the history of caliph vathek-第19部分

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ed　over　their　tulips　and　other　flowers；　and　made　a　terrible　havoc　amongst　them。　　The　Santons　could　not　help　casting　from　one　eye　a　look　of　pity　on　the　ravages　committing　around　them；　whilst　the　other　was　fixed　upon　the　Caliph　and　heaven。　　Nouronihar；　enraptured　with　the　scenery　of　a　place　which　brought　back　to　her　remembrance　the　pleasing　solitudes　where　her　infancy　had　passed；　entreated　Vathek　to　stop；　but　he；　suspecting　that　each　oratory　might　be　deemed　by　the　Giaour　a　distinct　habitation；　commanded　his　pioneers　to　level　them　all；　the　Santons　stood　motionless　with　horror　at　the　barbarous　mandate；　and　at　last　broke　out　into　lamentations；　but　these　were　uttered　with　so　ill　a　grace；　that　Vathek　bade　his　eunuchs　to　kick　them　from　his　presence。　　He　then　descended　from　the　litter　with　Nouronihar；　they　sauntered　together　in　the　meadow；　and　amused　themselves　with　culling　flowers；　and　passing　a　thousand　pleasantries　on　each　other。　　But　the　bees；　who　were　staunch　Mussulmans；　thinking　it　their　duty　to　revenge　the　insult　on　their　dear　masters　the　Santons；　assembled　so　zealously　to　do　it　with　effect；　that　the　Caliph　and　Nouronihar　were　glad　to　find　their　tents　prepared　to　receive　them。

Bababalouk；　who　in　capacity　of　purveyor　had　acquitted　himself　with　applause　as　to　peacocks　and　turtles；　lost　no　time　in　consigning　some　dozens　to　the　spit；　and　as　many　more　to　be　fricasseed。　　Whilst　they　were　feasting；　laughing；　carousing；　and　blaspheming　at　pleasure　on　the　banquet　so　liberally　furnished；　the　Moullahs；　the　Sheiks；　the　Cadis　and　Imams　of　Schiraz　（who　seemed　not　to　have　met　the　Santons）　arrived；　leading　by　bridles　of　riband　inscribed　from　the　Koran；　a　train　of　asses；　which　were　loaded　with　the　choicest　fruits　the　country　could　boast；　having　presented　their　offerings　to　the　Caliph；　they　petitioned　him　to　honour　their　city　and　mosques　with　his　presence。

〃Fancy　not；〃　said　Vathek；　〃that　you　can　detain　me；　your　presents　I　condescend　to　accept；　but　beg　you　will　let　me　be　quiet；　for　I　am　not　over…fond　of　resisting　temptation；　retire；　then；　yet；　as　it　is　not　decent　for　personages　so　reverend　to　return　on　foot；　and　as　you　have　not　the　appearance　of　expert　riders；　my　eunuchs　shall　tie　you　on　your　asses；　with　the　precaution　that　your　backs　be　not　turned　towards　me；　for　they　understand　etiquette。〃

In　this　deputation　were　some　high…stomached　Sheiks；　who；　taking　Vathek　for　a　fool；　scrupled　not　to　speak　their　opinion。　　These　Bababalouk　girded　with　double　cords；　and；　having　well　disciplined　their　asses　with　nettles　behind；　they　all　started　with　a　preternatural　alertness；　plunging；　kicking；　and　running　foul　of　each　other　in　the　most　ludicrous　manner　imaginable。

Nouronihar　and　the　Caliph　mutually　contended　who　should　most　enjoy　so　degrading　a　sight；　they　burst　out　in　volleys　of　laughter　to　see　the　old　men　and　their　asses　fall　into　the　stream；　the　leg　of　one　was　fractured；　the　shoulder　of　another　dislocated；　the　teeth　of　a　third　dashed　out；　and　the　rest　suffered　still　worse。

Two　days　more；　undisturbed　by　fresh　embassies；　having　been　devoted　to　the　pleasures　of　Rocnabad；　the　expedition　proceeded；　leaving　Shiraz　on　the　right；　and　verging　towards　a　large　plain；　from　whence　were　discernible　on　the　edge　of　the　horizon　the　dark　summits　of　the　mountains　of　Istakar。

