VATHEK.
VATHEK, ninth Caliph {7a} of the race of the Abassides, was the son ofMotassem, and the grandson of Haroun Al Raschid. From an early accessionto the throne, and the talents he possessed to adorn it, his subjectswere induced to expect that his reign would be long and happy. Hisfigure was pleasing and majestic; but when he was angry, one of his eyesbecame so terrible {7b} that no person could bear to behold it; and thewretch upon whom it was fixed instantly fell backward, and sometimesexpired. For fear, however, of depopulating his dominions, and makinghis palace desolate, he but rarely gave way to his anger.
Being much addicted to women, and the pleasures of the table, he soughtby his affability to procure agreeable companions; and he succeeded thebetter, as his generosity was unbounded and his indulgences unrestrained;for he was by no means scrupulous: nor did he think, with the Caliph OmarBen Abdalaziz, {8a} that it was necessary to make a hell of this world toenjoy Paradise in the next.
He surpassed in magnificence all his predecessors. The palace ofAlkoremmi, which his father Motassem had erected on the hill of PiedHorses, and which commanded the whole city of Samarah, {8b} was in hisidea far too scanty: he added, therefore, five wings, or rather otherpalaces, which he destined for the particular gratification of each ofhis senses.
In the first of these were tables continually covered with the mostexquisite dainties, which were supplied both by night and by dayaccording to their constant consumption; whilst the most delicious wines,and the choicest cordials, flowed forth from a hundred fountains, thatwere never exhausted. This palace was called “The Eternal, orUnsatiating Banquet.”
The second was styled “The Temple of Melody, or the Nectar of the Soul.”It was inhabited by the most skilful musicians and admired poets of thetime, who not only displayed their talents within, but dispersing inbands without, caused every surrounding scene to reverberate their songs,which were continually varied in the most delightful succession.
The palace named “The Delight of the Eyes, or the Support of Memory,” wasone entire enchantment. Rarities collected from every corner of theearth were there found in such profusion as to dazzle and confound, butfor the order in which they were arranged. One gallery exhibited thepictures of the celebrated Mani; and statues that seemed to be alive.Here a well-managed perspective attracted the sight; there, the magic ofoptics agreeably deceived it; whilst the naturalist, on his part,exhibited in their several classes the various gifts that heaven hadbestowed on our globe. In a word, Vathek omitted nothing in thisparticular that might gratify the curiosity of those who resorted to it,although he was not able to satisfy his own; for he was, of all men, themost curious.
“The Palace of Perfumes,” which was termed likewise, “The Incentive toPleasure,” consisted of various halls, where the different perfumes whichthe earth produces were kept perpetually burning in censers of gold.Flambeaus and aromatic lamps were here lighted in open day; but the toopowerful effects of this agreeable delirium might be avoided bydescending into an immense garden, where an assemblage of every fragrantflower diffused through the air the purest odours.
The fifth palace, denominated “The Retreat of Joy, or the Dangerous,” wasfrequented by troops of young females, beautiful as the Houris, {9} andnot less seducing, who never failed to receive with caresses all whom theCaliph allowed to approach them; for he was by no means disposed to bejealous, as his own women were secluded within the palace he inhabitedhimself.
Notwithstanding the sensuality in which Vathek indulged, he experiencedno abatement in the love of his people, who thought that a sovereignimmersed in pleasure was not less tolerable to his subjects than one thatemployed himself in creating them foes. But the unquiet and impetuousdisposition of the Caliph would not allow him to rest there: he hadstudied so much for his amusement in the life-time of his father as toacquire a great deal of knowledge, though not a sufficiency to satisfyhimself; for he wished to know everything; even sciences that did notexist. He was fond of engaging in disputes with the learned, but likedthem not to push their opposition with warmth. He stopped the mouths ofthose with presents, whose mouths could be stopped; whilst others, whomhis liberality was unable to subdue, he sent to prison to cool theirblood; a remedy that often succeeded.
Vathek discovered also a predilection for theological controversy; but itwas not with the orthodox that he usually held. By this means he inducedthe zealots to oppose him, and then persecuted them in return; for heresolved, at any rate, to have reason on his side.
