shone over the city, arose in haste, ascended their roofs, beheld the
tower on fire, and hurried half-naked to the square. Their love to their
sovereign immediately awoke; and apprehending him in danger of perishing
in his tower, their whole thoughts were occupied with the means of his
safety. Morakanabad flew from his retirement, wiped away his tears, and
cried out for water like the rest. Bababalouk, whose olfactory nerves
were more familiarized to magical odours, readily conjecturing that
Carathis was engaged in her favourite amusements, strenuously exhorted
them not to be alarmed. Him, however, they treated as an old poltroon;
and forbore not to style him a rascally traitor. The camels and
dromedaries were advancing with water, but no one knew by which way to
enter the tower. Whilst the populace was obstinate in forcing the doors,
a violent east wind drove such a volume of flame against them, as at
first forced them off; but afterwards, rekindled their zeal. At the same
time, the stench of the horns and mummies increasing, most of the crowd
fell backward in a state of suffocation. Those that kept their feet
mutually wondered at the cause of the smell, and admonished each other to
retire. Morakanabad, more sick than the rest, remained in a piteous
condition. Holding his nose with one hand, he persisted in his efforts
with the other to burst open the doors, and obtain admission. A hundred
and forty of the strongest and most resolute at length accomplished their
purpose. Having gained the staircase by their violent exertions, they
attained a great height in a quarter of an hour.
Carathis, alarmed at the signs of her mutes, advanced to the staircase,
went down a few steps, and heard several voices calling out from below:
“You shall in a moment have water!”
Being rather alert, considering her age, she presently regained the top
of the tower, and bade her son suspend the sacrifice for some minutes,
adding:
“We shall soon be enabled to render it more grateful. Certain dolts of
your subjects, imagining, no doubt, that we were on fire, have been rash
enough to break through those doors, which had hitherto remained
inviolate, for the sake of bringing up water. They are very kind, you
must allow, so soon to forget the wrongs you have done them: but that is
of little moment. Let us offer them to the Giaour. Let them come up:
our mutes, who neither want strength nor experience, will soon despatch
them, exhausted as they are with fatigue.”
“Be it so,” answered the Caliph, “provided we finish, and I dine.”
In fact, these good people, out of breath from ascending eleven thousand
stairs in such haste, and chagrined at having spilt, by the way, the
water they had taken, were no sooner arrived at the top than the blaze of
the flames and the fumes of the mummies at once overpowered their senses.
It was a pity! for they beheld not the agreeable smile with which the
mutes and the negresses adjusted the cord to their necks: these amiable
personages rejoiced, however, no less at the scene. Never before had the
ceremony of strangling been performed with so much facility. They all
fell without the least resistance or struggle; so that Vathek, in the
space of a few moments, found himself surrounded by the dead bodies of
his most faithful subjects, all of which were thrown on the top of the
pile.
Carathis, whose presence of mind never forsook her, perceiving that she
had carcases sufficient to complete her oblation, commanded the chains to
be stretched across the staircase, and the iron doors barricaded, that no
more might come up.
No sooner were these orders obeyed, than the tower shook; the dead bodies
vanished in the flames; which at once changed from a swarthy crimson to a
bright rose colour. An ambient vapour emitted the most exquisite
fragrance; the marble columns rang with harmonious sounds, and the
liquefied horns diffused a delicious perfume. Carathis, in transports,
anticipated the success of her enterprise; whilst the mutes and
negresses, to whom these sweets had given the cholic, retired to their
cells grumbling.
Scarcely were they gone, when, instead of the pile, horns, mummies, and
ashes, the Caliph both saw and felt, with a degree of pleasure which he
could not express, a table, covered with the most magnificent repast:
flaggons of wine, and vases of exquisite sherbet, floating on snow. He
availed himself, without scruple, of such an entertainment; and had
already laid hands on a lamb stuffed with pistachios, whilst Carathis was
privately drawing from a fillagreen urn, a parchment that seemed to be
endless; and which had escaped the notice of her son. Totally occupied,
in gratifying an importunate appetite, he left her to peruse it, without
interruption; which having finished, she said to him, in an authoritative
tone,
“Put an end to your gluttony, and hear the splendid promises with which
you are favoured!” She then read, as follows:
“Vathek, my well-beloved, thou hast surpassed my hopes: my nostrils have
been regaled by the savour of thy mummies, thy horns; and, still more, by
the lives devoted on the pile. At the full of the moon, cause the bands
of thy musicians, and thy tymbals, to be heard; depart from thy palace
surrounded by all the pageants of majesty; thy most faithful slaves, thy
best beloved wives; thy most magnificent litters; thy richest loaden
camels; and set forward on thy way to Istakar. There await I thy coming.
