the history of caliph vathek-第20部分

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r；　handing　down　Nouronihar；　both　with　beating　hearts　stared　wildly　around　them；　and　expected　with　an　apprehensive　shudder　the　approach　of　the　Giaour；　but　nothing　as　yet　announced　his　appearance。

A　death…like　stillness　reigned　over　the　mountain　and　through　the　air；　the　moon　dilated　on　a　vast　platform　the　shades　of　the　lofty　columns；　which　reached　from　the　terrace　almost　to　the　clouds；　the　gloomy　watch…towers；　whose　numbers　could　not　be　counted；　were　veiled　by　no　roof；　and　their　capitals；　of　an　architecture　unknown　in　the　records　of　the　earth；　served　as　an　asylum　for　the　birds　of　darkness；　which；　alarmed　at　the　approach　of　such　visitants；　fled　away　croaking。

The　chief　of　the　eunuchs；　trembling　with　fear；　besought　Vathek　that　a　fire　might　be　kindled。

〃No！〃　replied　he；　〃there　is　no　time　left　to　think　of　such　trifles；　abide　where　thou　art；　and　expect　my　commands。〃

Having　thus　spoken；　he　presented　his　hand　to　Nouronihar；　and；　ascending　the　steps　of　a　vast　staircase；　reached　the　terrace；　which　was　flagged　with　squares　of　marble；　and　resembled　a　smooth　expanse　of　water；　upon　whose　surface　not　a　leaf　ever　dared　to　vegetate；　on　the　right　rose　the　watch…towers；　ranged　before　the　ruins　of　an　immense　palace；　whose　walls　were　embossed　with　various　figures；　in　front　stood　forth　the　colossal　forms　of　four　creatures；　composed　of　the　leopard　and　the　griffin；　and；　though　but　of　stone；　inspired　emotions　of　terror；　near　these　were　distinguished　by　the　splendour　of　the　moon；　which　streamed　full　on　the　place；　characters　like　those　on　the　sabres　of　the　Giaour；　that　possessed　the　same　virtue　of　changing　every　moment；　these；　after　vacillating　for　some　time；　at　last　fixed　in　Arabic　letters；　and　prescribed　to　the　Caliph　the　following　words：

〃Vathek！　thou　hast　violated　the　conditions　of　my　parchment；　and　deservest　to　be　sent　back；　but；　in　favour　to　thy　companion；　and　as　the　meed　for　what　thou　hast　done　to　obtain　it；　EBLIS　permitteth　that　the　portal　of　his　palace　shall　be　opened；　and　the　subterranean　fire　will　receive　thee　into　the　number　of　its　adorers。〃

He　scarcely　had　read　these　words　before　the　mountain　against　which　the　terrace　was　reared　trembled；　and　the　watch…towers　were　ready　to　topple　headlong　upon　them；　the　rock　yawned；　and　disclosed　within　it　a　staircase　of　polished　marble　that　seemed　to　approach　the　abyss；　upon　each　stair　were　planted　two　large　torches；　like　those　Nouronihar　had　seen　in　her　vision；　the　camphorated　vapour　ascending　from　which　gathered　into　a　cloud　under　the　hollow　of　the　vault。

This　appearance；　instead　of　terrifying；　gave　new　courage　to　the　daughter　of　Fakreddin。　　Scarcely　deigning　to　bid　adieu　to　the　moon　and　the　firmament；　she　abandoned　without　hesitation　the　pure　atmosphere　to　plunge　into　these　infernal　exhalations。　　The　gait　of　those　impious　personages　was　haughty　and　determined；　as　they　descended　by　the　effulgence　of　the　torches　they　gazed　on　each　other　with　mutual　admiration；　and　both　appeared　so　resplendent；　that　they　already　esteemed　themselves　spiritual　Intelligences；　the　only　circumstance　that　perplexed　them　was　their　not　arriving　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　on　hastening　their　descent　with　an　ardent　impetuosity；　they　felt　their　steps　accelerated　to　such　a　degree；　that　they　seemed　not　walking；　but　falling　from　a　precipice。　　Their　progress；　however；　was　at　length　impeded　by　a　vast　portal　of　ebony；　which　the　Caliph　without　difficulty　recognised；　here　the　Giaour　awaited　them　with　the　key　in　his　hand。

