the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第15章
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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
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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
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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
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dazzling a blaze； that they all fled away shrieking； Nouronihar followed
them a few steps； but； coming to the turn of a little bye…path； stopped； and
went back alone； as she ran with an alertness peculiar to herself； it was not
long before she came to the place where they had just been supping。 The
globe of fire now appeared stationary in the glen； and burned in majestic
stillness。 Nouronihar； compressing her hands upon her bosom； hesitated
for some moments to advance； the solitude of her situation was new； the
silence of the night awful； and every object inspired sensations which till
then she never had felt： the affright of Gulchenrouz recurred to her mind；
and she a thousand times turned to go back； but this luminous appearance
was always before her； urged on by an irresistible impulse； she continued
to approach it； in defiance of every obstacle that opposed her progress。
At length she arrived at the opening of the glen； but； instead of coming
up to the light； she found herself surrounded by darkness； excepting that at
a considerable distance a faint spark glimmered by fits。 She stopped a
second time； the sound of water…falls mingling their murmurs； the hollow
rustlings amongst the palm… branches； and the funereal screams of the
birds from their rifted trunks； all conspired to fill her with terror； she
imagined every moment that she trod on some venomous reptile； all the
stories of malignant Dives and dismal Gouls thronged into her memory；
but her curiosity was； notwithstanding； more predominant than her fears；
she therefore firmly entered a winding track that led towards the spark； but；
being a stranger to the path； she had not gone far till she began to repent of
her rashness。
〃Alas！〃 said she； 〃that I were but in those secure and illuminated
apartments where my evenings glided on with Gulchenrouz！ Dear child！
how would thy heart flutter with terror wert thou wandering in these wild
solitudes like me！〃 At the close of this apostrophe she regained her road；
and； coming to steps hewn out in the rock； ascended them undismayed； the
light； which was now gradually enlarging； appeared above her on the
summit of the mountain； at length she distinguished a plaintive and
melodious union of voices； proceeding from a sort of cavern； that
resembled the dirges which are sung over tombs； a sound； likewise； like
that which arises from the filling of baths； at the same time struck her ear；
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she continued ascending； and discovered large wax torches in full blaze
planted here and there in the fissures of the rock； this preparation filled her
with fear； whilst the subtle and potent odour which the torches exhaled
caused her to sink almost lifeless at the entrance of the grot。
Casting her eyes within in this kind of trance； she beheld a large
cistern of gold filled with a water； whose vapour distilled on her face a
dew of the essence of roses； a soft symphony resounded through the grot；
on the sides of the cistern she noticed appendages of royalty； diadems； and
feathers of the heron； all sparkling with carbuncles； whilst her attention
was fixed on this display of magnificence； the music ceased； and a voice
instantly demanded：
〃For what monarch were these torches kindled； this bath prepared； and
these habiliments； which belong； not only to the sovereigns of the earth；
but even to the Talismanic Powers？〃
To which a second voice answered： 〃They are for the charming
daughter of the Emir Fakreddin。〃
〃What；〃 replied the first； 〃for that trifler； who consumes her time with
a giddy child； immersed in softness； and who at best can make but an
enervated husband？〃
〃And can she；〃 rejoined the other voice； 〃be amused with such empty
trifles； whilst the Caliph； the sovereign of the world； he who is destined to
enjoy the treasures of the pre…adamite Sultans； a prince six feet high； and
whose eyes pervade the inmost soul of a female； is inflamed with the love
of her。 No！ she will be wise enough to answer that passion alone that can
aggrandise her glory； no doubt she will； and despise the puppet of her
fancy。 Then all the riches this place contains； as well as the carbuncle of
Gi
