the history of caliph vathek-第7部分

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om　you　were　so　unmercifully　abusing。　　In　truth　you　but　ill　deserve　the　admirable　provision　I　have　brought　you。〃

〃Give　it　me　instantly；〃　exclaimed　the　Caliph；　〃I　am　perishing　for　hunger！〃

〃As　to　that；〃　answered　she；　〃you　must　have　an　excellent　stomach　if　it　can　digest　what　I　have　been　preparing。〃

〃Be　quick；〃　replied　the　Caliph；　〃but；　oh；　heavens！　what　horrors！　what　do　you　intend？〃

〃Come；　come；〃　returned　Carathis；　〃be　not　so　squeamish；　but　help　me　to　arrange　everything　properly；　and　you　shall　see　that　what　you　reject　with　such　symptoms　of　disgust　will　soon　complete　your　felicity。　　Let　us　get　ready　the　pile　for　the　sacrifice　of　to…night；　and　think　not　of　eating　till　that　is　performed；　know　you　not　that　all　solemn　rites　are　preceded　by　a　rigorous　abstinence？〃

The　Caliph；　not　daring　to　object；　abandoned　himself　to　grief　and　the　wind　that　ravaged　his　entrails；　whilst　his　mother　went　forward　with　the　requisite　operations。　　Phials　of　serpents'　oil；　mummies；　and　bones　were　soon　set　in　order　on　the　balustrade　of　the　tower；　the　pile　began　to　rise；　and　in　three　hours　was　as　many　cubits　high。　At　length　darkness　approached；　and　Carathis；　having　stripped　herself　to　her　inmost　garment；　clapped　her　hands　in　an　impulse　of　ecstasy　and　struck　light　with　all　her　force。　　The　mutes　followed　her　example；　but　Vathek；　extenuated　with　hunger　and　impatience；　was　unable　to　support　himself；　and　fell　down　in　a　swoon。　　The　sparks　had　already　kindled　the　dry　wood；　the　venomous　oil　burst　into　a　thousand　blue　flames；　the　mummies　dissolving　emitted　a　thick　dun　vapour；　and　the　rhinoceros'　horns　beginning　to　consume；　all　together　diffused　such　a　stench；　that　the　Caliph；　recovering；　started　from　his　trance；　and　gazed　wildly　on　the　scene　in　full　blaze　around　him。　　The　oil　gushed　forth　in　a　plenitude　of　streams；　and　the　negresses；　who　supplied　it　without　intermission；　united　their　cries　to　those　of　the　princess。　　At　last　the　fire　became　so　violent；　and　the　flames　reflected　from　the　polished　marble　so　dazzling；　that　the　Caliph；　unable　to　withstand　the　heat　and　the　blaze；　effected　his　escape；　and　clambered　up　the　imperial　standard。

In　the　meantime　the　inhabitants　of　Samarah；　scared　at　the　light　which　shone　over　the　city；　arose　in　haste；　ascended　their　roofs；　beheld　the　tower　on　fire；　and　hurried　half　naked　to　the　square。　Their　love　to　their　sovereign　immediately　awoke；　and；　apprehending　him　in　danger　of　perishing　in　his　tower；　their　whole　thoughts　were　occupied　with　the　means　of　his　safety。　　Morakanabad　flew　from　his　retirement；　wiped　away　his　tears；　and　cried　out　for　water　like　the　rest。　　Bababalouk；　whose　olfactory　nerves　were　more　familiarised　to　magical　odours；　readily　conjecturing　that　Carathis　was　engaged　in　her　favourite　amusements；　strenuously　exhorted　them　not　to　be　alarmed。　　Him；　however；　they　treated　as　an　old　poltroon；　and　forbore　not　to　style　him　a　rascally　traitor。　　The　camels　and　dromedaries　were　advancing　with　water；　but　no　one　knew　by　which　way　to　enter　the　tower。　　Whilst　the　populace　was　obstinate　in　forcing　the　doors　a　violent　east　wind　drove　such　a　volume　of　flame　against　them；　as　at　first　forced　them　off；　but　afterwards　re…kindled　their　zeal；　at　the　same　time　the　stench　of　the　horns　and　mummies　increasing；　most　of　the　crowd　fell　backward　in　a　state　of　suffocation；　those　that　kept　their　feet　mutually　wondered　at　the　cause　of　the　smell；　and　admonished　each　other　to　retire。　Morakanabad；　more　sick　than　the　rest；　remained　in　a　piteous　condition；　holding　his　nose　with　one　hand；　he　persisted　in　his　efforts　with　the　other　to　burst　open　the　doors　and　obtain　admission。　　A　hundred　and　forty　of　the　strongest　and　most　resolute　at　length　accomplished　their　purpose；　having　gained　the　staircase　by　their　violent　exertions；　they　attained　a　great　height　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。

