按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
content yourself with commanding their beards to be burntbeards in a
state are not quite so essential as men。〃
The Caliph submitted to the reasons of his mother； and sending for
Morakanabad； his prime vizir； said： 〃Let the common criers proclaim；
not only in Samarah； but throughout every city in my empire； that
whosoever will repair hither； and decipher certain characters which appear
to be inexplicable； shall experience the liberality for which I am renowned；
but that all who fail upon trial shall have their beards burnt off to the last
hair。 Let them add also that I will bestow fifty beautiful slaves； and as
11
… Page 12…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
many jars of apricots from the Isle of Kirmith； upon any man that shall
bring me intelligence of the stranger。〃
The subjects of the Caliph； like their Sovereign； being great admirers
of women and apricots from Kirmith； felt their mouths water at these
promises； but were totally unable to gratify their hankering； for no one
knew which way the stranger had gone。
As to the Caliph's other requisition； the result was different。 The
learned； the half…learned； and those who were neither； but fancied
themselves equal to both； came boldly to hazard their beards； and all
shamefully lost them。
The exaction of these forfeitures； which found sufficient employment
for the eunuchs； gave them such a smell of singed hair as greatly to disgust
the ladies of the seraglio； and make it necessary that this new occupation
of their guardians should be transferred into other hands。
At length； however； an old man presented himself whose beard was a
cubit and a half longer than any that had appeared before him。 The
officers of the palace whispered to each other； as they ushered him in；
〃What a pity such a beard should be burnt！〃 Even the Caliph； when he
saw it； concurred with them in opinion； but his concern was entirely
needless。 This venerable personage read the characters with facility； and
explained them verbatim as follows： 〃We were made where everything
good is made； we are the least of the wonders of a place where all is
wonderful； and deserving the sight of the first potentate on earth。〃
〃You translate admirably！〃 cried Vathek； 〃I know to what these
marvellous characters allude。 Let him receive as many robes of honour
and thousands of sequins of gold as he hath spoken words。 I am in some
measure relieved from the perplexity that embarrassed me！〃
Vathek invited the old main to dine； and even to remain some days in
the palace。 Unluckily for him； he accepted the offer； for the Caliph；
having ordered him next morning to be called； said： 〃Read again to me
what you have read already； I cannot hear too often the promise that is
made me； the completion of which I languish to obtain。〃
The old man forthwith put on his green spectacles； but they instantly
dropped from his nose on perceiving that the characters he had read the
12
… Page 13…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
day preceding had given place to others of different import。
〃What ails you？〃 asked the Caliph； 〃and why these symptoms of
wonder？〃
〃Sovereign of the world；〃 replied the old man； 〃these sabres hold
another language to…day from that they yesterday held。〃
〃How say you？〃 returned Vathek； 〃but it matters not！ tell me； if you
can； what they mean。〃
〃It is this； my lord；〃 rejoined the old man： 〃Woe to the rash mortal
who seeks to know that of which he should remain ignorant； and to
undertake that which surpasseth his power！〃
〃And woe to thee！〃 cried the Caliph； in a burst of indignation； 〃to…day
thou art void of understanding。 Begone from my presence； they shall
burn but the half of thy beard； because； thou wert yesterday fortunate in
guessing； my gifts I never resume。〃
The old man； wise enough to perceive he had luckily escaped；
considering the folly of disclosing so disgusting a truth； immediately
withdrew； and appeared not again。
But it was not long before Vathek discovered abundant reason to regret
his precipitation； for though he could not decipher the characters himself；
yet by constantly poring upon them he plainly perceived that they every
day changed； and unfortunately no other candidate offered to explain them。
This perplexing occupation inflamed his blood； dazzled his sight； and
brought on a giddiness and debility that he could not support。 He failed
not； however； though in so reduced a condition； to be often carried to his
tower； as he flattered himself that he might there read in the stars which he
went to consult something more congenial to his wishes： but in this his
hopes were deluded； for his eyes； dimmed by the vapours of his head；
began to subserve his curiosity so ill； that he beheld nothing but a thick
dun cloud； which he took for the most direful of omens。
Agitated with so much anxiety； Vathek entirely lost all firmness； a
fever seized him； and his appetite failed。 Instead of being one of the
greatest eaters； he became as distinguished for drinking。 So insatiable
was the thirst which tormented him that his mouth； like a funnel； was
always open to receive the various liquors that might be poured into it； and
13
… Page 14…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
especially cold water； which calmed him more than every other。
This unhappy prince being thus incapacitated for the enjoyment of any
pleasure； commanded the palaces of the five senses to be shut up； forbore
to appear in public； either to display his magnificence or administer justice；
and retired to the inmost apartment of his harem。 As he had ever been an
indulgent husband； his wives； overwhelmed with grief at his deplorable
situation； incessantly offered their prayers for his health； and unremittingly
supplied him with water。
In the meantime the Princess Carathis； whose affliction no words can
describe； instead of restraining herself to sobbing and tears； was closeted
daily with the Vizir Morakanabad； to find out some cure or mitigation of
the Caliph's disease。 Under the persuasion that it was caused by
enchantment； they turned over together； leaf by leaf； all the books of
magic that might point out a remedy； and caused the horrible stranger；
whom they accused as the enchanter； to be everywhere sought for with the
strictest diligence。
At the distance of a few miles from Samarah stood a high mountain；
whose sides were swarded with wild thyme and basil； and its summit
overspread with so delightful a plain； that it might be taken for the
paradise destined for the faithful。 Upon it grew a hundred thickets of
eglantine and other fragrant shrubs； a hundred arbours of roses； jessamine；
and honeysuckle； as many clumps of orange trees； cedar； and citron；
whose branches； interwoven with the palm； the pomegranate； and the vine；
presented every luxury that could regale the eye or the taste。 The ground
was strewed with violets； hare…bells； and pansies； in the midst of which
sprang forth tufts of jonquils； hyacinths； and carnations； with every other
perfume that impregnates the air。 Four fountains； not less clear than deep；
and so abundant as to slake the thirst of ten armies； seemed profusely
placed here to make the scene more resemble the garden of Eden； which
was watered by the four sacred rivers。 Here the nightingale sang the
birth of the rose； her well…beloved； and at the same time lamented its
short…lived beauty； whilst the turtle deplored the loss of more substantial