured　flies；　which　emit　from　their　wings　a　suffocating　stench。　　The　miserable　monarch　was　perplexed　how　to　act；　though　his　wits　were　not　idle　in　seeking　expedients；　whilst　Bababalouk　lay　snoring　amidst　a　swarm　of　those　insects；　that　busily　thronged　to　pay　court　to　his　nose。　　The　little　pages；　famished　with　hunger；　had　dropped　their　fans　on　the　ground；　and　exerted　their　dying　voices　in　bitter　reproaches　on　the　Caliph；　who　now　for　the　first　time　heard　the　language　of　truth。

Thus　stimulated；　he　renewed　his　imprecations　against　the　Giaour；　and　bestowed　upon　Mahomet　some　soothing　expressions。　　〃Where　am　I？〃　cried　he；　〃what　are　these　dreadful　rocks？　these　valleys　of　darkness？　are　we　arrived　at　the　horrible　Kaf？　is　the　Simurgh　coming　to　pluck　out　my　eyes；　as　a　punishment　for　undertaking　this　impious　enterprise！〃　　Having　said　this；　he　bellowed　like　a　calf　and　turned　himself　towards　an　outlet　in　the　side　of　his　pavilion；　but；　alas！　what　objects　occurred　to　his　view！　on　one　side　a　plain　of　black　sand　that　appeared　to　be　unbounded；　and　on　the　other　perpendicular　crags；　bristled　over　with　those　abominable　thistles　which　had　so　severely　lacerated　his　tongue。　　He　fancied；　however；　that　he　perceived；　amongst　the　brambles　and　briers；　some　gigantic　flowers；　but　was　mistaken；　for　these　were　only　the　dangling　palampores　and　variegated　tatters　of　his　gay　retinue。　　As　there　were　several　clefts　in　the　rock　from　whence　water　seemed　to　have　flowed；　Vathek　applied　his　ear；　with　the　hope　of　catching　the　sound　of　some　latent　runnel；　but　could　only　distinguish　the　low　murmurs　of　his　people；　who　were　repining　at　their　journey；　and　complaining　for　the　want　of　water。

〃To　what　purpose；〃　asked　they；　〃have　we　been　brought　hither？　　Hath　our　Caliph　another　tower　to　build？　or　have　the　relentless　Afrits；　whom　Carathis　so　much　loves；　fixed　in　this　place　their　abode？〃

At　the　name　of　Carathis　Vathek　recollected　the　tablets　he　had　received　from　his　mother；　who　assured　him　they　were　fraught　with　preternatural　qualities；　and　advised　him　to　consult　them　as　emergencies　might　require。　　Whilst　he　was　engaged　in　turning　them　over　he　heard　a　shout　of　joy　and　a　loud　clapping　of　hands；　the　curtains　of　his　pavilion　were　soon　drawn　back；　and　he　beheld　Bababalouk；　followed　by　a　troop　of　his　favourites；　conducting　two　dwarfs；　each　a　cubit　high；　who　brought　between　them　a　large　basket　of　melons；　oranges；　and　pomegranates。　　They　were　singing　in　the　sweetest　tones　the　words　that　follow：

〃We　dwell　on　the　top　of　these　rocks　in　a　cabin　of　rushes　and　canes；　the　eagles　envy　us　our　nest；　a　small　spring　supplies　us　with　Abdest；　and　we　daily　repeat　prayers　which　the　Prophet　approves。　　We　love　you；　O　Commander　of　the　Faithful！　our　master；　the　good　Emir　Fakreddin；　loves　you　also；　he　reveres　in　your　person　the　vicegerent　of　Mahomet。　　Little　as　we　are；　in　us　he　confides；　he　knows　our　hearts　to　be　good　as　our　bodies　are　contemptible；　and　hath　placed　us　here　to　aid　those　who　are　bewildered　on　these　dreary　mountains。　Last　night；　whilst　we　were　occupied　within　our　cell　in　reading　the　holy　Koran；　a　sudden　hurricane　blew　out　our　lights　and　rocked　our　habitation；　for　two　whole　hours　a　palpable　darkness　prevailed；　but　we　heard　sounds　at　a　distance　which　we　conjectured　to　proceed　from　the　bells　of　a　Cafila　passing　over　the　rocks；　our　ears　were　soon　filled　with　deplorable　shrieks；　frightful　roarings；　and　the　sound　of　tymbals。　　Chilled　with　terror；　we　concluded　that　the　Deggial；　with　his　exterminating　angels；　had　sent　forth　their　plagues　on　the　earth。　　In　the　midst　of　these　melancholy　reflections　we　perceived　flames　of　the　deepest　red　glow　in　the　horizon；　and　found　ourselves　in　a　few　moments　covered　with　flakes　of　fire；　amazed　at　so　strange　an　appearance；　we　took　up　the　volume　dictated　by　the　blessed　Intelligence；　and；　kneeling　by　the　light　of　the　fire　that　surrounded　us；　we　recited　the　verse　which　says：　　'Put　no　trust　in　anything　but　the　mercy　of　Heaven；　there　is　no　help　save　in　the　holy　Prophet；　the　mountain　of　Kaf　itself　may　tremble；　it　is　the　power　of　Allah　only　that　cannot　be　moved。'　　After　having　pronounced　these　words　we　felt　consolation；　and　our　minds　were　hushed　into　a　sacred　repose；　silence　ensued；　and　our　ears　clearly　distinguished　a　voice　in　the　air；　saying：　　'Servants　of　my　faithful　servant！　go　down　to　the　happy　valley　of　Fakreddin；　tell　him　that　an　illustrious　opportunity　now　offers　to　satiate　the　thirst　of　his　hospitable　heart。　　The　Commander　of　true　believers　is　this　day　bewildered　amongst　these　mountains；　and　stands　in　need　of　thy　aid。'　　We　obeyed　with　joy　the　angelic　mission；　and　our　master；　filled　with　pious　zeal；　hath　culled　with　his　own　hands　these　melons；　oranges；　and　pomegranates；　he　is　following　us　with　a　hundred　dromedaries　laden　with　the　purest　waters　of　his　fountains；　and　is　coming　to　kiss　the　fringe　of　your　consecrated　robe；　and　implore　you　to　enter　his　humble　habitation；　which；　placed　amidst　these　barren　wilds；　resembles　an　emerald　set　in　lead。〃　　The　dwarfs；　having　ended　their　address；　remained　still　standing；　and；　with　hands　crossed　upon　their　bosoms；　preserved　a　respectful　silence。

