the history of caliph vathek-第13部分

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kreddin；　it　was　with　all　the　bashfulness　of　a　fawn；　that　consciously　ventures　from　the　lair　of　its　dam；　he　was　however；　wanton　enough　to　mock　the　solemn　old　grey…beards　to　whom　he　was　subject；　though　sure　to　be　rated　without　mercy　in　return；　whenever　this　happened　he　would　plunge　into　the　recesses　of　the　harem；　and　sobbing；　take　refuge　in　the　arms　of　Nouronihar；　who　loved　even　his　faults　beyond　the　virtues　of　others。

It　fell　out　this　evening　that；　after　leaving　the　Caliph　in　the　meadow；　she　ran　with　Gulchenrouz　over　the　green　sward　of　the　mountain　that　sheltered　the　vale　where　Fakreddin　had　chosen　to　reside。　　The　sun　was　dilated　on　the　edge　of　the　horizon；　and　the　young　people；　whose　fancies　were　lively　and　inventive；　imagined　they　beheld　in　the　gorgeous　clouds　of　the　west　the　domes　of　Shadukiam　and　Amberabad；　where　the　Peris　have　fixed　their　abode。　Nouronihar；　sitting　on　the　slope　of　the　hill；　supported　on　her　knees　the　perfumed　head　of　Gulchenrouz；　the　air　was　calm；　and　no　sound　stirred　but　the　voices　of　other　young　girls；　who　were　drawing　cool　water　from　the　streams　below。　　The　unexpected　arrival　of　the　Caliph；　and　the　splendour　that　marked　his　appearance；　had　already　filled　with　emotion　the　ardent　soul　of　Nouronihar；　her　vanity　irresistibly　prompted　her　to　pique　the　prince's　attention；　and　this　she　before　took　good　care　to　effect　whilst　he　picked　up　the　jasmine　she　had　thrown　upon　him。　　But　when　Gulchenrouz　asked　after　the　flowers　he　had　culled　for　her　bosom；　Nouronihar　was　all　in　confusion；　she　hastily　kissed　his　forehead；　arose　in　a　flutter；　and　walked　with　unequal　steps　on　the　border　of　the　precipice。　　Night　advanced；　and　the　pure　gold　of　the　setting　sun　had　yielded　to　a　sanguine　red；　the　glow　of　which；　like　the　reflection　of　a　burning　furnace；　flushed　Nouronihar's　animated　countenance。　　Gulchenrouz；　alarmed　at　the　agitation　of　his　cousin；　said　to　her　with　a　supplicating　accent：

〃Let　us　be　gone；　the　sky　looks　portentous；　the　tamarisks　tremble　more　than　common；　and　the　raw　wind　chills　my　very　heart；　come！　let　us　be　gone；　'tis　a　melancholy　night！〃

Then；　taking　hold　of　her　hand；　he　drew　it　towards　the　path　he　besought　her　to　go。　　Nouronihar　unconsciously　followed　the　attraction；　for　a　thousand　strange　imaginations　occupied　her　spirit；　she　passed　the　large　round　of　honeysuckles；　her　favourite　resort；　without　ever　vouchsafing　it　a　glance；　yet　Gulchenrouz　could　not　help　snatching　off　a　few　shoots　in　his　way；　though　he　ran　as　if　a　wild　beast　were　behind。

The　young　females　seeing　him　approach　in　such　haste；　and　according　to　custom　expecting　a　dance；　instantly　assembled　in　a　circle；　and　took　each　other　by　the　hand；　but　Gulchenrouz；　coming　up　out　of　breath；　fell　down　at　once　on　the　grass。　　This　accident　struck　with　consternation　the　whole　of　this　frolicsome　party；　whilst　Nouronihar；　half　distracted；　and　overcome；　both　by　the　violence　of　her　exercise　and　the　tumult　of　her　thoughts；　sunk　feebly　down　at　his　side；　cherished　his　cold　hands　in　her　bosom；　and　chafed　his　temples　with　a　fragrant　unguent。　　At　length　he　came　to　himself；　and；　wrapping　up　his　head　in　the　robe　of　his　cousin；　entreated　that　she　would　not　return　to　the　harem；　he　was　afraid　of　being　snapped　at　by　Shaban；　his　tutor；　a　wrinkled　old　eunuch　of　a　surly　disposition；　for　having　interrupted　the　stated　walk　of　Nouronihar；　he　dreaded　lest　the　churl　should　take　it　amiss。　　The　whole　of　this　sprightly　group；　sitting　round　upon　a　mossy　knoll；　began　to　entertain　themselves　with　various　pastimes；　whilst　their　superintendents　the　eunuchs　were　gravely　conversing　at　a　distance。　The　nurse　of　the　Emir's　daughter；　observing　her　pupil　sit　ruminating　with　her　eyes　on　the　ground；　endeavoured　to　amuse　her　with　diverting　tales；　to　which　Gulchenrouz；　who　had　already　forgotten　his　inquietudes；　listened　with　a　breathless　attention；　he　laughed；　he　clapped　his　hands；　and　passed　a　hundred　little　tricks　on　the　whole　of　the　company；　without　omitting　the　eunuchs；　whom　he　provoked　to　run　after　him；　in　spite　of　their　age　and　decrepitude。

