Content

William Beckford. Vathek

Arabian tale

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William Beckford
Vathek
Translated from French by Boris Zaitsev
Walpole. Kazot. Beckford. Fantastic stories.
Series "Literary Monuments"
The publication was prepared by V.M. Zhirmunsky and N.A. Sigal
L., "Science", 1967
OCR Bychkov M.N. mailto:bmn@lib.ru
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Vathek, the ninth caliph of the Abassid line, {1} was the son of Mu'tasim and
the grandson of
Harun al-Rashid. He ascended the throne in the prime of his life. great abilities,
which he possessed, gave the people hope for a long and happy
reign. His face was pleasant and majestic; but in anger the gaze of the caliph
became so terrible that it could not be sustained: unfortunate, on whom
he directed him, sometimes fell, struck to death. So being afraid
depopulate his state and turn the palace into a desert, Vathek indulged
anger is very rare.
He was very fond of women and the pleasures of a good table. His generosity
was boundless and debauchery unrestrained. He did not think like Omar ben
Abdalaziz,
{2} what needs to be done from this world to hell in order to be in paradise beyond
the grave.
In splendor, he surpassed all his predecessors. Alcorremi Palace,
built by his father Mutasim on the hill of Pinto Horses, which dominated
the whole city of Samarra, {3} seemed cramped to him. He added five
outbuildings, or rather, five new palaces, and destined each for
serving any of your senses.
In the first, the tables were always lined with selected dishes. They were
changed
day and night as they cool down. The finest wines and the best
strong drinks poured out in abundance from a hundred fountains, never
drying up. This palace was called _Eternal Holiday_, or _Insatiable_.
The second palace was the temple of _Pleasure_, or _Nectar of the soul_. lived
there
the best musicians and poets of that time. Having perfected my talents here,
they scattered everywhere and filled the neighborhood with their songs.
The palace called _The Pleasures of Gl_a_za_, or _Memory Support_,
was pure magic. He abounded in rarities,
collected from all over the world and placed in a strict order. There
there was a gallery of paintings by the famous Mani {4} and statues endowed with
seemed to be soul. In one place an excellent prospect captivated the eye; in
as a friend he was pleasantly deceived by the magic of optics; in the third were
collected all
treasures of nature. In a word, Vathek, the most curious of people, did not miss
there is nothing in this palace that could arouse the curiosity of
visitor.
Palace of _Perfumes_, which was also called _Encouragement
Sensuality_, consisted of several halls. Even during the day there were torches
burning and
aromatic lamps. To dispel the pleasant intoxication of this place, we went
into a vast garden, where a variety of flowers made the air sweet and
fasteners.
In the fifth palace, called the _Refuge of Joy_, or _Dangerous_, lived
several groups of young girls. They were beautiful and helpful, like houris,
and never badly received those whom the caliph wished to admit into their society.
Despite the fact that Vathek was drowning in voluptuousness, his subjects
loved him.
It was believed that the ruler, indulging in pleasures, was at least as
capable of governing, as well as the one who declares himself an enemy of them. But
him
ardent and restless disposition did not allow him to confine himself to this.
During the life of the father
he studied so much for fun that he knew a lot; he finally wished
learn everything, even sciences that don't exist. He liked to argue with
scientists;
but they could not go too far in objections. Some he made
be silent with gifts; those whose stubbornness defied his generosity,
sent to prison for sedation - a remedy that often helped.
Vathek also wanted to intervene in theological strife and spoke
against a party usually considered orthodox. With this he armed against himself
all those who are zealous for the faith; then he began to pursue them, for he
always wanted to be
right, whatever the cost.
The great prophet Mohammed, whose vicegerents on earth are the caliphs,
being in the seventh heaven, he was indignant at the godless behavior of one of his
successors. "Let's leave it," he said to the geniuses, always ready to perform it
orders - let's see how far the madness and wickedness of Vathek will go: if
it will be excessive, we will be able to properly punish him. Help him
build a tower, which he erects in imitation of Nimrod, {5} - not for
in order to escape from a new flood, like this great warrior, but because of
daring curiosity, wishing to penetrate the secrets of Heaven. Whatever he does
he will never guess the fate that awaits him!"
The geniuses obeyed; and while the workers took out one day
a cubit of a tower, they added two more in a night. The speed with which
this tower was finished, flattered Vathek's vanity. He thought that even
insensible matter is applied to his intentions. This sovereign, despite
on all his knowledge, did not take into account the fact that the successes of the
reckless and
evil are the first vines with which they are struck.
His pride reached its highest limit when, having ascended for the first time
eleven thousand steps of his tower, he looked down. People showed up
to him ants, mountains - shells, and cities - bee hives. it
the ascent raised him unusually in his own eyes and finally
turned his head. He was ready to bow down to himself as to a god, but when
looked up, saw that the stars were as far from him as they were from the earth.
Involuntarily feeling his insignificance, Vatek found consolation in the thought
that everything
consider him great; besides, he flattered himself with the hope that the light of
his mind
will surpass the power of his sight and he will make the stars give an account in
the verdicts of
his fate.
To do this, he spent most of the nights at the top of the tower and, counting
himself initiated into the secrets of astrology, imagined that the planets predict
him an amazing future. An extraordinary man must come from
unknown country; he will announce it. Then Vathek with doubled
Attention began to observe strangers and ordered to announce at the sound of
trumpets
in the streets of Samarra, so that none of his subjects would take or give
shelter for travelers he wanted them all to be brought to his palace.
After some time, a man appeared in the city, whose face was
so terrible that the guards who seized him to take him to the palace,
were forced to close their eyes. The caliph himself seemed to be amazed at his
appearance;
but soon this involuntary fear was replaced by joy. Unknown laid out in front
him rarities the likes of which he had never seen and opportunities
which I didn't even know existed.
Indeed, the goods of this stranger were extraordinary. Majority
his jewels were as sumptuous as they were superbly crafted.
In addition, they had special properties indicated on the scrolls.
parchment attached to them. There were shoes that helped walk; knives,
who cut as soon as they were taken in hand; sabers that struck at the slightest
movement, - all this was decorated with precious stones unknown to anyone.
Among these curiosities were dazzlingly shining sabers. Caliph wished
to acquire them and decided at his leisure to disassemble the incomprehensible
inscriptions. Without asking the seller about the price, he ordered to bring all
the gold to
coins from the treasury and invited him to take as much as he wanted. He took
a little while maintaining a profound silence.
Vatek had no doubt that the silence of the unknown was inspired by the feeling
reverence for him. With a benevolent look, he ordered him to approach and
affably asked who he was, from where and where he got these wonderful things.
The man, or rather the monster, instead of answering, rubbed his
his forehead, black as from ebony, hit himself four times on a huge
stomach, opened huge eyes that seemed like red-hot coals, and noisily
laughed, revealing large amber teeth speckled with greenery.
The Caliph, slightly agitated, repeated the question; followed by the same
answer.
Then Vatek began to get annoyed and exclaimed: “Do you know, unfortunate, who
I? Do you understand who you are mocking?" And, turning to the guards, he asked,
did they hear his voice? They replied that he said, but something
insignificant. "Let him speak again," Vathek repeated, "let him speak,
how he can, and let him say who he is, where he came from and where he got strange
rarities that offers me. I swear by the donkey of Balaam, {7} if he
will be silent, I will make him repent of his stubbornness. "At these words
the caliph could not resist and threw his terrible glance at the unknown; that,
however, he was not at all embarrassed; a formidable and deadly look did not have
on him
no action.
When the courtiers saw that the impudent merchant endured such
test, their surprise knew no bounds. They fell to the ground with bowed faces, and
remained silent until the caliph shouted in rage: "Get up, cowards,
grab this wretch! Jail him! And let my best warriors not
take their eyes off him. I let him take the money with him, which he only
what did you get; let him keep them to himself, if only he would speak. "At these
words
everyone rushed at the stranger; he was bound in strong chains and sent to prison
big tower. Seven fences made of iron bars, equipped with long points
and honed, like skewers, surrounded her on all sides.
Meanwhile, the caliph was in a furious excitement. He was silent, almost
forgot about food and ate only thirty-two of the three hundred dishes that he
usually served. One such unaccustomed diet could have deprived him of sleep. How
but it worked in conjunction with devouring anxiety! At dawn he
went to the dungeon to learn something from a stubborn stranger. What is
his fury was when the unknown was not in prison; iron
the bars were broken and the guards were dead. A strange madness then took
possession of him.
He began to trample the corpses lying around with his feet, and indulged in this
occupation all day long. The courtiers and viziers made every effort to
soothe; but seeing that it was useless, they exclaimed all together: "The Caliph
gone crazy! The caliph has gone mad!"
Word of his madness immediately spread through the streets of Samarra.
and finally to Queen Caratis, mother of Vathek. She showed up anxious
trying to test the power she had over her son.
With tears and caresses, she ensured that he stopped rushing about and soon,
Yielding to her insistence, he allowed himself to be taken to the palace.
Karatis had no desire to leave her son alone. Ordered to put him in
bed, she sat down beside him and tried to comfort and reassure him with her
speeches.
She could achieve this sooner than anyone. Batek loved and respected her
mother, but, moreover, a woman of exceptional talents. She was Greek and
through it, he learned all the systems and sciences of this people, who used
respect from good Muslims.
One of these sciences was astrology, and Caratis knew it perfectly.
So, her first concern was to make her son remember what was predicted for him.
luminaries; she offered to consult them again. "Alas! - said the caliph,
as soon as the ability to speak returned to him. - I'm crazy - not because
inflicted forty thousand kicks on the guards who allowed themselves so foolishly
kill; but I did not realize that this extraordinary man was the very one about whom
told me the planets. Instead of mistreating him, I should
was to try to bribe him with gentleness and caresses. "-" You can’t return the
past,
- answered Caratis, - we need to think about the future. Maybe you will see
the one you regret; maybe these inscriptions on the sabers will give you
information
about him. Eat and sleep, dear son; We'll see what we can do tomorrow."
Batek followed this wise advice, got up in a better mood
and immediately ordered to bring amazing sabers. In order not to be blinded by
their brilliance,
he looked at them through the colored glass and tried to read the inscriptions, but
in vain: no matter how much he racked his brains, he could not make out a single
letter. it
the obstacle almost drove him into a rage, but then, by the way, came in
Karatis.
"Have patience, my son," she said, "of course you know everything
science. Knowledge of languages is a trifle worthy of pedants. Offer a decent
you a reward to the one who explains these barbaric words, incomprehensible to you,
and
disassemble which it is not proper for you, and you will be satisfied." "Perhaps
- said the caliph, - but in the meantime I will be tormented by a legion of
imaginary scientists who
will do it for the pleasure of talking and to get
promised." After a moment's thought, he added: "I wish to avoid this
difficulties. I will order the death of all who do not give a real answer; for,
thank god I'm smart enough to understand
whether they translate or compose for me."
"Oh, I do not doubt it," answered Caratis. "But to kill the ignorant
- a bit harsh punishment, and it can have dangerous consequences.
Limit yourself to burning their beards; beards are not so necessary in
state, like people." The Caliph agreed with his mother in this and ordered
call your first vizier. "Morakanabad," he told him, "lead
announce to heralds in Samarra and in all the cities of my state that
whoever reads the inscriptions, which seem incomprehensible, will be convinced
personally of my
generosity known to the whole world; but in case of failure, they will burn his
beard to
last hair. Let them also say that I will give fifty beautiful
slave girls and fifty boxes of apricots from the island of Kirmita to the one who
delivers
me information about this strange man whom I want to see again."
The subjects of the caliph, like their ruler, were very fond of women and
apricots with
Kirmit Islands. Promises made them greedy, but they didn't get to taste anything,
for no one knew where the stranger had disappeared. They didn't do the first one
either.
Caliph's request. Scholars, semi-scholars, and various presumptuous ignoramuses
appeared
boldly risked their beards and all lost them. The eunuchs did nothing but
that burned beards; they even began to smell of burning, which I didn’t like
seraglio women; I had to entrust this task to others.
Finally, an old man appeared, whose beard was one and a half cubits
all the former. The commanders of the palace guards, introducing him, said: "What a
pity!
It is a pity to burn such an excellent beard!" The Caliph was of the same opinion;
but he
there was nothing to be upset about. The old man read the inscriptions without
difficulty and set out their word in
word as follows: "We were made where everyone does well; we are the most
a small wonder of the country, where everything is wonderful and worthy of the
greatest sovereign
earth".
“Oh, you translated excellently,” cried the Caliph. “I know who
is meant by these words. Give the old man so many luxurious robes and
as many thousands of sequins as he uttered words: he lightened my heart."
Batek then invited him to dine and even spend a few days in his
palace.
The next day, the caliph ordered the elder to be called and said to him: "Read
me more
times what he read; I can't properly understand these words, as if
promising me the treasure I desire." The old man immediately put on his green
glasses. But they fell off his nose when he noticed that yesterday's letters
were replaced with new ones. “What is the matter with you?” the caliph asked him.
“What does this mean?
surprise?" "Lord of the world, the inscriptions on the sabers have changed!" -
"What is it? -
asked the caliph. - However, it is indifferent; if you can, explain them to me."
"That's what they mean, sire," said the old man. "Woe to the impudent one who wants
to know what is beyond his powers." - "Woe to yourself! cried the caliph,
completely beside himself. - Get out of my sight! You will only burn half
beards, because yesterday you guessed it well. As for gifts, I never
I take back my gifts." An old man, smart enough to understand that
cheaply paid for stupidity - to tell the ruler an unpleasant truth, -
immediately disappeared and did not appear again.
Vathek immediately repented of his vehemence. Looking all the time
inscriptions, he noticed that they change daily; and there was no one to explain
them.
This restless activity heated his blood, made him dizzy and
so weak that he could hardly stand on his feet; he did just that
forced to carry himself to the top of the tower, hoping to find out something from
the stars
pleasant; but he was deceived in this hope. Eyes blinded by mist
head, served him ill; he saw nothing but thick, dark
clouds: an omen that seemed threatening to him.
Exhausted by such cares, the caliph completely lost heart; he is ill
fever, lost his appetite, and just as he ate unusually much before,
so now he began to drink uncontrollably. An unnatural thirst consumed him;
afternoon
and at night he poured whole streams of liquids into his mouth, as into a funnel.
