into mine empire. Ye are numberedamongst my adorers. Enjoy whatever this palace affords—the treasures ofthe preadimite sultans, their bickering sabres, and those talismans thatcompel the Dives to open the subterranean expanses of the mountain ofKaf, which communicate with these. There, insatiable as your curiositymay be, shall you find sufficient to gratify it. You shall possess theexclusive privilege of entering the fortress of Aherman, and the halls ofArgenk, where are portrayed all creatures endowed with intelligence, andthe various animals that inhabited the earth prior to the creation ofthat contemptible being, whom ye denominate the Father of Mankind.”
Vathek and Nouronihar feeling themselves revived and encouraged by thisharangue, eagerly said to the Giaour:
“Bring us instantly to the place which contains these precioustalismans.”
“Come,” answered this wicked Dive, with his malignant grin, “come, andpossess all that my sovereign hath promised, and more.”
He then conducted them into a long aisle adjoining the tabernacle,preceding them with hasty steps, and followed by his disciples with theutmost alacrity. They reached at length a hall of great extent, andcovered with a lofty dome, around which appeared fifty portals of bronze,secured with as many fastenings of iron. A funereal gloom prevailed overthe whole scene. Here, upon two beds of incorruptible cedar, layrecumbent the fleshless forms of the preadimite kings, who had beenmonarchs of the whole earth. They still possessed enough of life to beconscious of their deplorable condition. Their eyes retained amelancholy motion; they regarded each other with looks of the deepestdejection, each holding his right hand motionless on his heart. At theirfeet were inscribed the events of their several reigns, their power,their pride, and their crimes. Soliman Raad, Soliman Daki, and SolimanDi Gian Ben Gian, who, after having chained up the Dives in the darkcaverns of Kaf, became so presumptuous, as to doubt of the Supreme Power.All these maintained great state, though not to be compared with theeminence of Soliman Ben Daoud.
This king, so renowned for his wisdom, was on the loftiest elevation, andplaced immediately under the dome. He appeared to possess more animationthan the rest, though, from time to time, he laboured with profoundsighs, and, like his companions, kept his right hand on his heart; yethis countenance was more composed, and he seemed to be listening to thesullen roar of a vast cataract, visible in part through the gratedportals. This was the only sound that intruded on the silence of thesedoleful mansions. A range of brazen vases surrounded the elevation.
“Remove the covers from these cabalistic depositaries,” said the Giaourto Vathek, “and avail thyself of the talismans, which will break asunderall these gates of bronze, and not only render thee master of thetreasures contained within them, but also of the spirits by which theyare guarded.”
The Caliph, whom this ominous preliminary had entirely disconcerted,approached the vases with faltering footsteps, and was ready to sink withterror, when he heard the groans of Soliman. As he proceeded, a voicefrom the livid lips of the prophet articulated these words:
“In my lifetime, I filled a magnificent throne, having on my right handtwelve thousand seats of gold, where the patriarchs and prophets heard mydoctrines; on my left the sages and doctors, upon as many thrones ofsilver, were present at all my decisions. Whilst I thus administeredjustice to innumerable multitudes, the birds of the air librating overme, served as a canopy from the rays of the sun. My people flourished,and my palace rose to the clouds. I erected a temple to the Most High,which was the wonder of the universe; but I basely suffered myself to beseduced by the love of women, and a curiosity that could not berestrained by sub-lunary things. I listened to the counsels of Aherman,and the daughter of Pharaoh; and adored fire, and the host of heaven. Iforsook the holy city, and commanded the Genii to rear the stupendouspalace of Istakar, and the terrace of the watch-towers, each of which wasconsecrated to a star. There for a while I enjoyed myself in the zenithof glory and pleasure. Not only men, but supernatural existences weresubject also to my will. I began to think, as these unhappy monarchsaround had already thought, that the vengeance of heaven was asleep, whenat once the thunder burst my structures asunder, and precipitated mehither; where, however, I do not remain like the other inhabitantstotally destitute of hope, for an angel of light hath revealed, that inconsideration of the piety of my early youth, my woes shall come to anend when this cataract shall for ever cease to flow. Till then I am intorments, ineffable torments, an unrelenting fire preys on my heart.”
