the history of caliph vathek-第4部分

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　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　sooner　served　up　than　they　vanished；　to　the　great　mortification　of　Vathek；　who　piqued　himself　on　being　the　greatest　eater　alive；　and　at　this　time　in　particular　had　an　excellent　appetite。

The　rest　of　the　company　looked　round　at　each　other　in　amazement；　but　the　Indian；　without　appearing　to　observe　it；　quaffed　large　bumpers　to　the　health　of　each　of　them；　sung　in　a　style　altogether　extravagant；　related　stories　at　which　he　laughed　immoderately；　and　poured　forth　extemporaneous　verses；　which　would　not　have　been　thought　bad　but　for　the　strange　grimaces　with　which　they　were　uttered。　　In　a　word；　his　loquacity　was　equal　to　that　of　a　hundred　astrologers；　he　ate　as　much　as　a　hundred　porters；　and　caroused　in　proportion。

The　Caliph；　notwithstanding　the　table　had　been　thirty　times　covered；　found　himself　incommoded　by　the　voraciousness　of　his　guest；　who　was　now　considerably　declined　in　the　prince's　esteem。　Vathek；　however；　being　unwilling　to　betray　the　chagrin　he　could　hardly　disguise；　said　in　a　whisper　to　Bababalouk；　the　chief　of　his　eunuchs：　　〃You　see　how　enormous　his　performances　in　every　way　are；　what　would　be　the　consequence　should　he　get　at　my　wives？　　Go！　redouble　your　vigilance；　and　be　sure　look　well　to　my　Circassians；　who　would　be　more　to　his　taste　than　all　of　the　rest。〃

The　bird　of　the　morning　had　thrice　renewed　his　song　when　the　hour　of　the　Divan　sounded。　　Vathek；　in　gratitude　to　his　subjects；　having　promised　to　attend；　immediately　rose　from　table　and　repaired　thither；　leaning　upon　his　vizir；　who　could　scarcely　support　him；　so　disordered　was　the　poor　prince　by　the　wine　he　had　drunk；　and　still　more　by　the　extravagant　vagaries　of　his　boisterous　guest。

The　vizirs；　the　officers　of　the　crown　and　of　the　law；　arranged　themselves　in　a　semicircle　about　their　sovereign；　and　preserved　a　respectful　silence；　whilst　the　Indian；　who　looked　as　cool　as　if　come　from　a　fast；　sat　down　without　ceremony　on　the　step　of　the　throne；　laughing　in　his　sleeve　at　the　indignation　with　which　his　temerity　had　filled　the　spectators。

The　Caliph；　however；　whose　ideas　were　confused　and　his　head　embarrassed；　went　on　administering　justice　at　haphazard；　till　at　length　the　prime　vizir；　perceiving　his　situation；　hit　upon　a　sudden　expedient　to　interrupt　the　audience　and　rescue　the　honour　of　his　master；　to　whom　he　said　in　a　whisper：　　〃My　Lord；　the　Princess　Carathis；　who　hath　passed　the　night　in　consulting　the　planets；　informs　you　that　they　portend　you　evil；　and　the　danger　is　urgent。　Beware　lest　this　stranger；　whom　you　have　so　lavishly　recompensed　for　his　magical　gewgaws；　should　make　some　attempt　on　your　life；　his　liquor；　which　at　first　had　the　appearance　of　effecting　your　cure；　may　be　no　more　than　a　poison　of　a　sudden　operation。　　Slight　not　this　surmise；　ask　him　at　least　of　what　it　was　compounded；　whence　he　procured　it；　and　mention　the　sabres　which　you　seem　to　have　forgotten。〃

Vathek；　to　whom　the　insolent　airs　of　the　stranger　became　every　moment　less　supportable；　intimated　to　his　vizir　by　a　wink　of　acquiescence　that　he　would　adopt　his　advice；　and　at　once　turning　towards　the　Indian；　said：　　〃Get　up　and　declare　in　full　Divan　of　what　drugs　the　liquor　was　compounded　you　enjoined　me　to　take；　for　it　is　suspected　to　be　poison；　add　also　the　explanation　I　have　so　earnestly　desired　concerning　the　sabres　you　sold　me；　and　thus　show　your　gratitude　for　the　favours　heaped　on　you。〃

Having　pronounced　these　words　in　as　moderate　a　tone　as　a　caliph　well　could；　he　waited　in　silent　expectation　for　an　answer。　　But　the　Indian；　still　keeping　his　seat；　began　to　renew　his　loud　shouts　of　laughter；　and　exhibit　the　same　horrid　grimaces　he　had　shown　them　before；　without　vouchsafing　a　word　in　reply。　　Vathek；　no　longer　able　to　brook　such　insolence；　immediately　kicked　him　from　the　steps；　instantly　descending；　repeated　his　blow；　and　persisted　with　such　assiduity　as　incited　all　who　were　present　to　follow　his　example。　　Every　foot　was　aimed　at　the　Indian；　and　no　sooner　had　any　one　given　him　a　kick　than　he　felt　himself　constrained　to　reiterate　the　stroke。

