the history of caliph vathek-第8部分

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e　delightful　valleys　which　it　waters。　　Do　you；　with　the　advice　of　my　mother；　govern　my　dominions；　and　take　care　to　supply　whatever　her　experiments　may　demand；　for　you　well　know　that　our　tower　abounds　in　materials　for　the　advancement　of　science。〃

The　tower　but　ill　suited　Morakanabad's　taste。　　Immense　treasures　had　been　lavished　upon　it；　and　nothing　had　he　ever　seen　carried　thither　but　female　negroes；　mutes；　and　abominable　drugs。　　Nor　did　he　know　well　what　to　think　of　Carathis；　who；　like　a　chameleon；　could　assume　all　possible　colours；　her　cursed　eloquence　had　often　driven　the　poor　Mussulman　to　his　last　shifts。　　He　considered；　however；　that　if　she　possessed　but　few　good　qualities；　her　son　had　still　fewer；　and　that　the　alternative　on　the　whole　would　be　in　her　favour。　　Consoled；　therefore；　with　this　reflection；　he　went　in　good　spirits　to　soothe　the　populace；　and　make　the　proper　arrangements　for　his　master's　journey。

Vathek；　to　conciliate　the　Spirits　of　the　subterranean　palace；　resolved　that　his　expedition　should　be　uncommonly　splendid。　　With　this　view　he　confiscated　on　all　sides　the　property　of　his　subjects；　whilst　his　worthy　mother　stripped　the　seraglios　she　visited　of　the　gems　they　contained。　　She　collected　all　the　sempstresses　and　embroiderers　of　Samarah　and　other　cities　to　the　distance　of　sixty　leagues；　to　prepare　pavilions；　palanquins；　sofas；　canopies；　and　litters　for　the　train　of　the　monarch。　　There　was　not　left　in　Masulipatam　a　single　piece　of　chintz；　and　so　much　muslin　had　been　bought　up　to　dress　out　Bababalouk　and　the　other　black　eunuchs；　that　there　remained　not　an　ell　in　the　whole　Irak　of　Babylon。

During　these　preparations　Carathis；　who　never　lost　sight　of　her　great　object；　which　was　to　obtain　favour　with　the　Powers　of　Darkness；　made　select　parties　of　the　fairest　and　most　delicate　ladies　of　the　city；　but　in　the　midst　of　their　gaiety　she　contrived　to　introduce　serpents　amongst　them；　and　to　break　pots　of　scorpions　under　the　table；　they　all　bit　to　a　wonder；　and　Carathis　would　have　left　them　to　bite；　were　it　not　that；　to　fill　up　the　time；　she　now　and　then　amused　herself　in　curing　their　wounds　with　an　excellent　anodyne　of　her　own　invention；　for　this　good　princess　abhorred　being　indolent。

Vathek；　who　was　not　altogether　so　active　as　his　mother；　devoted　his　time　to　the　sole　gratification　of　his　senses；　in　the　palaces　which　were　severally　dedicated　to　them；　he　disgusted　himself　no　more　with　the　Divan　or　the　Mosque。　　One　half　of　Samarah　followed　his　example；　whilst　the　other　lamented　the　progress　of　corruption。

In　the　midst　of　these　transactions　the　embassy　returned　which　had　been　sent　in　pious　times　to　Mecca。　　It　consisted　of　the　most　reverend　Moullahs；　who　had　fulfilled　their　commission　and　brought　back　one　of　those　precious　besoms　which　are　used　to　sweep　the　sacred　Caaba：　　a　present　truly　worthy　of　the　greatest　potentate　on　earth！

The　Caliph　happened　at　this　instant　to　be　engaged　in　an　apartment　by　no　means　adapted　to　the　reception　of　embassies；　though　adorned　with　a　certain　magnificence；　not　only　to　render　it　agreeable；　but　also　because　he　resorted　to　it　frequently；　and　stayed　a　considerable　time　together。　　Whilst　occupied　in　this　retreat　he　heard　the　voice　of　Bababalouk　calling　out　from　between　the　door　and　the　tapestry　that　hung　before　it：　　〃Here　are　the　excellent　Mahomet　Ebn　Edris　al　Shafei；　and　the　seraphic　Al　Mouhadethin；　who　have　brought　the　besom　from　Mecca；　and　with　tears　of　joy　intreat　they　may　present　it　to　your　majesty　in　person。〃

