the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第7章
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forerunner； and as to the spectators； the shades of evening； together with
their distance； precluded them from perceiving any object distinctly。
Vathek； having in this manner thrown in the last of the fifty； and expecting
that the Giaour on receiving them would have presented the key； already
fancied himself as great as Soliman； and consequently above being
amenable for what he had done： when； to his utter amazement； the
chasm closed； and the around became as entire as the rest of the plain。
No language could express his rage and despair。 He execrated the
perfidy of the Indian； loaded him with the most infamous invectives； and
stamped with his foot as resolving to be heard； he persisted in this
demeanour till his strength failed him； and then fell on the earth like one
void of sense。 His vizirs and grandees； who were nearer than the rest；
supposed him at first to be sitting on the grass at play with their amiable
children； but at length； prompted by doubt； they advanced towards the spot；
and found the Caliph alone； who wildly demanded what they wanted。
〃Our children！ our children！〃 cried they。
〃It is assuredly pleasant；〃 said he； 〃to make me accountable for
accidents； your children while at play fell from the precipice that was here；
and I should have experienced their fate had I not been saved by a sudden
start back。〃
At these words the fathers of the fifty boys cried out aloud； the
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mothers repeated their exclamations an octave higher； whilst the rest；
without knowing the cause； soon drowned the voices of both with still
louder lamentations of their own。
〃Our Caliph；〃 said theyand the report soon circulated〃Our Caliph
has played us this trick to gratify his accursed Giaour。 Let us punish him
for his perfidy！ let us avenge ourselves！ let us avenge the blood of the
innocent！ let us throw this cruel prince into the gulf that is near； and let his
name be mentioned no more！〃
At this rumour and these menaces； Carathis； full of consternation；
hastened to Morakanabad； and said： 〃Vizir； you have lost two beautiful
boys； and must necessarily be the most afflicted of fathers； but you are
virtuous； save your master。〃
〃I will brave every hazard；〃 replied the vizir； 〃to rescue him from his
present danger； but afterwards will abandon him to his fate。 Bababalouk；〃
continued he； 〃put yourself at the head of your eunuchs； disperse the mob；
and； if possible； bring back this unhappy prince to his palace。〃
Bababalouk and his fraternity； felicitating each other in a low voice on
their disability of ever being fathers； obeyed the mandate of the vizir； who；
seconding their exertions to the utmost of his power； at length
accomplished his generous enterprise； and retired as he resolved； to lament
at his leisure。
No sooner had the Caliph re…entered his palace than Carathis
commanded the doors to be fastened； but； perceiving the tumult to be still
violent； and hearing the imprecations which resounded from all quarters；
she said to her son： 〃Whether the populace be right or wrong； it behoves
you to provide for your safety； let us retire to your own apartment； and
from thence through the subterranean passage； known only to ourselves；
into your tower； there； with the assistance of the mutes who never leave it；
we may be able to make some resistance。 Bababalouk； supposing us to
be still in the palace； will guard its avenues for his own sake； and we shall
soon find； without the counsels of that blubberer Morakanabad； what
expedient may be the best to adopt。〃
Vathek； without making the least reply； acquiesced in his mother's
proposal； and repeated as he went： 〃Nefarious Giaour！ where art thou！
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hast thou not yet devoured those poor children？ where are thy sabres？ thy
golden key？ thy talismans？〃
Carathis； who guessed from these interrogations a part of the truth； had
no difficulty to apprehend in getting at the whole； as soon as he should be
a little composed in his tower。 This princess was so far from being
influenced by scruples that she was as wicked as woman could be； which
is not saying a little； for the sex pique themselves on their superiority in
every competition。 The recital of the Caliph； therefore； occasioned
neither terror nor surprise to his mother； she felt no emotion but from the
promises of the Giaour； and said to her son： 〃This Giaour； it must be
confessed； is somewhat sanguinary in his taste； but the terrestrial powers
are always terrible； nevertheless； what the one hath promised and the
others can confer will prove a sufficient indemnification； no crimes should
be thought too dear for such a reward！ forbear then to revile the Indian；
you have not fulfilled the conditions to which his services are annexed； for
instance； is not a sacrifice to the subterranean Genii required？ and should
we not be prepared to offer it as soon as the tumult is subsided？ This
charge I will take on myself； and have no doubt of succeeding by means of
your treasures； which； as there are now so many others in store； may
without fear be exhausted。〃
Accordingly the princess； who possessed the most consummate skill in
the art of persuasion； went immediately back through the subterranean
passage； and presenting herself to the populace； from a window of the
palace； began to harangue them with all the address of which she was
mistress； whilst Bababalouk showered money from both hands amongst
the crowd； who by these united means were soon appeased； every person
retired to his home； and Carathis returned to the tower。
Prayer at break of day was announced； when Carathis and Vathek
ascended the steps which led to the summit of the tower； where they
remained for some time； though the weather was lowering and wet。 This
impending gloom corresponded with their malignant dispositions； but
when the sun began to break through the clouds they ordered a pavilion to
be raised； as a screen from the intrusion of his beams。 The Caliph；
overcome with fatigue； sought refreshment from repose； at the same time
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hoping that significant dreams might attend on his slumbers； whilst the
indefatigable Carathis； followed by a party of her mutes； descended to
prepare whatever she judged proper for the oblation of the approaching
night。
By secret stairs； known only to herself and to her son； she first repaired
to the mysterious recesses in which were deposited the mummies that had
been brought from the catacombs of the ancient Pharaohs； of these she
ordered several to be taken。 From thence she resorted to a gallery where；
under the guard of fifty female negroes； mute and blind of the right eye；
were preserved the oil of the most venomous serpents； rhinoceros' horns；
and woods of a subtle and penetrating odour procured from the interior of
the Indies； together with a thousand other horrible rarities。 This
collection had been formed for a purpose like the present by Carathis
herself； from a presentment that she might one day enjoy some intercourse
with the infernal powers to whom she had ever been passionately attached；
and to whose taste she was no stranger。
To familiarise herself the better with the horrors in view； the princess
remained in the company of her negresses； who squinted in the most
amiable manner from the only eye they had； and leered with exquisite
delight at the skulls and skeletons which Carathis had drawn forth from
her cabinets； whose key she entrusted to no one； all of them making
contortions； and uttering a frightful jargon； but very amusing to the
princess； till at last； being stunned by their gibbering； and suffocated by
the potency of their exhalations； she was forced to quit the gallery； after
stripping it of a part of its treasures。
Whilst she was thus occupied； the Caliph； who； instead of the visions
he expected； had acquired in these insubstantial regions a voracious
appetite； was greatly provoked at the negresses； for； having totally
forgotten their deafness； he had impatiently asked them for food； and
seeing them regardless of his demand； he began to cuff； pinch； and push
them； till Carathis arrived to terminate a scene so indecent； to the great
content of these miserable creatures； who； having been brought up by her；
understood all her signs； and communicated in the same way their
thoughts in return。
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〃Son！ what means all this？〃 said she； panting for breath。 〃I thought I
heard as I came up the shrieks of a thousand bats tearing from their
crannies in the recesses of a cavern； and it was the outcry only of these
poor mutes； whom you were so unmercifully abusing。 In truth you but ill
deserve the admirable provision I have brought you。〃
〃Give it me instantly；〃 exclaimed the Caliph； 〃I am perishing for
hunger！〃
〃As to that；〃 answered she； 〃you must have an excellent stomach if it
can digest what I have been preparing。〃
〃Be quick；〃 replied the Caliph； 〃but； oh； heavens！ what horrors！ what
do you