〃Ye　are　welcome；〃　said　he　to　them；　with　a　ghastly　smile；　〃in　spite　of　Mahomet　and　all　his　dependants。　　I　will　now　admit　you　into　that　palace　where　you　have　so　highly　merited　a　place。〃

Whilst　he　was　uttering　these　words　he　touched　the　enamelled　lock　with　his　key；　and　the　doors　at　once　expanded；　with　a　noise　still　louder　than　the　thunder　of　mountains；　and　as　suddenly　recoiled　the　moment　they　had　entered。

The　Caliph　and　Nouronihar　beheld　each　other　with　amazement；　at　finding　themselves　in　a　place　which；　though　roofed　with　a　vaulted　ceiling；　was　so　spacious　and　lofty　that　at　first　they　took　it　for　an　immeasurable　plain。　　But　their　eyes　at　length　growing　familiar　to　the　grandeur　of　the　objects　at　hand；　they　extended　their　view　to　those　at　a　distance；　and　discovered　rows　of　columns　and　arcades；　which　gradually　diminished　till　they　terminated　in　a　point；　radiant　as　the　sun　when　he　darts　his　last　beams　athwart　the　ocean；　the　pavement；　strewed　over　with　gold　dust　and　saffron；　exhaled　so　subtle　an　odour　as　almost　overpowered　them；　they；　however；　went　on；　and　observed　an　infinity　of　censers；　in　which　ambergris　and　the　wood　of　aloes　were　continually　burning；　between　the　several　columns　were　placed　tables；　each　spread　with　a　profusion　of　viands；　and　wines　of　every　species　sparkling　in　vases　of　crystal。　　A　throng　of　Genii　and　other　fantastic　spirits　of　each　sex　danced　in　troops；　at　the　sound　of　music　which　issued　from　beneath。

In　the　midst　of　this　immense　hall　a　vast　multitude　was　incessantly　passing；　who　severally　kept　their　right　hands　on　their　hearts；　without　once　regarding　anything　around　them；　they　had　all　the　livid　paleness　of　death；　their　eyes；　deep　sunk　in　their　sockets；　resembled　those　phosphoric　meteors　that　glimmer　by　night　in　places　of　interment。　　Some　stalked　slowly　on；　absorbed　in　profound　reverie；　some；　shrieking　with　agony；　ran　furiously　about；　like　tigers　wounded　with　poisoned　arrows；　whilst　others；　grinding　their　teeth　in　rage；　foamed　along；　more　frantic　than　the　wildest　maniac。　They　all　avoided　each　other；　and；　though　surrounded　by　a　multitude　that　no　one　could　number；　each　wandered　at　random；　unheedful　of　the　rest；　as　if　alone　on　a　desert　which　no　foot　had　trodden。

Vathek　and　Nouronihar；　frozen　with　terror　at　a　sight　so　baleful；　demanded　of　the　Giaour　what　these　appearances　might　mean；　and　why　these　ambulating　spectres　never　withdrew　their　hands　from　their　hearts。

〃Perplex　not　yourselves；〃　replied　he　bluntly；　〃with　so　much；　at　once　you　will　soon　be　acquainted　with　all；　let　us　haste　and　present　you　to　Eblis。〃

They　continued　their　way　through　the　multitude　but；　notwithstanding　their　confidence　at　first；　they　were　not　sufficiently　composed　to　examine　with　attention　the　various　perspectives　of　halls　and　of　galleries　that　opened　on　the　right　hand　and　left；　which　were　all　illuminated　by　torches　and　braziers；　whose　flames　rose　in　pyramids　to　the　centre　of　the　vault。　　At　length　they　came　to　a　place　where　long　curtains；　brocaded　with　crimson　and　gold；　fell　from　all　parts　in　striking　confusion；　here　the　choirs　and　dances　were　heard　no　longer；　the　light　which　glimmered　came　from　afar。