During　these　occurrences　the　moon　arose；　the　wind　subsided；　and　the　evening　became　so　serene　and　inviting；　that　a　resolution　was　taken　to　sup　on　the　spot。　　Sutlememe；　who　excelled　in　dressing　a　salad；　having　filled　large　bowls　of　porcelain　with　eggs　of　small　birds；　curds　turned　with　citron　juice；　slices　of　cucumber；　and　the　inmost　leaves　of　delicate　herbs；　handed　it　round　from　one　to　another；　and　gave　each　their　shares　in　a　large　spoon　of　Cocknos。　　Gulchenrouz；　nestling　as　usual　in　the　bosom　of　Nouronihar；　pouted　out　his　vermilion　little　lips　against　the　offer　of　Sutlememe；　and　would　take　it　only　from　the　hand　of　his　cousin；　on　whose　mouth　he　hung　like　a　bee　inebriated　with　the　quintessence　of　flowers。　　One　of　the　eunuchs　ran　to　fetch　melons；　whilst　others　were　employed　in　showering　down　almonds　from　the　branches　that　overhung　this　amiable　party。

In　the　midst　of　this　festive　scene　there　appeared　a　light　on　the　top　of　the　highest　mountain；　which　attracted　the　notice　of　every　eye；　this　light　was　not　less　bright　than　the　moon　when　at　full；　and　might　have　been　taken　for　her；　had　it　not　been　that　the　moon　was　already　risen。　　The　phenomenon　occasioned　a　general　surprise；　and　no　one　could　conjecture　the　cause；　it　could　not　be　a　fire；　for　the　light　was　clear　and　bluish；　nor　had　meteors　ever　been　seen　of　that　magnitude　or　splendour。　　This　strange　light　faded　for　a　moment；　and　immediately　renewed　its　brightness；　it　first　appeared　motionless　at　the　foot　of　the　rock；　whence　it　darted　in　an　instant　to　sparkle　in　a　thicket　of　palm…trees；　from　thence　it　glided　along　the　torrent；　and　at　last　fixed　in　a　glen　that　was　narrow　and　dark。　　The　moment　it　had　taken　its　direction；　Gulchenrouz；　whose　heart　always　trembled　at　anything　sudden　or　rare；　drew　Nouronihar　by　the　robe；　and　anxiously　requested　her　to　return　to　the　harem；　the　women　were　importunate　in　seconding　the　entreaty；　but　the　curiosity　of　the　Emir's　daughter　prevailed；　she　not　only　refused　to　go　back；　but　resolved　at　all　hazards　to　pursue　the　appearance。　　Whilst　they　were　debating　what　was　best　to　be　done；　the　light　shot　forth　so　dazzling　a　blaze；　that　they　all　fled　away　shrieking；　Nouronihar　followed　them　a　few　steps；　but；　coming　to　the　turn　of　a　little　bye…path；　stopped；　and　went　back　alone；　as　she　ran　with　an　alertness　peculiar　to　herself；　it　was　not　long　before　she　came　to　the　place　where　they　had　just　been　supping。　　The　globe　of　fire　now　appeared　stationary　in　the　glen；　and　burned　in　majestic　stillness。　　Nouronihar；　compressing　her　hands　upon　her　bosom；　hesitated　for　some　moments　to　advance；　the　solitude　of　her　situation　was　new；　the　silence　of　the　night　awful；　and　every　object　inspired　sensations　which　till　then　she　never　had　felt：　　the　affright　of　Gulchenrouz　recurred　to　her　mind；　and　she　a　thousand　times　turned　to　go　back；　but　this　luminous　appearance　was　always　before　her；　urged　on　by　an　irresistible　impulse；　she　continued　to　approach　it；　in　defiance　of　every　obstacle　that　opposed　her　progress。