That is the region of wonders. There shalt thou receive the diadem of
Gian Ben Gian, {50} the talismans of Soliman, and the treasures of the
preadimite Sultans: there shalt thou be solaced with all kinds of
delight. But, beware how thou enterest any dwelling on thy route, or
thou shalt feel the effects of my anger.”
The Caliph, who, notwithstanding his habitual luxury, had never before
dined with so much satisfaction, gave full scope to the joy of these
golden tidings, and betook himself to drinking anew. Carathis, whose
antipathy to wine was by no means insuperable, failed not to supply a
reason for every bumper, which they ironically quaffed to the health of
Mahomet. This infernal liquor completed their impious temerity, and
prompted them to utter a profusion of blasphemies. They gave a loose to
their wit, at the expense of the ass of Balaam, the dog of the seven
sleepers, and the other animals admitted into the paradise of Mahomet.
In this sprightly humour they descended the eleven thousand stairs,
diverting themselves as they went at the anxious faces they saw on the
square, through the oilets of the tower, and at length arrived at the
royal apartments by the subterranean passage. Bababalouk was parading to
and fro, and issuing his mandates with great pomp to the eunuchs, who
were snuffing the lights and painting the eyes of the Circassians. No
sooner did he catch sight of the Caliph and his mother than he exclaimed,
“Hah! you have then, I perceive, escaped from the flames; I was not,
however, altogether out of doubt.”
“Of what moment is it to us what you thought or think?” cried Carathis
“go, speed, tell Morakanabad that we immediately want him; and take care
how you stop by the way to make your insipid reflections.”
Morakanabad delayed not to obey the summons, and was received by Vathek
and his mother with great solemnity. They told him with an air of
composure and commiseration that the fire at the top of the tower was
extinguished, but that it had cost the lives of the brave people who
sought to assist them.
“Still more misfortunes!” cried Morakanabad with a sigh. “Ah, commander
of the faithful, our holy prophet is certainly irritated against us! it
behoves you to appease him.”
“We will appease him hereafter,” replied the Caliph, with a smile that
augured nothing of good. “You will have leisure sufficient for your
supplications during my absence; for this country is the bane of my
health. I am disgusted with the mountain of the Four Fountains, and am
resolved to go and drink of the stream of Rocnabad. {51} I long to
refresh myself in the delightful valleys which it waters. Do you, with
the advice of my mother, govern my dominions; and take care to supply
whatever her experiments may demand; for you well know that our tower
abounds in materials for the advancement of science.”
The tower but ill suited Morakanabad’s taste. Immense treasures had been
lavished upon it, and nothing had he ever seen carried thither but female
negroes, mutes, and abominable drugs. Nor did he know well what to think
of Carathis, who like a chamelion could assume all possible colours. Her
cursed eloquence had often driven the poor Mussulman to his last shifts.
He considered, however, that if she possessed but few good qualities, her
son had still fewer, and that the alternative, on the whole, would be in
her favour. Consoled, therefore, with this reflection, he went in good
spirits to soothe the populace, and make the proper arrangements for his
master’s journey.
Vathek, to conciliate the spirits of the subterranean palace, resolved
that his expedition should be uncommonly splendid. With this view he
confiscated on all sides the property of his subjects, whilst his worthy
mother stripped the seraglios she visited of the gems they contained.
She collected all the sempstresses and embroiderers of Samarah, and other
cities, to the distance of sixty leagues, to prepare pavilions,
palanquins, sofas, canopies, and litters, for the train of the monarch.
There was not left in Masulipatan a single piece of chintz; and so much
muslin had been bought up to dress out Bababalouk and the other black
eunuchs, that there remained not an ell in the whole Irak of Babylon.
