the history of caliph vathek-第11部分

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ed　with　as　many　portals　of　bronze；　on　which　was　engraven　the　following　inscription：　　〃This　is　the　asylum　of　pilgrims；　the　refuge　of　travellers；　and　the　depository　of　secrets　for　all　parts　of　the　world。〃

Nine　pages；　beautiful　as　the　day；　and　clothed　in　robes　of　Egyptian　linen；　very　long　and　very　modest；　were　standing　at　each　door。　　They　received　the　whole　retinue　with　an　easy　and　inviting　air。　　Four　of　the　most　amiable　placed　the　Caliph　on　a　magnificent　taktrevan；　four　others；　somewhat　less　graceful；　took　charge　of　Bababalouk；　who　capered　for　joy　at　the　snug　little　cabin　that　fell　to　his　share；　the　pages　that　remained　waited　on　the　rest　of　the　train。

When　everything　masculine　was　gone　out　of　sight　the　gate　of　a　large　enclosure　on　the　right　turned　on　its　harmonious　hinges　and　a　young　female　of　a　slender　form　came　forth；　her　light　brown　hair　floated　in　the　hazy　breeze　of　the　twilight；　a　troop　of　young　maidens；　like　the　Pleiades；　attended　her　on　tip…toe。　　They　hastened　to　the　pavilions　that　contained　the　sultanas；　and　the　young　lady；　gracefully　bending；　said　to　them：

〃Charming　Princesses；　everything　is　ready；　we　have　prepared　beds　for　your　repose；　and　strewed　your　apartments　with　jasmine；　no　insects　will　keep　off　slumber　from　visiting　your　eyelids；　we　will　dispel　them　with　a　thousand　plumes；　come　then；　amiable　ladies！　refresh　your　delicate　feet　and　your　ivory　limbs　in　baths　of　rose　water；　and；　by　the　light　of　perfumed　lamps　your　servants　will　amuse　you　with　tales。〃

The　sultanas　accepted　with　pleasure　these　obliging　offers；　and　followed　the　young　lady　to　the　Emir's　harem；　where　we　must　for　a　moment　leave　them；　and　return　to　the　Caliph。

Vathek　found　himself　beneath　a　vast　dome；　illuminated　by　a　thousand　lamps　of　rock　crystal；　as　many　vases　of　the　same　material；　filled　with　excellent　sherbet；　sparkled　on　a　large　table；　where　a　profusion　of　viands　were　spread；　amongst　others　were　sweetbreads　stewed　in　milk　of　almonds；　saffron　soups；　and　lamb　a　la　creme；　of　all　which　the　Caliph　was　amazingly　fond。　　He　took　of　each　as　much　as　he　was　able；　testified　his　sense　of　the　Emir's　friendship　by　the　gaiety　of　his　heart；　and　made　the　dwarfs　dance　against　their　will；　for　these　little　devotees　durst　not　refuse　the　Commander　of　the　Faithful；　at　last　he　spread　himself　on　the　sofa；　and　slept　sounder　than　he　had　ever　before。

Beneath　this　dome　a　general　silence　prevailed；　for　there　was　nothing　to　disturb　it　but　the　jaws　of　Bababalouk；　who　had　untrussed　himself　to　eat　with　greater　advantage；　being　anxious　to　make　amends　for　his　fast　in　the　mountains。　　As　his　spirits　were　too　high　to　admit　of　his　sleeping；　and　not　loving　to　be　idle；　he　proposed　with　himself　to　visit　the　harem；　and　repair　to　his　charge　of　the　ladies；　to　examine　if　they　had　been　properly　lubricated　with　the　balm　of　Mecca；　if　their　eyebrows　and　tresses　were　in　order；　and；　in　a　word；　to　perform　all　the　little　offices　they　might　need。　　He　sought　for　a　long　time　together；　but　without　being　able　to　find　out　the　door；　he　durst　not　speak　aloud；　for　fear　of　disturbing　the　Caliph；　and　not　a　soul　was　stirring　in　the　precincts　of　the　palace；　he　almost　despaired　of　effecting　his　purpose；　when　a　low　whispering　just　reached　his　ear；　it　came　from　the　dwarfs　who　were　returned　to　their　old　occupation；　and　for　the　nine　hundred　and　ninety…ninth　time　in　their　lives；　were　reading　over　the　Koran。　　They　very　politely　invited　Bababalouk　to　be　of　their　party；　but　his　head　was　full　of　other　concerns。　　The　dwarfs；　though　scandalised　at　his　dissolute　morals；　directed　him　to　the　apartments　he　wanted　to　find；　his　way　thither　lay　through　a　hundred　dark　corridors；　along　which　he　groped　as　he　went；　and　at　last　began　to　catch　from　the　extremity　of　a　passage　the　charming　gossiping　of　the　women；　which　not　a　little　delighted　his　heart。　　〃Ah；　ha！　what；　not　yet　asleep！〃　cried　he；　and；　taking　long　strides　as　he　spoke。　　〃Did　you　not　suspect　me　of　abjuring　my　charge？　　I　stayed　but　to　finish　what　my　master　had　left。〃