The great prophet Mahomet, whose vicars the Caliphs are, beheld withindignation from his abode in the seventh heaven the irreligious conductof such a vicegerent.
“Let us leave him to himself,” said he to the Genii, {10} who are alwaysready to receive his commands; “let us see to what lengths his folly andimpiety will carry him; if he run into excess we shall know how tochastise him. Assist him, therefore, to complete the tower which, inimitation of Nimrod, he hath begun; not, like that great warrior, toescape being drowned, but from the insolent curiosity of penetrating thesecrets of heaven: he will not divine the fate that awaits him.”
The Genii obeyed; and when the workmen had raised their structure a cubitin the day time, two cubits more were added in the night. The expeditionwith which the fabric arose was not a little flattering to the vanity ofVathek. He fancied that even insensible matter showed forwardness tosubserve his designs; not considering that the successes of the foolishand wicked form the first rod of their chastisement.
His pride arrived at its height when, having ascended, for the firsttime, the eleven thousand stairs of his tower, he cast his eyes below andbeheld men not larger than pismires; mountains than shells; and citiesthan bee-hives. The idea which such an elevation inspired of his owngrandeur completely bewildered him; he was almost ready to adore himself;till lifting his eyes upwards, he saw the stars as high above him as theyappeared when he stood on the surface of the earth. He consoled himself,however, for this transient perception of his littleness with the thoughtof being great in the eyes of the others, and flattered himself that thelight of his mind would extend beyond the reach of his sight, andtransfer to the stars the decrees of his destiny.
With this view the inquisitive prince passed most of his nights on thesummit of his tower, till he became an adept in the mysteries ofastrology, and imagined that the planets had disclosed to him the mostmarvellous adventures, which were to be accomplished by an extraordinarypersonage, from a country altogether unknown. Prompted by motives ofcuriosity, he had always been courteous to strangers; but from thisinstant he redoubled his attention, and ordered it to be announced bysound of trumpet, through all the streets of Samarah, that no one of hissubjects, on peril of his displeasure, should either lodge or detain atraveller, but forthwith bring him to the palace.
Not long after this proclamation, there arrived in his metropolis, a manso hideous that the very guards who arrested him were forced to shuttheir eyes as they led him along. The Caliph himself appeared startledat so horrible a visage; but joy succeeded to this emotion of terror whenthe stranger displayed to his view such rarities as he had never beforeseen, and of which he had no conception.
In reality, nothing was ever so extraordinary as the merchandise thisstranger produced. Most of his curiosities, which were not lessadmirable for their workmanship than their splendour, had besides, theirseveral virtues described on a parchment fastened to each. There wereslippers which enabled the feet to walk; knives that cut without themotion of a hand; sabres which dealt the blow at the person they werewished to strike; and the whole enriched with gems that were hithertounknown.
The sabres, whose blades emitted a dazzling radiance, fixed more than allthe Caliph’s attention, who promised himself to decipher at his leisurethe uncouth characters engraven on their sides. Without, therefore,demanding their price, he ordered all the coined gold to be brought fromhis treasury, and commanded the merchant to take what he pleased. Thestranger complied with modesty and silence.
Vathek, imagining that the merchant’s taciturnity was occasioned by theawe which his presence inspired, encouraged him to advance, and askedhim, with an air of condescension, “Who he was? whence he came? and wherehe obtained such beautiful commodities?”
The man, or rather monster, instead of making a reply, thrice rubbed hisforehead, which, as well as his body, was blacker than ebony; four timesclapped his paunch, the projection of which was enormous; opened wide hishuge eyes, which glowed like firebrands; began to laugh with a hideousnoise, and discovered his long amber coloured teeth bestreaked withgreen.
The Caliph, though a little startled, renewed his enquiries, but withoutbeing able to procure a reply. At which, beginning to be ruffled, heexclaimed, “knowest thou, varlet, who I am? and at whom thou art aimingthy gibes?” Then addressing his guards, “have ye heard him speak? is hedumb?”
“He hath spoken,” they replied, “though but little.”
“Let him speak then again,” said Vathek, “and tell me who he is,