During these preparations, Carathis, who never lost sight of her great
object, which was to obtain favour with the powers of darkness, made
select parties of the fairest and most delicate ladies of the city; but
in the midst of their gaiety she contrived to introduce serpents amongst
them, and to break pots of scorpions under the table. They all bit to a
wonder, and Carathis would have left them to bite, were it not that to
fill up the time, she now and then amused herself in curing their wounds
with an excellent anodyne of her own invention; for this good princess
abhorred being indolent.
Vathek, who was not altogether so active as his mother, devoted his time
to the sole gratification of his senses, in the palaces which were
severally dedicated to them. He disgusted himself no more with the divan
or the mosque. One half of Samarah followed his example, whilst the
other lamented the progress of corruption.
In the midst of these transactions, the embassy returned which had been
sent in pious times to Mecca. It consisted of the most reverend
moullahs, {53} who had fulfilled their commission, and brought back one
of those precious besoms which are used to sweep the sacred caaba; a
present truly worthy of the greatest potentate on earth!
The Caliph happened at this instant to be engaged in an apartment by no
means adapted to the reception of embassies, though adorned with a
certain magnificence, not only to render it agreeable, but also because
he resorted to it frequently, and staid a considerable time together.
Whilst occupied in this retreat, he heard the voice of Bababalouk calling
out from between the door and the tapestry that hung before it:
“Here are the excellent Mahomet Ebn Edris al Shafei, and the seraphic Al
Mouhadethin, who have brought the besom from Mecca, and with tears of joy
entreat they may present it to your majesty in person.”
“Let them bring the besom hither, it may be of use,” said Vathek, who was
still employed, not having quite racked off his wine.
“How!” answered Bababalouk, half aloud and amazed.
“Obey,” replied the Caliph, “for it is my sovereign will; go instantly!
vanish! for here will I receive the good folk who have thus filled thee
with joy.”
The eunuch departed muttering, and bade the venerable train attend him.
A sacred rapture was diffused amongst these reverend old men. Though
fatigued with the length of their expedition, they followed Bababalouk
with an alertness almost miraculous, and felt themselves highly flattered
as they swept along the stately porticos, that the Caliph would not
receive them like ambassadors in ordinary, in his hall of audience. Soon
reaching the interior of the harem (where, through blinds of persian they
perceived large soft eyes, dark and blue, that went and came like
lightning) penetrated with respect and wonder, and full of their
celestial mission, they advanced in procession towards the small
corridors that appeared to terminate in nothing, but nevertheless led to
the cell where the Caliph expected their coming.
“What! is the commander of the faithful sick?” said Ebn Edris al Shafei,
in a low voice to his companion.
“I rather think he is in his oratory,” answered Al Mouhadethin.
Vathek, who heard the dialogue, cried out “What imports it you how I am
employed? approach without delay.”
They advanced, and Bababalouk almost sunk with confusion, {55} whilst the
Caliph, without showing himself, put forth his hand from behind the
tapestry that hung before the door, and demanded of them the besom.
Having prostrated themselves as well as the corridor would permit, and
even in a tolerable semi-circle, the venerable Al Shafei, drawing forth
the besom from the embroidered and perfumed scarfs in which it had been
enveloped, and secured from the profane gaze of vulgar eyes, arose from
his associates and advanced with an air of the most awful solemnity
towards the supposed oratory; but with what astonishment! with what
horror was he seized!
Vathek, bursting out into a villainous laugh, snatched the besom from his
trembling hand, and fixing upon it some cobwebs that hung suspended from
the ceiling, gravely brushed away till not a single one remained.
The old men, overpowered with amazement, were unable to lift their beards
from the ground; for as Vathek had carelessly left the tapestry between
them half drawn, they were witnesses to the whole transaction. Their
tears gushed forth on the marble. Al Mouhadethin swooned through
mortification and fatigue, whilst the Caliph, throwing himself backward
on his seat, shouted and clapped his hands without mercy. At last,
addressing himself to Bababalouk:
“My dear black,” said he, “go, regale these pious poor souls with my good
wine from Shiraz; and as they can boast of having seen more of my palace
than any one besides, let them also visit my office courts, and lead them
out by the back steps that go to my stables.” Having said this, he threw
the besom in their face, and went to enjoy the laugh with Carathis.
