the history of caliph vathek-第3部分

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nugatory；　in　vain　did　he　beat　his　head　and　bite　his　nails；　not　a　letter　of　the　whole　was　he　able　to　ascertain。　　So　unlucky　a　disappointment　would　have　undone　him　again　had　not　Carathis　by　good　fortune　entered　the　apartment。

〃Have　patience；　son！〃　said　she；　〃you　certainly　are　possessed　of　every　important　science；　but　the　knowledge　of　languages　is　a　trifle　at　best；　and　the　accomplishment　of　none　but　a　pedant。　　Issue　forth　a　proclamation　that　you　will　confer　such　rewards　as　become　your　greatness　upon　any　one　that　shall　interpret　what　you　do　not　understand；　and　what　it　is　beneath　you　to　learn；　you　will　soon　find　your　curiosity　gratified。〃

〃That　may　be；〃　said　the　Caliph；　〃but　in　the　meantime　I　shall　be　horribly　disgusted　by　a　crowd　of　smatterers；　who　will　come　to　the　trial　as　much　for　the　pleasure　of　retailing　their　jargon　as　from　the　hope　of　gaining　the　reward。　　To　avoid　this　evil　it　will　be　proper　to　add　that　I　will　put　every　candidate　to　death　who　shall　fail　to　give　satisfaction；　for；　thank　Heaven！　I　have　skill　enough　to　distinguish　between　one　that　translates　and　one　that　invents。〃

〃Of　that　I　have　no　doubt；〃　replied　Carathis；　〃but　to　put　the　ignorant　to　death　is　somewhat　severe；　and　may　be　productive　of　dangerous　effects；　content　yourself　with　commanding　their　beards　to　be　burntbeards　in　a　state　are　not　quite　so　essential　as　men。〃

The　Caliph　submitted　to　the　reasons　of　his　mother；　and　sending　for　Morakanabad；　his　prime　vizir；　said：　　〃Let　the　common　criers　proclaim；　not　only　in　Samarah；　but　throughout　every　city　in　my　empire；　that　whosoever　will　repair　hither；　and　decipher　certain　characters　which　appear　to　be　inexplicable；　shall　experience　the　liberality　for　which　I　am　renowned；　but　that　all　who　fail　upon　trial　shall　have　their　beards　burnt　off　to　the　last　hair。　　Let　them　add　also　that　I　will　bestow　fifty　beautiful　slaves；　and　as　many　jars　of　apricots　from　the　Isle　of　Kirmith；　upon　any　man　that　shall　bring　me　intelligence　of　the　stranger。〃

The　subjects　of　the　Caliph；　like　their　Sovereign；　being　great　admirers　of　women　and　apricots　from　Kirmith；　felt　their　mouths　water　at　these　promises；　but　were　totally　unable　to　gratify　their　hankering；　for　no　one　knew　which　way　the　stranger　had　gone。

As　to　the　Caliph's　other　requisition；　the　result　was　different。　The　learned；　the　half…learned；　and　those　who　were　neither；　but　fancied　themselves　equal　to　both；　came　boldly　to　hazard　their　beards；　and　all　shamefully　lost　them。

The　exaction　of　these　forfeitures；　which　found　sufficient　employment　for　the　eunuchs；　gave　them　such　a　smell　of　singed　hair　as　greatly　to　disgust　the　ladies　of　the　seraglio；　and　make　it　necessary　that　this　new　occupation　of　their　guardians　should　be　transferred　into　other　hands。

At　length；　however；　an　old　man　presented　himself　whose　beard　was　a　cubit　and　a　half　longer　than　any　that　had　appeared　before　him。　　The　officers　of　the　palace　whispered　to　each　other；　as　they　ushered　him　in；　〃What　a　pity　such　a　beard　should　be　burnt！〃　　Even　the　Caliph；　when　he　saw　it；　concurred　with　them　in　opinion；　but　his　concern　was　entirely　needless。　　This　venerable　personage　read　the　characters　with　facility；　and　explained　them　verbatim　as　follows：　　〃We　were　made　where　everything　good　is　made；　we　are　the　least　of　the　wonders　of　a　place　where　all　is　wonderful；　and　deserving　the　sight　of　the　first　potentate　on　earth。〃