Two　of　the　black　eunuchs；　on　hearing　a　voice　so　loud；　detached　a　party　in　haste；　sabre　in　hand；　to　discover　the　cause；　but　presently　was　repeated　on　all　sides：　　〃'Tis　only　Bababalouk！　no　one　but　Bababalouk！〃　　This　circumspect　guardian；　having　gone　up　to　a　thin　veil　of　carnation…coloured　silk　that　hung　before　the　doorway；　distinguished；　by　means　of　the　softened　splendour　that　shone　through　it；　an　oval　bath　of　dark　porphyry；　surrounded　by　curtains　festooned　in　large　folds；　through　the　apertures　between　them；　as　they　were　not　drawn　close；　groups　of　young　slaves　were　visible；　amongst　whom　Bababalouk　perceived　his　pupils；　indulgingly　expanding　their　arms；　as　if　to　embrace　the　perfumed　water　and　refresh　themselves　after　their　fatigues。　　The　looks　of　tender　languor；　their　confidential　whispers；　and　the　enchanting　smiles　with　which　they　were　imparted；　the　exquisite　fragrance　of　the　roses；　all　combined　to　inspire　a　voluptuousness；　which　even　Bababalouk　himself　was　scarce　able　to　withstand。

He　summoned　up；　however；　his　usual　solemnity；　and；　in　the　peremptory　tone　of　authority；　commanded　the　ladies　instantly　to　leave　the　bath。　　Whilst　he　was　issuing　these　mandates　the　young　Nouronihar；　daughter　of　the　Emir；　who　was　sprightly　as　an　antelope；　and　full　of　wanton　gaiety；　beckoned　one　of　her　slaves　to　let　down　the　great　swing；　which　was　suspended　to　the　ceiling　by　cords　of　silk；　and　whilst　this　was　doing；　winked　to　her　companions　in　the　bath；　who；　chagrined　to　be　forced　from　so　soothing　a　state　of　indolence；　began　to　twist　it　round　Bababalouk；　and　tease　him　with　a　thousand　vagaries。

When　Nouronihar　perceived　that　he　was　exhausted　with　fatigue；　she　accosted　him　with　an　arch　air　of　respectful　concern；　and　said：　　〃My　lord；　it　is　not　by　any　means　decent　that　the　chief　eunuch　of　the　Caliph；　our　Sovereign；　should　thus　continue　standing；　deign　but　to　recline　your　graceful　person　upon　this　sofa；　which　will　burst　with　vexation　if　it　have　not　the　honour　to　receive　you。〃

Caught　by　these　flattering　accents；　Bababalouk　gallantly　replied：　〃Delight　of　the　apple　of　my　eye！　　I　accept　the　invitation　of　thy　honeyed　lips；　and；　to　say　truth；　my　senses　are　dazzled　with　the　radiance　that　beams　from　thy　charms。〃

〃Repose；　then；　at　your　ease；〃　replied　the　beauty；　and　placed　him　on　the　pretended　sofa；　which；　quicker　than　lightning；　gave　way　all　at　once。　　The　rest　of　the　women；　having　aptly　conceived　her　design；　sprang　naked　from　the　bath；　and　plied　the　swing　with　such　unmerciful　jerks；　that　it　swept　through　the　whole　compass　of　a　very　lofty　dome；　and　took　from　the　poor　victim　all　power　of　respiration；　sometimes　his　feet　rased　the　surface　of　the　water；　and　at　others　the　skylight　almost　flattened　his　nose；　in　vain　did　he　pierce　the　air　with　the　cries　of　a　voice　that　resembled　the　ringing　of　a　cracked　basin；　for　their　peals　of　laughter　were　still　more　predominant。