Bababalouk did all in his power to console the ambassadors, but the two
most infirm expired on the spot; the rest were carried to their beds,
from whence, being heart-broken with sorrow and shame, they never arose.
The succeeding night, Vathek, attended by his mother, ascended the tower
to see if everything were ready for his journey, for he had great faith
in the influence of the stars. The planets appeared in their most
favourable aspects. The Caliph, to enjoy so flattering a sight, supped
gaily on the roof, and fancied that he heard, during his repast, loud
shouts of laughter resound through the sky, in a manner that inspired the
fullest assurance.
All was in motion at the palace; lights were kept burning through the
whole of the night; the sound of implements, and of artisans finishing
their work; the voices of women and their guardians who sung at their
embroidery; all conspired to interrupt the stillness of nature, and
infinitely delight the heart of Vathek, who imagined himself going in
triumph to sit upon the throne of Soliman.
The people were not less satisfied than himself; all assisted to
accelerate the moment which should rescue them from the wayward caprices
of so extravagant a master.
The day preceding the departure of this infatuated prince was employed by
Carathis in repeating to him the decrees of the mysterious parchment,
which she had thoroughly gotten by heart; and in recommending him not to
enter the habitation of any one by the way; “for well thou knowest,”
added she, “how liquorish thy taste is after good dishes and young
damsels; let me therefore enjoin thee to be content with thy old cooks,
who are the best in the world; and not to forget that in thy ambulatory
seraglio there are three dozen pretty faces, which Bababalouk hath not
yet unveiled. I, myself, have a great desire to watch over thy conduct,
and visit the subterranean palace, which no doubt contains whatever can
interest persons like us. There is nothing so pleasing as retiring to
caverns; my taste for dead bodies and everything like mummy is decided;
and I am confident thou wilt see the most exquisite of their kind.
Forget me not then, but the moment thou art in possession of the
talismans which are to open to thee the mineral kingdoms, and the centre
of the earth itself, fail not to dispatch some trusty genius to take me
and my cabinet, for the oil of the serpents I have pinched to death will
be a pretty present to the Giaour, who cannot but be charmed with such
dainties.”
Scarcely had Carathis ended this edifying discourse, when the sun,
setting behind the mountain of the Four Fountains, gave place to the
rising moon. This planet being that evening at full, appeared of unusual
beauty and magnitude in the eyes of the women, the eunuchs, and the
pages, who were all impatient to set forward. The city re-echoed with
shouts of joy and flourishing of trumpets. Nothing was visible but
plumes nodding on pavilions, and aigrets shining in the mild lustre of
the moon. The spacious square resembled an immense parterre, variegated
with the most stately tulips of the east.
Arrayed in the robes which were only worn at the most distinguished
ceremonials, and supported by his vizier and Bababalouk, the Caliph
descended the grand staircase of the tower in the sight of all his
people. He could not forbear pausing at intervals to admire the superb
appearance which everywhere courted his view, whilst the whole multitude,
even to the camels with their sumptuous burdens, knelt down before him.
For some time a general stillness prevailed, which nothing happened to
disturb, but the shrill screams of some eunuchs in the rear. These
vigilant guards having remarked certain cages of the ladies swagging
somewhat awry, and discovered that a few adventurous gallants had
contrived to get in, soon dislodged the enraptured culprits, and
consigned them with good commendations, to the surgeons of the serail.
The majesty of so magnificent a spectacle was not, however, violated by
incidents like these. Vathek, meanwhile, saluted the moon with an
idolatrous air, that neither pleased Morakanabad nor the doctors of the
law, any more than the viziers and grandees of his court, who were all
assembled to enjoy the last view of their sovereign.
At length the clarions and trumpets from the top of the tower announced
the prelude of departure. Though the instruments were in unison with
each other, yet a singular dissonance was blended with their sounds.
This proceeded from Carathis, who was singing her direful orisons to the
Giaour, whilst the negresses and mutes supplied thorough bass without
articulating a word. The good Mussulmans fancied that they heard the
sullen hum of those nocturnal insects which presage evil, and importuned
Vathek to beware how he ventured his sacred person.
On a given signal the great standard of the Califat was displayed; twenty
thousand lances shone around it; and the Caliph, treading royally on the
cloth of gold which had been spread for his feet, ascended his litter
amidst the general awe that possessed his subjects.
