the history of caliph vathek-第14节

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ed　and　benighted　traveller；　from　whom　the　clouds　had　obscured　the　constellation　that　guided　his　way；　the　curtain　of　night　seemed　dropped　before　him；　everything　appeared　discoloured；　the　falling　waters　filled　his　soul　with　dejection；　and　his　tears　trickled　down　the　jasmines　he　had　caught　from　Nouronihar；　and　placed　in　his　inflamed　bosom；　he　snatched　up　a　shining　pebble；　to　remind　him　of　the　scene　where　he　felt　the　first　tumults　of　love。　Two　hours　were　elapsed；　and　evening　drew　on　before　he　could　resolve　to　depart　from　the　place；　he　often；　but　in　vain；　attempted　to　go；　a　soft　languor　enervated　the　powers　of　his　mind；　extending　himself　on　the　brink　of　the　stream；　he　turned　his　eyes　towards　the　blue　summits　of　the　mountain；　and　exclaimed：　　〃What　concealest　thou　behind　thee？　what　is　passing　in　thy　solitudes？　　Whither　is　she　gone？　　O　Heaven！　perhaps　she　is　now　wandering　in　thy　grottos；　with　her　happy　Gulchenrouz！〃

In　the　meantime　the　damps　began　to　descend；　and　the　Emir；　solicitous　for　the　health　of　the　Caliph；　ordered　the　imperial　litter　to　be　brought。　　Vathek；　absorbed　in　his　reveries；　was　imperceptibly　removed；　and　conveyed　back　to　the　saloon　that　received　him　the　evening　before。

But　let　us　leave　the　Caliph；　immersed　in　his　new　passion；　and　attend　Nouronihar　beyond　the　rocks；　where　she　had　again　joined　her　beloved　Gulchenrouz。　　This　Gulchenrouz　was　the　son　of　Ali　Hassan；　brother　to　the　Emir；　and　the　most　delicate　and　lovely　creature　in　the　world。　　Ali　Hassan；　who　had　been　absent　ten　years　on　a　voyage　to　the　unknown　seas；　committed　at　his　departure　this　child；　the　only　survivor　of　many；　to　the　care　and　protection　of　his　brother。　Gulchenrouz　could　write　in　various　characters　with　precision；　and　paint　upon　vellum　the　most　elegant　arabesques　that　fancy　could　devise；　his　sweet　voice　accompanied　the　lute　in　the　most　enchanting　manner；　and　when　he　sang　the　loves　of　Megnoun　and　Leileh；　or　some　unfortunate　lovers　of　ancient　days；　tears　insensibly　overflowed　the　cheeks　of　his　auditors；　the　verses　he　composed　（for；　like　Megnoun；　he　too　was　a　poet）　inspired　that　unresisting　languor　so　frequently　fatal　to　the　female　heart；　the　women　all　doted　upon　him；　for　though　he　had　passed　his　thirteenth　year；　they　still　detained　him　in　the　harem；　his　dancing　was　light　as　the　gossamer　waved　by　the　zephyrs　of　spring；　but　his　arms；　which　twined　so　gracefully　with　those　of　the　young　girls　in　the　dance；　could　neither　dart　the　lance　in　the　chase；　nor　curb　the　steeds　that　pastured　his　uncle's　domains。　　The　bow；　however；　he　drew　with　a　certain　aim；　and　would　have　excelled　his　competitors　in　the　race；　could　he　have　broken　the　ties　that　bound　him　to　Nouronihar。

The　two　brothers　had　mutually　engaged　their　children　to　each　other；　and　Nouronihar　loved　her　cousin　more　than　her　eyes；　both　had　the　same　tastes　and　amusements；　the　same　long；　languishing　looks；　the　same　tresses；　the　same　fair　complexions；　and　when　Gulchenrouz　appeared　in　the　dress　of　his　cousin　he　seemed　to　be　more　feminine　than　even　herself。　　If　at　any　time　he　left　the　harem　to　visit　Fakreddin；　it　was　with　all　the　bashfulness　of　a　fawn；　that　consciously　ventures　from　the　lair　of　its　dam；　he　was　however；　wanton　enough　to　mock　the　solemn　old　grey…beards　to　whom　he　was　subject；　though　sure　to　be　rated　without　mercy　in　return；　whenever　this　happened　he　would　plunge　into　the　recesses　of　the　harem；　and　sobbing；　take　refuge　in　the　arms　of　Nouronihar；　who　loved　even　his　faults　beyond　the　virtues　of　others。

