the history of caliph vathek-第21部分

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　kept　his　right　hand　on　his　heart；　yet　his　countenance　was　more　composed；　and　he　seemed　to　be　listening　to　the　sullen　roar　of　a　vast　cataract；　visible　in　part　through　the　grated　portals：　　this　was　the　only　sound　that　intruded　on　the　silence　of　these　doleful　mansions。　　A　range　of　brazen　vases　surrounded　the　elevation。

〃Remove　the　covers　from　these　cabalistic　depositories；〃　said　the　Giaour　to　Vathek；　〃and　avail　thyself　of　the　talismans；　which　will　break　asunder　all　these　gates　of　bronze；　and　not　only　render　thee　master　of　the　treasures　contained　within　them；　but　also　of　the　spirits　by　which　they　are　guarded。〃

The　Caliph；　whom　this　ominous　preliminary　had　entirely　disconcerted；　approached　the　vases　with　faltering　footsteps；　and　was　ready　to　sink　with　terror　when　he　heard　the　groans　of　Soliman。　As　he　proceeded　a　voice　from　the　livid　lips　of　the　Prophet　articulated　these　words：

〃In　my　life…time　I　filled　a　magnificent　throne；　having　on　my　right　hand　twelve　thousand　seats　of　gold；　where　the　patriarchs　and　the　prophets　heard　my　doctrines；　on　my　left　the　sages　and　doctors；　upon　as　many　thrones　of　silver；　were　present　at　all　my　decisions。　Whilst　I　thus　administered　justice　to　innumerable　multitudes；　the　birds　of　the　air　librating　over　me　served　as　a　canopy　from　the　rays　of　the　sun；　my　people　flourished；　and　my　palace　rose　to　the　clouds；　I　erected　a　temple　to　the　Most　High；　which　was　the　wonder　of　the　universe；　but　I　basely　suffered　myself　to　be　seduced　by　the　love　of　women；　and　a　curiosity　that　could　not　be　restrained　by　sublunary　things；　I　listened　to　the　counsels　of　Aherman　and　the　daughter　of　Pharaoh；　and　adored　fire　and　the　hosts　of　heaven；　I　forsook　the　holy　city；　and　commanded　the　Genii　to　rear　the　stupendous　palace　of　Istakar；　and　the　terrace　of　the　watch…towers；　each　of　which　was　consecrated　to　a　star；　there　for　a　while　I　enjoyed　myself　in　the　zenith　of　glory　and　pleasure；　not　only　men；　but　supernatural　existences　were　subject　also　to　my　will。　　I　began　to　think；　as　these　unhappy　monarchs　around　had　already　thought；　that　the　vengeance　of　Heaven　was　asleep；　when　at　once　the　thunder　burst　my　structures　asunder　and　precipitated　me　hither；　where；　however；　I　do　not　remain；　like　the　other　inhabitants；　totally　destitute　of　hope；　for　an　angel　of　light　hath　revealed　that；　in　consideration　of　the　piety　of　my　early　youth；　my　woes　shall　come　to　an　end　when　this　cataract　shall　for　ever　cease　to　flow；　till　then　I　am　in　torments；　ineffable　torments！　an　unrelenting　fire　preys　on　my　heart。〃

Having　uttered　this　exclamation；　Soliman　raised　his　hands　towards　heaven；　in　token　of　supplication；　and　the　Caliph　discerned　through　his　bosom；　which　was　transparent　as　crystal；　his　heart　enveloped　in　flames。　　At　a　sight　so　full　of　horror　Nouronihar　fell　back；　like　one　petrified；　into　the　arms　of　Vathek；　who　cried　out　with　a　convulsive　sob：

〃O　Giaour！　whither　hast　thou　brought　us？　　Allow　us　to　depart；　and　I　will　relinquish　all　thou　hast　promised。　　O　Mahomet！　remains　there　no　more　mercy？〃

〃None！　none！〃　replied　the　malicious　Dive。　　〃Know；　miserable　prince！　thou　art　now　in　the　abode　of　vengeance　and　despair；　thy　heart　also　will　be　kindled；　like　those　of　the　other　votaries　of　Eblis。　　A　few　days　are　allotted　thee　previous　to　this　fatal　period；　employ　them　as　thou　wilt；　recline　on　these　heaps　of　gold；　command　the　Infernal　Potentates；　range　at　thy　pleasure　through　these　immense　subterranean　domains；　no　barrier　shall　be　shut　against　thee；　as　for　me；　I　have　fulfilled　my　mission；　I　now　leave　thee　to　thyself。〃　　At　these　words　he　vanished。