Not
being able to enjoy the blessings of life, the unfortunate sovereign ordered
lock up the Palaces of the Five Senses, stop showing themselves to the people, put
flaunting his pomp, administer justice and retired to the seraglio. He always
was a good husband; wives lamented over him, tirelessly prayed for his health
and watered him all the time.
Meanwhile, Queen Caratis experienced the most lively grief. Every day she
locked herself up with the vizier Morakanabad, trying to find means to heal or
at least relieve the patient. Confident that this is an obsession, they
Together they rummaged through all the magic books and ordered to look everywhere
for a terrible
a foreigner who was considered the culprit of witchcraft.
A few miles from Samarra rose a high mountain covered with
thyme and virgin herb; it was crowned with a beautiful clearing, which
could be mistaken for a paradise for devout Muslims. Lots of fragrant
shrubs and groves of oranges, cedars, lemons, intertwined with palm trees,
vineyards and pomegranates, brought joy to taste and smell. The earth was
all strewn with violets; clove bushes filled the air with fragrance. It seemed that
four bright springs, so abundant in water that it would be enough for
ten armies poured out here for a greater resemblance to the Garden of Eden, {8}
irrigated by sacred rivers. On their verdant shores the nightingale sang of birth
roses, to his beloved, lamenting the transience of her charms; turtledove
yearned for more life's pleasures, and the lark greeted with his
life-giving light songs: here, more than anywhere else, the chirping of birds
expressed their various passions; delicious fruits they pecked
ad libitum seemed to double their strength.
Sometimes Vathek was carried to this mountain to give him a breath of fresh
air and
drink plenty of water from the springs. He was accompanied only by his mother, wife
and
several eunuchs. All of them were in a hurry to fill the large bowls of the
mountain with water.
crystal glass and vied with each other to bring him a drink; but their zeal was not
enough,
to satisfy his thirst; often he lay down on the ground and lapped water straight
from
sources.
Once poor Vathek lay for a long time in such a humiliating position as
suddenly a hoarse but loud voice was heard: "Why are you imitating a dog? B,
Caliph, so proud of his rank and power!" With these elephants, Natek
raises his head and sees a stranger, the culprit of so many troubles. It covers
excitement, anger ignites the heart; he shouts: "And why are you here, damn
Gyaur? Isn't it enough for you that you turned a vigorous and healthy sovereign
into
some kind of fur? Can't you see that I'm dying just as much from
that I drink too much, as well as from thirst?
"So take another sip," said the stranger, handing him a vial of
reddish liquid; - and to satisfy the thirst of your soul, when you satisfy
bodily, I will tell you that I am an Indian, but from a country unknown to anyone."
_From a country unknown to anyone!_ In these words, a spark flashed for the
caliph
Sveta. It was the fulfillment of part of his desires. And flattering myself with
the hope that
soon they would all be satisfied, he took the magic liquid and drank not
hesitate. Immediately he felt healthy, his thirst was quenched, and
the body is more mobile than ever. His joy was extraordinary; he
threw himself on the neck of the terrible Indian and kissed his nasty slobbering
mouth with
with such ardor, as if they were the coral lips of the most beautiful of his wives.
These outpourings of delight would never end if the eloquence of Caratis
wouldn't bring him back. She invited her son to return to Samarra, and he
ordered that a herald walk in front, proclaiming loudly that
the miraculous stranger reappeared, he healed the caliph, he spoke,
spoke!
Immediately all the inhabitants of this large city poured out of their houses.
adults and
the children ran in a crowd to look at Vathek and the Indian. They kept repeating:
"He healed our master, he spoke, spoke!" These words
resounded all day long, and they were not forgotten at the folk festivals arranged
the same evening as a token of joy; for poets they served as a refrain to all
the songs they put together for this beautiful occasion.
Then the caliph ordered the Palaces of the Senses to be reopened, and as he
was in a hurry
to visit first of all the Palace of Taste, he ordered to cook there a brilliant
a feast where he invited his favorites and senior military leaders. Indian,
sitting next to the caliph, behaved as if he thought that, having been honored with
such
honor, he can eat, drink and talk as much as he wants. Dishes disappeared from
table as soon as it appears. The courtiers looked at each other in surprise, and
the Indian,
without noticing it, he drank whole glasses for the health of everyone, sang
throat, told stories at which he himself laughed himself to death, and composed
impromptu which would have been commendable had he not accompanied them
terrible grimaces; during the feast he chatted like twenty astrologers, ate
less than a hundred porters and drank respectively.
Despite the fact that the table was laid thirty-two times, the caliph suffered
from
gluttony of his neighbor. His presence became for him
unbearable, and he could hardly hide his bad mood and anxiety;
finally, seizing a moment, he said in the ear of the chief of his eunuchs: "You
you see, Bababaluk, what scope this man has! What if he gets to
my wives? Order to strengthen supervision over them, especially over the
Circassians, they
most of all will please him."
The third roosters crowed, the hour of the Divan struck. {9} Vathek personally
promised
attend it. He gets up from the table and leans on the hand of the vizier,
more weary of his noisy neighbor than of drunken wine; poor sovereign
could barely stand.
Vazirs, high courtiers, lawyers lined up in a semicircle in front of their
master in respectful silence, and the Indian sat down cheekily on the step
throne, with such composure, as if he had not yet eaten anything, and chuckled
from under the hood of the cloak over the indignation that inspired the audience
with his
audacity.
Meanwhile, the Caliph did not think well from fatigue, was confused and made
mistakes in
administration of justice. The first vizier noticed this and found a way to
interrupt
court session, preserving the dignity of his master. He told him
barely audible: "Sir, Queen Caratis spent the night watching
planets; she tells me to tell you that you are in imminent danger.
Take care that this foreigner to whom you have shown so much honor for
a few magical jewels, did not encroach on your life. His liquid
as if healed you; but maybe it's just a poison, the effect of which
will be sudden. Do not discard this suspicion; at least ask him
how he cooked it, where he got it, and mention the sabers, which you seem to
forgot".
Infuriated by the insolence of the Indian, Vatek answered the vizier with a
nod
heads and said, turning to the monster: "Get up and tell in front of all the Divan,
what potions the liquid you gave me consists of; most importantly, open
the secret of the sabers sold to me, and be grateful for the favors that I give you
showered."
The Caliph fell silent, uttering these words as restrainedly as he could. But
the Indian
without answering and without moving, he continued to laugh and make faces.
Then Vathek lost his temper; with a kick he knocks him off
elevation, rushes after him and continues to beat him with such fury that
drags the entire Divan with it. All you could see was how the raised
legs; everyone wanted to kick him with a vengeance.
The Indian seemed to succumb to this game. Being small, he
curled up into a ball and rolled under the blows of the attackers who were chasing
him with
unheard of fury. Rolling this way from rest to rest, from the room
into the room, the ball carried along everyone who got in the way. In a palace
there was confusion and a terrible noise. Frightened sultanas peeked out from
behind
curtains; but as soon as the ball appeared, they could not restrain themselves.
In vain the eunuchs pinched them until they bled, trying to hold them - they
escaped from their
hands, and these faithful guards themselves, half dead with fear, also could not
help but
rush in the footsteps of the ill-fated ball.
Having swept in this way through the halls, rooms, kitchens, gardens and
palace
stables, the Indian finally rolled out into the yard. The Caliph was the most
furious and
chased after him with all his strength, kicking him with his feet; thanks to this
through diligence, he himself received several kicks intended for the ball.
Karatis, Morakanabad, and two or three wise viziers, who hitherto held back
from
common passion, threw themselves on their knees before the caliph, not wanting to
allow
to make him a laughing stock of the people; but he jumped over their heads and
ran further. Then they ordered the muezzins {10} to summon the people to
prayer, hoping to get him out of the way and avert disaster with prayers, but not
this helped too. It was enough to look at the devil's ball, like everyone else
rushed after him. The muezzins themselves, although they saw him from afar,
descended from
their minarets and joined the crowd. She grew up so fast that soon
in the homes of Samarra only the paralytic, the crippled, the dying, and the
infants were left;
nurses threw them to make it easier to run; Finally, the queen and
Morakanabad, and others joined them. Screams of women escaping from seraglios
and the eunuchs, who tried not to lose sight of them; scolding of husbands who
threatened each other
friend while running; kicks with legs; total dump - it all made Samarra
like a city taken by storm and given over to be plundered. Finally,
the damned Indian, who took the form of a ball, rushing through the streets and
squares,
flew out of the deserted city and headed for the valley that ran at the foot of
mountains of four springs, to the plain of Catulus.
 On the one hand, this valley was fenced off by a high hill, on the other, it
was
a terrible abyss dug by a waterfall. Caliph and the crowd following him,
fearing that the ball would rush there, they redoubled their efforts to catch up
with him, but everything was
in vain: the ball rolled into the abyss and disappeared into it like lightning.
Vathek, of course, would have rushed after the treacherous Giaur, if it were
not for him
held by an invisible hand. The fugitives also stopped; all at once
calmed down. The pursuers looked at each other in amazement. And despite
the funny nature of this scene, no one laughed. Downcast, confused and
In silence, they all returned to Samarra and dispersed to their homes, not thinking
about that
force majeure, which alone could be the cause of such shameful
follies; people, extolling themselves for good, when they are only his
tools, are undoubtedly inclined to ascribe to themselves the mistakes that
against their will.
One caliph did not want to return. He ordered to break in the valley
tents and, despite the persuasion of Karatis and Morakanabad, settled on the edge
abyss. No matter how much they convinced him that in this place the earth could
crumble and
that, moreover, he is too close to the magician, exhortations are not
helped. Having ordered to light thousands of torches, which were constantly
replaced by new ones, he
lay down on the dirty edge of the abyss and with the help of this artificial
lighting
tried to pierce with his eyes into the darkness that all heavenly
light. At times it seemed to him that voices were heard from the abyss, among which
he seemed to distinguish the Indian's voice; in reality it was the roaring of the
waters and
waterfalls roared, cascading down from the mountains.
Vathek spent the night in such a painful position. At dawn he returned to
tent and, without eating anything, fell asleep, and woke up only with the onset of
twilight.
Then he returned to his former place and did not leave it for several nights in a
row.
He paced to and fro with long strides, and cast ferocious glances at the stars,
as if reproaching them for having deceived him.
Suddenly, across the azure sky, from the valley to Samarra and beyond, bloody
stripes; it seemed that a formidable apparition was seizing the top of the great
tower.
The Caliph wished to go up there; but his strength left him, and in horror he
covered his head
hollow clothes.
All these frightening signs only aroused his curiosity. So
Thus, instead of returning to normal life, he persisted in
intending to stay where the Indian disappeared.
One night, as he was walking alone in the plain, the moon and
the stars suddenly faded; the light was replaced by deep darkness, and from the
wavering
the earth heard the voice of Giaur, like thunder: "Do you want to surrender to me,
to bow to the forces of the earth, to retreat from Mohammed? Then I will open the
palace for you
underground flame. There, under the huge vaults, you will see treasures,
promised to you by the stars; from there my sabers; Suleiman bin Daoud rests there,
{11} surrounded by talismans conquering the world."
The astonished caliph answered with a sigh, but in the tone of a man
accustomed to
supernatural: "Where are you? Show yourself, dispel this tiresome darkness!
How many torches have I burned to see you, but you still don't show yours
terrible face!" - "Renounce Mohammed," said the Indian, "give me
proof of your sincerity, otherwise you will never see me."
The unfortunate caliph promised everything. Immediately the sky cleared, and
by the light
planets that seemed to be fiery, Vathek saw an open earth. In depth
there was an ebony portal. In front of him, stretched out, lay the Indian, holding
holding a golden key and tapping it against the lock.
“Ah!” Vathek exclaimed. “How can I get down to you without breaking my neck?
Help me and open the door as soon as possible!" - "Hush! replied the Indian. - Know
that
I am thirsty, and I cannot open to you until I quench it. I need
blood of fifty children, choose them from the families of your viziers and chief
courtiers. Otherwise, neither my thirst nor your curiosity will be satisfied.
So go back to Samarra, get me what I want, drop them
with your own hands into this abyss - then you will see.
With these words the Indian turned his back on him; and the caliph, by
suggestion
demons, decided on a terrible sacrifice. He pretended to calm down and
went to Samarra at the cries of the people who still loved him. He's so
skillfully managed to appear calm, that even Karatis and Morakanabad were
deceived. Now it was only about festivities and entertainment. accepted
even to talk about the story with the ball, which until now no one dared to
mention:
everywhere they laughed at her; however, some were not laughing. Many are not yet
recovered from wounds received in this memorable adventure.
Vatek was very pleased with this attitude towards him, because he understood
that
it will help to carry out his nefarious designs. He was friendly to everyone
especially with viziers and chief courtiers. The next day he invited them
for a sumptuous feast. Imperceptibly starting a conversation about their children,
he looked
benevolence began to ask who had the most beautiful boys. Fathers
each exalted his own. The dispute broke out; it would have come to hand-to-hand if
not the presence of the caliph who pretended to want to be the judge himself
in this case.
Soon a whole crowd of these unfortunate children was brought to him. loving
mothers
dressed them up as well as you could to better show off their beauty. But at that
the time when their brilliant youth attracted all eyes and hearts,
Vathek examined them with perfidious greed and chose fifty for the victim.
Gyaura. Then, with an air of complacency, he proposed to arrange a holiday in the
valley for
these little favorites. They must, he said, more than anyone else
rejoice in his recovery. The kindness of the Caliph is charming. About her soon
all Samarra will know. Prepare stretchers, camels, horses; women, children,
old people, young men - everyone is accommodated as they want. The procession
starts on its way to
accompanying all confectioners of the city and suburbs; crowd of people moving
on foot; everyone rejoices, and no one remembers what it cost many
last trip down this road.
The evening was beautiful, the air was fresh, the sky was clear, the flowers
were fragrant. Mirnaya
nature seemed to rejoice in the rays of the setting sun. Their soft light
gilded the top of the mountain of four springs, illuminating both its flowering
slope and
herds frolicking on it. All that could be heard was the murmur of sources, the
sounds
the flutes and the voices of the shepherds calling to each other on the hills.