The　stranger　afforded　them　no　small　entertainment；　for；　being　both　short　and　plump；　he　collected　himself　into　a　ball；　and　rolled　round　on　all　sides　at　the　blows　of　his　assailants；　who　pressed　after　him　wherever　he　turned　with　an　eagerness　beyond　conception；　whilst　their　numbers　were　every　moment　increasing。　　The　ball；　indeed；　in　passing　from　one　apartment　to　another；　drew　every　person　after　it　that　came　in　its　way；　insomuch　that　the　whole　palace　was　thrown　into　confusion；　and　resounded　with　a　tremendous　clamour。　　The　women　of　the　harem；　amazed　at　the　uproar；　flew　to　their　blinds　to　discover　the　cause；　but　no　sooner　did　they　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　ball；　than　feeling　themselves　unable　to　refrain；　they　broke　from　the　clutches　of　their　eunuchs；　who　to　stop　their　flight　pinched　them　till　they　bled；　but　in　vain；　whilst　themselves；　though　trembling　with　terror　at　the　escape　of　their　charge；　were　as　incapable　of　resisting　the　attraction。

The　Indian；　after　having　traversed　the　halls；　galleries；　chambers；　kitchens；　gardens；　and　stables　of　the　palace；　at　last　took　his　course　through　the　courts；　whilst　the　Caliph；　pursuing　him　closer　than　the　rest；　bestowed　as　many　kicks　as　he　possibly　could；　yet　not　without　receiving　now　and　then　one；　which　his　competitors　in　their　eagerness　designed　for　the　ball。

Carathis；　Morakanabad；　and　two　or　three　old　vizirs；　whose　wisdom　had　hitherto　withstood　the　attraction；　wishing　to　prevent　Vathek　from　exposing　himself　in　the　presence　of　his　subjects；　fell　down　in　his　way　to　impede　the　pursuit；　but　he；　regardless　of　their　obstruction；　leaped　over　their　heads；　and　went　on　as　before。　　They　then　ordered　the　Muezzins　to　call　the　people　to　prayers；　both　for　the　sake　of　getting　them　out　of　the　way　and　of　endeavouring　by　their　petitions　to　avert　the　calamity；　but　neither　of　these　expedients　was　a　whit　more　successful：　　the　sight　of　this　fatal　ball　was　alone　sufficient　to　draw　after　it　every　beholder。　　The　Muezzins　themselves；　though　they　saw　it　but　at　a　distance；　hastened　down　from　their　minarets　and　mixed　with　the　crowd；　which　continued　to　increase　in　so　surprising　a　manner；　that　scarce　an　inhabitant　was　left　in　Samarah；　except　the　aged；　the　sick　confined　to　their　beds；　and　infants　at　the　breast；　whose　nurses　could　run　more　nimbly　without　them。　　Even　Carathis；　Morakanabad；　and　the　rest　were　all　become　of　the　party。

The　shrill　screams　of　the　females；　who　had　broken　from　their　apartments；　and　were　unable　to　extricate　themselves　from　the　pressure　of　the　crowd；　together　with　those　of　the　eunuchs　jostling　after　them；　terrified　lest　their　charge　should　escape　from　their　sight；　increased　by　the　execrations　of　husbands　urging　forward　and　menacing　both；　kicks　given　and　received；　stumblings　and　overthrows　at　every　step；　in　a　word；　the　confusion　that　universally　prevailed　rendered　Samarah　like　a　city　taken　by　storm　and　devoted　to　absolute　plunder。

At　last　the　cursed　Indian；　who　still　preserved　his　rotundity　of　figure；　after　passing　through　all　the　streets　and　public　places；　and　leaving　them　empty；　rolled　onwards　to　the　plain　of　Catoul；　and　traversed　the　valley　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain　of　the　Four　Fountains。

As　a　continual　fall　of　water　had　excavated　an　immense　gulf　in　the　valley；　whose　opposite　side　was　closed　in　by　a　steep　acclivity；　the　Caliph　and　his　attendants　were　apprehensive　lest　the　ball　should　bound　into　the　chasm；　and；　to　prevent　it；　redoubled　their　efforts；　but　in　vain。　　The　Indian　persevered　in　his　onward　direction；　and；　as　had　been　apprehended；　glancing　from　the　precipice　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　was　lost　in　the　gulf　below。

Vathek　would　have　followed　the　perfidious　Giaour；　had　not　an　invisible　agency　arrested　his　progress。　　The　multitude　that　pressed　after　him　were　at　once　checked　in　the　same　manner；　and　a　calm　instantaneously　ensued。　　They　all　gazed　at　each　other　with　an　air　of　astonishment；　and；　notwithstanding　that　the　loss　of　veils　and　turbans；　together　with　torn　habits　and　dust　blended　with　sweat；　presented　a　most　laughable　spectacle；　there　was　not　one　smile　to　be　seen；　on　the　contrary；　all；　with　looks　of