the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第12章
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had sent forth their plagues on the earth。 In the midst of these
melancholy reflections we perceived flames of the deepest red glow in the
horizon； and found ourselves in a few moments covered with flakes of fire；
amazed at so strange an appearance； we took up the volume dictated by
the blessed Intelligence； and； kneeling by the light of the fire that
surrounded us； we recited the verse which says： 'Put no trust in anything
but the mercy of Heaven； there is no help save in the holy Prophet； the
mountain of Kaf itself may tremble； it is the power of Allah only that
cannot be moved。' After having pronounced these words we felt
consolation； and our minds were hushed into a sacred repose； silence
ensued； and our ears clearly distinguished a voice in the air； saying：
'Servants of my faithful servant！ go down to the happy valley of Fakreddin；
tell him that an illustrious opportunity now offers to satiate the thirst of his
hospitable heart。 The Commander of true believers is this day
bewildered amongst these mountains； and stands in need of thy aid。' We
obeyed with joy the angelic mission； and our master； filled with pious zeal；
hath culled with his own hands these melons； oranges； and pomegranates；
he is following us with a hundred dromedaries laden with the purest
waters of his fountains； and is coming to kiss the fringe of your
consecrated robe； and implore you to enter his humble habitation； which；
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placed amidst these barren wilds； resembles an emerald set in lead。〃 The
dwarfs； having ended their address； remained still standing； and； with
hands crossed upon their bosoms； preserved a respectful silence。
Vathek in the midst of this curious harangue； seized the basket； and
long before it was finished the fruits had dissolved in his mouth； as he
continued to eat his piety increased； and in the same breath which recited
his prayers he called for the Koran and sugar。
Such was the state of his mind when the tablets； which were thrown by
at the approach of the dwarfs； again attracted his eye； he took them up； but
was ready to drop on the ground when he beheld； in large red characters；
these words inscribed by Carathis； which were indeed enough to make him
tremble：
〃Beware of thy old doctors； and their puny messengers of but one
cubit high； distrust their pious frauds； and； instead of eating their melons；
impale on a spit the bearers of them。 Shouldst thou be such a fool as to
visit them； the portal of the subterranean palace will be shut in thy face；
and with such force as shall shake thee asunder； thy body shall be spit
upon； and bats will engender in thy belly。〃
〃To what tends this ominous rhapsody？〃 cries the Caliph。 〃And must
I then perish in these deserts with thirst； whilst I may refresh myself in the
valley of melons and cucumbers！ Accursed be the Giaour； with his portal
of ebony！ he hath made me dance attendance too long already。 Besides；
who shall prescribe laws to me？ I forsooth must not enter any one's
habitation！ Be it so； but what one can I enter that is not my own？〃
Bababalouk； who lost not a syllable of this soliloquy； applauded it with
all his heart； and the ladies for the first time agreed with him in opinion。
The dwarfs were entertained； caressed； and seated with great ceremony
on little cushions of satin。 The symmetry of their persons was the subject
of criticism； not an inch of them was suffered to pass unexamined； knick…
knacks and dainties were offered in profusion； but all were declined with
respectful gravity。 They clambered up the sides of the Caliph's seat； and；
placing themselves each on one of his shoulders； began to whisper prayers
in his ears； their tongues quivered like the leaves of a poplar； and the
patience of Vathek was almost exhausted； when the acclamations of the
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troops announced the approach of Fakreddin； who was come with a
hundred old grey…beards and as many Korans and dromedaries； they
instantly set about their ablutions； and began to repeat the Bismillah；
Vathek； to get rid of these officious monitors； followed their example； for
his hands were burning。
The good Emir； who was punctiliously religious； and likewise a great
dealer in compliments； made an harangue five times more prolix and
insipid than his harbingers had already delivered。 The Caliph； unable
any longer to refrain； exclaimed …
〃For the love of Mahomet； my dear Fakreddin； have done！ let us
proceed to your valley； and enjoy the fruits that Heaven hath vouchsafed
you。〃
The hint of proceeding put all into motion； the venerable attendants of
the Emir set forward somewhat slowly； but Vathek； having ordered his
little pages in private to goad on the dromedaries； loud fits of laughter
broke forth from the cages； for the unwieldy curvetting of these poor
beasts； and the ridiculous distress of their superannuated riders； afforded
the ladies no small entertainment。
They descended； however； unhurt into the valley； by the large steps
which the Emir had cut in the rock； and already the murmuring of streams
and the rustling of leaves began to catch their attention。 The cavalcade
soon entered a path which was skirted by flowering shrubs； and extended
to a vast wood of palm…trees； whose branches overspread a building of
hewn stone。 This edifice was crowned with nine domes； and adorned
with as many portals of bronze； on which was engraven the following
inscription： 〃This is the asylum of pilgrims； the refuge of travellers； and
the depository of secrets for all parts of the world。〃
Nine pages； beautiful as the day； and clothed in robes of Egyptian
linen； very long and very modest； were standing at each door。 They
received the whole retinue with an easy and inviting air。 Four of the
most amiable placed the Caliph on a magnificent taktrevan； four others；
somewhat less graceful； took charge of Bababalouk； who capered for joy
at the snug little cabin that fell to his share； the pages that remained waited
on the rest of the train。
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When everything masculine was gone out of sight the gate of a large
enclosure on the right turned on its harmonious hinges and a young female
of a slender form came forth； her light brown hair floated in the hazy
breeze of the twilight； a troop of young maidens； like the Pleiades；
attended her on tip…toe。 They hastened to the pavilions that contained the
sultanas； and the young lady； gracefully bending； said to them：
〃Charming Princesses； everything is ready； we have prepared beds for
your repose； and strewed your apartments with jasmine； no insects will
keep off slumber from visiting your eyelids； we will dispel them with a
thousand plumes； come then； amiable ladies！ refresh your delicate feet and
your ivory limbs in baths of rose water； and； by the light of perfumed
lamps your servants will amuse you with tales。〃
The sultanas accepted with pleasure these obliging offers； and
followed the young lady to the Emir's harem； where we must for a
moment leave them； and return to the Caliph。
Vathek found himself beneath a vast dome； illuminated by a thousand
lamps of rock crystal； as many vases of the same material； filled with
excellent sherbet； sparkled on a large table； where a profusion of viands
were spread； amongst others were sweetbreads stewed in milk of almonds；
saffron soups； and lamb a la creme； of all which the Caliph was amazingly
fond。 He took of each as much as he was able； testified his sense of the
Emir's friendship by the gaiety of his heart； and made the dwarfs dance
against their will； for these little devotees durst not refuse the Commander
of the Faithful； at last he spread himself on the sofa； and slept sounder
than he had ever before。
Beneath this dome a general silence prevailed； for there was nothing to
disturb it but the jaws of Bababalouk； who had untrussed himself to eat
with greater advantage； being anxious to make amends for his fast in the
mountains。 As his spirits were too high to admit of his sleeping； and not
loving to be idle； he proposed with himself to visit the harem； and repair to
his charge of the ladies； to examine if they had been properly lubricated
with the balm of Mecca； if their eyebrows and tresses were in order； and；
in a word； to perform all the little offices they might need。 He sought for
a long time together； but without being able to find out the door； he durst
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not speak aloud； for fear of disturbing the Caliph； and not a soul was
stirring in the precincts of the palace； he almost despaired of effecting his
purpose； when a low whispering just reached his ear； it came from the
dwarfs who were returned to their old occupation； and for the nine
hundred and ninety…ninth time in their lives； were reading over the Koran。
They very politely invited Bababalouk to be of their party； but his head
was full of other concerns。 The dwarfs； though scandalised at
