the history of caliph vathek-第9部分

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s　prevailed；　which　nothing　happened　to　disturb　but　the　shrill　screams　of　some　eunuchs　in　the　rear；　these　vigilant　guards；　having　remarked　certain　cages　of　the　ladies　swagging　somewhat　awry；　and　discovered　that　a　few　adventurous　gallants　had　contrived　to　get　in；　soon　dislodged　the　enraptured　culprits。　　The　majesty　of　so　magnificent　a　spectacle　was　not；　however；　violated　by　incidents　like　these。　Vathek　meanwhile　saluted　the　moon　with　an　idolatrous　air；　that　neither　pleased　Morakanabad　nor　the　Doctors　of　the　Law；　any　more　than　the　vizirs　and　the　grandees　of　his　court；　who　were　all　assembled　to　enjoy　the　last　view　of　their　sovereign。

At　length　the　clarions　and　trumpets　from　the　top　of　the　tower　announced　the　prelude　of　departure；　though　the　instruments　were　in　unison　with　each　other；　yet　a　singular　dissonance　was　blended　with　their　sounds；　this　proceeded　from　Carathis；　who　was　singing　her　direful　orisons　to　the　Giaour；　whilst　the　negresses　and　mutes　supplied　thorough…base　without　articulating　a　word。　　The　good　Mussulmans　fancied　that　they　heard　the　sullen　hum　of　those　nocturnal　insects　which　presage　evil；　and　importuned　Vathek　to　beware　how　he　ventured　his　sacred　person。

On　a　given　signal　the　great　standard　of　the　Califat　was　displayed；　twenty　thousand　lances　shone　around　it；　and　the　Caliph；　treading　loyally　on　the　cloth　of　gold　which　had　been　spread　for　his　feet；　ascended　his　litter　amidst　the　general　awe　that　possessed　his　subjects。

The　expedition　commenced　with　the　utmost　order　and　so　entire　a　silence；　that　even　the　locusts　were　heard　from　the　thickets　on　the　plain　of　Catoul。　　Gaiety　and　good…humour　prevailing；　six　good　leagues　were　past　before　the　dawn；　and　the　morning　star　was　still　glittering　in　the　firmament　when　the　whole　of　this　numerous　train　had　halted　on　the　banks　of　the　Tigris；　where　they　encamped　to　repose　for　the　rest　of　the　day。

The　three　days　that　followed　were　spent　in　the　same　manner；　but　on　the　fourth　the　heavens　looked　angry；　lightnings　broke　forth　in　frequent　flashes；　re…echoing　peals　of　thunder　succeeded；　and　the　trembling　Circassians　clung　with　all　their　might　to　their　ugly　guardians。　　The　Caliph　himself　was　greatly　inclined　to　take　shelter　in　the　large　town　of　Gulchissar；　the　governor　of　which　came　forth　to　meet　him；　and　tendered　every　kind　of　refreshment　the　place　could　supply；　but；　having　examined　his　tablets；　he　suffered　the　rain　to　soak　him　almost　to　the　bone；　notwithstanding　the　importunity　of　his　first　favourites。　　Though　he　began　to　regret　the　palace　of　the　senses；　yet　he　lost　not　sight　of　his　enterprise；　and　his　sanguine　expectations　confirmed　his　resolution；　his　geographers　were　ordered　to　attend　him；　but　the　weather　proved　so　terrible　that　these　poor　people　exhibited　a　lamentable　appearance；　and；　as　no　long　journeys　had　been　undertaken　since　the　time　of　Haroun　al　Raschid；　their　maps　of　the　different　countries　were　in　a　still　worse　plight　than　themselves；　every　one　was　ignorant　which　way　to　turn；　for　Vathek；　though　well　versed　in　the　course　of　the　heavens；　no　longer　knew　his　situation　on　earth；　he　thundered　even　louder　than　the　elements；　and　muttered　forth　certain　hints　of　the　bow…string；　which　were　not　very　soothing　to　literary　ears。　　Disgusted　at　the　toilsome　weariness　of　the　way；　he　determined　to　cross　over　the　craggy　heights　and　follow　the　guidance　of　a　peasant；　who　undertook　to　bring　him　in　four　days　to　Rocnabad。　　Remonstrances　were　all　to　no　purpose；　his　resolution　was　fixed；　and　an　invasion　commenced　on　the　province　of　the　goats；　who　sped　away　in　large　troops　before　them。　　It　was　curious　to　view　on　these　half　calcined　rocks　camels　richly　caparisoned；　and　pavilions　of　gold　and　silk　waving　on　their　summits；　which　till　then　had　never　been　covered　but　with　sapless　thistles　and　fern。