Carathis；　alarmed　at　the　signs　of　her　mutes；　advanced　to　the　staircase；　went　down　a　few　steps；　and　heard　several　voices　calling　out　from　below：　　〃You　shall　in　a　moment　have　water！〃　　Being　rather　alert；　considering　her　age；　she　presently　regained　the　top　of　the　tower；　and　bade　her　son　suspend　the　sacrifice　for　some　minutes；　adding：　　〃We　shall　soon　be　enabled　to　render　it　more　grateful；　certain　dolts　of　your　subjects；　imagining　no　doubt　that　we　were　on　fire；　have　been　rash　enough　to　break　through　those　doors　which　had　hitherto　remained　inviolate；　for　the　sake　of　bringing　up　water；　they　are　very　kind；　you　must　allow；　so　soon　to　forget　the　wrongs　you　have　done　them；　but　that　is　of　little　moment。　　Let　us　offer　them　to　the　Giaour；　let　them　come　up；　our　mutes；　who　neither　want　strength　nor　experience；　will　soon　despatch　them；　exhausted　as　they　are　with　fatigue。〃

〃Be　it　so；〃　answered　the　Caliph；　〃provided　we　finish　and　I　dine。〃

In　fact；　these　good　people；　out　of　breath　from　ascending　eleven　thousand　stairs　in　such　haste；　and　chagrined　at　having　spilt　by　the　way　the　water　they　had　taken；　were　no　sooner　arrived　at　the　top　than　the　blaze　of　the　flames　and　the　fumes　of　the　mummies　at　once　overpowered　their　senses。　　It　was　a　pity；　for　they　beheld　not　the　agreeable　smile　with　which　the　mutes　and　the　negresses　adjusted　the　cord　to　their　necks；　these　amiable　personages　rejoiced；　however；　no　less　at　the　scene；　never　before　had　the　ceremony　of　strangling　been　performed　with　so　much　facility；　they　all　fell　without　the　least　resistance　or　struggle；　so　that　Vathek　in　the　space　of　a　few　moments　found　himself　surrounded　by　the　dead　bodies　of　his　faithfullest　subjects；　all　which　were　thrown　on　the　top　of　the　pile。

Carathis；　whose　presence　of　mind　never　forsook　her；　perceiving　that　she　had　carcases　sufficient　to　complete　her　oblation；　commanded　the　chains　to　be　stretched　across　the　staircase；　and　the　iron　doors　barricaded；　that　no　more　might　come　up。

No　sooner　were　these　orders　obeyed　than　the　tower　shook；　the　dead　bodies　vanished　in　the　flames；　which　at　once　changed　from　a　swarthy　crimson　to　a　bright　rose　colour；　an　ambient　vapour　emitted　the　most　exquisite　fragrance；　the　marble　columns　rang　with　harmonious　sounds；　and　the　liquefied　horns　diffused　a　delicious　perfume。　Carathis；　in　transports；　anticipated　the　success　of　her　enterprise；　whilst　her　mutes　and　negresses；　to　whom　these　sweets　had　given　the　colic；　retired　to　their　cells　grumbling。

