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！
little candidate nearest his heart； and doubted not of his being victorious； a
breathless suspense awaited the contest of these amiable and innocent
victims。
The Caliph； awaiting himself of the first moment to retire from the
crowd； advanced towards the chasm； and there heard； yet not without
shuddering； the voice of the Indian； who； gnashing his teeth； eagerly
demanded： 〃Where are they？ where are they？ perceivest thou not how
my mouth waters？〃
〃Relentless Giaour！〃 answered Vathek； with emotion； 〃can nothing
content thee but the massacre of these lovely victims！ Ah！ wert thou to
behold their beauty it must certainly move thy compassion。〃
〃Perdition on thy compassion； babbler！〃 cried the Indian。 〃Give them
me； instantly give them； or my portal shall be closed against thee for
ever！〃
〃Not so loudly；〃 replied the Caliph； blushing。
〃I understand thee；〃 returned the Giaour； with the grin of an ogre；
〃thou wantest to summon up more presence of mind； I will for a moment
forbear。〃
During this exquisite dialogue the games went forward with all
alacrity； and at length concluded just as the twilight began to overcast the
mountains。 Vathek； who was still standing on the edge of the chasm；
called out； with all his might： 〃Let my fifty little favourites approach me
separately； and let them come in the order of their success。 To the first I
will give my diamond bracelet； to the second my collar of emeralds； to the
24
… Page 25…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
third my aigret of rubies； to the fourth my girdle of topazes； and to the rest
each a part of my dress； even down to my slippers。〃
This declaration was received with reiterated acclamations； and all
extolled the liberality of a prince who would thus strip himself for the
amusement of his subjects and the encouragement of the rising generation。
The Caliph in the meantime undressed himself by degrees； and； raising
his arm as high as he was able； made each of the prizes glitter in the air；
but whilst he delivered it with one hand to the child； who sprang forward
to receive it； he with the other pushed the poor innocent into the gulf；
where the Giaour； with a sullen muttering； incessantly repeated； 〃More！
more！〃
This dreadful device was executed with so much dexterity that the boy
who was approaching him remained unconscious of the fate of his
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
25
… Page 26…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
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 ow