 The unfortunate victims who went to their deaths were part of this
idyll. In purity of soul and a sense of security, the children moved along
plain, frolicking, chasing butterflies, picking flowers, collecting brilliant
pebbles; many walked forward with a light step, rejoicing when they approached
the rest, and kissed them.
In the distance, a terrible abyss was already visible, in the depths of which
were
ebony gates. As if it crossed the middle of the plain with a black stripe.
Morakanabad and his comrades took it for one of those intricate structures,
whom the caliph loved; the unfortunate did not know its purpose. Vatek, not at all
desiring that the ill-fated place be examined closely, he stops the procession and
orders to draw a wide circle. Eunuchs come forward to measure out a place for
running competitions and prepare rings where arrows should fly.
Fifty boys quickly undress; slenderness and pleasantness of their outlines
tender bodies cause delight. Their eyes glow with joy, which is reflected
and on the faces of the parents. Everyone admonishes in the heart of that of the
little warriors,
Who interests him the most? everyone is attentive to the games of these lovely,
innocent
creatures.
The caliph takes advantage of this moment to separate himself from the crowd.
He approaches
edge of the abyss, and not without trembling hears the voice of an Indian gnashing
his teeth:
"Where are they?" - "The ruthless Giaur!" Vathek answered in agitation.
satisfy you in some other way? Ah, if you saw beauty, grace,
the naivete of these children, you would relent." - "Relent? Damn you
Chatterbox! cried the Indian. - Come on, give them here, quick! Or my doors
never open." "Don't shout so loudly," the caliph pleaded, blushing.
- "I agree to this," answered the Gyaur with a smile of an ogre, "you are not
deprived
mind, I'll wait another minute."
While they had this terrible conversation, the games went on as usual. They
are
ended when twilight shrouded the mountains. Then the caliph, standing on the edge
of the abyss,
shouted as loudly as possible: "Let fifty of my
little pets, let them come in order of success at the games! First
the winner I will give my diamond bracelet, the second - an emerald necklace,
to a third a belt of topaz, and to each of the others some part of my
clothes, ending with shoes.
At these words, joyful exclamations doubled; exalted to heaven
kindness of the sovereign, who decided to remain naked for the pleasure of his
subjects and
youth encouragement. Meanwhile, the caliph, undressing a little, raised each
once the hand with the shining award is as high as possible and, giving it to the
hurrying
to take the child, with the other hand he pushed him into the abyss, from where the
Giaur continued
repeat in a grumpy voice: "More! more! .."
This terrible deception took place with such speed that those who ran up did
not
managed to guess about the fate of comrades; and the audience was prevented from
seeing the darkness and
distance. Finally, dropping the fiftieth victim, Vatek decided that Giaur
now come for him and give him a golden key. He already imagined
is equal to Suleiman and is not obliged to give an account to anyone of his deeds,
when suddenly, to
to his great surprise, the edges of the crack drew closer, and under his feet he
felt
ordinary hard ground. His fury and despair were indescribable. He
cursed the treacherous Indian, called him the most disgraceful names, and stomped
foot, as if wanting him to hear. He was so mad that he was exhausted
fell to the ground as if unconscious. Vazirs and chief courtiers, being
closer than others to him, at first they decided that he sat down on the grass and
played with the children;
but then they began to worry, approached and saw that there was no
nobody. "What you need?" he asked in dismay. - "Where are the children? Where are
our
children?" they exclaimed. "Very funny," Vatek answered, "what do you want
make me responsible for every accident. Playing, your children fell down
into the abyss that was here, and where I myself would have fallen if I had not
rebounded
in time".
The fathers of the dead children answered this with tearing cries; they were
echoed
mother, tone higher; the rest, not knowing what was the matter, yelled louder than
the others.
Soon everywhere they began to say: "The Caliph threw this thing with us to please
damn Giaur! We will punish him for treachery, we will avenge him! avenge the blood
innocent! let's throw the cruel ruler into the waterfall, and let the most
memory of him!"
Karathis, frightened by the murmur, approached Morakanabad. "Vezir, -
she said to him, “you have lost two glorious children, you are probably the most
inconsolable of fathers; but you are noble - save your master!" - "Well,
mistress, - answered the vizier, - risking my own life, I will try to save
him from danger, and then I will leave him to the mercy of his sad fate.
"Bababaluk," Caratis continued, "stand at the head of your eunuchs; we will push
back
crowd; let's take, if possible, the unfortunate sovereign to the palace. "For the
first time
Bababaluk and his comrades were glad that they could not have children. They are
obeyed, and the vizier, helping them as far as he could, brought his
generous deed. Then he withdrew to give himself over to his tears.
As soon as the caliph returned, Caratis ordered that the entrance to the
castle. But, seeing that the indignation is growing and curses are heard from all
sides,
she said to her son: “Whether you are right or not, it doesn’t matter! We must save
your life.
Let's retire to your chambers; from there by an underground passage known only to
you and me,
let's go to the tower, where we will be protected by the dumb, who never came out
of there.
Bababaluk will think that we are still in the palace, and in our own interests
will protect him; then, without bothering with the advice of this woman
Morakanabad, we will see what to do."
Vatek did not answer his mother and allowed himself to behave implicitly, but
during the journey he constantly repeated: "Where are you, terrible Giaur? Have you
devoured
already children? Where are your sabers, golden key, talismans?" According to these
words, Karatis
figured something out. When the son calmed down a little in the tower, she had no
difficulty
got everything out of him. Far from the worries of conscience, she was angry as
soon as
maybe a woman, and that says a lot, because the weaker sex claims to
superiority in everything over the strong. So, the Caliph's story did not surprise
and did not
horrified Caratis; she was only amazed at the promises of Gyaur and said
son: "It must be confessed that this Giaur is somewhat bloodthirsty; however, the
underground
the deities are probably even scarier. But the promises of one and the gifts of
others are worth
some effort; for such treasures you can commit any crime.
So stop complaining about the Indian; I don't think you did all of it
prescriptions. I have no doubt that offerings must be made
the spirits of the underworld, and we will have to think about this when the
rebellion subsides; I
I will quickly restore peace and will not be afraid to spend your wealth on this,
for we will receive enough in return for them. "And the queen, who had an amazing
gift to convince, returned through the underground passage to the palace and
appeared from the window
people. She addressed him with a speech, and Bababaluk threw handfuls of
gold. The method turned out to be effective; the rebellion subsided, everyone went
home, and
Caratis returned to the tower.
The muezzins were calling for morning prayers when Karatis and Vathek went up
countless steps to the top of the tower, and although the morning was sad and
rainy, they stayed there for a while. I liked this gloomy half-light
their evil hearts. Seeing that the sun would soon break through the clouds, they
ordered to pull a canopy to protect against its rays. The weary Caliph thought only
about rest and, hoping to see prophetic dreams, lay down. And the active Karatis
went downstairs with a part of her dumb ones to prepare a sacrifice on
the next night.
On small steps laid out in the thickness of the wall, which were known only
she and son, Caratis descended first into the mysterious dungeons, where
there were mummies of ancient pharaohs, taken from the graves; then she
went to the gallery; there, under the supervision of fifty dumb and crooked
right eye of black women, oil of the most poisonous snakes, horns of unicorns and
ancient trunks, stupefied by their smell, chopped by magicians in remote
corners of India, not to mention many other terrible rarities; Karatis sama
compiled this collection in the hope of someday entering into communion with the
infernal
forces; she loved them passionately and knew their tastes. To get comfortable with
the horrors that lay ahead of her, she spent some time in the company of her
black women; these women looked with pleasure from the side of the dead head and
skeletons, seductively squinting their single eye; they writhed and
squirmed when the dead were pulled out of the cabinets, and, admiring the queen,
deafened her with their screams. At last, suffocating in the bad air, Caratis was
forced to leave the gallery, taking with her some of these monstrous treasures.
Meanwhile, the caliph did not see the desired dreams; but being in this desert
place, he felt a gnawing feeling of hunger. He demanded food from the dumb
and, completely forgetting that they did not hear anything, began to beat, bite and
pinch them
because they didn't move. Fortunately for these poor fellows, there was
Karatis and put an end to the unworthy scene. “What is the matter with you, my son?
she said, breathing heavily. - It seemed to me that thousands of bats were
squealing,
driven out of the lair, and it is you who torment my poor dumb ones; right you
don't
deserved that excellent food that I brought you!" - "Give it here! -
cried the caliph. - I'm starving." - "Well, if you can digest everything
this,” she said, “you have a good stomach.” “Hurry,” the caliph hurried. -
But my God! What horrors! Why do you need it? I'm sick!" - "Don't be like that
sissy, ”Caratis answered him,“ help me better bring all this into
order; you will see that precisely the objects that inspire disgust in you will
turn out to be
beneficent. Let's prepare a fire for the sacrifice tonight, and
don't think about food until we put it down. Don't you know that everyone
Should a solemn ceremony be preceded by a severe fast?
The caliph did not dare to object and gave himself up to grief and hunger that
tormented him;
mother continued her work. Soon, vessels were placed on the balustrades of the
tower
with snake oil, mummies and bones. The fire grew and in three hours reached a
height
twenty cubits. Finally, darkness came, and Caratis joyfully took off her
yourself clothes; she clapped her hands and waved a torch of human fat;
the dumb imitated her; Vathek could not stand it and, exhausted by hunger, lost
consciousness.
Already burning drops falling from the torches engulfed the magic
tree trunks, bluish lights flashed over poisonous oil,
mummies caught fire in clouds of dark, thick smoke; soon the fire reached the horns
unicorns, and then such a stench spread that the caliph suddenly came to
himself and cast a hazy gaze over the objects burning around him. burning oil
flowed down in waves, and the Negro women, offering more and more of his supplies,
added
its howl to the cries of Caratis. The flames so raged and smooth steel
reflected it so vividly that the caliph, unable to endure the heat and
brilliance, took refuge under the canopy of his battle banner.
Struck by the light that lit up the whole city, the people of Samarra hurried
got up, went up to the roofs and, seeing that the whole tower was on fire, half-
dressed
fled to the square. At that moment, the remnants of devotion awakened in them.
master, and, fearing that he would burn in his tower, they rushed to save
his. Morakanabad came out of his hiding place, wiping away his tears; he called for
a fight
with fire, like the others. Bababaluk, more accustomed to the smells of magical
drugs, suspected that this was the work of Caratis, and advised not to worry.
He was called an old rogue and an excellent traitor and was sent to help
camels and dromedaries laden with vessels of water; but how to get into
tower?
While they were trying to force the doors, a furious wind arose from the
northwest and
carried the flame far away. The crowd first leaned back, then surged with
redoubled zeal. The infernal smells of horns and mummies infected the air, and many
panting, they fell to the ground. Others said to the neighbors: "Step back, you
spread the infection." Morakanabad, who suffered the most, inspired pity.
People pinched their noses, but it was impossible to stop those who broke down the
doors. One hundred
forty of the strongest and most resolute achieved their goal. They made it to the
stairs
and in a quarter of an hour they had come a long way up its steps.
Caratis, alarmed by the gestures of dumb and black women, approaches
stairs, goes down several steps and hears shouts: "Here is water!" For
she was agile enough for her age, and, having quickly run up to the platform,
said to her son: "Stop the sacrifice! Now we can arrange it
much better. Some of these people, imagining that the tower was on fire,
had the audacity to break open the doors, hitherto impregnable, and rush here with
water.
It must be confessed that they are very kind - they have forgotten all your sins;
well
whatever, anyway! Let them rise, we will sacrifice them to Giaur; our dumb
strong enough and experienced; they will quickly finish off the weary." - "Good, -
said the caliph, - let them finish soon; I want to eat".
The unfortunate soon appeared. Out of breath from the climb at eleven thousand
steps, in despair that their buckets were almost empty, they were blinded by the
flames,
their heads were spinning from the smell of burning mummies, and, unfortunately,
they are no longer in
were able to notice the pleasant smiles with which dumb and black women
they put nooses around their necks; however, this did not diminish the joy of their
dear
killers. Strangled with extraordinary ease; victims fell without rendering
resistance, and died without uttering a cry. Soon Vathek was surrounded
the corpses of their most loyal subjects, who were also thrown into the fire.
Here the prudent Karatis found that it was time to finish; she ordered
pull the chains and lock the steel doors at the entrance.
As soon as these orders were carried out, the tower shook; the bodies are gone
and
the flames had gone from dark, bright crimson to soft pink. rose
fragrant fumes; the marble columns made harmonic sounds;
the molten horns emitted delightful fragrances. Karatis was in
delighted and in advance enjoyed the success of her spells, and the mute and
the negro women, disgusted by good smells, retired grumbling into
their lairs.
As soon as they left, the scene changed. Instead of a fire, horns and mummies
a luxuriously furnished table appeared. Among the mass of fine dishes, decanters
with
wine and Fagfur vases, {12} where excellent sherbet rested on the snow.
The caliph rushed at all this like a kite and set to work on a lamb with
pistachios, but
Caratis, preoccupied with something completely different, pulled out of a filigree
urn the longest
a scroll of parchment, which her son did not even notice. "Stop, glutton, -
she said imposingly, "and listen to what marvelous promises are made to you," and
she read aloud the following: "Beloved Vathek! You have exceeded my expectations;
I enjoyed the smell of your mummies and excellent horns, and especially -
Muslim blood that you shed on the fire. When the full moon comes
move out of the palace with all possible pomp; let them go ahead
musicians playing horns and timpani. Tell me to follow you
chosen slaves, beloved wives, a thousand luxuriously dressed camels - and
head to Istakhar. {13} There I will wait for you; there, crowned with a diadem
Giana ben Giana, you will drown in bliss; there you will be given talismans
Suleiman and the treasures of the ancient sultans. But woe to you if you are on the
way
stop someone for the night."
Despite the luxury he lived in, the Caliph never dined like this.