Having uttered this exclamation, Soliman raised his hands towards heaven,in token of supplication, and the Caliph discerned through his bosom,which was transparent as crystal, his heart enveloped in flames. At asight so full of horror, Nouronihar fell back like one petrified, intothe arms of Vathek, who cried out with a convulsive sob:
“O Giaour! whither hast thou brought us! Allow us to depart, and I willrelinquish all thou hast promised. O Mahomet! remains there no moremercy!”
“None! none!” replied the malicious Dive. “Know, miserable prince, thouart now in the abode of vengeance, and despair. Thy heart, also, will bekindled, like those of the other votaries of Eblis. A few days areallotted thee previous to this fatal period: employ them as thou wilt.Recline on these heaps of gold: command the Infernal Potentates: range atthy pleasure through these immense subterranean domains. No barriershall be shut against thee. As for me, I have fulfilled my mission. Inow leave thee to thyself.”
At these words he vanished.
The Caliph and Nouronihar remained in the most abject affliction. Theirtears unable to flow, scarcely could they support themselves. At length,taking each other despondingly by the hand, they went faltering from thisfatal hall, indifferent which way they turned their steps. Every portalopened at their approach. The Dives fell prostrate before them. Everyreservoir of riches was disclosed to their view, but they no longer feltthe incentives of curiosity, pride, or avarice. With like apathy theyheard the chorus of Genii, and saw the stately banquets prepared toregale them. They went wandering on from chamber to chamber, hall tohall, and gallery to gallery; all without bounds or limit; alldistinguishable by the same lowering gloom; all adorned with the sameawful grandeur; all traversed by persons in search of repose andconsolation, but who sought them in vain, for every one carried withinhim a heart tormented in flames. Shunned by these various sufferers, whoseemed by their looks to be upbraiding the partners of their guilt, theywithdrew from them, to wait in direful suspense the moment which shouldrender them to each other the like objects of terror.
“What,” exclaimed Nouronihar, “will the time come, when I shall snatch myhand from thine!”
“Ah!” said Vathek, “and shall my eyes ever cease to drink from thine longdraughts of enjoyment! Shall the moments of our reciprocal ecstasies bereflected on with horror! It was not thou that broughtest me hither; theprinciples by which Carathis perverted my youth have been the sole causeof my perdition!”
Having given vent to these painful expressions, he called to an Afrit,who was stirring up one of the braziers, and bade him fetch the PrincessCarathis from the palace of Samarah.
After issuing these orders, the Caliph and Nouronihar continued walkingamidst the silent crowd, till they heard voices at the end of thegallery. Presuming them to proceed from some unhappy beings, who likethemselves were awaiting their final doom, they followed the sound, andfound it to come from a small square chamber, where they discoveredsitting on sofas, five young men of goodly figure, and a lovely female,who were all holding a melancholy conversation, by the glimmering of alonely lamp. Each had a gloomy and forlorn air, and two of them wereembracing each other with great tenderness. On seeing the Caliph and thedaughter of Fakreddin enter they arose, saluted, and gave them place.Then he who had appeared the most considerable of the group, addressedhimself thus to Vathek:
“Strangers! who doubtless are in the same state of suspense as ourselves,as you do not yet bear your hand on your heart, if you are come hither topass the interval al
lotted previous to the infliction of our commonpunishment, condescend to relate the adventures that have brought you tothis fatal place; and we in return will acquaint you with ours; whichdeserves but too well to be heard. We will trace back our crimes totheir source, though we are not permitted to repent. This is the onlyemployment suited to wretches like us.”
The Caliph and Nouronihar assented to the proposal, and Vathek began, notwithout tears and lamentations, a sincere recital of every circumstancethat had passed. When the afflicting narrative was closed, the young manentered on his own. Each person proceeded in order, and when the fourthprince had reached the midst of his adventures, a sudden noiseinterrupted him, which caused the vault to tremble, and to open.
Immediately a cloud descended, which gradually dissipating, discoveredCarathis, on the back of an Afrit, who grievously complained of hisburden. She, instantly springing to the ground, advanced towards herson, and said:
“What dost thou here, in this little square chamber? As the