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sold me； and thus show your gratitude for the favours heaped on you。〃
Having pronounced these words in as moderate a tone as a caliph well
could； he waited in silent expectation for an answer。 But the Indian； still
keeping his seat； began to renew his loud shouts of laughter； and exhibit
the same horrid grimaces he had shown them before； without vouchsafing
a word in reply。 Vathek； no longer able to brook such insolence；
immediately kicked him from the steps； instantly descending； repeated his
blow； and persisted with such assiduity as incited all who were present to
follow his example。 Every foot was aimed at the Indian； and no sooner
had any one given him a kick than he felt himself constrained to reiterate
the stroke。
The stranger afforded them no small entertainment； for； being both
short and plump； he collected himself into a ball； and rolled round on all
sides at the blows of his assailants； who pressed after him wherever he
turned with an eagerness beyond conception； whilst their numbers were
every moment increasing。 The ball； indeed； in passing from one
apartment to another； drew every person after it that came in its way；
insomuch that the whole palace was thrown into confusion； and resounded
with a tremendous clamour。 The women of the harem； amazed at the
uproar； flew to their blinds to discover the cause； but no sooner did they
catch a glimpse of the ball； than feeling themselves unable to refrain； they
broke from the clutches of their eunuchs； who to stop their flight pinched
them till they bled； but in vain； whilst themselves； though trembling with
terror at the escape of their charge； were as incapable of resisting the
attraction。
The Indian； after having traversed the halls； galleries； chambers；
kitchens； gardens； and stables of the palace； at last took his course through
the courts； whilst the Caliph； pursuing him closer than the rest； bestowed
as many kicks as he possibly could； yet not without receiving now and
then one； which his competitors in their eagerness designed for the ball。
Carathis； Morakanabad； and two or three old vizirs； whose wisdom
had hitherto withstood the attraction； wishing to prevent Vathek from
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exposing himself in the presence of his subjects； fell down in his way to
impede the pursuit； but he； regardless of their obstruction； leaped over
their heads； and went on as before。 They then ordered the Muezzins to
call the people to prayers； both for the sake of getting them out of the way
and of endeavouring by their petitions to avert the calamity； but neither of
these expedients was a whit more successful： the sight of this fatal ball
was alone sufficient to draw after it every beholder。 The Muezzins
themselves； though they saw it but at a distance； hastened down from their
minarets and mixed with the crowd； which continued to increase in so
surprising a manner； that scarce an inhabitant was left in Samarah； except
the aged； the sick confined to their beds； and infants at the breast； whose
nurses could run more nimbly without them。 Even Carathis；
Morakanabad； and the rest were all become of the party。
The shrill screams of the females； who had broken from their
apartments； and were unable to extricate themselves from the pressure of
the crowd； together with those of the eunuchs jostling after them； terrified
lest their charge should escape from their sight； increased by the
execrations of husbands urging forward and menacing both； kicks given
and received； stumblings and overthrows at every step； in a word； the
confusion that universally prevailed rendered Samarah like a city taken by
storm and devoted to absolute plunder。
At last the cursed Indian； who still preserved his rotundity of figure；
after passing through all the streets and public places； and leaving them
empty； rolled onwards to the plain of Catoul； and traversed the valley at
the foot of the mountain of the Four Fountains。
As a continual fall of water had excavated an immense gulf in the
valley； whose opposite side was closed in by a steep acclivity； the Caliph
and his attendants were apprehensive lest the ball should bound into the
chasm； and； to prevent it； redoubled their efforts； but in vain。 The Indian
persevered in his onward direction； and； as had been apprehended；
glancing from the precipice with the rapidity of lightning； was lost in the
gulf below。
Vathek would have followed the perfidious Giaour； had not an
invisible agency arrested his progress。 The multitude that pressed after
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him were at once checked in the same manner； and a calm instantaneously
ensued。 They all gazed at each other with an air of astonishment； and；
notwithstanding that the loss of veils and turbans； together with torn habits
and dust blended with sweat； presented a most laughable spectacle； there
was not one smile to be seen； on the contrary； all； with looks of confusion
and sadness； returned in silence to Samarah； and retired to their inmost
apartments； without ever reflecting that they had been impelled by an
invisible power into the extravagance for which they reproached
themselves； for it is but just that men； who so often arrogate to their own
merit the good of which they are but instruments； should attribute to
themselves the absurdities which they could not prevent。
The Caliph was the only person that refused to leave the valley。 He
commanded his tents to be pitched there； and stationed himself on the very
edge of the precipice； in spite of the representations of Carathis and
Morakanabad； who pointed out the hazard of its brink giving way； and the
vicinity to the magician that had so severely tormented him。 Vathek
derided all their remonstrances； and； having ordered a thousand flambeaux
to be lighted； and directed his attendants to proceed in lighting more； lay
down on the slippery margin； and attempted； by help of this artificial
splendour； to look through that gloom which all the fires of the empyrean
had been insufficient to pervade。 One while he fancied to himself voices
arising from the depth of the gulf； at another he seemed to distinguish the
accents of the Indian； but all was no more than the hollow murmur of
waters； and the din of the cataracts that rushed from steep to steep down
the sides of the mountain。
Having passed the night in this cruel perturbation； the Caliph at
daybreak retired to his tent； where； without taking the least sustenance； he
continued to doze till the dusk of evening began again to come on。 He
then resumed his vigils as before； and persevered in observing them for
many nights together。 At length； fatigued with so successless an
employment； he sought relief from change。 To this end he sometimes
paced with hasty strides across the plain； and； as he wildly gazed at the
stars； reproached them with having deceived him； but； lo！ on a sudden the
clear blue sky appeared streaked over with streams of blood； which
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reached from the valley even to the city of Samarah。 As this awful
phenomenon seemed to touch his tower； Vathek at first thought of re…
pairing thither to view it more distinctly； but feeling himself unable to
advance； and being overcome with apprehension； he muffled up his face in
his robe。
Terrifying as these prodigies were； this impression upon him was no
more than momentary； and served only to stimulate his love o