the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第20章
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was seated between the bodies of her miserable guides； the princess
received her visitants with distinguished politeness； and； when supper was
ended； proceeded with them to business。 Having soon learnt from them
everything she wished to discover； it was her intention to set forward
forthwith on her journey； but her negresses； who were forming tender
connections with the Gouls； importuned her with all their fingers to wait at
least till the dawn。 Carathis； however； being chastity in the abstract； and
an implacable enemy to love and repose； at once rejected their prayer；
mounted Alboufaki； and commanded them to take their seats in a moment；
four days and four nights she continued her route； without turning to the
right hand or left； on the fifth she traversed the mountains and half…burnt
forests； and arrived on the sixth before the beautiful screens which
concealed from all eyes the voluptuous wanderings of her son。
It was daybreak； and the guards were snoring on their posts in careless
security； when the rough trot of Alboufaki awoke them in consternation。
Imagining that a group of spectres ascended from the abyss was
approaching； they all without ceremony took to their heels。 Vathek was
at that instant with Nouronihar in the bath； hearing tales； and laughing at
Bababalouk； who related them； but no sooner did the outcry of his guards
reach him； than he flounced from the water like a carp； and as soon threw
himself back at the sight of Carathis； who； advancing with her negresses
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upon Alboufaki； broke through the muslin awnings and veils of the
pavilion； at this sudden apparition Nouronihar （for she was not at all times
free from remorse） fancied that the moment of celestial vengeance was
come； and clung about the Caliph in amorous despondence。
Carathis； still seated on her camel； foamed with indignation at the
spectacle which obtruded itself on her chaste view； she thundered forth
without check or mercy： 〃Thou double…headed and four…legged monster！
what means all this winding and writhing？ art thou not ashamed to be seen
grasping this limber sapling； in preference to the sceptre of the pre…
adamite Sultans？ is it then for this paltry doxy that thou hast violated the
conditions in the parchment of our Giaour？ is it on her thou hast lavished
thy precious moments？ is this the fruit of the knowledge I have taught thee？
is this the end of thy journey？ tear thyself from the arms of this little
simpleton； drown her in the water before me； and instantly follow my
guidance。〃
In the first ebullition of his fury Vathek resolved to make a skeleton of
Alboufaki； and to stuff the skins of Carathis and her blacks； but the ideas
of the Giaour； the palace of Istakar； the sabres and the talismans； flashing
before his imagination with the simultaneousness of lightning； he became
more moderate； and said to his mother； in a civil but decisive tone：
〃Dread lady！ you shall be obeyed； but I will not drown Nouronihar； she is
sweeter to me than a Myrabolan comfit； and is enamoured of carbuncles；
especially that of Giamschid； which hath also been promised to be
conferred upon her； she therefore shall go along with us； for I intend to
repose with her beneath the canopies of Soliman； I can sleep no more
without her。〃
〃Be it so！〃 replied Carathis； alighting； and at the same time committing
Alboufaki to the charge of her women。
Nouronihar； who had not yet quitted her hold； began to take courage；
and said； with an accent of fondness to the Caliph： 〃Dear Sovereign of
my soul！ I will follow thee； if it be thy will； beyond the Kaf in the land
of the Afrits； I will not hesitate to climb for thee the nest of the Simurgh；
who； this lady excepted； is the most awful of created existences。〃
〃We have here then；〃 subjoined Carathis； 〃a girl both of courage and
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science！〃
Nouronihar had certainly both； but； notwithstanding all her firmness；
she could not help casting back a look of regret upon the graces of her
little Gulchenrouz； and the days of tenderness she had participated with
him； she even dropped a few tears； which Carathis observed； and
inadvertently breathed out with a sigh： 〃Alas！ my gentle cousin！ what will
become of him！〃
Vathek at this apostrophe knitted up his brows； and Carathis inquired
what it could mean。
〃She is preposterously sighing after a stripling with languishing eyes
and soft hair； who loves her；〃 said the Caliph。
〃Where is he？〃 asked Carathis。 〃I must be acquainted with this pretty
child； for；〃 added she； lowering her voice； 〃I design before I depart to
