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！
respect； the Emir will have no reason to complain； since （bating what I
owe to his piety） he is much to be censured for keeping a troop of girls on
the mountains； whose sharp air gives their blood too brisk a circulation。〃
〃Peace； blasphemer！〃 said the Caliph； 〃speak not thus of her who over
her mountains leads my heart a willing captive； contrive rather that my
eyes may be fixed upon hers； that I may respire her sweet breath； as she
bounds panting along these delightful wilds！〃 On saying these words；
Vathek extended his arms towards the hill； and directing his eyes with an
anxiety unknown to him before； endeavoured to keep within view the
object that enthralled his soul； but her course was as difficult to follow as
the flight of one of those beautiful blue butterflies of Cashmere； which are
at once so volatile and rare。
The Caliph； not satisfied with seeing； wished also to hear Nouronihar；
and eagerly turned to catch the sound of her voice； at last he distinguished
her whispering to one of her companions behind the thicket from whence
she had thrown the jasmine： 〃A Caliph； it must be owned； is a fine thing
to see； but my little Gulchenrouz is much more amiable； one lock of his
hair is of more value to me than the richest embroidery of the Indies； I had
rather that his teeth should mischievously press my finger than the richest
53
… Page 54…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
ring of the imperial treasure。 Where have you left him； Sutlememe？ and
why is he now not here？〃
The agitated Caliph still wished to hear more； but she immediately
retired； with all her attendants； the fond monarch pursued her with his eyes
till she was gone out of sight； and then continued like a bewildered and
benighted traveller； from whom the clouds had obscured the constellation
that guided his way； the curtain of night seemed dropped before him；
everything appeared discoloured； the falling waters filled his soul with
dejection； and his tears trickled down the jasmines he had caught from
Nouronihar； and placed in his inflamed bosom； he snatched up a shining
pebble； to remind him of the scene where he felt the first tumults of love。
Two hours were elapsed； and evening drew on before he could resolve to
depart from the place； he often； but in vain； attempted to go； a soft languor
enervated the powers of his mind； extending himself on the brink of the
stream； he turned his eyes towards the blue summits of the mountain； and
exclaimed： 〃What concealest thou behind thee？ what is passing in thy
solitudes？ Whither is she gone？ O Heaven！ perhaps she is now
wandering in thy grottos； with her happy Gulchenrouz！〃
In the meantime the damps began to descend； and the Emir； solicitous
for the health of the Caliph； ordered the imperial litter to be brought。
Vathek； absorbed in his reveries； was imperceptibly removed； and
conveyed back to the saloon that received him the evening before。
But let us leave the Caliph； immersed in his new passion； and attend
Nouronihar beyond the rocks； where she had again joined her beloved
Gulchenrouz。 This Gulchenrouz was the son of Ali Hassan； brother to
the Emir； and the most delicate and lovely creature in the world。 Ali
Hassan； who had been absent ten years on a voyage to the unknown seas；
committed at his departure this child； the only survivor of many； to the
care and protection of his brother。 Gulchenrouz could write in various
characters with precision； and paint upon vellum the most elegant
arabesques that fancy could devise； his sweet voice accompanied the lute
in the most enchanting manner； and when he sang the loves of Megnoun
and Leileh； or some unfortunate lovers of ancient days； tears insensibly
overflowed the cheeks of his auditors； the verses he composed （for； like
54
… Page 55…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
Megnoun； he too was a poet） inspired that unresisting languor so
frequently fatal to the female heart； the women all doted upon him； for
though he had passed his thirteenth year； they still detained him in the
harem； his dancing was light as the gossamer waved by the zephyrs of
spring； but his arms； which twined so gracefully with those of the young
girls in the dance； could neither dart the lance in the chase； nor curb the
steeds that pastured his uncle's domains。 The bow； however； he drew
with a certain aim； and would have excelled his competitors in the race；
could he have broken the ties that bound him to Nouronihar。
The two brothers had mutually engaged their children to each other；
and Nouronihar loved her cousin more than her eyes； both had the same
tastes and amusements； the same long； languishing looks； the same tresses；
the same fair complexions； and when Gulchenrouz appeared in the dress
of his cousin he seemed to be more feminine than even herself。 If at any
time he left the harem to visit Fakreddin； it was with all the bashfulness of
a fawn； that consciously ventures from the lair of its dam； he was however；
wanton enough to mock the solemn old grey…beards to whom he was
subject； though sure to be rated without mercy in return； whenever this
happened he would plunge into the recesses of the harem； and sobbing；
take refuge in the arms of Nouronihar； who loved even his faults beyond
the virtues of others。
It fell out this evening that； after leaving the Caliph in the meadow； she
ran with Gulchenrouz over the green sward of the mountain that sheltered
the vale where Fakreddin had chosen to reside。 The sun was dilated on
the edge of the horizon； and the young people； whose fancies were lively
and inventive； imagined they beheld in the gorgeous clouds of the west the
domes of Shadukiam and Amberabad； where the Peris have fixed their
abode。 Nouronihar； sitting on the slope of the hill； supported on her knees
the perfumed head of Gulchenrouz； the air was calm； and no sound stirred
but the voices of other young girls； who were drawing cool water from the
streams below。 The unexpected arrival of the Caliph； and the splendour
that marked his