Vathek　in　the　midst　of　this　curious　harangue；　seized　the　basket；　and　long　before　it　was　finished　the　fruits　had　dissolved　in　his　mouth；　as　he　continued　to　eat　his　piety　increased；　and　in　the　same　breath　which　recited　his　prayers　he　called　for　the　Koran　and　sugar。

Such　was　the　state　of　his　mind　when　the　tablets；　which　were　thrown　by　at　the　approach　of　the　dwarfs；　again　attracted　his　eye；　he　took　them　up；　but　was　ready　to　drop　on　the　ground　when　he　beheld；　in　large　red　characters；　these　words　inscribed　by　Carathis；　which　were　indeed　enough　to　make　him　tremble：

〃Beware　of　thy　old　doctors；　and　their　puny　messengers　of　but　one　cubit　high；　distrust　their　pious　frauds；　and；　instead　of　eating　their　melons；　impale　on　a　spit　the　bearers　of　them。　　Shouldst　thou　be　such　a　fool　as　to　visit　them；　the　portal　of　the　subterranean　palace　will　be　shut　in　thy　face；　and　with　such　force　as　shall　shake　thee　asunder；　thy　body　shall　be　spit　upon；　and　bats　will　engender　in　thy　belly。〃

〃To　what　tends　this　ominous　rhapsody？〃　cries　the　Caliph。　　〃And　must　I　then　perish　in　these　deserts　with　thirst；　whilst　I　may　refresh　myself　in　the　valley　of　melons　and　cucumbers！　　Accursed　be　the　Giaour；　with　his　portal　of　ebony！　he　hath　made　me　dance　attendance　too　long　already。　　Besides；　who　shall　prescribe　laws　to　me？　　I　forsooth　must　not　enter　any　one's　habitation！　　Be　it　so；　but　what　one　can　I　enter　that　is　not　my　own？〃

Bababalouk；　who　lost　not　a　syllable　of　this　soliloquy；　applauded　it　with　all　his　heart；　and　the　ladies　for　the　first　time　agreed　with　him　in　opinion。

The　dwarfs　were　entertained；　caressed；　and　seated　with　great　ceremony　on　little　cushions　of　satin。　　The　symmetry　of　their　persons　was　the　subject　of　criticism；　not　an　inch　of　them　was　suffered　to　pass　unexamined；　knick…knacks　and　dainties　were　offered　in　profusion；　but　all　were　declined　with　respectful　gravity。　　They　clambered　up　the　sides　of　the　Caliph's　seat；　and；　placing　themselves　each　on　one　of　his　shoulders；　began　to　whisper　prayers　in　his　ears；　their　tongues　quivered　like　the　leaves　of　a　poplar；　and　the　patience　of　Vathek　was　almost　exhausted；　when　the　acclamations　of　the　troops　announced　the　approach　of　Fakreddin；　who　was　come　with　a　hundred　old　grey…beards　and　as　many　Korans　and　dromedaries；　they　instantly　set　about　their　ablutions；　and　began　to　repeat　the　Bismillah；　Vathek；　to　get　rid　of　these　officious　monitors；　followed　their　example；　for　his　hands　were　burning。

The　good　Emir；　who　was　punctiliously　religious；　and　likewise　a　great　dealer　in　compliments；　made　an　harangue　five　times　more　prolix　and　insipid　than　his　harbingers　had　already　delivered。　　The　Caliph；　unable　any　longer　to　refrain；　exclaimed　…

〃For　the　love　of　Mahomet；　my　dear　Fakreddin；　have　done！　let　us　proceed　to　your　valley；　and　enjoy　the　fruits　that　Heaven　hath　vouchsafed　you。〃

The　hint　of　proceeding　put　all　into　motion；　the　venerable　attendants　of　the　Emir　set　forward　somewhat　slowly；　but　Vathek；　having　ordered　his　little　pages　in　private　to　goad　on　the　dromedaries；　loud　fits　of　laughter　broke　forth　from　the　cages；　for　the　unwieldy　curvetting　of　these　poor　beasts；　and　the　ridiculous　distress　of　their　superannuated　riders；　afforded　the　ladies　no　small　entertainment。

They　descended；　however；　unhurt　into　the　valley；　by　the　large　steps　which　the　Emir　had　cut　in　the　rock；　and　already　the　murmuring　of　streams　and　the　rustling　of　leaves　began　to　catch　their　attention。　The　cavalcade　soon　entered　a　path　which　was　skirted　by　flowering　shrubs；　and　extended　to　a　vast　wood　of　palm…trees；　whose　branches　overspread　a　building　of　hewn　stone。　　This　edifice　was　crowned　with　nine　domes；　and　adorned　with　as　many　portals　of　bronze；　on　which　was　engraven　the　following　inscription：　　〃This　is　the　as