At　this　prospect　the　Caliph　and　Nouronihar　were　unable　to　repress　their　transports；　they　bounded　from　their　litter　to　the　ground；　and　broke　forth　into　such　wild　exclamations；　as　amazed　all　within　hearing。　　Interrogating　each　other；　they　shouted；　〃Are　we　not　approaching　the　radiant　palace　of　light？　or　gardens　more　delightful　than　those　of　Sheddad？〃　　Infatuated　mortals！　they　thus　indulged　delusive　conjecture；　unable　to　fathom　the　decrees　of　the　Most　High！

The　good　Genii；　who　had　not　totally　relinquished　the　superintendence　of　Vathek；　repairing　to　Mahomet　in　the　seventh　heaven；　said：　　〃Merciful　Prophet！　stretch　forth　thy　propitious　arms　towards　thy　Vicegerent；　who　is　ready　to　fall　irretrievably　into　the　snare　which　his　enemies；　the　Dives；　have　prepared　to　destroy　him；　the　Giaour　is　awaiting　his　arrival　in　the　abominable　palace　of　fire；　where；　if　he　once　set　his　foot；　his　perdition　will　be　inevitable。〃

Mahomet　answered　with　an　air　of　indignation：　　He　hath　too　well　deserved　to　be　resigned　to　himself；　but　I　permit　you　to　try　if　one　effort　more　will　be　effectual　to　divert　him　from　pursuing　his　ruin。〃

One　of　these　beneficent　Genii；　assuming　without　delay　the　exterior　of　a　shepherd；　more　renowned　for　his　piety　than　all　the　Dervises　and　Santons　of　the　region；　took　his　station　near　a　flock　of　white　sheep　on　the　slope　of　a　hill；　and　began　to　pour　forth　from　his　flute　such　airs　of　pathetic　melody　as　subdued　the　very　soul；　and；　awakening　remorse；　drove　far　from　it　every　frivolous　fancy。　　At　these　energetic　sounds　the　sun　hid　himself　beneath　a　gloomy　cloud；　and　the　waters　of　two　little　lakes；　that　were　naturally　clearer　than　crystal；　became　of　a　colour　like　blood。　　The　whole　of　this　superb　assembly　was　involuntarily　drawn　towards　the　declivity　of　the　hill；　with　downcast　eyes　they　all　stood　abashed；　each　upbraiding　himself　with　the　evil　he　had　done；　the　heart　of　Dilara　palpitated；　and　the　chief　of　the　eunuchs　with　a　sigh　of　contrition　implored　pardon　of　the　women；　whom　for　his　own　satisfaction　he　had　so　often　tormented。

Vathek　and　Nouronihar　turned　pale　in　their　litter；　and；　regarding　each　other　with　haggard　looks；　reproached　themselvesthe　one　with　a　thousand　of　the　blackest　crimes；　a　thousand　projects　of　impious　ambitionthe　other　with　the　desolation　of　her　family；　and　the　perdition　of　the　amiable　Gulchenrouz。　　Nouronihar　persuaded　herself　that　she　heard　in　the　fatal　music　the　groans　of　her　dying　father；　and　Vathek　the　sobs　of　the　fifty　children　he　had　sacrificed　to　the　Giaour。　　Amidst　these　complicated　pangs　of　anguish　they　perceived　themselves　impelled　towards　the　shepherd；　whose　countenance　was　so　commanding；　that　Vathek　for　the　first　time　felt　overawed；　whilst　Nouronihar　concealed　her　face　with　her　hands。

The　music　paused；　and　the　Genius；　addressing　the　Caliph；　said：　〃Deluded　Prince！　to　whom　Providence　hath　confided　the　care　of　innumerable　subjects；　is　it　thus　that　thou　fulfillest　thy　mission？　Thy　crimes　are　already　completed；　and　art　thou　now　hastening　towards　thy　punishment？　　Thou　knowest　that　beyond　these　mountains　Eblis　and　his　accursed　Dives　hold　their　infernal　empire；　and；　seduced　by　a　malignant　phantom；　thou　art　proceeding　to　surrender　thyself　to　them！　　This　moment　is　the　last　of　grace　allowed　thee；　abandon　thy　atrocious　purpose；　return；　give　back　Nouronihar　to　her　father；　who　still　retains　a　few　sparks　of　life；　destroy　thy　tower　with　all　its　abominations；　drive　Carathis　from　thy　councils；　be　just　to　thy　subjects；　respect　the　ministers　of　the　Prophet；　compensate　for　thy　impieties　by　an　exemplary　life；　and；　instead　of　squandering　thy　days　in　voluptuous　indulgence；　lament　thy　crimes　on　the　sepulchres　of　thy　ancestors。　　Thou　beholdest　the　clouds　that　obscure　the　sun；　at　the　instant　he　recovers　his　splendour；　if　thy　heart　be　not　changed；　the　time　of　mercy　assigned　thee　will　be　past　for　ever。〃