Nouronihar；　in　the　inebriety　of　youthful　spirits；　being　used　only　to　eunuchs　of　ordinary　harems；　and　having　never　seen　anything　so　royal　and　disgusting；　was　far　more　diverted　than　all　of　the　rest；　she　began　to　parody　some　Persian　verses；　and　sang　with　an　accent　most　demurely　piquant：


〃O　gentle　white　dove；　as　thou　soar'st　through　the　air；　Vouchsafe　one　kind　glance　on　the　mate　of　thy　love；　Melodious　Philomel；　I　am　thy　rose；　Warble　some　couplet　to　ravish　my　heart！〃


The　sultanas　and　their　slaves；　stimulated　by　these　pleasantries；　persevered　at　the　swing　with　such　unremitted　assiduity；　that　at　length　the　cord　which　had　secured　it　snapped　suddenly　asunder；　and　Bababalouk　fell　floundering　like　a　turtle　to　the　bottom　of　the　bath。　　This　accident　occasioned　a　universal　shout；　twelve　little　doors；　till　now　unobserved；　flew　open　at　once；　and　the　ladies　in　an　instant　made　their　escape；　after　throwing　all　the　towels　on　his　head；　and　putting　out　the　lights　that　remained。

The　deplorable　animal；　in　water　to　the　chin；　overwhelmed　with　darkness；　and　unable　to　extricate　himself　from　the　wrap　that　embarrassed　him；　was　still　doomed　to　hear　for　his　further　consolation　the　fresh　bursts　of　merriment　his　disaster　occasioned。　He　bustled；　but　in　vain；　to　get　from　the　bath；　for　the　margin　was　become　so　slippery　with　the　oil　spilt　in　breaking　the　lamps；　that　at　every　effort　he　slid　back　with　a　plunge；　which　resounded　aloud　through　the　hollow　of　the　dome。　　These　cursed　peals　of　laughter　at　every　relapse　were　redoubled；　and　he；　who　thought　the　place　infested　rather　by　devils　than　women；　resolved　to　cease　groping；　and　abide　in　the　bath；　where　he　amused　himself　with　soliloquies；　interspersed　with　imprecations；　of　which　his　malicious　neighbours　reclining　on　down　suffered　not　an　accent　to　escape。　　In　this　delectable　plight　the　morning　surprised　him。　　The　Caliph；　wondering　at　his　absence；　had　caused　him　to　be　everywhere　sought　for。　　At　last　he　was　drawn　forth；　almost　smothered　from　the　wisp　of　linen；　and　wet　even　to　the　marrow。　　Limping　and　chattering　his　teeth；　he　appeared　before　his　master；　who　inquired　what　was　the　matter；　and　how　he　came　soused　in　so　strange　a　pickle。

〃And　why　did　you　enter　this　cursed　lodge？〃　answered　Bababalouk；　gruffly。　　〃Ought　a　monarch　like　you　to　visit　with　his　harem　the　abode　of　a　grey…bearded　Emir；　who　knows　nothing　of　life？　　And　with　what　gracious　damsels　doth　the　place；　too；　abound！　　Fancy　to　yourself　how　they　have　soaked　me　like　a　burnt　crust；　and　made　me　dance　like　a　jack…pudding　the　live…long　night　through；　on　their　damnable　swing！　　What　an　excellent　lesson　for　your　sultanas　to　follow；　into　whom　I　have　instilled　such　reserve　and　decorum！〃

Vathek；　comprehending　not　a　syllable　of　all　this　invective；　obliged　him　to　relate　minutely　the　transaction；　but　instead　of　sympathising　with　the　miserable　sufferer；　he　laughed　immoderately　at　the　device　of　the　swing；　and　the　figure　of　Bababalouk　mounting　upon　it。　　The　stung　eunuch　could　scarcely　preserve　the　semblance　of　respect。

〃Ay；　laugh；　my　lord！　laugh；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　wish　this　Nouronihar　would　play　some　trick　on　you；　she　is　too　wicked　to　spare　even　majesty　itself。〃

Those　words　made　for　the　present　but　a　slight　impression　on　the　Caliph；　but　they　not　long　after　recurred　to　his　mind。

This　conversation　was　cut　short　by　Fakreddin；　who　came　to　request　that　Vathek　would　join　in　the　prayers　and　ablutions　to　be　solemnised　on　a　sp