The　Caliph　and　Nouronihar　remained　in　the　most　abject　affliction；　their　tears　unable　to　flow；　scarcely　could　they　support　themselves。　At　length；　taking　each　other　despondingly　by　the　hand；　they　went　faltering　from　this　fatal　hall；　indifferent　which　way　they　turned　their　steps；　every　portal　opened　at　their　approach；　the　Dives　fell　prostrate　before　them；　every　reservoir　of　riches　was　disclosed　to　their　view；　but　they　no　longer　felt　the　incentives　of　curiosity；　pride；　or　avarice。　　With　like　apathy　they　heard　the　chorus　of　Genii；　and　saw　the　stately　banquets　prepared　to　regale　them；　they　went　wandering　on　from　chamber　to　chamber；　hall　to　hall；　and　gallery　to　gallery；　all　without　bounds　or　limit；　all　distinguishable　by　the　same　lowering　gloom；　all　adorned　with　the　same　awful　grandeur；　all　traversed　by　persons　in　search　of　repose　and　consolation；　but　who　sought　them　in　vain；　for　every　one　carried　within　him　a　heart　tormented　in　flames：　　shunned　by　these　various　sufferers；　who　seemed　by　their　looks　to　be　upbraiding　the　partners　of　their　guilt；　they　withdrew　from　them　to　wait　in　direful　suspense　the　moment　which　should　render　them　to　each　other　the　like　objects　of　terror。

〃What！〃　exclaimed　Nouronihar；　〃will　the　time　come　when　I　shall　snatch　my　hand　from　thine！〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Vathek；　〃and　shall　my　eyes　ever　cease　to　drink　from　thine　long　draughts　of　enjoyment！　　Shall　the　moments　of　our　reciprocal　ecstasies　be　reflected　on　with　horror？　　It　was　not　thou　that　broughtest　me　hither；　the　principles　by　which　Carathis　perverted　my　youth　have　been　the　sole　cause　of　my　perdition！〃　Having　given　vent　to　these　painful　expressions；　he　called　to　an　Afrit；　who　was　stirring　up　one　of　the　braziers；　and　bade　him　fetch　the　Princess　Carathis　from　the　palace　of　Samarah。

After　issuing　these　orders；　the　Caliph　and　Nouronihar　continued　walking　amidst　the　silent　crowd；　till　they　heard　voices　at　the　end　of　the　gallery；　presuming　them　to　proceed　from　some　unhappy　beings；　who；　like　themselves；　were　awaiting　their　final　doom；　they　followed　the　sound；　and　found　it　to　come　from　a　small　square　chamber；　where　they　discovered　sitting　on　sofas　five　young　men　of　goodly　figure；　and　a　lovely　female；　who　were　all　holding　a　melancholy　conversation　by　the　glimmering　of　a　lonely　lamp；　each　had　a　gloomy　and　forlorn　air；　and　two　of　them　were　embracing　each　other　with　great　tenderness。　　On　seeing　the　Caliph　and　the　daughter　of　Fakreddin　enter；　they　arose；　saluted；　and　gave　them　place；　then　he　who　appeared　the　most　considerable　of　the　group　addressed　himself　thus　to　Vathek：

〃Strangers！　who　doubtless　are　in　the　same　state　of　suspense　with　ourselves；　as　you　do　not　yet　bear　your　hands　on　your　hearts；　if　you　are　come　hither　to　pass　the　interval　allotted　previous　to　the　infliction　of　our　common　punishment；　condescend　to　relate　the　adventures　that　have　brought　you　to　this　fatal　place；　and　we　in　return　will　acquaint　you　with　ours；　which　deserve　but　too　well　to　be　heard；　we　will　trace　back　our　crimes　to　their　source；　though　we　are　not　permitted　to　repent；　this　is　the　only　employment　suited　to　wretches　like　us！〃