OK. He gave vent to the joy that these good news inspired, and resumed
their libations. Caratis did not hate wine and answered each time,
when he drank to Mohammed's health in mockery. Treacherous moisture instilled in
them in the end godless arrogance. They started
blaspheme; Valaam's donkey, the dog of the Seven Sleepers {14} and others
the animals in the Prophet's paradise became the butt of their shameless jokes. AT
in this beautiful state they descended merrily over eleven thousand
steps, mocking the alarmed crowd in the square, visible through
tower wells; then they descended into the dungeon and appeared in the royal
chambers. There
Bababaluk walked calmly, giving orders to the eunuchs who were filming
soot candles and painted on the beautiful eyes of Circassian women. Seeing the
caliph, he
said, "Ah, now it's clear that you didn't burn; I thought so." - "What do we care
before what you thought or what you think,” cried Caratis. - Run to
Morakanabadu, say that we are waiting for him, but do not stop on the way with
with their absurd reasoning."
 The Grand Vizier arrived at once; mother and son received him with great
importance, reported in a plaintive tone that the fire at the top of the tower had
succeeded
repay, but that, unfortunately, it cost the lives of the brave men who came to them
for help.
“Again misfortunes!” cried Morakanabad with a groan.
faithful! the holy Prophet is no doubt angry with us, it behooves you
propitiate him." - "We will propitiate him very well," answered the caliph with a
smile,
did not bode well. - You will have enough free time for
prayers; this country is ruining my health, I need climate change; mountain
I am tired of the four springs, I must drink from the source of Rokhnabad and
cool off in the beautiful valleys that it irrigates. In my absence you
you will rule the state at the direction of my mother and take care of
about everything that may be needed for her experiments; you know that our tower
full of objects precious to knowledge."
Morakanabad did not like the tower at all; for its construction were
untold treasures were used up, and he only knew that there were black women, dumb
and some disgusting drugs. He was also very embarrassed by Karatis,
changing like a chameleon. Her cursed eloquence often infuriated
poor Muslim. But if he did not particularly like her, the son was still
worse, and the vizier was glad to be rid of him. So he went
calm the people and prepare everything for the departure of the ruler.
Hoping by this to please the spirits of the underground palace even more,
Vatek wished
furnish your trip with unheard-of luxury. For this he confiscated
right and left the property of his subjects, and his worthy mother walked on
their harems, collecting the jewels she found there. All dressmakers and
embroiderers of Samarra and other large cities for fifty miles around without
rest, they worked on palanquins, sofas, divans and stretchers,
destined for the train of the monarch. All the wonderful fabrics were taken
Masulipatana, and to embellish Bababaluk and other black eunuchs,
it took so much muslin that there was none left in all of Babylonian Iraq
not a single elbow.
While these preparations were going on, Caratis arranged small dinners to
win the favor of the dark forces. She invited famous
the beauty of women; blond, fragile build were especially valued. These dinners
distinguished by incomparable grace; but when fun became common,
eunuchs let vipers under the table and poured full pots of scorpions under their
feet.
The reptiles sting excellently. Karatis pretended not to notice anything, and no
one
did not dare to move. When did one of the guests begin
agony, she amused herself by dressing her wounds with excellent theriac {15}
of her own preparation: the kind queen could not stand idleness.
Vathek was not so industrious. He spent his time in contentment
feelings to which his palaces were dedicated. He was not seen again in the Divan,
nor in the mosque; and while half of Samarra followed suit,
the other shuddered at the sight of the ever-increasing unbridled manners.
Meanwhile, an embassy returned from Mecca, sent there for more than
pious times. It consisted of the most revered mullahs. They are
perfectly fulfilled their mission and brought back a precious broom, one of those
with which they swept the sacred Kaaba, a gift truly worthy
the greatest sovereign of the earth.
At this time, the caliph was in an inappropriate place for receiving
ambassadors. He
heard the voice of Bababaluk exclaiming behind the curtain: "There is an excellent
Edris al-Shafei and the angelic Muataddin brought from Mecca a broom and
tears of joy yearn to present it to Your Majesty.
her here, - said Vatek, - she can be useful for something.
perhaps?” Bababaluk answered beside himself. “Obey,” the Caliph objected, “
for this is my highest will: it is here, and not elsewhere, that I
I wish to receive these kind people who make you so delighted."
The eunuch grumbled off and ordered the venerable retinue to follow him.
Sacred joy seized the worthy elders, and although they were tired from a long
way, they still followed Bababaluk with amazing ease. They are
proceeded through stately porticoes, and thought it very flattering to them that
the caliph does not receive them in the audience hall, as ordinary mortals. Soon
they got into the seraglio, where at times, because of the rich silk curtains
beautiful blue and black eyes appeared and disappeared like lightning.
Imbued with reverence and wonder, and filled with their divine
mission, the elders walked in a file along endless small corridors, which
led to the room where the caliph was waiting for them.
"Is not the Commander of the Faithful ill?" Edris al-Shafei said in a whisper
to your companion. "He is obviously in the chapel," replied al-Mu'atheddin.
Vatek, who heard this dialogue, shouted: "Does it matter where I am? Come in." AND,
stretching out his hand from behind the curtain, he buried the sacred broom.
Everything is respectful
prostrated themselves as far as the cramped corridor allowed, so that even
correct semicircle. Venerable Edris al-Shafei took out a broom from an embroidered
fragrant shrouds that protected her from the eyes of the uninitiated, separated
from
comrades and solemnly moved to the room, which he considered a chapel.
What was his surprise, his horror! Vathek snatched from him with a laugh.
a broom with a trembling hand and, aiming at the cobwebs hanging in some places, ia
azure ceiling, swept them all to one.
The astonished elders, having lowered their beards, did not dare to raise
their heads. But they
everyone saw: Vathek carelessly pulled back the curtain separating him from them.
their tears
soaked the marble. Al-Mu'atheddin fainted from chagrin and fatigue, and
The caliph laughed until he dropped and mercilessly clapped his hands. - "My dear
Black hare, ”he said, finally, to Bababaluku,“ wound these good people
my pshrazsky wine. Since they can boast that they know better than others
my palace, then may they be given the greatest honor." With these words, he
I threw a broom in their faces, and with a laugh I went to Karatis. Bababaluk did
everything
possible to console the elders, but the two weakest died right there on
place, the rest, in despair, not wanting to live, ordered to carry themselves in
bed, with
who are no longer up.
The next night, Vatek and his mother climbed to the top of the tower to
ask the luminaries about the journey. Since the constellations were very favorable,
the caliph wished to enjoy such an attractive sight. He had a fun dinner
on a platform still black from the terrible sacrifice. During a feast in
thunderous laughter rang out in the air, which he considered good
the Omen.
The whole palace was in motion. The fires were not extinguished all night;
knocking hammers on
anvils, the voices of the women who embroidered with singing, and their guards -
everything violated
the silence of nature and Vathek liked it extremely; it seemed to him that he
triumphantly ascends the throne of Suleiman.
The people were no less pleased than him. Everyone set to work to speed up
the moment that was to bring them liberation from the tyranny of such
strange ruler.
The day before the departure of this reckless monarch, Caratis saw fit
resume your advice. She did not stop repeating mysterious commands
parchment, which she had memorized, and especially insisted that he
did not visit anyone on the way. "I know well," she said, "that you
lover of delicious food and young girls, but be content with your old ones
chefs, the best in the world, and remember that in your camping harem there are at
least three
dozens of beauties from whom Bababaluk has not yet taken off their veils. If mine
presence here was not necessary, I myself would watch your
behavior. I have a great desire to see this underground palace teeming with
different things that are interesting for people like you and me; most
I like dungeons; I have a fondness for corpses and mummies and I struggle with
bet you'll find a lot of stuff like that there. Don't forget me and
when you take possession of the talismans that should give you power over the
kingdom
perfect metals and open the bowels of the earth, send here some
faithful genius behind me and my collections. Oil of the snakes I pinched
to death, will be a wonderful gift for our Giaur: he probably loves
this kind of delicacy."
When Caratis finished her excellent speech, the sun went down behind the
mountain
four springs, giving way to the moon. It was a full moon; women, eunuchs and
to the pages, burning with the desire to set off, this luminary seemed huge and
extraordinarily wonderful. The city resounded with joyful cries and the sound of
trumpets.
Everywhere tents fluttered feathers, and sultans shone in the soft moonlight.
The large square looked like a flower garden, decorated with the best tulips.
East.
The caliph in full dress, leaning on the vizier and Bababaluk, descended
the main staircase of the tower. The crowd prostrated themselves, and the heavily
laden camels
kneeled before him. The spectacle was magnificent, and the caliph himself
stopped to admire them. Reverent silence reigned, only slightly
broken by the cries of the eunuchs in the rearguard. These vigilant servants
noticed that
some palanquins with women leaned too much in one direction: there
some daredevils managed to deftly slip through; but they were immediately thrown
out and
gave the seraglio to the surgeons with proper instructions.
These small events did not lessen the grandeur of the solemn scene; Vathek
greeted the moon in a friendly manner; lawyers, viziers and courtiers, gathered,
to enjoy the last look of the sovereign, were offended by such
idolatry. Finally, horns and trumpets from the top of the tower gave a signal to
departure. Some dissonance in the overall harmony was only Karatis,
who sang the hymns of Giaur; she was echoed in bass by black women and dumb people.
Kind
Muslims took it for the buzzing of nocturnal insects, which was considered bad
an omen, and begged Vathek to take care of his sacred person.
Here they raise the big banner of the caliphs; twenty thousand spears of
retinue shine;
caliph, majestically trampling on a cloth embroidered with gold, which was spread
out
in front of him, sits down in a stretcher to the joyful cries of his subjects.
Procession
set off in such order and silence that one could hear the chirping of grasshoppers
in
bushes of the Catulus plain. Made a good six miles before dawn, u
the morning star was still twinkling in the sky when a crowded procession arrived
at
bank of the Tigris, where they pitched tents to rest for the rest of the day.
So three days passed. On the fourth heaven violently flashed by the thousands
lights; there was a deafening thunderclap, and frightened Circassian women in fear
embraced their hideous guardians. The caliph was already beginning to regret
his Palace of the Senses; he really wanted to take refuge in the town of
Gullshiffar,
whose ruler came to him with provisions. But looking at
planks, he courageously remained wet in the rain, despite the insistence
approximate. He took his idea too close to his heart, and great
hopes kept him courageous. Soon the caravan got lost; called
geographers to determine where they are; but their wet cards were in
in the same deplorable state as they themselves, moreover, since the time of Harun
al-Rashid
travels so far were not undertaken, so that no one knew what
keep directions. Vathek, who was well versed in the arrangement of the heavenly
shone, poorly imagined where he was on earth. He broke out
scolding, more furious than thunder, and mentioned the gallows, which was not
especially pleasing to the ears of scientists. Finally, wanting to insist on
his, he ordered to head along the steep cliffs, choosing a path that, like
it seemed to him that he would lead them to Rokhnabad in four days: no matter how
much
warned, he did his own thing.
Women and eunuchs, who had never seen anything like it, trembled and
let out plaintive cries at the sight of gorges and terrible abysses, along the
edges
which the path wound. Night fell before the caravan reached the pass.
The wind blew up, tore the curtains of the palanquins and stretchers to shreds, and
unfortunate women were at the mercy of the elements. Darkness increased the horror
of this
disastrous night; only the wailing of the pages and the weeping of the women could
be heard.
To complete the misfortune, a menacing roar was heard, and soon in the thicket
of the forest
glittering eyes flickered - it could only be tigers or devils.
Workers busy repairing the road, and part of the avant-garde were torn to pieces,
unable to figure out what it was. There was an extreme confusion: the wolves,
tigers and other predators came running from all sides. Bones crunched in the air
there was a terrifying flapping of wings; the kites set to work.
Finally, horror seized both the retinue of the monarch and his seraglio, which
were
two miles from there. Vatek, guarded by eunuchs, did not yet know anything, he
lay in his spacious litter on soft silk cushions; two small
the page, whiter than the enamel of Frangistan, {16} drove flies away from him, and
he slept deep
sleep, and he imagined the brilliant treasures of Suleiman. The screams of women
suddenly awakened him, and instead of the Gyaur with the golden key, he saw
Bababaluk, dumbfounded with fear. "Sir!" exclaimed the faithful servant
mightiest of monarchs. - Misfortune! Fierce beasts for which you are not
better than a dead donkey, attacked the camels and devoured the thirty most heavily
loaded with their drivers; your bakers, cooks and those who carried
provisions for your table, suffered the same fate, and if our holy Prophet
will not protect us, we will have nothing to eat." At the word "eat" the caliph
completely
confused; he yelled and began to beat his chest. Bababaluk, seeing that
the ruler completely lost his head, plugged his ears so that at least not
hear ga ma seraglio. And as the darkness deepened and anxiety grew, he decided to
heroic tool. "Women and you, my brethren!" he shouted from all
forces. - For business! Let's get some fire! Lest they say that the Lord
the faithful served as food for vile beasts."
Although among the beauties there were many capricious and intractable, this
time
everyone obeyed. In an instant the lights in all the palanquins lit up. Flashed ten
thousand torches, all, not excluding the Caliph, were armed with thick wax
candles. Wrapping the ends of long poles with tow soaked in oil, they lit them,
and the cliffs lit up like daylight. Clouds of sparks flew in the air, the wind
fanned
them, ferns and shrubs caught fire. The fire quickly spread; scary
hissing, snakes crawled from all sides, leaving their homes in despair. Horses,
stretching out their heads, they neighed, beat with their hooves and kicked
mercilessly.
The cedar forest, beside which they rode, blazed, and along the slopes
along the branches, the fire spread to the palanquins in which the women sat;
fine muslin and beautiful fabrics flared up, and the beauties had to
jump out at the risk of breaking your neck. Vathek, spewing a thousand curses,
was forced, following the example of others, to descend to the earth with his
sacred person.
Something unimaginable happened: women, not knowing how to get out of trouble,
fell into the mud, in vexation, shame and rage. "For me to go!" - said
one; "To get my feet wet!" - said the other; "To make me dirty
dress!" - exclaimed the third; "The vile Bababaluk, - they all shouted
at once, - the scum of hell! Why do you need torches? It would be better if we were
devoured
tigers than to appear in this form in front of everyone. We are forever disgraced.
Any
porter in the army, every camel cleaner will boast that he saw
part of our body, and even worse, our faces. "With these words, the most
the modest threw themselves face-first into the ruts. The more daring were not
averse
throw Bababaluk himself there, but the cunning one knew them and rushed to run with
all his might
forces with his comrades, shaking torches and striking timpani.