〃You　translate　admirably！〃　cried　Vathek；　〃I　know　to　what　these　marvellous　characters　allude。　　Let　him　receive　as　many　robes　of　honour　and　thousands　of　sequins　of　gold　as　he　hath　spoken　words。　　I　am　in　some　measure　relieved　from　the　perplexity　that　embarrassed　me！〃

Vathek　invited　the　old　main　to　dine；　and　even　to　remain　some　days　in　the　palace。　　Unluckily　for　him；　he　accepted　the　offer；　for　the　Caliph；　having　ordered　him　next　morning　to　be　called；　said：　　〃Read　again　to　me　what　you　have　read　already；　I　cannot　hear　too　often　the　promise　that　is　made　me；　the　completion　of　which　I　languish　to　obtain。〃

The　old　man　forthwith　put　on　his　green　spectacles；　but　they　instantly　dropped　from　his　nose　on　perceiving　that　the　characters　he　had　read　the　day　preceding　had　given　place　to　others　of　different　import。

〃What　ails　you？〃　asked　the　Caliph；　〃and　why　these　symptoms　of　wonder？〃

〃Sovereign　of　the　world；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃these　sabres　hold　another　language　to…day　from　that　they　yesterday　held。〃

〃How　say　you？〃　returned　Vathek；　〃but　it　matters　not！　tell　me；　if　you　can；　what　they　mean。〃

〃It　is　this；　my　lord；〃　rejoined　the　old　man：　　〃Woe　to　the　rash　mortal　who　seeks　to　know　that　of　which　he　should　remain　ignorant；　and　to　undertake　that　which　surpasseth　his　power！〃

〃And　woe　to　thee！〃　cried　the　Caliph；　in　a　burst　of　indignation；　〃to…day　thou　art　void　of　understanding。　　Begone　from　my　presence；　they　shall　burn　but　the　half　of　thy　beard；　because；　thou　wert　yesterday　fortunate　in　guessing；　my　gifts　I　never　resume。〃

The　old　man；　wise　enough　to　perceive　he　had　luckily　escaped；　considering　the　folly　of　disclosing　so　disgusting　a　truth；　immediately　withdrew；　and　appeared　not　again。

But　it　was　not　long　before　Vathek　discovered　abundant　reason　to　regret　his　precipitation；　for　though　he　could　not　decipher　the　characters　himself；　yet　by　constantly　poring　upon　them　he　plainly　perceived　that　they　every　day　changed；　and　unfortunately　no　other　candidate　offered　to　explain　them。　　This　perplexing　occupation　inflamed　his　blood；　dazzled　his　sight；　and　brought　on　a　giddiness　and　debility　that　he　could　not　support。　　He　failed　not；　however；　though　in　so　reduced　a　condition；　to　be　often　carried　to　his　tower；　as　he　flattered　himself　that　he　might　there　read　in　the　stars　which　he　went　to　consult　something　more　congenial　to　his　wishes：　　but　in　this　his　hopes　were　deluded；　for　his　eyes；　dimmed　by　the　vapours　of　his　head；　began　to　subserve　his　curiosity　so　ill；　that　he　beheld　nothing　but　a　thick　dun　cloud；　which　he　took　for　the　most　direful　of　omens。

Agitated　with　so　much　anxiety；　Vathek　entirely　lost　all　firmness；　a　fever　seized　him；　and　his　appetite　failed。　　Instead　of　being　one　of　the　greatest　eaters；　he　became　as　distinguished　for　drinking。　　So　insatiable　was　the　thirst　which　tormented　him　that　his　mouth；　like　a　funnel；　was　always　open　to　receive　the　various　liquors　that　might　be　poured　into　it；　and　especially　cold　water；　which　calmed　him　more　than　every　other。

This　unhappy　prince　being　thus　incapacitated　for　the　enjoyment　of　any　pleasure；　commanded　the　palaces　of　the　five　senses　to　be　shut　up；　forbore　to　appear　in　public；　either　to　display　his　magnificence　or　administer　justice；　and　retired　to　the　inmost　apartment　of　his　harem。　　As　he　had　ever　been　an　indulgent　husband；　his　wives；　overwhelmed　with　grief　at　his　deplorable　situation；　incessantly　offered　their　prayers　for　his　health；　and　unremittingly　supplied　him　with　water。

