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！
dost well to employ the leisure that remains； for the flames and torments；
which are ready to seize on thy heart； will not fail to provide thee with full
employment。〃 He said this； and was lost in the curtains of his tabernacle。
Carathis paused for a moment with surprise； but； resolved to follow
the advice of Eblis； she assembled all the choirs of Genii； and all the Dives；
to pay her homage； thus marched she in triumph through a vapour of
perfumes； amidst the acclamations of all the malignant spirits； with most
of whom she had formed a previous acquaintance； she even attempted to
dethrone one of the Solimans for the purpose of usurping his place； when a
voice； proceeding from the abyss of Death； proclaimed； 〃All is
accomplished！〃 Instantaneously the haughty forehead of the intrepid
princess was corrugated with agony； she uttered a tremendous yell； and
fixed； no more to be withdrawn； her right hand upon her heart； which was
become a receptacle of eternal fire。
In this delirium； forgetting all ambitious projects and her thirst for that
knowledge which should ever be hidden from mortals； she overturned the
offerings of the Genii； and； having execrated the hour she was begotten
and the womb that had borne her； glanced off in a whirl that rendered her
95
… Page 96…
THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK
invisible； and continued to revolve without intermission。
At almost the same instant the same voice announced to the Caliph；
Nouronihar； the five princes； and the princess； the awful and irrevocable
decree。 Their hearts immediately took fire； and they at once lost the most
precious of the gifts of HeavenHope。 These unhappy beings recoiled
with looks of the most furious distraction； Vathek beheld in the eyes of
Nouronihar nothing but rage and vengeance； nor could she discern aught
in his but aversion and despair。 The two princes who were friends； and
till that moment had preserved their attachment； shrank back； gnashing
their teeth with mutual and unchangeable hatred。 Kalilah and his sister
made reciprocal gestures of imprecation； whilst the two other princes
testified their horror for each other by the most ghastly convulsions； and
screams that could not be smothered。 All severally plunged themselves
into the accursed multitude； there to wander in an eternity of unabating
anguish。
Such was； and such should be； the punishment of unrestrained
passions and atrocious actions！ Such is； and such should be； the
chastisement of blind ambition； that would transgress those bounds which
the Creator hath prescribed to human knowledge； and； by aiming at
discoveries reserved for pure Intelligence； acquire that infatuated pride；
which perceives not that the condition appointed to man is to be ignorant
and humble。
Thus the Caliph Vathek； who； for the sake of empty pomp and
forbidden power； had sullied himself with a thousand crimes； became a
prey to grief without end； and remorse without mitigation； whilst the
humble and despised Gulchenrouz passed whole ages in undisturbed
tranquillity； and the pure happiness of childhood。
96