From the fire it became light and warm, as on the best sunny summer day. O
horror, the caliph himself got stuck in the mud, like an ordinary mortal! He got
sick
sanity and he couldn't move on. One of his wives, an Ethiopian (he had
very diverse harem), took pity on him, grabbed him, put him on
shoulders and, seeing that the fire is approaching from all sides, despite the
severity
burden, rushed with an arrow. Other women revived by danger
followed her as fast as they could; then the guards galloped, and the grooms,
pushing, they drove the camels.
Finally, they reached a place where wild animals had recently raged;
but the animals were clever enough and retired when they heard this terrible
uproar; to
Besides, they already had a great dinner. Bababaluk nevertheless rushed to
two or three of the fattest ones, who were so full that they could not move, and
began
skin them carefully. Since the fire was already quite far away and
The heat gave way to pleasant warmth, so we decided to stay here. Picked up
scraps of painted tents; buried the remnants of the feast of wolves and
tigers; took out their anger on a few dozen vultures who had eaten their fill,
and, having counted the camels, calmly fertilizing the soil with their departures,
they placed the women somehow and pitched the tent of the caliph on the most level
ground.
Vathek stretched out on a downy feather bed, gradually recovering from the
jump on
Ethiopian - she was a shaky horse! Rest restored his usual appetite; he
asked for food, but, alas, soft breads that were baked in silver ovens for
his royal lips, delicious cakes, fragrant jams, phials of Shiraz
wines, porcelains with snow, excellent grapes from the banks of the Tigris - all
disappeared! Bababaluk could only offer him a tough fried wolf, stew
kite meat, bitter herbs, poisonous mushrooms, thistle and root
mandrakes, which ulcerated the throat and burned the tongue. From his drinks
turned out to be several bottles of bad vodka, which the cooks hid in
shoes. It is clear that such a disgusting dinner should have brought Vathek to
despair; he plugged his nose and chewed with terrible grimaces. Nonetheless
ate not badly and went to bed, for better digestion.
Meanwhile, the clouds disappeared over the horizon. The sun was burning, and
its rays,
reflected from the rocks, they burned the caliph, despite the fact that he was
hiding behind
curtains. Swarms of foul-smelling wormwood flies bit him until he bled. Being not
able to endure, he suddenly woke up and, not knowing what to do, with all his might
began to fight them off; Bababaluk was still snoring, all in
repulsive insects that cared especially for his nose. small
the pages threw down their fans. Half dead, they are weak voices bitterly
they reproached the caliph, who for the first time in his life heard the truth.
Then he again began to curse the Giaur and even showed some
favor to Mohammed. "Where am I?" he exclaimed.
rocks, beyond gloomy valleys? Or have we come to the terrible Kafu? {17} Maybe
Will the Simurgh peck out my eyes now {18} as a punishment for my ungodly
undertaking?"
With these words, he stuck his head into the hole in the tent. But what a sight
presented to him! On one side, an endless plain of black sand,
the other is sheer cliffs overgrown with vile thistles, the burning taste of which
he still felt. True, it seemed to him that among the thorns and prickly
plants, he distinguishes giant flowers, but he was mistaken: they were tattered
colorful fabrics and the remains of the tents of his magnificent caravan. in the
cliffs
there were many crevices, and Vathek began to listen, hoping to hear the noise
some stream; but only the muffled murmur of his companions reached him,
cursing the journey and demanding water. Some are even close to him
shouted: "Why were we brought here?", "Does our caliph need to build
another tower?", "Or do the ruthless afrites live here, {19} whom
Karatis?"
At the name Karatis, Vatek remembered the tablets she had given him and
advised to resort to in extreme cases. He started picking them up and
suddenly heard joyful cries and clapping; the curtain of his tent
parted, and he saw Bababaluk with a part of his entourage. They led
two dwarfs, as high as a cubit; the little ones carried a large basket of melons,
oranges and pomegranates; in silvery voices they sang the following: "We
we live on top of these rocks, in a hut woven from reeds and reeds;
eagles envy our dwelling; a small spring serves us for abdess, {20]
and not a day goes by that we do not read the prayers laid down by the holy
prophet. We
We all love you, Commander of the Faithful! Our lord, good Emir Fakreddin,
loves you too. He reveres in you the viceroy of Mohammed. Although we are small, he
trusts us; he knows that our hearts are as good as we are
mind; and he settled us here to help those who got lost in these dull
mountains. Last night we were reading the Qur'an in our little cell, when suddenly
a gusty wind, from which our dwelling trembled, blew out the fire. Two hours
we spent in the deepest darkness; and in the distance we heard sounds that
mistook for the bells of a kafila, {21} making his way among the rocks. Soon
the cries, the roar and the ringing of the timpani struck our ears. Numb with
horror, we thought
that it was Dejial {22} with his destroying angels who came to strike the earth.
At this time, a blood-colored flame broke out over the horizon, and after
for a few moments we were bombarded with sparks. Out of my mind at the terrible
sight
we knelt down, opened the book inspired by the blessed spirits, and
in the light that shone around, they read a verse that said:
the mercy of Heaven; trust only in the holy Prophet; Mount Kaf may
shake, but the power of Allah is unshakable_". As soon as we uttered these
words, an unearthly calm took possession of our souls; there was a deep silence
and we distinctly heard a voice saying, "Servants of my faithful servant,
put on your sandals and descend into the happy valley where
Fakreddin; tell him that he has a golden opportunity to quench
thirst for a hospitable heart: the Commander of the Faithful himself got lost in
these mountains; we need to help him." With joy, we fulfilled the command of the
angel, and
our master, full of pious zeal, personally collected these melons,
oranges and pomegranates; he follows us with a hundred dromedaries loaded with
furs of the purest water from its fountains; he will kiss your fringe
sacred garment and will beg you to visit his humble dwelling, among
these waterless deserts like an emerald embedded in lead. "When he finished,
the dwarfs continued to stand in deep silence, with folded
hands.
During this beautiful speech, Vatek took up the basket, and long before
after the speakers had finished, the fruit melted in his mouth. As
he ate, piety returned to him; he repeated prayers and demanded
Alcoran and sugar at the same time.
In this mood, Vathek accidentally glanced at the boards that he had put aside.
with the appearance of dwarfs; he took them again - and as if he fell from heaven
to earth,
seeing the words written in red letters by the hand of Caratis; meaning made them
shudder: "_Beware of old scribes and their little messengers, at the elbow
growth; beware of their pious deceptions; instead of eating them
melons, you should put them on a spit. If you succumb to weakness and
go to them, the door of the underground palace will slam shut and crush you. Your
your body will be spat upon, and bats will nest in your belly."
“What does this formidable nonsense mean?” cried the Caliph.
to die of thirst in these sandy deserts when I can rest in
happy valley of melons and cucumbers? Damn the Gyaur with his ebony
entrance! I've wasted enough time on him! And who can prescribe
me laws? I must not visit anyone, they tell me. Yes, can I
come to a place that no longer belongs to me?” Bababaluk, not
who uttered not a word from this monologue, approved it with all his heart, and
with him
all the women agreed, which had never happened before.
Dwarfs were hospitably received, treated kindly, put on small
satin pillows; admired the proportionality of their small bodies, wanted
see them in detail; offered key rings and sweets; but they
refused with astonishing gravity. Then they climbed up the hill
where the caliph was, and, sitting on his shoulders, they began to whisper in his
ear
prayers. Their little tongues moved like aspen leaves, and Vathek's patience
began to dwindle as cheers announced the arrival
Fakreddin with a hundred long-bearded elders, Alcorans and dromedaries. Fast
they began to bathe and pronounce bismillah. {23} Vathek got off
from his annoying mentors and followed the example of those who arrived; its very
got impatient.
The good emir was extremely religious and liked to say pleasant things; he
gave a speech five times longer and five times less interesting than his
little predecessors. Caliph, unable to bear it, cried out: "Dear Fakreddin,
for Mohammed's own sake, enough! Let's go to your green valley, I want
be refreshed by the wonderful fruits bestowed on you by heaven. "At the word" let's
go "everyone
set off on the road. The elders were driving rather slowly, but Vathek secretly
ordered
little pages to spur their dromedaries. Animal jumping and confusion
eighty-year-old riders were so funny that in all the palanquins
there were explosions of laughter.
Nevertheless, they safely descended into the valley by huge steps,
which the emir ordered to lay in the rocks; murmur began to come
streams and the rustle of leaves. Soon the caravan entered the path, along the
edges of which
flowering shrubs grew; it led to a great palm forest,
which overshadowed with its branches a vast building of hewn stone. This building
crowned with nine domes and was decorated with as many bronze
portals with enamel inscriptions: "_Here is a refuge for pilgrims, a shelter for
travelers
and the treasury of the secrets of the whole world_".
At each door stood nine pages beautiful as the sun, in modest
long robes of Egyptian linen. They warmly welcomed
arrived, and four of the most beautiful put the caliph on a luxurious techtravan;
{24} four others, somewhat less attractive, took up Bababaluk,
trembling with joy at the sight of a good dwelling; the suite was taken care of
rest.
When the men left, the door of the great hall on the right side
melodious loops, and from there came a slender young girl with light ashy
hair that was lightly blown by the evening breeze. Behind her, like the Pleiades,
her friends followed, barely touching the ground with their feet. They all went to
the tents where the sultanas were; and the girl with a graceful bow said to them:
"Charming ladies, everything is ready; we have arranged a bed for you to rest and
threw jasmine into your chambers; not a single insect will disturb your sleep:
we will drive them away with hundreds of fans. Go, dear guests, refresh your
tender legs and snow-white bodies in pools of rose water; and soft light
fragrant lamps, our servants will tell you tales. "Sultanas
gladly accepted this courteous invitation and followed the girl to
emir's harem. But let us leave them for a moment and return to the Caliph.
He was taken to a palace with a huge dome, illuminated by hundreds of
luminaries from
rock crystal. Many vases of the same substance with excellent sherbet
sparkled on a large table, where fine dishes were in abundance, among
other things - rice in almond milk, saffron soup and lamb with cream -
favorite dish of the Caliph. He ate an unusually large amount of it, exclaimed with
joy
friendship to the emir and, despite the refusals of the dwarfs, made them dance;
devout
the little ones did not dare to disobey the Commander of the Faithful. Finally he
stretched out
on the sofa and fell asleep more peacefully than ever.
Deep silence reigned under the dome, broken only by the champing
Bababaluk, who was rewarding himself for a forced post in the mountains. Since the
eunuch
was in too good a mood to fall asleep, and did not like idleness, then
decided to go to the harem, look after his women, look,
whether they rubbed themselves with Mecca balm in a timely manner, whether their
eyebrows are in order and
everything else - in a word, to render them small services in which they
needed.
Long and unsuccessfully he searched for the door to the harem. Afraid to wake
up the caliph,
the eunuch did not dare to cry out, and everything was silent in the palace. He has
already become
despair, when he suddenly heard a quiet whisper: it was the dwarfs who had returned
to
to their usual occupation - for the nine hundred and ninth time in their lives they
reread
Alcoran. They very politely invited Bababaluk to listen to them, but he was
busy with others. The dwarfs, although somewhat offended, nevertheless showed him
the way to
the rest he was looking for. To do this, it was necessary to go a lot of very dark
corridors. He groped his way, and at last, at the end of the long passage,
heard the sweet chatter of women. His heart beat with joy. "Ah, you haven't
sleep! he exclaimed, approaching with large strides. - Don't think that I
resigned from his duties; I was left only to finish the leftovers from the table
our lord." The two black eunuchs, hearing such a loud voice, hastily
rushed to the entrance, with sabers in their hands; but scattered on all sides
exclamations: "Yes, this is Bababaluk, only Bababaluk!" Really,
the vigilant guard approached the veil of scarlet silk, through which
pleasant light penetrated, and saw a large oval pool of dark
purple. It was bordered by curtains in lush folds; they were half
pulled back, and behind them were seen groups of young slaves, among them Bababaluk
recognized his former pupils, who stretched out their arms in bliss, as if trying
embrace fragrant water and restore your strength. languid and tender
glances, whispers in his ear, charming smiles that accompanied the little
secrets, the sweet smell of roses - everything breathed a voluptuousness that
infected
Bababaluka.
However, he retained his seriousness and in an imperative tone ordered
beauties to get out of the water and comb their hair properly. While he gave
orders, young Nuroniar, daughter of the emir, pretty and playful, like a gazelle,
made a sign to one of her slaves to quietly lower the big swing down,
attached to the ceiling with silk cords. She herself communicated with gestures
with
women sitting in the pool; they were unhappy that they had to leave it
refuge of bliss, tangled their hair to tease Bababaluk, and started
many different pranks.
Seeing that the eunuch was ready to get angry, Nuroniar approached him with
with a look of utmost respect and said: "Sir, it is not appropriate that the chief
the eunuchs of the Caliph, our Sovereign, stood all the time; kindly, kind
guest, to rest on the sofa, which will burst with vexation if it does not receive
such
honor." Fascinated by this flattery, Bababaluk politely replied: "The joy of my
gaze, I accept the offer coming from your sweetest lips; I confess
from delight in front of your brilliant charms, I weakened. "-" Rest
same,” answered the beauty, seating him on an imaginary sofa. As soon as he sat
down, she
exploded like lightning. Seeing what was happening, the naked women jumped out of
the bath and
began swinging wildly. Soon they began to fly all
the space of a high dome, so poor Bababaluk was seized
breath. He first touched the water, then immediately knocked his nose into the
glass; in vain
he shouted in a hoarse, cracked voice: outbursts of laughter drowned him out.
Nuroniar was intoxicated with youth and gaiety; she was used to eunuchs
ordinary harems, but never seen such a disgusting and
high-ranking, so she had the most fun. Then she
began to sing, parodying Persian verses: "_A gentle and white dove,
rushing in the air, look at the share of a faithful friend! Singer - nightingale, I
-
your rose; sing me a nice song_.
The sultanas and slaves, inspired by these jokes, swung the swing so much,
that the cords broke, and poor Bababaluk, like a clumsy turtle, crashed
in the pool. There was a general cry; twelve secret doors opened, and
the women disappeared, throwing linen at Bababaluk and extinguishing the fire.