The expedition commenced with the utmost order, and so entire a silence,
that even the locusts were heard from the thickets on the plain of
Catoul. Gaiety and good humour prevailing, six good leagues were past
before the dawn; and the morning star was still glittering in the
firmament when the whole of this numerous train had halted on the banks
of the Tigris, where they encamped to repose for the rest of the day.
The three days that followed were spent in the same manner, but on the
fourth the heavens looked angry, lightnings broke forth in frequent
flashes, re-echoing peals of thunder succeeded, and the trembling
Circassians clung with all their might to their ugly guardians. The
Caliph himself was greatly inclined to take shelter in the large town of
Gulchissar, the governor of which came forth to meet him, and tendered
every kind of refreshment the place could supply. But having examined
his tablets, he suffered the rain to soak him almost to the bone,
notwithstanding the importunity of his first favourites. Though he began
to regret the palace of the senses, yet he lost not sight of his
enterprise, and his sanguine expectations confirmed his resolution. His
geographers were ordered to attend him, but the weather proved so
terrible, that these poor people exhibited a lamentable appearance; and
as no long journeys had been undertaken since the time of Haroun al
Raschid, their maps of the different countries were in a still worse
plight than themselves. Every one was ignorant which way to turn; for
Vathek, though well versed in the course of the heavens, no longer knew
his situation on earth. He thundered even louder than the elements, and
muttered forth certain hints of the bowstring which were not very
soothing to literary ears. Disgusted at the toilsome weariness of the
way, he determined to cross over the craggy heights, and follow the
guidance of a peasant, who undertook to bring him, in four days, to
Rocnabad. Remonstrances were all to no purpose, his resolution was
fixed, and an invasion commenced on the province of the goats, who sped
away in large troops before them. It was curious to view on these half
calcined rocks camels richly caparisoned, and pavilions of gold and silk
waving on their summits, which till then had never been covered, but with
sapless thistles and fern.
The females and eunuchs uttered shrill wailings at the sight of the
precipices below them, and the dreary prospects that opened in the vast
gorges of the mountains. Before they could reach the ascent of the
steepest rock night overtook them, and a boisterous tempest arose, which
having rent the awnings of the palanquins and cages, exposed to the raw
gusts the poor ladies within, who had never before felt so piercing a
cold. The dark clouds that overcast the face of the sky deepened the
horrors of this disastrous night, insomuch that nothing could be heard
distinctly but the mewling of pages, and lamentations of sultanas.
To increase the general misfortune, the frightful uproar of wild beasts
resounded at a distance, and there were soon perceived in the forest they
were skirting the glaring of eyes which could belong only to devils or
tigers. The pioneers, who as well as they could, had marked out a track,
and a part of the advanced guard were devoured before they had been in
the least apprised of their danger. The confusion that prevailed was
extreme. Wolves, tigers, and other carnivorous animals, invited by the
howling of their companions, flocked together from every quarter. The
crushing of bones was heard on all sides, and a fearful rush of wings
over head, for now vultures also began to be of the party.
The terror at length reached the main body of the troops which surrounded
the monarch and his harem, at the distance of two leagues from the scene.
Vathek (voluptuously reposed in his capacious litter upon cushions of
silk, with two little pages beside him, of complexions more fair than the
enamel of Franguestan, who were occupied in keeping off flies) was
soundly asleep, and contemplating in his dreams the treasures of Soliman.
The shrieks, however, of his wives awoke him with a start, and instead of
the Giaour with his key of gold, he beheld Bababalouk full of
consternation.
“Sire,” exclaimed this good servant of the most potent of monarchs,
“misfortune has arrived at its height; wild beasts, who entertain no more
reverence for your sacred person than for that of a dead ass, have beset
your camels and their drivers: thirty of the richest laden are already
become their prey, as well as all your confectioners, your cooks, and
purveyors, and unless our holy prophet should protect us, we shall have
all eaten our last meal.”
At the mention of eating, the Caliph lost all patience. He began to
bellow, and even beat himself, for there was no seeing in the dark. The
rumour every instant increased, and Bababalouk finding no good could be
done with his master stopped both his ears against the hurly-burly of the
harem, and called out aloud: