the history of caliph vathek-第13节

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ome　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　spacious　meadow；　watered　by　innumerable　streams。　The　Caliph　found　the　waters　refreshing；　but　the　prayers　abominably　irksome；　he　diverted　himself；　however；　with　the　multitude　of　Calenders；　Santons；　and　Dervises；　who　were　continually　coming　and　going；　but　especially　with　the　Brahmins；　Fakirs；　and　other　enthusiasts；　who　had　travelled　from　the　heart　of　India；　and　halted　on　their　way　with　the　Emir。　　These　latter　had；　each　of　them；　some　mummery　peculiar　to　himself。　　One　dragged　a　huge　chain　wherever　he　went；　another　an　ouranoutang；　whilst　a　third　was　furnished　with　scourges；　and　all　performed　to　a　charm；　some　clambered　up　trees；　holding　one　foot　in　the　air；　others　poised　themselves　over　a　fire；　and　without　mercy　filliped　their　noses。　　There　were　some　amongst　them　that　cherished　vermin；　which　were　not　ungrateful　in　requiting　their　caresses。　　These　rambling　fanatics　revolted　the　hearts　of　the　Dervises；　the　Calenders；　and　Santons；　however；　the　vehemence　of　their　aversion　soon　subsided；　under　the　hope　that　the　presence　of　the　Caliph　would　cure　their　folly；　and　convert　them　to　the　Mussulman　faith；　but；　alas！　how　great　was　their　disappointment！　for　Vathek；　instead　of　preaching　to　them；　treated　them　as　buffoons；　bade　them　present　his　compliments　to　Visnow　and　Ixhora；　and　discovered　a　predilection　for　a　squat　old　man　from　the　isle　of　Serendib；　who　was　more　ridiculous　than　any　of　the　rest。

〃Come！〃　said　he；　〃for　the　love　of　your　gods　bestow　a　few　slaps　on　your　chops　to　amuse　me。〃

The　old　fellow；　offended　at　such　an　address；　began　loudly　to　weep；　but；　as　he　betrayed　a　villainous　drivelling　in　his　tears；　the　Caliph　turned　his　back　and　listened　to　Bababalouk；　who　whispered；　whilst　he　held　the　umbrella　over　him：　　〃Your　Majesty　should　be　cautious　of　this　odd　assembly　which　hath　been　collected　I　know　not　for　what。　　Is　it　necessary　to　exhibit　such　spectacles　to　a　mighty　potentate；　with　interludes　of　Talapoins　more　mangy　than　dogs？　　Were　I　you；　I　would　command　a　fire　to　be　kindled；　and　at　once　purge　the　earth　of　the　Emir；　his　harem；　and　all　his　menagerie。〃

〃Tush；　dolt！〃　　answered　Vathek；　〃and　know　that　all　this　infinitely　charms　me；　nor　shall　I　leave　the　meadow　till　I　have　visited　every　hive　of　these　pious　mendicants。〃

Wherever　the　Caliph　directed　his　course　objects　of　pity　were　sure　to　swarm　round　him：　　the　blind；　the　purblind；　smarts　without　noses；　damsels　without　ears；　each　to　extol　the　munificence　of　Fakreddin；　who；　as　well　as　his　attendant　grey…beards；　dealt　about　gratis　plasters　and　cataplasms　to　all　that　applied。　　At　noon　a　superb　corps　of　cripples　made　its　appearance；　and　soon　after　advanced　by　platoons　on　the　plain；　the　completest　association　of　invalids　that　had　ever　been　embodied　till　then。　　The　blind　went　groping　with　the　blind；　the　lame　limped　on　together；　and　the　maimed　made　gestures　to　each　other　with　the　only　arm　that　remained；　the　sides　of　a　considerable　waterfall　were　crowded　by　the　deaf；　amongst　whom　were　some　from　Pegu　with　ears　uncommonly　handsome　and　large；　but　were　still　less　able　to　hear　than　the　rest；　nor　were　there　wanting　others　in　abundance　with　humpbacks；　wenny　necks；　and　even　horns　of　an　exquisite　polish。