In the dark, up to his neck in water, the poor freak could not free himself
from under
a pile of dresses thrown over him and, to his extreme chagrin, heard from
bursts of laughter from all sides. In vain he tried to get out of the pool:
his hands slid along the edges, drenched in oil from broken lamps, and he again
fell, with a dull roar that resounded under the high vaults. And every time
the treacherous laughter resumed. Believing that this place is inhabited rather
demons than women, he decided not to make any more attempts, but
humbly wait. His annoyance poured out in curses, from which the evil ones
the neighbors, casually lying together, did not utter a word. Morning caught
a eunuch in this sweet position; and only then they pulled him out from under the
pile
linen, half-suffocated and soaked through.
The caliph had already ordered to look for him everywhere, and he appeared
before his
overlord, limping; from the cold he did not get a tooth on a tooth. Seeing him in
In such a state, Vathek cried out: "What's the matter with you? Who treated you
like that?" - "BUT
who forced you to enter this accursed lair? - Bababaluk asked in
turn. “Is it fitting for such a sovereign as you to hide with his
the harem of the old bearded emir, who knows nothing of decency? What
for the girls he keeps here! Imagine they soaked me like a crust
bread, forced, like a buffoon, to dance all night on the damned swing!
A great example to your sultanas, whom I so intensely instilled the rules
decency!"
Vatek did not understand anything from his words and ordered to tell
everything in order.
But instead of pitying the poor fellow, he began to laugh out loud,
imagining him on a swing. Bababaluk was offended and could hardly restrain himself
within respect. "Laugh, laugh, Lord! I wish that
this Nuroniar played a joke on you too; she's evil enough
will not spare even you." These words made her first on the caliph special
impressions: but afterwards he remembered them.
Meanwhile, Fakreddin appeared and invited Vatek to solemn prayers.
and ablutions, performed in a vast meadow, irrigated by many streams.
The Caliph found the water cool and prayers deadly boring. He was entertained
only a multitude of calenders, {25} ascetics and dervishes wandering to and fro
across the meadow. Brahmins, fakirs and various saints from India especially amused
him,
whom the emir gave shelter during their journey. Each of these people
they had their own quirks: some dragged long chains; others drove orangutans;
still others were armed with whips, and all performed their exercises admirably.
Some climbed trees, stood with a motionless outstretched leg, swayed
over a small fire, mercilessly flicked their noses. were between them and
lovers of parasites; the latter paid them in return. These wanderers
bigots aroused disgust in dervishes, calenders and ascetics. They were collected in
hope that the presence of the caliph would cure them of their madness and turn them
into
Muslim faith; but, alas, it was a cruel mistake! Instead of
to preach to them, Vathek treated them like jesters, asked on his behalf
to bow to Vishnu and Ichor, and in particular busied himself with one fat old man
with
the islands of Serendiba, {26} the funniest of all. "Hey," he told him,
name of your gods, make some funny jump!" Offended old man
started crying, and since it was boring to look at him, Vatek turned away.
Bababaluk, who accompanied the Caliph with an umbrella, said to him: "Let your
Lordship
beware of this rabble. What a stupid idea to collect them here! maybe
Is it possible that the great sovereign was regaled with such a spectacle, with
mangy
monks in the form of divertissement! If I were you, I would order a good one
fire and cleanse the earth from the emir with his harem and from all his menagerie.
"Shut up," Vatek replied. "I'm extremely interested in all this, and I won't leave
with
meadows until I have reviewed all the cattle that live here.
As the caliph moved forward, he was shown more and more
new unfortunates: blind, half-blind, noseless men, earless women - all
this is to flaunt the great mercy of Fakreddin, who distributed
by their elders poultices and plasters. At noon, the emir arranged a magnificent
a procession of cripples, and soon the whole plain was covered with groups of the
poor. The blind walked
groping for the blind; the lame limped by a whole troop, and the one-armed
waved their only hand. On the bank of a large waterfall
housed the deaf; those who came from Pegu {27} had the most beautiful ears and
the largest, but their privilege was that they heard the least.
There were also deformities of all kinds - crops, humps and even horns,
many are surprisingly smooth.
The emir wanted to give this holiday an appropriate solemnity and
to render all kinds of honors to his eminent guest, so he ordered
spread on the grass a lot of skins and tablecloths. Served different varieties of
pilaf and
other religiously consecrated dishes of good Muslims. Vatek, shamelessly
religiously tolerant, took care to order some unlawful dishes,
offended the feelings of the faithful. Soon the whole pious assembly was taken
with great appetite for food. Caliph was very eager to follow their example, and,
despite all the exhortations of the chief eunuch, he wished to dine there and then.
Immediately the emir ordered to put the table in the shade of the willows. As a
first course
served a fish caught right there in the river flowing through the golden sand, at
the foot of a very high hill. She was fried, barely pulled out of the water, and
seasoned with exquisite herbs from Mount Sinai: the emir did everything in the same
way
excellent as well as pious.
The feast was in full swing when suddenly melodious sounds were heard
lute, and the echo repeated them on the hills. The caliph with surprise and joy
raised
head, and a bouquet of jasmine hit him in the face. Following this little joke
there was a friendly laugh, and several young girls flashed in the bushes,
lungs like wild goats. The fragrance of their perfumed hair reached
Vatheka; he interrupted the meal and, as if enchanted, said to Bababaluk: "Don't
did the peris come down from their spheres? You see the one with a thin waist that
rushes so
bravely along the edge of the abyss, not looking in front of him, turning his head
as
as if preoccupied only with the beauty of the folds of her clothes? With what a
lovely
impatiently she unhooks her veil from the bushes! Didn't she leave
jasmine for me?" - "Oh, she must be," answered Bababaluk, "this is such a girl,
that you can be thrown off a cliff; this is my friend Nuroniar, so cute
offering me her swing. Dear Lord and Sovereign, he continued,
breaking off a willow branch - let me catch up with her and flog her for
disrespectful
attitude towards you. The emir will not be offended, for although I give him credit
piety, but he makes a big mistake by letting a flock of these
girls; fresh air gives rise to too free thoughts.
"Be quiet, blasphemer!" said the caliph. "Don't you dare speak like that about
one who
takes my heart to these mountains. Arrange better so that I drink her light
eyes and could inhale her sweet breath. With what ease and grace runs
she, all trembling among these simple country places!" - With these words
Vathek stretched out his hands to the hill and, raising his eyes in extraordinary
excitement, became
follow the gaze of the one that has already managed to win his heart. But for her
running was as difficult to follow as the flight of beautiful azure
butterflies from Kashmir, so rare and moving.
It was not enough for Vathek to see Nuroniar, he wanted to hear her, and he
greedily
listened, trying to catch the sound of her voice. Finally he heard that she
whispered to one of her friends behind a small bush, from where she threw
bouquet: "I must admit that it is pleasant to look at the caliph; but my little
Gülchenruz is much nicer; a strand of his silky hair is better than any sewing from
India, and his teeth, playfully squeezing my fingers, are more pleasant to me than
the most beautiful ring of the royal treasury. Where is he, Sütlememe? Why him
not with us?"
The alarmed caliph would have loved to hear more, but she
went away with all her servants. The sovereign in love followed her until
did not lose sight, and felt like a traveler lost at night,
when the clouds cover the guiding constellation from his eyes. As if dark
the veil fell before him, everything seemed to him colorless, everything changed
its
view. The sound of the brook filled his heart with sadness, and tears fell on the
jasmine,
which he pressed to his burning chest. He even collected a few pebbles in
the memory of the place where he felt the first surge of passion, hitherto
unfamiliar.
Many times he tried to leave, but in vain. Sweet languor
embraced his soul. Spread out on the bank of the stream, he did not take his eyes
off
bluish mountain top. "What are you hiding from me, pitiless cliff? -
he cried. - Where's she? What's going on out there in your desert retreat? O,
sky! Perhaps she is now wandering in your grottoes with her happy
Gulhenruz!"
Meanwhile, dusk had fallen. The Emir, concerned about the Caliph's health,
ordered to bring the royal stretcher; Vathek indifferently allowed himself to be
seated and
bring it to the magnificent hall where he was received the day before.
Let us leave the caliph to indulge in a new passion and follow the mountains
for
Nuroniar, who finally met her precious Gulhenruz. This
Gulhenruz, the gentlest and sweetest creature, was the only son of Ali Gasan,
Emir's brother. Ten years ago, his father set sail on the unknown
the seas and gave him to the care of Fakreddin. Gulhenruz could write in different
ways with surprising ease and possessed the art of drawing on a thin
parchment beautiful arabesques. His voice was soft and touching.
played to the accompaniment of a lute. When Gulhenruz sang about the love of Majnun
and
Leili {28} or other unfortunate lovers of the old time, tears flowed from
his listeners. His poems (he, like Majnun, was also a poet) forced
sigh languidly, which is very dangerous for women. They all loved him very much;
and,
although he was thirteen years old, he could not yet be pulled out of the harem.
His
the dances were like the light flight of a feather in a spring breeze. But his
hands
gracefully intertwined in a dance with the hands of girls, did not know how to
throw darts at
hunting or taming the hot horses that grazed in the uncle's pastures. He,
however, he was excellent with the bow and would have surpassed all the young men
in running, if
decided to break the silk ties that tied him to Nuroniar.
The brothers named their children to each other, and Nuroniar loved Gulhenruz
more than the light of their eyes, however beautiful those eyes may be. They had
the same
tastes and occupations, the same views, long and languid hair of the same color,
the same whiteness of the face; and when Gülchenruz dressed up in Nuroniar's dress,
he
even more like a woman than she did. Leaving for a minute from the harem to
Faqreddin, he looked like a timid young deer separated from his mate. At
in all that he was playful and laughed at the long-bearded elders, and they
sometimes
severely reprimanded him. Then he huddled in a frenzy into the most distant
corner of the harem, drew all the curtains behind him and, sobbing, sought
consolation in
the arms of Nuroniar. She loved his flaws more than they usually do.
dignity of other people.
So, leaving the caliph in the meadow, Nuroniar ran with Gulchenruz to
mountains overgrown with herbs that covered the valley where the palace of
Fakreddin was located.
The sun was going down, and the young people in their lively and enthusiastic
in their imagination it seemed that among the marvelous clouds of sunset they see
temples
Shadukkiana and Ambreabad, where the Peri dwell. Nuroniar sat on the hillside,
laying the perfumed head of Gulchenruz on his knees. The unexpected arrival of the
caliph and
the brilliance that surrounded him managed to confuse her ardent soul. In her
vanity, she
could resist the urge to be seen by him. She saw Vathek
picked up the jasmine thrown by her; it flattered her vanity. And she was confused
when Gülchenruz took it into his head to ask where the bouquet he had collected for
her. Instead of answering, she kissed him on the forehead, got up hastily, and with
an indescribable
anxious and excited began to walk quickly back and forth.
Meanwhile the night was falling; the pure gold of the setting sun has changed
bloody blush; as if the reflections of fire were reflected on the burning cheeks
Nuroniar. Poor little Gülchenruz noticed it. Exciting him always
friendly cousin embarrassed him to the core. "Let's go back, -
he said timidly, - something gloomy appeared in the sky. Tamarinds tremble
stronger than usual, and this wind freezes my heart. We'll be back, evening
too dejected!" With these words, he took Nuroniar by the hand, with all his might
trying to captivate her. She followed him, not realizing that
what is he doing. Many strange thoughts wandered through her head. She ran
past a large curtain of honeysuckle, which she loved so much, without turning to
her
attention; only Gulhenruz could not resist and plucked a few branches, although
rushed with such speed, as if a wild beast was chasing him on his heels.
The girls, seeing that they were returning so quickly, decided that
there will be dancing as usual. Immediately they formed a circle and joined hands,
but
Gulchenruz collapsed on the moss, panting. The whole noisy crowd was seized with
despondency;
Nuroniar, hardly in control of herself, more tired from the confusion of thoughts
than from
running, rushed to Gulhenruz. She took his small, cold hands,
warmed on her chest and rubbed his temples with fragrant lipstick. Finally he
woke up and, hiding his head in Nuroniar's dress, begged to wait to return
to the harem. He was afraid that he would be scolded by Shaban, his mentor, an old
a shriveled eunuch, not a very condescending one. Nasty uncle, probably
will find it reprehensible that he upset Nuroniar's usual walk. All
sat in a circle on the lawn, and childish games began. The eunuchs fit on
some distance and talked to each other. Everyone had fun. Nuroniar
she was still thoughtful and upset. Her nurse noticed this and
began to tell amusing tales, which Gülchenruz liked very much,
who has already forgotten his suspicions. He laughed, clapped his hands and
played pranks, even wanted to make eunuchs run after him, despite their
summer and decrepitude.
Meanwhile the moon had risen; it was a wonderful evening. Everyone felt so
I'm glad we decided to dine outdoors. One eunuch ran for melons, others
the almond trees began to shake, in the shade of which sat a cheerful company,
and fresh fruit rained down on them. Sütlememe, who cooked well
salad, filled large china bowls with selected herbs, bird eggs,
sour milk, lemon juice and cucumber slices and treated everyone in turn
from a large spoon of Koknos. But Gulhenruz, crouching as usual on his chest,
Nuroniar closed his small, ruddy mouth when Sütlememe offered
him something. He took what he needed only from the hands of his cousin
and clung to her mouth like a bee drunk on the juice of flowers.
In the midst of the general fun, suddenly on the top of the highest mountain
appeared
light. It poured with a soft radiance, and it could be mistaken for the moon, if
If there was no full moon on the horizon. This phenomenon excited everyone, forcing
get lost in conjecture. It could not be the reflection of a fire, for the light was
clear and
bluish. For a meteor, it seemed too bright and unusual in color. He
it faded, then it flared up. At first they thought that this strange light poured
from
rock tops; suddenly he moved and shone in a dense palm grove;
then he flashed by the streams and finally stopped at the entrance to a narrow dark
gorge. Gulhenruz, whose heart always sank from the unexpected and
unusual, trembling in fear. He pulled Nuroniar by the dress and begged to return
to the harem. The women tried to convince her of the same, but the curiosity of the
Emir's daughter was
too hurt, it took over. By all means, she wanted to know what
it is.