The　females　and　eunuchs　uttered　shrill　wailings　at　the　sight　of　the　precipices　below　them；　and　the　dreary　prospects　that　opened　in　the　vast　gorges　of　the　mountains。　　Before　they　could　reach　the　ascent　of　the　steepest　rock；　night　overtook　them；　and　a　boisterous　tempest　arose；　which；　having　rent　the　awnings　of　the　palanquins　and　cages；　exposed　to　the　raw　gusts　the　poor　ladies　within；　who　had　never　before　felt　so　piercing　a　cold。　　The　dark　clouds　that　overcast　the　face　of　the　sky　deepened　the　horrors　of　this　disastrous　night；　insomuch　that　nothing　could　be　heard　distinctly　but　the　mewling　of　pages　and　lamentations　of　sultanas。

To　increase　the　general　misfortune；　the　frightful　uproar　of　wild　beasts　resounded　at　a　distance；　and　there　were　soon　perceived；　in　the　forest　they　were　skirting；　the　glaring　of　eyes　which　could　belong　only　to　devils　or　tigers。　　The　pioneers；　who；　as　well　as　they　could；　had　marked　out　a　track；　and　a　part　of　the　advanced　guard　were　devoured　before　they　had　been　in　the　least　apprized　of　their　danger。　　The　confusion　that　prevailed　was　extreme；　wolves；　tigers；　and　other　carnivorous　animals；　invited　by　the　howling　of　their　companions；　flocked　together　from　every　quarter；　the　crashing　of　bones　was　heard　on　all　sides；　and　a　fearful　rush　of　wings　overhead；　for　now　vultures　also　began　to　be　of　the　party。

The　terror　at　length　reached　the　main　body　of　the　troops　which　surrounded　the　monarch　and　his　harem；　at　the　distance　of　two　leagues　from　the　scene。　　Vathek　（voluptuously　reposed　in　his　capacious　litter　upon　cushions　of　silk；　with　two　little　pages　beside　him　of　complexions　more　fair　than　the　enamel　of　Franguestan；　who　were　occupied　in　keeping　off　flies）　was　soundly　asleep；　and　contemplating　in　his　dreams　the　treasures　of　Soliman。　　The　shrieks；　however；　of　his　wives　awoke　him　with　a　start；　and；　instead　of　the　Giaour　with　his　key　of　gold；　he　beheld　Bababalouk　full　of　consternation。

〃Sire；〃　exclaimed　this　good　servant　of　the　most　potent　of　monarchs；　〃misfortune　is　arrived　at　its　height；　wild　beasts；　who　entertain　no　more　reverence　for　your　sacred　person　than　for　that　of　a　dead　ass；　have　beset　your　camels　and　their　drivers；　thirty　of　the　richest　laden　are　already　become　their　prey；　as　well　as　your　confectioners；　your　cooks；　and　purveyors；　and；　unless　our　holy　Prophet　should　protect　us；　we　shall　have　all　eaten　our　last　meal。〃

At　the　mention　of　eating　the　Caliph　lost　all　patience；　he　began　to　bellow；　and　even　beat　himself　（for　there　was　no　seeing　in　the　dark）。　　The　rumour　every　instant　increased；　and　Bababalouk；　finding　no　good　could　be　done　with　his　master；　stopped　both　his　ears　against　the　hurly…burly　of　the　harem；　and　called　out　aloud：　　〃Come；　ladies　and　brothers！　all　hands　to　work！　strike　light　in　a　moment！　never　shall　it　be　said　that　the　Commander　of　the　Faithful　served　to　regale　these　infidel　brutes。〃