The　Caliph　and　Nouronihar　assented　to　the　proposal；　and　Vathek　began；　not　without　tears　and　lamentations；　a　sincere　recital　of　every　circumstance　that　had　passed。　　When　the　afflicting　narrative　was　closed；　the　young　man　entered　on　his　own。　　Each　person　proceeded　in　order；　and　when　the　fourth　prince　had　reached　the　midst　of　his　adventures；　a　sudden　noise　interrupted　him；　which　caused　the　vault　to　tremble　and　to　open。

Immediately　a　cloud　descended；　which　gradually　dissipating；　discovered　Carathis　on　the　back　of　an　Afrit；　who　grievously　complained　of　his　burden。　　She；　instantly　springing　to　the　ground；　advanced　towards　her　son；　and　said：

〃What　dost　thou　here　in　this　little　square　chamber？　　As　the　Dives　are　become　subject　to　thy　beck；　I　expected　to　have　found　thee　on　the　throne　of　the　pre…adamite　kings。〃

〃Execrable　woman！〃　answered　the　Caliph；　〃cursed　be　the　day　thou　gavest　me　birth！　go；　follow　this　Afrit；　let　him　conduct　thee　to　the　hall　of　the　Prophet　Soliman；　there　thou　wilt　learn　to　what　these　palaces　are　destined；　and　how　much　I　ought　to　abhor　the　impious　knowledge　thou　hast　taught　me。〃

〃The　height　of　power　to　which　thou　art　arrived　has　certainly　turned　thy　brain；〃　answered　Carathis；　〃but　I　ask　no　more　than　permission　to　show　my　respect　for　the　Prophet。　　It　is；　however；　proper　thou　shouldest　know；　that　（as　the　Afrit　has　informed　me　neither　of　us　shall　return　to　Samarah）　I　requested　his　permission　to　arrange　my　affairs；　and　he　politely　consented；　availing　myself；　therefore；　of　the　few　moments　allowed　me；　I　set　fire　to　the　tower；　and　consumed　in　it　the　mutes；　negresses；　and　serpents　which　have　rendered　me　so　much　good　service；　nor　should　I　have　been　less　kind　to　Morakanabad；　had　he　not　prevented　me　by　deserting　at　last　to　thy　brother。　　As　for　Bababalouk；　who　had　the　folly　to　return　to　Samarah；　and　all　the　good　brotherhood　to　provide　husbands　for　thy　wives；　I　undoubtedly　would　have　put　them　to　the　torture；　could　I　but　have　allowed　them　the　time；　being；　however；　in　a　hurry；　I　only　hung　him　after　having　caught　him　in　a　snare　with　thy　wives；　whilst　them　I　buried　alive　by　the　help　of　my　negresses；　who　thus　spent　their　last　moments　greatly　to　their　satisfaction。　　With　respect　to　Dilara；　who　ever　stood　high　in　my　favour；　she　hath　evinced　the　greatness　of　her　mind　by　fixing　herself　near　in　the　service　of　one　of　the　Magi；　and　I　think　will　soon　be　our　own。〃

Vathek；　too　much　cast　down　to　express　the　indignation　excited　by　such　a　discourse；　ordered　the　Afrit　to　remove　Carathis　from　his　presence；　and　continued　immersed　in　thought；　which　his　companion　durst　not　disturb。

Carathis；　however；　eagerly　entered　the　dome　of　Soliman；　and；　without　regarding　in　the　least　the　groans　of　the　Prophet；　undauntedly　removed　the　covers　of　the　vases；　and　violently　seized　on　the　talismans；　then；　with　a　voice　more　loud　than　had　hitherto　been　heard　within　these　mansions；　she　compelled　the　Dives　to　disclose　to　her　the　most　secret　treasures；　the　most　profound　stores；　which　the　Afrit　himself　had　not　seen；　she　passed　by　rapid　descents；　known　only　to　Eblis　and　his　most　favoured　potentates；　and　thus　penetrated　the　very　entrails　of　the　earth；　where　breathes　the　Sansar；　or　icy　wind　of　death；　nothing　appalled　her　dauntless　soul；　she　perceived；　however；　in　all　the　inmates　who　bore　their　hands　on　their　hearts　a　little　singularity；　not　much　to　her　taste。　　As　she　was　emerging　from　one　of　the　abysses；　Eblis　stood　forth　to　her　view；　but；　notwithstanding　he　displayed　the　full　effulgence　of　his　infernal　majesty；　she　preserved　her　countenance　unaltered；　and　even　paid　her　compliments　with　considerable　firmness。