〃Let　them　bring　the　besom　hither；　it　may　be　of　use；〃　said　Vathek；　who　was　still　employed；　not　having　quite　racked　off　his　wine。

〃How！〃　said　Bababalouk；　half　aloud　and　amazed。

〃Obey；〃　replied　the　Caliph；　〃for　it　is　my　sovereign　will；　go　instantly；　vanish；　for　here　will　I　receive　the　good　folk；　who　have　thus　filled　thee　with　joy。〃

The　eunuch　departed　muttering；　and　bade　the　venerable　train　attend　him。　　A　sacred　rapture　was　diffused　amongst　these　reverend　old　men。　Though　fatigued　with　the　length　of　their　expedition；　they　followed　Bababalouk　with　an　alertness　almost　miraculous；　and　felt　themselves　highly　flattered；　as　they　swept　along　the　stately　porticoes；　that　the　Caliph　would　not　receive　them　like　ambassadors　in　ordinary　in　his　hall　of　audience。　　Soon　reaching　the　interior　of　the　harem　（where；　through　blinds　of　Persian；　they　perceived　large　soft　eyes；　dark　and　blue；　that　went　and　came　like　lightning）；　penetrated　with　respect　and　wonder；　and　full　of　their　celestial　mission；　they　advanced　in　procession　towards　the　small　corridors　that　appeared　to　terminate　in　nothing；　but　nevertheless　led　to　the　cell　where　the　Caliph　expected　their　coming。

〃What！　is　the　Commander　of　the　Faithful　sick？〃　said　Ebn　Edris　al　Shafei　in　a　low　voice　to　his　companion。

〃I　rather　think　he　is　in　his　oratory；〃　answered　Al　Mouhadethin。

Vathek；　who　heard　the　dialogue；　cried　out：　　〃What　imports　it　you　how　I　am　employed？　approach　without　delay。〃

They　advanced；　and　Bababalouk　almost　sunk　with　confusion；　whilst　the　Caliph；　without　showing　himself；　put　forth　his　hand　from　behind　the　tapestry　that　hung　before　the　door；　and　demanded　of　them　the　besom。　　Having　prostrated　themselves　as　well　as　the　corridor　would　permit；　and　even　in　a　tolerable　semicircle；　the　venerable　Al　Shafei；　drawing　forth　the　besom　from　the　embroidered　and　perfumed　scarves　in　which　it　had　been　enveloped；　and　secured　from　the　profane　gaze　of　vulgar　eyes；　arose　from　his　associates；　and　advanced；　with　an　air　of　the　most　awful　solemnity；　towards　the　supposed　oratory；　but　with　what　astonishment！　with　what　horror　was　he　seized！　　Vathek；　bursting　out　into　a　villainous　laugh；　snatched　the　besom　from　his　trembling　hand；　and；　fixing　upon　some　cobwebs　that　hung　suspended　from　the　ceiling；　gravely　brushed　away　till　not　a　single　one　remained。　　The　old　men；　overpowered　with　amazement；　were　unable　to　lift　their　heards　from　the　ground；　for；　as　Vathek　had　carelessly　left　the　tapestry　between　them　half　drawn；　they　were　witnesses　to　the　whole　transaction；　their　tears　gushed　forth　on　the　marble；　Al　Mouhadethin　swooned　through　mortification　and　fatigue；　whilst　the　Caliph；　throwing　himself　backward　on　his　seat；　shouted　and　clapped　his　hands　without　mercy。　　At　last；　addressing　himself　to　Bababalouk：　　〃My　dear　black；〃　said　he；　〃go；　regale　these　pious　poor　souls　with　my　good　wine　from　Shiraz；　and；　as　they　can　boast　of　having　seen　more　of　my　palace　than　any　one　besides；　let　them　also　visit　my　office　courts；　and　lead　them　out　by　the　back　steps　that　go　to　my　stables。〃　　Having　said　this；　he　threw　the　besom　in　their　face；　and　went　to　enjoy　the　laugh　with　Carathis。　　Bababalouk　did　all　in　his　power　to　console　the　ambassadors；　but　the　two　most　infirm　expired　on　the　spot；　the　rest　were　carried　to　their　beds；　from　whence；　being　heart…broken　with　sorrow　and　shame；　they　never　arose。