Though　there　wanted　not　in　this　bevy　of　beauties　a　sufficient　number　of　capricious　and　wayward；　yet　on　the　present　occasion　they　were　all　compliance；　fires　were　visible　in　a　twinkling　in　all　their　cages；　ten　thousand　torches　were　lighted　at　once；　the　Caliph　himself　seized　a　large　one　of　wax；　every　person　followed　his　example；　and；　by　kindling　ropes'　ends　dipped　in　oil　and　fastened　on　poles；　an　amazing　blaze　was　spread。　　The　rocks　were　covered　with　the　splendour　of　sunshine；　the　trails　of　sparks　wafted　by　the　wind　communicated　to　the　dry　fern；　of　which　there　was　plenty。　　Serpents　were　observed　to　crawl　forth　from　their　retreats　with　amazement　and　hissings；　whilst　the　horses　snorted；　stamped　the　ground；　tossed　their　noses　in　the　air；　and　plunged　about　without　mercy。

One　of　the　forests　of　cedar　that　bordered　their　way　took　fire；　and　the　branches　that　overhung　the　path；　extending　their　flames　to　the　muslins　and　chintzes　which　covered　the　cages　of　the　ladies；　obliged　them　to　jump　out；　at　the　peril　of　their　necks。　　Vathek；　who　vented　on　the　occasion　a　thousand　blasphemies；　was　himself　compelled　to　touch　with　his　sacred　feet　the　naked　earth。

Never　had　such　an　incident　happened　before。　　Full　of　mortification；　shame；　and　despondence；　and　not　knowing　how　to　walk；　the　ladies　fell　into　the　dirt。　　〃Must　I　go　on　foot？〃　said　one；　〃Must　I　wet　my　feet？〃　cried　another；　〃Must　I　soil　my　dress？〃　asked　a　third；　〃Execrable　Bababalouk！〃　exclaimed　all；　〃Outcast　of　hell！　what　hadst　thou　to　do　with　torches？　　Better　were　it　to　be　eaten　by　tigers　than　to　fall　into　our　present　condition！　we　are　for　ever　undone！　　Not　a　porter　is　there　in　the　army；　nor　a　currier　of　camels；　but　hath　seen　some　part　of　our　bodies；　and；　what　is　worse；　our　very　faces！〃　　On　saying　this　the　most　bashful　amongst　them　hid　their　foreheads　on　the　ground；　whist　such　as　had　more　boldness　flew　at　Bababalouk；　but　he；　well　apprized　of　their　humour；　and　not　wanting　in　shrewdness；　betook　himself　to　his　heels　along　with　his　comrades；　all　dropping　their　torches　and　striking　their　tymbals。

It　was　not　less　light　than　in　the　brightest　of　the　dog…days；　and　the　weather　was　hot　in　proportion；　but　how　degrading　was　the　spectacle；　to　behold　the　Caliph　bespattered　like　an　ordinary　mortal！　　As　the　exercise　of　his　faculties　seemed　to　be　suspended；　one　of　his　Ethiopian　wives　（for　he　delighted　in　variety）　clasped　him　in　her　arms；　threw　him　upon　her　shoulder　like　a　sack　of　dates；　and　finding　that　the　fire　was　hemming　them　in；　set　off　with　no　small　expedition；　considering　the　weight　of　her　burden。　　The　other　ladies；　who　had　just　learnt　the　use　of　their　feet；　followed　her；　their　guards　galloped　after；　and　the　camel…drivers　brought　up　the　rear　as　fast　as　their　charge　would　permit。

They　soon　reached　the　spot　where　the　wild　beasts　had　commenced　the　carnage；　and　which　they　had　too　much　spirit　to　leave；　notwithstanding　the　approaching　tumult　and　the　luxurious　supper　they　had　made；　Bababalouk　nevertheless　seized　on　a　few　of　the　plumpest；　which　were　unable　to　budge　from　the　place；　and　began　to　flay　them　with　admirable　adroitness。　　The　cavalcade　being　got　so　far　from　the　conflagration　as　that　the　heat　felt　rather　grateful　than　violent；　it　was　immediately　resolved　on　to　halt。　　The　tattered　chintzes　were　picked　up；　the　scraps　left　by　the　wolves　and　tigers　interred；　and　vengeance　was　taken　on　some　dozens　of　vultures　that　were　too　much　glutted　to　rise　on　the　wing。　　The　camels；　which　had　been　left　unmolested　to　make　sal　ammoniac；　being　numbered；　and　the　ladies　once　more　enclosed　in　their　cages；　the　imperial　tent　was　pitched　on　the　levellest　ground　they　could　find。

Vathek；　repos