regain the favour of the Giaour； there is nothing so delicious in his
estimation as the heart of a delicate boy； palpitating with the first tumults
of love。〃
Vathek； as he came from the bath； commanded Bababalouk to collect
the women and other movables of his harem； embody his troops； and hold
himself in readiness to march in three days； whilst Carathis retired alone to
a tent； where the Giaour solaced her with encouraging visions； but at
length waking； she found at her feet Nerkes and Cafour； who informed her
by their signs that； having led Alboufaki to the borders of a lake； to browse
on some moss that looked tolerably venomous； they had discovered
certain blue fishes of the same kind with those in the reservoir on the top
of the tower。
〃Ah！ ha！〃 said she； 〃I will go thither to them； these fish are past doubt
of a species that； by a small operation； I can render oracular； they may tell
me where this little Gulchenrouz is； whom I am bent upon sacrificing。〃
Having thus spoken； she immediately set out with her swarthy retinue。
It being but seldom that time is lost in the accomplishment of a wicked
enterprise； Carathis and her negresses soon arrived at the lake； where； after
burning the magical drugs with which they were always provided； they；
stripping themselves naked； waded to their chins； Nerkes and Cafour
waving torches around them； and Carathis pronouncing her barbarous
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incantations。 The fishes with one accord thrust forth their heads from the
water； which was violently rippled by the flutter of their fins； and； at
length finding themselves constrained by the potency of the charm； they
opened their piteous mouths； and said： 〃From gills to tail we are yours；
what seek ye to know？〃
〃Fishes；〃 answered she； 〃I conjure you； by your glittering scales； tell
me where now is Gulchenrouz？〃
〃Beyond the rock；〃 replied the shoal in full chorus； 〃will this content
you？ for we do not delight in expanding our mouths。〃
〃It will；〃 returned the princess； 〃I am not to learn that you like not long
conversations； I will leave you therefore to repose； though I had other
questions to propound。〃 The instant she had spoken the water became
smooth； and the fishes at once disappeared。
Carathis； inflated with the venom of her projects； strode hastily over
the rock； and found the amiable Gulchenrouz asleep in an arbour； whilst
the two dwarfs were watching at his side； and ruminating their accustomed
prayers。 These diminutive personages possessed the gift of divining
whenever an enemy to good Mussulmans approached； thus they
anticipated the arrival of Carathis； who； stopping short； said to herself：
〃How placidly doth he recline his lovely little head！ how pale and
languishing are his looks！ it is just the very child of my wishes！〃
The dwarfs interrupted this delectable soliloquy by leaping instantly
upon her； and scratching her face with their utmost zeal。 But Nerkes and
Cafour； betaking themselves to the succour of their mistress； pinched the
dwarfs so severely in return； that they both gave up the ghost； imploring
Mahomet to inflict his sorest vengeance upon this wicked woman and all
her household。
At the noise which this strange conflict occasioned in the valley；
Gulchenrouz awoke； and； bewildered with terror； sprung impetuously
upon an old figtree that rose against the acclivity of the rocks； from thence
gained their summits； and ran for two hours without once looking back。
At last； exhausted with fatigue； he fell as if dead into the arms of a good
old Genius； whose fondness for the company of children had made it his
sole occupation to protect them； and who； whilst performing his wonted
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rounds through the air； happening on the cruel Giaour at the instant of his
growling in the horrible chasm； rescued the fifty little victims which the
impiety of Vathek had devoted to his maw； these the Genius brought up in
nests still higher than the clouds； and himself fixed his abode in a nest
more capacious than the rest； from which he had expelled the possessors
that had built it。
These inviolable asylums were defended against the Dives and the
Afrits by waving streamers； on which were inscribed； in characters of gold
that flashed like lightning； the names of Allah and the Prophet。 It was
there that Gulchenrouz； who as yet remained undeceived with respect to
his pretended death； thought himself in the mansions of eternal peace； he
admitted without fear the congratulations of his little friends； who were all
assembled in the nest of the venerable Genius； and vied with each other in
kissing his serene forehead and beautiful eyelids。