The　succeeding　night　Vathek；　attended　by　his　mother；　ascended　the　tower　to　see　if　everything　were　ready　for　his　journey；　for　he　had　great　faith　in　the　influence　of　the　stars。　　The　planets　appeared　in　their　most　favourable　aspects。　　The　Caliph；　to　enjoy　so　flattering　a　sight；　supped　gaily　on　the　roof；　and　fancied　that　he　heard　during　his　repast　loud　shouts　of　laughter　resound　through　the　sky；　in　a　manner　that　inspired　the　fullest　assurance。

All　was　in　motion　at　the　palace；　lights　were　kept　burning　through　the　whole　of　the　night；　the　sound　of　implements　and　of　artisans　finishing　their　work；　the　voices　of　women　and　their　guardians　who　sung　at　their　embroidery；　all　conspired　to　interrupt　the　stillness　of　nature　and　infinitely　delight　the　heart　of　Vathek；　who　imagined　himself　going　in　triumph　to　sit　upon　the　throne　of　Soliman。

The　people　were　not　less　satisfied　than　himself；　all　assisted　to　accelerate　the　moment　which　should　rescue　them　from　the　wayward　caprices　of　so　extravagant　a　master。

The　day　preceding　the　departure　of　this　infatuated　prince　was　employed　by　Carathis　in　repeating　to　him　the　decrees　of　the　mysterious　parchment；　which　she　had　thoroughly　gotten　by　heart；　and　in　recommending　him　not　to　enter　the　habitation　of　any　one　by　the　way；　〃for　well　thou　knowest；〃　added　she；　〃how　liquorish　thy　taste　is　after　good　dishes　and　young　damsels；　let　me；　therefore；　enjoin　thee　to　be　content　with　thy　old　cooks；　who　are　the　best　in　the　world；　and　not　to　forget　that　in　thy　ambulatory　seraglio　there　are　three　dozen　pretty　faces；　which　Bababalouk　hath　not　yet　unveiled。　I　myself　have　a　great　desire　to　watch　over　thy　conduct；　and　visit　the　subterranean　palace；　which　no　doubt　contains　whatever　can　interest　persons　like　us；　there　is　nothing　so　pleasing　as　retiring　to　caverns；　my　taste　for　dead　bodies　and　everything　like　mummy　is　decided；　and　I　am　confident　thou　wilt　see　the　most　exquisite　of　their　kind。　　Forget　me　not；　then；　but　the　moment　thou　art　in　possession　of　the　talismans　which　are　to　open　to　thee　the　mineral　kingdoms　and　the　centre　of　the　earth　itself；　fail　not　to　despatch　some　trusty　genius　to　take　me　and　my　cabinet；　for　the　oil　of　the　serpents　I　have　pinched　to　death　will　be　a　pretty　present　to　the　Giaour；　who　cannot　but　be　charmed　with　such　dainties。〃

Scarcely　had　Carathis　ended　this　edifying　discourse　when　the　sun；　setting　behind　the　mountain　of　the　Four　Fountains；　gave　place　to　the　rising　moon；　this　planet；　being　that　evening　at　full；　appeared　of　unusual　beauty　and　magnitude　in　the　eyes　of　the　women；　the　eunuchs；　and　the　pages；　who　were　all　impatient　to　set　forward。　　The　city　re…echoed　with　shouts　of　joy　and　flourishing　of　trumpets；　nothing　was　visible　but　plumes　nodding　on　pavilions；　and　aigrets　shining　in　the　mild　lustre　of　the　moon；　the　spacious　square　resembled　an　immense　parterre；　variegated　with　the　most　stately　tulips　of　the　East。

Arrayed　in　the　robes　which　were　only　worn　it　the　most　distinguished　ceremonials；　and　supported　by　his　Vizir　and　Bababalouk；　the　Caliph　descended　the　grand　staircase　of　the　tower　in　the　sight　of　all　his　people；　he　could　not　forbear　pausing　at　intervals　to　admire　the　superb　appearance　which　everywhere　courted　his　view；　whilst　the　whole　multitude；　even　to　the　camels　with　their　sumptuous　burdens；　knelt　down　before　him。　　For　some　time　a　general　stillness　prevailed；　which　nothing　happened　to　disturb　but　the　shrill　screams　of　some　eunuchs　in　the　rear；　t