In　the　meantime　the　Princess　Carathis；　whose　affliction　no　words　can　describe；　instead　of　restraining　herself　to　sobbing　and　tears；　was　closeted　daily　with　the　Vizir　Morakanabad；　to　find　out　some　cure　or　mitigation　of　the　Caliph's　disease。　　Under　the　persuasion　that　it　was　caused　by　enchantment；　they　turned　over　together；　leaf　by　leaf；　all　the　books　of　magic　that　might　point　out　a　remedy；　and　caused　the　horrible　stranger；　whom　they　accused　as　the　enchanter；　to　be　everywhere　sought　for　with　the　strictest　diligence。

At　the　distance　of　a　few　miles　from　Samarah　stood　a　high　mountain；　whose　sides　were　swarded　with　wild　thyme　and　basil；　and　its　summit　overspread　with　so　delightful　a　plain；　that　it　might　be　taken　for　the　paradise　destined　for　the　faithful。　　Upon　it　grew　a　hundred　thickets　of　eglantine　and　other　fragrant　shrubs；　a　hundred　arbours　of　roses；　jessamine；　and　honeysuckle；　as　many　clumps　of　orange　trees；　cedar；　and　citron；　whose　branches；　interwoven　with　the　palm；　the　pomegranate；　and　the　vine；　presented　every　luxury　that　could　regale　the　eye　or　the　taste。　　The　ground　was　strewed　with　violets；　hare…bells；　and　pansies；　in　the　midst　of　which　sprang　forth　tufts　of　jonquils；　hyacinths；　and　carnations；　with　every　other　perfume　that　impregnates　the　air。　　Four　fountains；　not　less　clear　than　deep；　and　so　abundant　as　to　slake　the　thirst　of　ten　armies；　seemed　profusely　placed　here　to　make　the　scene　more　resemble　the　garden　of　Eden；　which　was　watered　by　the　four　sacred　rivers。　　Here　the　nightingale　sang　the　birth　of　the　rose；　her　well…beloved；　and　at　the　same　time　lamented　its　short…lived　beauty；　whilst　the　turtle　deplored　the　loss　of　more　substantial　pleasures；　and　the　wakeful　lark　hailed　the　rising　light　that　re…animates　the　whole　creation。　Here　more　than　anywhere　the　mingled　melodies　of　birds　expressed　the　various　passions　they　inspired；　as　if　the　exquisite　fruits　which　they　pecked　at　pleasure　had　given　them　a　double　energy。

To　this　mountain　Vathek　was　sometimes　brought　for　the　sake　of　breathing　a　purer　air；　and　especially　to　drink　at　will　of　the　four　fountains；　which　were　reputed　in　the　highest　degree　salubrious　and　sacred　to　himself。　　His　attendants　were　his　mother；　his　wives；　and　some　eunuchs；　who　assiduously　employed　themselves　in　filling　capacious　bowls　of　rock　crystal；　and　emulously　presenting　them　to　him；　but　it　frequently　happened　that　his　avidity　exceeded　their　zeal；　insomuch　that　he　would　prostrate　himself　upon　the　ground　to　lap　up　the　water；　of　which　he　could　never　have　enough。

One　day；　when　this　unhappy　prince　had　been　long　lying　in　so　debasing　a　posture；　a　voice；　hoarse　but　strong；　thus　addressed　him：　〃Why　assumest　thou　the　function　of　a　dog；　O　Caliph；　so　proud　of　thy　dignity　and　power？〃

At　this　apostrophe　he　raised　his　head；　and　beheld　the　stranger　that　had　caused　him　so　much　affliction。　　Inflamed　with　anger　at　the　sight；　he　exclaimed　…

〃Accursed　Giaour！　what　comest　thou　hither　to　do？　　Is　it　not　enough　to　have　transformed　a　prince　remarkable　for　his　agility　into　one　of　those　leather　barrels　which　the　Bedouin　Arabs　carry　on　their　camels　when　they　traverse　the　deserts？　　Perceivest　thou　not　that　I　may　perish　by　drinking　to　excess　no　less　than　by　a　total　abstinence？〃

〃Drink　then　this　draught；〃　said　the　stranger；　as　he　presented　to　him　a　phial　of　a　red　and　yellow　mixture；　〃and；　to　satiate　the　thirst　of　thy　soul　as　well　as　of　thy　body；　know　that　I　am　an　Indian；　but　from　a　region　of　India