While the bickering was going on, such a
a dazzling fiery arrow that everyone rushed to run screaming. Nuroniar
also retreated a few steps, but soon she stopped and moved
forward. The ball descended into the gorge, continuing to glow in majestic silence.
Nuroniar crossed her arms and hesitated for a few moments. Fear
Gülchenruza, the complete loneliness in which she found herself for the first time
in
life, the majestic calm of the night - everything frightened her. I wanted a
thousand times
she returned, but each time the shining ball reappeared in front of her.
Obeying an irresistible attraction, she went to him through the thorn bush,
despite all the obstacles along the way.
When she entered the valley, thick darkness suddenly enveloped her and she saw
now only a distant, faint spark. The sound of waterfalls, the rustle of palm
branches,
intermittent, ominous calls of birds nesting in trees - everything filled
soul with terror. Every minute it seemed to her that poisonous reptiles were under
her feet. Her
I remembered all the stories about crafty divas and gloomy hums. {29} She
stopped a second time, but curiosity got the better of her again, and she bravely
moved along a winding path that led towards the spark. Before
she knew where she was until now, but as soon as she took a few steps
path, how she got lost. "Alas! - she exclaimed. - Why am I not in bright
lighted safe chambers where my evenings passed with Gülchenruz? cute
child, how you would tremble if you found yourself, like me, in this deserted
desert!
As she spoke, she moved on. Suddenly her eyes fell on the steps,
laid in the rock; the light intensified and appeared over her head at the top
the mountains. She boldly got up. At some height it seemed to her that
the light comes as if from a cave; mournful and melodious sounds were heard from
there
- like singing, reminiscent of hymns for the dead. At the same moment I heard
a noise similar to the splashing of water when the pool is filled. She saw burning
wax candles, hoisted here and there in the cracks of the rock. This horrified her
but she kept on climbing; the subtle and strong smell of the candles encouraged
her, and
she approached the entrance to the grotto.
In extreme excitement, Nuroniar looked in and saw a large golden
a vat filled with water, the sweet vapor of which began to settle on her face
drops of rose oil. Tender melodies resounded in the cave; around the edge of the
tub
hung royal robes, diadems and heron feathers, all studded with rubies. Bye
she admired this luxury, the music stopped, and a voice was heard,
who said: "For what ruler did they light these candles, prepare a bath and
clothes befitting only the lords not only of the earth, but also of talismanic
forces?" - "For the charming daughter of Emir Fakreddin," answered the second
voice. - "How!" - objected the first. - For this minx who spends time with
windy, drowning in bliss, a boy who is not worthy to be her husband?" -
“What are you telling me!” interrupted another. “How can she have fun
such nonsense, when the caliph himself, the ruler of the world, who
take possession of the treasures of the ancient sultans who lived before the time
of Adam, {30} sovereign
six cubits tall, whose gaze penetrates the hearts of girls, burns with love
To her? No, she cannot reject the passion that will lead her to glory, she
will give up his childish play; then all the treasures that are here, along with
rubies of Jamshid, {31} will belong to her." - "Probably you are right, -
said the first, - and I will go to Istakhar to prepare the palace of underground
fire
to meet the young.
The voices fell silent, the torches went out, the radiant light was replaced
by thick darkness,
and Nuroniar found herself on a sofa in her father's harem. She clapped her hands
and
immediately appeared Gülchenruz and the women, who were in despair at what they had
lost,
her, and have already sent eunuchs to search in all directions. Shaban came and
began to scold her with dignity. "Little madwoman," he said, "or
your keys have been picked up, or some genie loves you, {32} giving you
master keys. Now I will see how powerful you are; quickly go to the room with
two dormer windows and don't count on Gulhenruz to be you
to accompany; well, go, madam, I will lock you with a double lock. "In response
Nuroniar proudly raised her head to the threats and looked expressively at Shaban
with their black eyes, which became even larger after talking in a wonderful
grotto. "Go away," she said to him, "you can talk like that with slaves, but
respect the one who was born to command and conquer all
his power."
She would have continued in the same tone, when suddenly there were shouts:
"Khalif,
caliph!" Immediately all the curtains parted, the slaves fell on their faces in two
rows, and
poor little Gülchenruz hid under the dais. At first it seemed
a procession of black eunuchs in muslin robes, embroidered with gold, with trains;
they carried censers in their hands, which spread the sweet smell of aloe. Then,
shaking his head, Bababaluk spoke importantly, not particularly pleased with this
visit. Vatek, splendidly dressed, followed him. His step was
noble and easy; one could admire his appearance and not knowing that he
ruler of the world. He approached Nuroniar and, looking into her radiant eyes,
which I saw only briefly, was delighted. Nuroniar noticed this and immediately
looked down; but embarrassment made her even more beautiful and completely inflamed
heart of Vathek.
Bababaluk knew a lot about these matters, saw that it was necessary to submit,
and
made a sign to leave them alone. He scanned every corner of the hall, wishing
to make sure that no one was there, and suddenly noticed legs peeking out from
under
elevation. Bababaluk unceremoniously pulled them towards him and, recognizing
Gulhenruz,
he put him on his shoulders and carried him away, showering him with vile caresses.
The boy was screaming
and fought back, his cheeks reddened like grenades, and his wet eyes sparkled
resentment. In despair, he looked so expressively at Nuroniar that the caliph
noticed this and said: "Is this your Gulchenruz?" - "Lord of the world, -
she answered, “have mercy on my cousin, his innocence and meekness do not
deserve your wrath." - "Calm down," Vathek said, smiling, "he's in
good hands; Bababaluk loves children, and he always has jam for them and
candies".
Faqreddin's daughter was embarrassed and did not utter a word while the
Gulhenruza, but her chest heaved, betraying the excitement of her heart. Vathek was
fascinated and frenziedly surrendered to the liveliest passion, not meeting a
serious
resistance, when the emir suddenly entered and threw himself at the caliph's feet.
"Commander of the Faithful," he told him, "do not stoop to your slave!" -
“No, Emir,” Vatek objected, “I rather raise her to myself. I take her to
wife, and the glory of your kind will be passed on from generation to generation.
"-" Alas,
Sir, - answered Fakreddin, pulling a tuft of hair from his beard, - cut it better
days of your faithful servant, but he will not change his word. Nuroniar swearing
named Gulhenruzu, the son of my brother Ali Hasan; their hearts are connected; they
gave each other a word; one cannot break such a sacred vow." - "How? -
the Caliph retorted sharply. - You want to give this divine beauty to your husband,
who is more feminine than herself? Do you think I will let this creature
wither in such timid and weak hands? No, in my arms she must pass
life: this is my will. Go away and don't let me dedicate this night
serving her charms!" Then the offended emir took out a saber, handed it to Vatek
and, putting his head forward, he said with firmness: "Sir, strike a blow to the
poor,
who gave you shelter; I have lived too long if I have the misfortune to see
how the Prophet's vicar tramples on the sacred laws of hospitality." Embarrassed
Nuroniar could no longer withstand the struggle of opposing feelings that shook
her soul. She fainted, and Vathek, as frightened for her life as
and enraged by the resistance of the emir, he shouted to Fakreddin: "Help your
daughter!" - and went out, throwing his terrible look at him. The Emir fell dead
to the ground covered in cold sweat.
Gulhenruz escaped from the hands of Bababaluk and ran in just at the moment
when Fakreddin and his daughter were already lying on the floor. With all his might
he began to call
help. The poor boy tried to revive Nuroniar with his caresses. Pale,
panting, he kissed the lips of his beloved. Finally, his tender warmth
lips made her wake up, and soon she fully regained consciousness.
After recovering from the caliph's gaze, Fakreddin sat down and, looking
around to
make sure that the formidable sovereign left, sent for Shaban and Sütlememe, then,
calling them aside, he said: "My friends, in great trials we need
drastic measures. Caliph brings horror and despair into my family; I can't
oppose his authority; one more look from him and I was lost. Bring me
sleeping powder that a dervish from Arrakan gave me. I will give my daughter and
nephew so much of it that they slept for three days. The Caliph will think that
they
died. Then, pretending to bury them, we will carry them into the cave of the
venerable
Meimune, where the great sandy desert begins, not far from my hut
dwarfs; and when everyone leaves, you, Shaban, with four selected eunuchs
you will take them to the lake, where provisions for a month will be delivered. One
day
the caliph will be amazed, weep for five days, meditate for two weeks, and then
will prepare for the journey; here, in my opinion, how long it will take Vathek,
and I'll get rid of him."
"It's a good idea," said Sütlememe, "we must extract from it as much as
possible
more benefit. I think the caliph likes Nuroniar. Rest assured that while
she knows he's here, we can't keep her in the mountains despite
her attachment to Gulhenruz. Let us convince both her and Gülchenruz that they
really died and that they were transferred to these rocks for the redemption of
their
little love sins. Let's tell them that we also laid hands on ourselves from
despair, and your dwarfs, whom they have never seen, will seem to them
amazing creatures. Their teachings will have a great effect on them, and
I bet that everything will turn out fine. "-" I approve of your idea, -
said Fakreddin, "Let's get down to business."
They immediately went for the powder, mixed it with sherbet, and Nuroniar with
Gulhenruz, not suspecting anything, swallowed this mixture. An hour later they
felt sadness and palpitations. A numbness took hold of them. They hardly
went up to the dais and stretched out on the sofa. "Warm me, dear Nuroniar,
- said Gulchenruz, hugging her tightly, - put your hand on my heart: it is like
ice. Oh, you're as cold as me! Did the caliph strike us with his terrible
look?" - "I am dying," answered Nuroniar in a weakening voice, "embrace me;
let your lips take at least my last breath!" Gentle
Gulhenruz took a deep breath; their hands opened and they did not utter
say no more; they seemed to be dead.
Then rending cries arose in the harem. Shaban and Sütlememe played a prank
desperation with great art. Emir, upset that he had to resort to
these extremes, and, making the first experiment with powders, suffered
deed. The lights went out. Two lamps cast a faint light on these beautiful flowers,
withered, it seemed, at the dawn of life. The slaves gathered from all sides are
motionless
watched the spectacle. They brought funeral clothes; washed the bodies
rose water; they clothed them in simarras, whiter than alabaster; wove them
together
beautiful hair and scented with the best perfume.
When wreaths of jasmine, their favorite flower, were placed on their heads,
the caliph appeared, informed of the tragic incident. He was pale and gloomy
like the ghouls that roam the graves at night. At that moment he forgot himself and
all
world. He threw himself into the crowd of slaves and fell to the foot of the dais;
stabbing myself in
chest, called himself a cruel murderer and cursed himself a thousand times. BUT
lifting the veil over the pale face of Nuroniar with a trembling hand, he cried out
and dropped dead. Bababaluk led him away, grimacing disgustingly and
saying: "I knew that Nuroniar would play some bad game with him
thing!"
As soon as the caliph left, the emir took up the funeral, ordering no one
let into the harem. Closed all the windows; broke all the musical instruments, and
imams began to read prayers. In the evening of this mournful day, weeping and
wailing
resounded with a vengeance. Vathek groaned in solitude. To temper
fits of his rage and suffering, had to resort to sedatives
funds.
At dawn the next day, the huge doors of the palace were flung open, and
the funeral procession set off into the mountains. Sad exclamations
"Leilah-ileilah" {33} reached the caliph. He tried to hurt himself and
wanted to follow the procession; he could not be dissuaded if the forces
allowed him to move; but at the first step he fell and had to
put him to bed, where he remained for several days in complete insensibility,
evoking condolences even from the emir.
When the procession approached the Meimune Grotto, Shaban and Sütlememe were
released.
everyone. Four faithful eunuchs remained with them; having rested a little near the
coffins,
which were opened ajar to give access to air, Sütlememe and Shaban ordered
carry them to the shore of a small lake, bordered by grayish moss. There
storks and herons usually gathered and caught blue fish. Immediately
the dwarfs, warned by the emir, appeared and with the help of the eunuchs built a
hut
from reeds and reeds; they were excellent at it. They also put
pantry for provisions, a small chapel for themselves and a wooden
pyramid. It was made of well-fitted logs and served to
maintaining the fire, as it was cold in the mountain valleys.
In the evening, two huge fires were lit on the shore of the lake, and the
lovely bodies were taken out.
from the coffins and laid carefully in the hut on a bed of dry leaves. Dwarfs
began to read the Qur'an with their clear and silvery voices. Shaban and
The Sütlememe stood at a distance, anxiously waiting for the powder to stop
your action. Finally, Nuroniar and Gulhenruz slightly perceptibly moved their
hands.
and, opening their eyes, they began to look at their surroundings with the greatest
surprise. They are
even tried to get up; but their strength betrayed them, and they again fell into
their
bed of leaves. Then Sütlememe gave them a strengthening medicine, which
supplied by the Emir.
Gulhenruz woke up completely, sneezed, and in how swiftly he
stood up, expressed all his surprise. Coming out of the hut, he greedily breathed
air and cried out: "I breathe, I hear sounds, I see the whole sky in the stars! I
still
I exist!" Recognizing the dear voice, Nuroniar freed herself from under the leaves
and
rushed to hug Gulhenruz. The long simarras that robed them, wreaths on
heads and bare legs first of all attracted her attention. She closed
face with hands, trying to concentrate. Magic vat, father's despair and, in
features, the majestic figure of Vathek flashed through her thoughts. She is
she remembered that she was sick and dying, like Gülchenruz; but all these images
were confused. Strange lake, flame reflection in still water, pale color
lands, quaint huts, sadly swaying reeds, a mournful cry
stork, merging with the voices of dwarfs - everything convinced that the angel of
death
opened for them the doors of some new being.
In mortal fear, Gülchenruz clung to his cousin. He also
thought he was in a land of ghosts and was afraid of the silence she
kept. "Nuroniar," he said to her at last, "where are we? Do you see these shadows,
what do burning coals do? Perhaps it is Monkyr or Nekyr, {34} who
are they throwing us there? Or suddenly the fatal bridge {35} will be thrown across
the lake,
and its tranquility hides, perhaps, the abyss of waters, where we will fall into
through the ages?"
“No, my children,” said Sütlememe, coming up to them, “calm down.