It　fell　out　this　evening　that；　after　leaving　the　Caliph　in　the　meadow；　she　ran　with　Gulchenrouz　over　the　green　sward　of　the　mountain　that　sheltered　the　vale　where　Fakreddin　had　chosen　to　reside。　　The　sun　was　dilated　on　the　edge　of　the　horizon；　and　the　young　people；　whose　fancies　were　lively　and　inventive；　imagined　they　beheld　in　the　gorgeous　clouds　of　the　west　the　domes　of　Shadukiam　and　Amberabad；　where　the　Peris　have　fixed　their　abode。　Nouronihar；　sitting　on　the　slope　of　the　hill；　supported　on　her　knees　the　perfumed　head　of　Gulchenrouz；　the　air　was　calm；　and　no　sound　stirred　but　the　voices　of　other　young　girls；　who　were　drawing　cool　water　from　the　streams　below。　　The　unexpected　arrival　of　the　Caliph；　and　the　splendour　that　marked　his　appearance；　had　already　filled　with　emotion　the　ardent　soul　of　Nouronihar；　her　vanity　irresistibly　prompted　her　to　pique　the　prince's　attention；　and　this　she　before　took　good　care　to　effect　whilst　he　picked　up　the　jasmine　she　had　thrown　upon　him。　　But　when　Gulchenrouz　asked　after　the　flowers　he　had　culled　for　her　bosom；　Nouronihar　was　all　in　confusion；　she　hastily　kissed　his　forehead；　arose　in　a　flutter；　and　walked　with　unequal　steps　on　the　border　of　the　precipice。　　Night　advanced；　and　the　pure　gold　of　the　setting　sun　had　yielded　to　a　sanguine　red；　the　glow　of　which；　like　the　reflection　of　a　burning　furnace；　flushed　Nouronihar's　animated　countenance。　　Gulchenrouz；　alarmed　at　the　agitation　of　his　cousin；　said　to　her　with　a　supplicating　accent：

〃Let　us　be　gone；　the　sky　looks　portentous；　the　tamarisks　tremble　more　than　common；　and　the　raw　wind　chills　my　very　heart；　come！　let　us　be　gone；　'tis　a　melancholy　night！〃

Then；　taking　hold　of　her　hand；　he　drew　it　towards　the　path　he　besought　her　to　go。　　Nouronihar　unconsciously　followed　the　attraction；　for　a　thousand　strange　imaginations　occupied　her　spirit；　she　passed　the　large　round　of　honeysuckles；　her　favourite　resort；　without　ever　vouchsafing　it　a　glance；　yet　Gulchenrouz　could　not　help　snatching　off　a　few　shoots　in　his　way；　though　he　ran　as　if　a　wild　beast　were　behind。