Vathek；　depressed　with　fear；　was　on　the　point　of　prostrating　himself　at　the　feet　of　the　shepherd；　whom　he　perceived　to　be　of　a　nature　superior　to　man；　but；　his　pride　prevailing；　he　audaciously　lifted　his　head；　and；　glancing　at　him　one　of　his　terrible　looks；　said：　　〃Whoever　thou　art；　withhold　thy　useless　admonitions；　thou　wouldst　either　delude　me；　or　art　thyself　deceived。　　If　what　I　have　done　be　so　criminal　as　thou　pretendest；　there　remains　not　for　me　a　moment　of　grace；　I　have　traversed　a　sea　of　blood　to　acquire　a　power　which　will　make　thy　equals　tremble；　deem　not　that　I　shall　retire　when　in　view　of　the　port；　or　that　I　will　relinquish　her　who　is　dearer　to　me　than　either　my　life　or　thy　mercy。　　Let　the　sun　appear！　let　him　illumine　my　career！　it　matters　not　where　it　may　end。〃　　On　uttering　these　words；　which　made　even　the　Genius　shudder；　Vathek　threw　himself　into　the　arms　of　Nouronihar；　and　commanded　that　his　horse　should　be　forced　back　to　the　road。

There　was　no　difficulty　in　obeying　these　orders；　for　the　attraction　had　ceased；　the　sun　shone　forth　in　all　his　glory；　and　the　shepherd　vanished　with　a　lamentable　scream。

The　fatal　impression　of　the　music　of　the　Genius　remained；　notwithstanding；　in　the　heart　of　Vathek's　attendants；　they　viewed　each　other　with　looks　of　consternation；　at　the　approach　of　night　almost　all　of　them　escaped；　and　of　this　numerous　assemblage　there　only　remained　the　chief　of　the　eunuchs；　some　idolatrous　slaves；　Dilara　and　a　few　other　women；　who；　like　herself；　were　votaries　of　the　religion　of　the　Magi。

The　Caliph；　fired　with　the　ambition　of　prescribing　laws　to　the　Intelligences　of　Darkness；　was　but　little　embarrassed　at　this　dereliction；　the　impetuosity　of　his　blood　prevented　him　from　sleeping；　nor　did　he　encamp　any　more　as　before。　　Nouronihar；　whose　impatience；　if　possible；　exceeded　his　own；　importuned　him　to　hasten　his　march；　and　lavished　on　him　a　thousand　caresses　to　beguile　all　reflection；　she　fancied　herself　already　more　potent　than　Balkis；　and　pictured　to　her　imagination　the　Genii　falling　prostrate　at　the　foot　of　her　throne。　　In　this　manner　they　advanced　by　moonlight；　till　they　came　within　view　of　the　two　towering　rocks　that　form　a　kind　of　portal　to　the　valley；　at　whose　extremity　rose　the　vast　ruins　of　Istakar。　　Aloft　on　the　mountain　glimmered　the　fronts　of　various　royal　mausoleums；　the　horror　of　which　was　deepened　by　the　shadows　of　night。　　They　passed　through　two　villages　almost　deserted；　the　only　inhabitants　remaining　being　a　few　feeble　old　men；　who；　at　the　sight　of　horses　and　litters；　fell　upon　their　knees　and　cried　out：

〃O　Heaven！　is　it　then　by　these　phantoms　that　we　have　been　for　six　months　tormented？　　Alas！　it　was　from　the　terror　of　these　spectres　and　the　noise　beneath　the　mountains；　that　our　people　have　fled；　and　left　us　at　the　mercy　of　maleficent　spirits！〃

The　Caliph；　to　whom　these　complaints　were　but　unpromising　auguries；　drove　over　the　bodies　of　these　wretched　old　men；　and　at　length　arrived　at　the　foot　of　the　terrace　of　black　marble；　there　he　descended　from　his　litter；　handing　down　Nouronihar；　both　with　beating　hearts　stared　wildly　around　them；　and　expected　with　an