After　some　time　Vathek　and　Nouronihar　perceived　a　gleam　brightening　through　the　drapery；　and　entered　a　vast　tabernacle　carpeted　with　the　skins　of　leopards；　an　infinity　of　elders　with　streaming　beards；　and　Afrits　in　complete　armour；　had　prostrated　themselves　before　the　ascent　of　a　lofty　eminence；　on　the　top　of　which；　upon　a　globe　of　fire；　sat　the　formidable　Eblis。　　His　person　was　that　of　a　young　man；　whose　noble　and　regular　features　seemed　to　have　been　tarnished　by　malignant　vapours；　in　his　large　eyes　appeared　both　pride　and　despair；　his　flowing　hair　retained　some　resemblance　to　that　of　an　angel　of　light；　in　his　hand；　which　thunder　had　blasted；　he　swayed　the　iron　sceptre　that　causes　the　monster　Ouranabad；　the　Afrits；　and　all　the　powers　of　the　abyss　to　tremble；　at　his　presence　the　heart　of　the　Caliph　sank　within　him；　and　for　the　first　time　he　fell　prostrate　on　his　face。　　Nouronihar；　however；　though　greatly　dismayed；　could　not　help　admiring　the　person　of　Eblis；　for　she　expected　to　have　seen　some　stupendous　giant。　　Eblis；　with　a　voice　more　mild　than　might　be　imagined；　but　such　as　transfused　through　the　soul　the　deepest　melancholy；　said：

〃Creatures　of　clay；　I　receive　you　into　mine　empire；　ye　are　numbered　amongst　my　adorers；　enjoy　whatever　this　palace　affords；　the　treasures　of　the　pre…adamite　Sultans；　their　bickering　sabres；　and　those　talismans　that　compel　the　Dives　to　open　the　subterranean　expanses　of　the　mountain　of　Kaf；　which　communicate　with　these；　there；　insatiable　as　your　curiosity　may　be；　shall　you　find　sufficient　to　gratify　it；　you　shall　possess　the　exclusive　privilege　of　entering　the　fortress　of　Aherman；　and　the　halls　of　Argenk；　where　are　portrayed　all　creatures　endowed　with　intelligence；　and　the　various　animals　that　inhabited　the　earth　prior　to　the　creation　of　that　contemptible　being　whom　ye　denominate　the　Father　of　Mankind。〃

Vathek　and　Nouronihar；　feeling　themselves　revived　and　encouraged　by　this　harangue；　eagerly　said　to　the　Giaour：

〃Bring　us　instantly　to　the　place　which　contains　these　precious　talismans。〃

〃Come！〃　answered　this　wicked　Dive；　with　his　malignant　grin；　〃come！　and　possess　all　that　my　sovereign　hath　promised；　and　more。〃

He　then　conducted　them　into　a　long　aisle　adjoining　the　tabernacle；　preceding　them　with　hasty　steps；　and　followed　by　his　disciples　with　the　utmost　alacrity。　　They　reached；　at　length；　a　hall　of　great　extent；　and　covered　with　a　lofty　dome；　around　which　appeared　fifty　portals　of　bronze；　secured　with　as　many　fastenings　of　iron；　a　funereal　gloom　prevailed　over　the　whole　scene；　here；　upon　two　beds　of　incorruptible　cedar；　lay　recumbent　the　fleshless　forms　of　the　pre…adamite　kings；　who　had　been　monarchs　of　the　whole　earth；　they　still　possessed　enough　of　life　to　be　conscious　of　their　deplorable　condition；　their　eyes　retained　a　melancholy　motion；　they　regarded　each　other　with　looks　of　the　deepest　dejection；　each　holding　his　right　hand　motionless　on　his　heart；　at　their　feet　were　inscribed　the　events　of　their　several　reigns；　their　power；　their　pride；　and　their　crimes；　Soliman　Raad；　Soliman　Daki；　and　Soliman　Di　Gian　Ben　Gian；　who；　after　having　chained　up　the　Dives　in　the　dark　caverns　of　Kaf；　became　so　presumptuous　as　to　doubt　of　the　Supreme　Power；　all　these　maintained　great　state；　though　not　to　be　compared　with　the　eminence　of　Soliman　Ben　Daoud。

This　king；　so　renowned　for　his　wisdom；　was　on　the　loftiest　elevation；　and　placed　immediately　under　the　dome；　he　appeared　to　possess　more　animation　than　the　rest；　though　from　time　to　time　he　laboured　with　profound　sighs；　and；　like　his　companions；　kept　his　right　hand　on　his　heart；　yet　his　countenance　was　more　composed；　and　he　seemed　to　be　listen