The　young　females　seeing　him　approach　in　such　haste；　and　according　to　custom　expecting　a　dance；　instantly　assembled　in　a　circle；　and　took　each　other　by　the　hand；　but　Gulchenrouz；　coming　up　out　of　breath；　fell　down　at　once　on　the　grass。　　This　accident　struck　with　consternation　the　whole　of　this　frolicsome　party；　whilst　Nouronihar；　half　distracted；　and　overcome；　both　by　the　violence　of　her　exercise　and　the　tumult　of　her　thoughts；　sunk　feebly　down　at　his　side；　cherished　his　cold　hands　in　her　bosom；　and　chafed　his　temples　with　a　fragrant　unguent。　　At　length　he　came　to　himself；　and；　wrapping　up　his　head　in　the　robe　of　his　cousin；　entreated　that　she　would　not　return　to　the　harem；　he　was　afraid　of　being　snapped　at　by　Shaban；　his　tutor；　a　wrinkled　old　eunuch　of　a　surly　disposition；　for　having　interrupted　the　stated　walk　of　Nouronihar；　he　dreaded　lest　the　churl　should　take　it　amiss。　　The　whole　of　this　sprightly　group；　sitting　round　upon　a　mossy　knoll；　began　to　entertain　themselves　with　various　pastimes；　whilst　their　superintendents　the　eunuchs　were　gravely　conversing　at　a　distance。　The　nurse　of　the　Emir's　daughter；　observing　her　pupil　sit　ruminating　with　her　eyes　on　the　ground；　endeavoured　to　amuse　her　with　diverting　tales；　to　which　Gulchenrouz；　who　had　already　forgotten　his　inquietudes；　listened　with　a　breathless　attention；　he　laughed；　he　clapped　his　hands；　and　passed　a　hundred　little　tricks　on　the　whole　of　the　company；　without　omitting　the　eunuchs；　whom　he　provoked　to　run　after　him；　in　spite　of　their　age　and　decrepitude。

During　these　occurrences　the　moon　arose；　the　wind　subsided；　and　the　evening　became　so　serene　and　inviting；　that　a　resolution　was　taken　to　sup　on　the　spot。　　Sutlememe；　who　excelled　in　dressing　a　salad；　having　filled　large　bowls　of　porcelain　with　eggs　of　small　birds；　curds　turned　with　citron　juice；　slices　of　cucumber；　and　the　inmost　leaves　of　delicate　herbs；　handed　it　round　from　one　to　another；　and　gave　each　their　shares　in　a　large　spoon　of　Cocknos。　　Gulchenrouz；　nestling　as　usual　in　the　bosom　of　Nouronihar；　pouted　out　his　vermilion　little　lips　against　the　offer　of　Sutlememe；　and　would　take　it　only　from　the　hand　of　his　cousin；　on　whose　mouth　he　hung　like　a　bee　inebriated　with　the　quintessence　of　flowers。　　One　of　the　eunuchs　ran　to　fetch　melons；　whilst　others　were　employed　in　showering　down　almonds　from　the　branches　that　overhung　this　amiable　party。

In　the　midst　of　this　festive　scene　there　appeared　a　light　on　the　top　of　the　highest　mountain；　which　attracted　the　notice　of　every　eye；　this　light　was　not　less　bright　than　the　moon　when　at　full；　and　might　have　been　taken　for　her；　had　it　not　been　that　the　moon　was　already　risen。　　The　phenomenon　occasioned　a　general　surprise；　and　no　one　could　conjecture　the　cause；　it　could　not　be　a　fire；　for　the　light　was　clear　and　bluish；　nor　had　meteors　ever　been　seen　of　that　magnitude　or　splendour。　　This　strange　light　faded　for　a　moment；　and　immediately　renewed　its　brightness；　it　first　appeared　motionless　at　the　foot　of　the　rock；　whence　it　darted　in　an　instant　to　sparkle　in　a　thicket　of　palm…trees；　from　thence　it　glided　along　the　torrent；　and　at　last　fixed　in　a　glen　that　was　narrow　and　dark。　　The　moment　it　had　taken　its　direction；　Gulchenrouz；　whose　heart　always　trembled　at　anything　sudden　or　rare；　drew　Nouronihar　by　the　robe；　and　anxiously　requested　her　to　return　to　the　harem；　the　women　were　importunate　in　seconding　the　entreaty；　but　the　curiosity　of　the　Emir's　daughter　prevailed；　she　not　only　refused　to　go　back；　but　resolved　at　all　hazards　to　pursue　the　appearance。　　Whilst　they　were　debating　what　was　best　to　be　done；　the　light　shot　forth　so　dazzling　a　blaze；　that　they　all　fled　away　shrieking；　Nouronihar　followed　them　a　fe