At　length　she　arrived　at　the　opening　of　the　glen；　but；　instead　of　coming　up　to　the　light；　she　found　herself　surrounded　by　darkness；　excepting　that　at　a　considerable　distance　a　faint　spark　glimmered　by　fits。　　She　stopped　a　second　time；　the　sound　of　water…falls　mingling　their　murmurs；　the　hollow　rustlings　amongst　the　palm…　branches；　and　the　funereal　screams　of　the　birds　from　their　rifted　trunks；　all　conspired　to　fill　her　with　terror；　she　imagined　every　moment　that　she　trod　on　some　venomous　reptile；　all　the　stories　of　malignant　Dives　and　dismal　Gouls　thronged　into　her　memory；　but　her　curiosity　was；　notwithstanding；　more　predominant　than　her　fears；　she　therefore　firmly　entered　a　winding　track　that　led　towards　the　spark；　but；　being　a　stranger　to　the　path；　she　had　not　gone　far　till　she　began　to　repent　of　her　rashness。

〃Alas！〃　said　she；　〃that　I　were　but　in　those　secure　and　illuminated　apartments　where　my　evenings　glided　on　with　Gulchenrouz！　　Dear　child！　how　would　thy　heart　flutter　with　terror　wert　thou　wandering　in　these　wild　solitudes　like　me！〃　　At　the　close　of　this　apostrophe　she　regained　her　road；　and；　coming　to　steps　hewn　out　in　the　rock；　ascended　them　undismayed；　the　light；　which　was　now　gradually　enlarging；　appeared　above　her　on　the　summit　of　the　mountain；　at　length　she　distinguished　a　plaintive　and　melodious　union　of　voices；　proceeding　from　a　sort　of　cavern；　that　resembled　the　dirges　which　are　sung　over　tombs；　a　sound；　likewise；　like　that　which　arises　from　the　filling　of　baths；　at　the　same　time　struck　her　ear；　she　continued　ascending；　and　discovered　large　wax　torches　in　full　blaze　planted　here　and　there　in　the　fissures　of　the　rock；　this　preparation　filled　her　with　fear；　whilst　the　subtle　and　potent　odour　which　the　torches　exhaled　caused　her　to　sink　almost　lifeless　at　the　entrance　of　the　grot。

Casting　her　eyes　within　in　this　kind　of　trance；　she　beheld　a　large　cistern　of　gold　filled　with　a　water；　whose　vapour　distilled　on　her　face　a　dew　of　the　essence　of　roses；　a　soft　symphony　resounded　through　the　grot；　on　the　sides　of　the　cistern　she　noticed　appendages　of　royalty；　diadems；　and　feathers　of　the　heron；　all　sparkling　with　carbuncles；　whilst　her　attention　was　fixed　on　this　display　of　magnificence；　the　music　ceased；　and　a　voice　instantly　demanded：

〃For　what　monarch　were　these　torches　kindled；　this　bath　prepared；　and　these　habiliments；　which　belong；　not　only　to　the　sovereigns　of　the　earth；　but　even　to　the　Talismanic　Powers？〃

To　which　a　second　voice　answered：　　〃They　are　for　the　charming　daughter　of　the　Emir　Fakreddin。〃

〃What；〃　replied　the　first；　〃for　that　trifler；　who　consumes　her　time　with　a　giddy　child；　immersed　in　softness；　and　who　at　best　can　make　but　an　enervated　husband？〃

〃And　can　she；〃　rejoined　the　other　voice；　〃be　amused　with　such　empty　trifles；　whilst　the　Caliph；　the　sovereign　of　the　world；　he　who　is　destined　to　enjoy　the　treasures　of　the　pre…adamite　Sultans；　a　prince　six　feet　high；　and　whose　eyes　pervade　the　inmost　soul　of　a　female；　is　inflamed　with　the　love　of　her。　　No！　she　will　be　wise　enough　to　answer　that　passion　alone　that　can　aggrandise　her　glory；　no　doubt　she　will；　and　despise　the　puppet　of　her　fancy。　　Then　all　the　riches　this　place　contains；　as　well　as　the　carbuncle　of　Giamschid；　shall　be　hers。〃