Scarcely　were　they　gone　when；　instead　of　the　pile；　horns；　mummies；　and　ashes；　the　Caliph　both　saw　and　felt；　with　a　degree　of　pleasure　which　he　could　not　express；　a　table　covered　with　the　most　magnificent　repast；　flagons　of　wine　and　vases　of　exquisite　sherbet　floating　on　snow。　　He　availed　himself　without　scruple　of　such　an　entertainment　and　had　already　laid　hands　on　a　lamb　stuffed　with　pistachios；　whilst　Carathis　was　privately　drawing　from　a　filigree　urn　a　parchment　that　seemed　to　be　endless；　and　which　had　escaped　the　notice　of　her　son；　totally　occupied　in　gratifying　an　importunate　appetite　he　left　her　to　peruse　it　without　interruption；　which；　having　finished；　she　said　to　him　in　an　authoritative　tone；　〃Put　an　end　to　your　gluttony；　and　hear　the　splendid　promises　with　which　you　are　favoured！〃　　She　then　read　as　follows：　　〃Vathek；　my　well…beloved；　thou　hast　surpassed　my　hopes；　my　nostrils　have　been　regaled　by　the　savour　of　thy　mummies；　thy　horns；　and　still　more　by　the　lives　devoted　on　the　pile。　　At　the　full　of　the　moon　cause　the　bands　of　thy　musicians　and　thy　tymbals　to　be　heard；　depart　from　thy　palace　surrounded　by　all　the　pageants　of　majesty；　thy　most　faithful　slaves；　thy　best　beloved　wives；　thy　most　magnificent　litters；　thy　richest　leaden　camels；　and　set　forward　on　thy　way　to　Istakhar；　there　await　I　thy　coming；　that　is　the　region　of　wonders；　there　shalt　thou　receive　the　diadem　of　Gian　Ben　Gian；　the　talismans　of　Soliman；　and　the　treasures　of　the　Preadamite　Sultans；　there　shalt　thou　be　solaced　with　all　kinds　of　delight。　　But　beware　how　thou　enterest　any　dwelling　on　thy　route；　or　thou　shalt　feel　the　effects　of　my　anger。〃

The　Caliph；　who；　notwithstanding　his　habitual　luxury；　had　never　before　dined　with　so　much　satisfaction；　gave　full　scope　to　the　joy　of　these　golden　tidings；　and　betook　himself　to　drinking　anew。　Carathis；　whose　antipathy　to　wine　was　by　no　means　insuperable；　failed　not　to　supply　a　reason　for　every　bumper；　which　they　ironically　quaffed　to　the　health　of　Mahomet。　　This　infernal　liquor　completed　their　impious　temerity；　and　prompted　them　to　utter　a　profusion　of　blasphemies；　they　gave　a　loose　to　their　wit　at　the　expense　of　the　ass　of　Balaam；　the　dog　of　the　seven　sleepers；　and　the　other　animals　admitted　into　the　paradise　of　Mahomet。　　In　this　sprightly　humour　they　descended　the　eleven　thousand　stairs；　diverting　themselves　as　they　went　at　the　anxious　faces　they　saw　on　the　square　through　the　oilets　of　the　tower；　and　at　length　arrived　at　the　royal　apartments　by　the　subterranean　passage。　　Bababalouk　was　parading　to　and　fro；　and　issuing　his　mandates　with　great　pomp　to　the　eunuchs；　who　were　snuffing　the　lights　and　painting　the　eyes　of　the　Circassians。　　No　sooner　did　he　catch　sight　of　the　Caliph　and　his　mother　than　he　exclaimed；　〃Hah！　you　have　then；　I　perceive；　escaped　from　the　flames；　I　was　not；　however；　altogether　out　of　doubt。〃

〃Of　what　moment　is　it　to　us　what　you　thought；　or　think？〃　cried　Carathis；　〃go；　speed；　tell　Morakanabad　that　we　immediately　want　him；　and　take　care　how　you　stop　by　the　way　to　make　your　insipid　reflections。〃

Morakanabad　delayed　not　to　obey　the　summons；　and　was　received　by　Vathek　and　his　mother　with　great　solemnity；　they　told　him；　with　an　air　of　composure　and　commiseration；　that　the　fire　at　the　top　of　the　tower　was　extinguished；　but　that　it　had　cost　the　lives　of　the　brave　people　who　sought　to　assist　them。

〃Still　more　misfortunes；〃　cried　Morakanabad；　with　a　sigh。　　〃Ah；　Commander　of　the　Faithful；　our　holy　Prophet　is　certainly　irritated　against　us！　it　behoves　you　to　appease　him。〃

〃We　will　appease　him　hereafter！〃　replied　the　Caliph；　with　a　smile　that　augured　nothing　of　good。　　〃You　will　have　leisure　sufficient　for　your　supplications　during　my　absence；　for　this　country　is　the　bane　of　my　health；　I　am　disgusted　with　the　mountain　of　the　Four　Fountains；　and　am　resolved　to　go　and　drink　of　the　stream　of　Rocnabad；　I　long　to　refresh　myself　in　the　delightful　valleys　which　it　waters。　　Do　you；　with　the　advice　of　my　mother；　govern　my　dominions；　an