The　Emir；　to　aggrandise　the　solemnity　of　the　festival　in　honour　of　his　illustrious　visitant；　ordered　the　turf　to　be　spread　on　all　sides　with　skins　and　table…cloths；　upon　which　were　served　up　for　the　good　Mussulmans　pilaus　of　every　line；　with　other　orthodox　dishes；　and；　by　the　express　order　of　Vathek；　who　was　shamefully　tolerant；　small　plates　of　abominations　for　regaling　the　rest。　　This　prince；　on　seeing　so　many　mouths　put　in　motion；　began　to　think　it　time　for　employing　his　own；　in　spite；　therefore；　of　every　remonstrance　from　the　chief　of　his　eunuchs；　he　resolved　to　have　a　dinner　dressed　on　the　spot。　　The　complaisant　Emir　immediately　gave　orders　for　a　table　to　be　placed　in　the　shade　of　the　willows。　　The　first　service　consisted　of　fish；　which　they　drew　from　a　river　flowing　over　sands　of　gold　at　the　foot　of　a　lofty　hill；　these　were　broiled　as　fast　as　taken；　and　served　up　with　a　sauce　of　vinegar；　and　small　herbs　that　grow　on　Mount　Sinai；　for　everything　with　the　Emir　was　excellent　and　pious。

The　dessert　was　not　quite　set　on　when　the　sound　of　lutes　from　the　hill　was　repeated　by　the　echoes　of　the　neighbouring　mountains。　　The　Caliph；　with　an　emotion　of　pleasure　and　surprise；　had　no　sooner　raised　up　his　head　than　a　handful　of　jasmine　dropped　on　his　face；　an　abundance　of　tittering　succeeded　the　frolic；　and　instantly　appeared　through　the　bushes　the　elegant　forms　of　several　young　females；　skipping　and　bounding　like　roes。　　The　fragrance　diffused　from　their　hair　struck　the　sense　of　Vathek；　who；　in　an　ecstasy；　suspending　his　repast；　said　to　Bababalouk：

〃Are　the　Peris　come　down　from　their　spheres？　　Note　her　in　particular　whose　form　is　so　perfect；　venturously　running　on　the　brink　of　the　precipice；　and　turning　back　her　head；　as　regardless　of　nothing　but　the　graceful　flow　of　her　robe；　with　what　captivating　impatience　doth　she　contend　with　the　bushes　for　her　veil！　could　it　be　she　who　threw　the　jasmine　at　me？〃

〃Ay！　she　it　was；　and　you　too　would　she　throw　from　the　top　of　the　rock；〃　answered　Bababalouk；　〃for　that　is　my　good　friend　Nouronihar；　who　so　kindly　lent　me　her　swing；　my　dear　lord　and　master；〃　added　he；　twisting　a　twig　that　hung　by　the　rind　from　a　willow；　〃let　me　correct　her　for　want　of　respect；　the　Emir　will　have　no　reason　to　complain；　since　（bating　what　I　owe　to　his　piety）　he　is　much　to　be　censured　for　keeping　a　troop　of　girls　on　the　mountains；　whose　sharp　air　gives　their　blood　too　brisk　a　circulation。〃

〃Peace；　blasphemer！〃　said　the　Caliph；　〃speak　not　thus　of　her　who　over　her　mountains　leads　my　heart　a　willing　captive；　contrive　rather　that　my　eyes　may　be　fixed　upon　hers；　that　I　may　respire　her　sweet　breath；　as　she　bounds　panting　along　these　delightful　wilds！〃　On　saying　these　words；　Vathek　extended　his　arms　towards　the　hill；　and　directing　his　eyes　with　an　anxiety　unknown　to　him　before；　endeavoured　to　keep　within　view　the　object　that　enthralled　his　soul；　but　her　course　was　as　difficult　to　follow　as　the　flight　of　one　of　those　beautiful　blue　butterflies　of　Cashmere；　which　are　at　once　so　volatile　and　rare。

The　Caliph；　not　satisfied　with　seeing；　wished　also　to　hear　Nouronihar；　and　eagerly　turned　to　catch　the　sound　of　her　voice；　at　last　he　distinguished　her　whispering　to　one　of　her　companions　behind　the　thicket　from　whence　she　had　thrown　the　jasmine：　　〃A　Caliph；　it　must　be　owned；　is　a　fine　thing　to　see；　but　my　little　Gulchenrouz　is　much　more　amiable；　one　lock　of　his　hair　is　of　more　value　to　me　than　the　richest　embroidery　of　the　Indies；　I　had　rather　that　his　teeth　should　mischievously　press　my　finger　than　the　richest　ring　of　the　imperial　treasure。　　Where　have　you　left　him；　Sutlememe？　and　why　is　he　now　not　here？〃

The　agitated　Caliph　still　wished　to　hear　more；　but　she　immediately　retired；　with　all　her　attendants；　the　fond　monarch　pursued　her　with　his　eyes　till　she　was　gone　out　of　sight；　and　then　continued　like　a　bewildered　and　benighted　traveller；　from　whom　the　clouds　had　obscured　the　constellation　that　guided　his　way；