The angel of death, who came for our souls after yours, assured us that
the punishment for your pampered and voluptuous life will be limited to the fact
that you
you will vegetate for many years in this sad place where the sun barely shines,
where the earth bears neither flowers nor fruits. Here are our guards, - continued
she is pointing at the dwarfs. “They will deliver everything we need, for
such crude souls as ours are still slightly subject to the laws of earthly life.
You
you will eat only rice, and your bread will be moistened by fogs, always
enveloping this lake."
Hearing of such a sad future, the poor children burst into tears. They are
rushed to the feet of the dwarfs, and they, perfectly fulfilling their role,
uttered,
custom, a beautiful and long speech about the sacred camel, {36} which through
several thousand years will bring them to the kingdom of the blessed.
At the end of the sermon, they performed ablutions, praised Allah and
Prophet, they had a poor supper and again lay down on dry leaves. Nuroniar and her
the little cousin were very pleased that the dead were sleeping together. They are
had already rested and spent the rest of the night talking about what had happened,
in fear of
ghosts all the time snuggling up to each other.
The next morning was dark and rainy. The dwarfs climbed up
high poles stuck in the ground and replacing the minaret, and from there they
called for
prayer. The whole community gathered: Sütlememe, Shaban, four eunuchs, several
storks who are tired of fishing, and two children. The latter sluggishly got out
from the hut, and since they were in a melancholy and tender mood, they prayed with
heat. Gülchenruz then asked Sütlememe and the others how it happened that they
died so by the way for him and Nuroniar. "We killed ourselves in despair at the
sight
your death," Sütlememe replied.
Despite everything that happened, Nuroniar did not forget her vision and
exclaimed: "But the Caliph did not die of grief? Will he come here?" Here the word
was taken
the dwarfs answered with dignity: "Vatek is condemned to eternal torment." - "I'm
sure
in this,” exclaimed Gülchenruz, “and I am delighted, because, probably, because of
his
terrible sight, we eat rice here and listen to sermons."
For a week they lived in this way on the shore of the lake. Nuroniar pondered
about the greatness that an unfortunate death took from her, and Gulhenruz wove
with
dwarf reed baskets; he was extremely fond of the little ones.
While these idyllic scenes were playing out in the mountains, the caliph
entertained the emir with a completely different spectacle. Just got back to him.
consciousness, he cried out in a voice that made Bababaluk shudder: "Traitor
Gyaur! It was you who killed my dear Nuroniar; I renounce you and ask for your
forgiveness
Mohammed; he would not have done me such trouble if I had been more prudent. Hey
give
me water for ablution, and let good Fakreddin come here, I want
reconcile with him, and together we will make a prayer. And then we'll go to the
grave
unfortunate Nuroniar. I want to become a hermit and spend my days on
that mountain, atoning for your sins." - "And what will you eat there?"
Bababaluk. “I don’t know anything,” Vatek replied, “I’ll tell you when I
want to eat. I don't think it will happen soon."
The arrival of Fakreddin interrupted the conversation. As soon as he saw him,
Vathek rushed to him
around his neck and burst into tears, saying such pious words that the emir himself
wept with joy and inwardly congratulated himself on his amazing conversion,
which he just did. Of course, he did not dare to resist
pilgrimage to the mountains. So they each got into their stretchers and went to
path.
Despite all the attention with which they watched the caliph, he still did not
could prevent themselves from inflicting a few scratches when they arrived at the
place where
allegedly Nuroniar was buried. With great difficulty they tore him from the grave,
and
he solemnly swore that he would come here every day; it's not very
Fakreddin liked it; but he hoped that the caliph would not dare to do more and
be satisfied with prayers in the Meimune cave; besides, the lake was
hidden in the rocks, which the emir considered impossible for him to find. This
The Emir's confidence was confirmed by Vathek's behavior. He is exactly
carried out his decision and returned from the mountain so pious and contrite,
that all the bearded elders were delighted.
But Nuroniar was not particularly pleased either. Although she loved
Gülchenruz and
she was freely left with him to heighten her feeling for him, she looked
looked at him as if it were fun, and Gulkhenruz did not prevent her from dreaming
about Jamshid's rubies.
Sometimes she was overcome by doubts - she could not understand why the dead have
the same
needs and fantasies of the living. One morning, hoping to clarify
imagine this, she, slowly from Gülchenruz, got out of bed when she was still
slept, and, having kissed him, went along the shore of the lake; she soon saw that
the lake flows out from under the rock, the top of which did not seem impregnable
to her.
She climbed on it as quickly as she could, and seeing the open sky above her,
rushed off like a chamois pursued by a hunter. Though she jumped with ease
antelope, yet she had to sit down on tamarisks to rest. She is
She became thoughtful, the places seemed familiar to her, when suddenly she saw
Vathek.
Worried and agitated, the caliph got up before dawn. Seeing Nuroniar, he
froze. He did not dare to approach this trembling, pale, and therefore
more desirable being. Partly Satisfied, Partly Disappointed Nuroniar
lifted her beautiful eyes at last and said: "Sir, you have come to eat
rice with me and listen to sermons?" - "Dear shadow," cried Vatek, "you
you're talking! You are still charming, your eyes are just as radiant! Maybe
Are you really alive?" With these words, he embraced her, repeating: "But she
alive, her body trembles, it breathes warmth. What a miracle?
Nuroniar answered modestly: "You know, Sovereign, that I died in that
the night you honored me with your visit. My cousin says
that it came from your terrible look, but I do not believe it; your look
didn't seem so scary to me. Gulchenruz died with me, and we both
were transferred to a sad country where the food is very bad. If you too
dead and coming to us, I am sorry for you, because dwarfs and storks will plague
you.
Yes, and it's a shame for you and me to lose the treasures of the underground
palace, promised
us".
 At the words "underground palace" the Caliph interrupted the caresses that had
already
quite far away, and demanded that Nuroniar explain to him what that meant.
Then she told about the vision, about what happened next, about her imaginary
of death; she described to him in this form the country of atonement for sins, from
where
ran away, that he would have laughed if he had not been very seriously occupied
with other things.
When she fell silent, Vatek embraced her with the words: "Let's go, the light of my
eyes,
now everything is clear: we are both alive. Your father is a fraud, he deceived us
by wanting
separate, and Gyaur, as I understand it, wants us to travel together, and
he is no better than your father. At least he won't keep us in his
fire palace. Your charms are dearer to me than all the treasures of the ancient
sultans,
who lived before the time of Adam, and I want to have them when I want, in the free
air, for many moons, before burrowing underground. Forget
stupid little Gulhenruz, and..." - "Ah, Lord, do him no harm," -
Nuroniar interrupted. - "No," Vathek objected, "I already said that you have
nothing
be afraid for him; it's all sugar and milk, I can't be jealous of
like this; let us leave him with the dwarfs (they are, by the way, my old
acquaintances);
this company suits him better than yours. Besides, I won't go back to your
father: I do not want to listen to how he and his bearded men will lament
over me that I break the laws of hospitality, as if to become a spouse
master of the world, you are less honored than to marry a girl dressed
boy."
Nuroniar had no intention of condemning such a brilliant speech. She wanted
only so that the enamored monarch would be more attentive to the rubies of Jamshid,
but
she decided that it would still come, and agreed to everything with the most
attractive
humility.
Finally, the caliph called Bababaluk, who was sleeping in the Meimune cave.
Eunuch
saw in a dream that the ghost of Nuroniar again put him on a swing and swings like
that,
that it either soars above the mountains, or touches the bottom of the abysses.
Hearing your voice
master, he suddenly woke up, barely taking a breath, rushed to run and a little
did not faint when he saw the shadow of the one he had just dreamed of. "O,
Mister! he shouted, retreating ten paces and covering his eyes with his hands. -
Do you dig up the dead from graves? Are you into ghoul craft? But not
hope to eat Nuroniar; after what she did to me, she's so mean
that will eat you."
"Stop it, fool," Vathek said. "You will soon see that I keep
in her arms Nuroniar, quite alive and well. Tell them to pitch tents in
valley, here nearby: I want to settle here with this wonderful tulip, in
which I will be able to breathe life and colors. Take action and prepare everything
necessary for a luxurious life, and wait for new orders."
The news of the unfortunate event soon reached the Emir. in desperation that
his stratagem failed, he indulged in mourning and properly
sprinkled ashes on his head; faithful elders followed his example, and the whole
the palace fell into disarray. Everything was forgotten; no longer accepted
travelers; did not hand out patches, and instead of doing
charity that flourished here, the inhabitants walked with outstretched
faces, groaned and covered their faces with mud in grief.
 Meanwhile, Gülchenruz was shocked to discover the absence of his cousin.
sisters. The dwarfs were as surprised as he was. Only Sütlememe, more
more perceptive than they were, she immediately guessed what was the matter.
Gulhenruza
lulled with the sweet hope that they would meet Nuroniar in a quiet corner
mountains, where it will be more comfortable to sleep on the flowers of oranges and
jasmine than in a hut,
where they will sing to the sound of the lute and chase butterflies.
Sütlememe spoke of this with fervour, when one of the four eunuchs
recalled her, explained the disappearance of Nuroniar and conveyed the orders of
the emir. She is
immediately turned to Shaban and the dwarfs for advice. Put down your belongings,
sat down in
big boat and sailed calmly. Gulhenruz submitted to everything; but when
arrived at the place where the lake was lost under the arch of rocks, and when we
drove there and
everything plunged into complete darkness, he was terribly frightened and
piercingly
screamed, believing that he was being taken to eternal torment for being treated
too freely
with a cousin.
The caliph at that time was blissful with the queen of his heart. Bababaluk
ordered the tents to be pitched, and placed at both entrances to the valley
splendid
screens upholstered in Indian fabric, guarded by Ethiopian sabers
slaves. So that the grass will always be green in this Eden, white eunuchs
incessantly
watered it from silver gilded watering cans. Near the royal tent all the time
winnowed fan; the soft light that filtered through the muslin illuminated this
orphanage
voluptuousness, where the caliph freely ate the delights of Nuroniar. intoxicated
enjoyment. he listened with delight to her wonderful singing to the accompaniment
of the lute.
And she admired his descriptions of Samarra and the tower full of wonders.
Especially
she liked the story of the ball and the crevice where the Gyaur lived by his ebony
portal.
The day passed in these conversations, and at night the lovers bathed together
in
a large pool of black marble, perfectly shading the whiteness of the body
Nuroniar. Bababaluk, whose location the beauty managed to win, took care,
that dinners be as refined as possible; served some every day
new dishes; he ordered to find in Shiraz the marvelous foamy wine stored in
cellars since the time of Mohammed. In small ovens, arranged in the cliffs, they
baked
on milk bread, which Nurozhiar kneaded with her tender hands; from
Because of this, Vatek liked them so much that he forgot all the stews that were
being prepared
once by his other wives, and now the poor abandoned women languished in
longing for the emir.
Sultana Dilara, who was still his first favorite, reacted to
this with the passion inherent in her character. During the time she was in
favor with the caliph, she managed to imbue his extravagant ideas and burned
the desire to see the tombs of Istachar and the palace of forty columns; Besides,
brought up by magicians, she rejoiced that the caliph was ready to indulge in the
cult of fire,
{37} and she was doubly depressed now that he was leading a voluptuous and idle
life with her rival. Vathek's fleeting infatuation with piety is strong
alarmed her; but that made matters worse. So she decided to write to the queen
Karatis, that things are bad, that they clearly disregard the dictates of
parchment, that
ate, used lodging for the night and made a commotion at the old emir, holiness
which is very dangerous, and that there is no longer a chance to get the treasures
of the ancient
sultans. She entrusted this letter to two woodcutters who worked in a large forest.
on the mountain; going by the shortest route, they came to Samarra on the tenth
day.
When the messengers arrived, Queen Karagis was playing chess with Morakanabad.
For several weeks she had not visited the top of the tower: she shone on questions
about
son gave answers that seemed unclear to her. No matter how much she did
incense, no matter how much she lay on the roof, waiting for mysterious visions,
she
dreamed only of pieces of brocade, bouquets, and similar trifles. All this led
her into despondency, from which no drugs of her own helped
production, and her last refuge was Morakanabad, a simple good
a man full of noble gullibility; but his life with her was not
especially sweet.
Since nothing was known about Vathek, they spread about him
thousands of funny stories. It is clear with what vivacity Karatis opened the
letter, and in
what rage fell into when she read about the cowardly behavior of her son. "O, -
she said, "Either I perish, or he enters the palace of flame; let me
I will burn in the fire, if only Vathek sat on the throne of Suleiman!" At the same
time, she did
such a terrible jump that Morakanabad jumped back in fear; she ordered
prepare your big camel Albufaki, call the disgusting
Nerkes and ruthless Kafur. "I do not want another retinue," she said to the vizier,
"
I'm going on urgent business, so there's no need for pomp; you will take care of
people; rob him well in my absence; we have big expenses, and
We don't know yet what will come of it."
The night was very dark, and an unhealthy wind blew from the plain of Catulus;
he
would have frightened any traveler, no matter how important his cause, but Caratis
I liked everything dark. Nerkes was of the same opinion, but Kafur had a special
addiction to contaminated air. In the morning this lovely company accompanied by
two woodcutters stopped at the shore of a large swamp, from which rose
a deadly mist that would be fatal to any animal,
only not for Albufaki, who easily and with pleasure inhaled these harmful
evaporation. The peasants begged the women not to go to bed in this place. "Sleep!
exclaimed Caratis. - Great idea! I only sleep for
to dream of visions, and as for my maids, they have too many
deeds to close your only eye. "The poor became uncomfortable
yourself in this society; they could only wonder.
Caratis and the negro women, sitting on the back of a camel, dismounted;
having undressed
almost naked, they rushed under the scorching heat for poisonous herbs, in
growing in abundance along the edges of the swamp. These supplies were intended for
the family
Emir and for all who could interfere in any way with the journey to Istakhar. Three
terrible ghosts running along the shore in broad daylight, terrified
lumberjacks; they also did not like Albufaka's company very much. But it was even
worse
the fact that Caratis ordered to set off at noon, when the heat almost
stones burst; one could argue a lot, but had to obey.
Albufaki was very fond of the desert and snorted every time, noticing the
signs
housing, and Caratis, spoiling him in her own way, immediately turned aside.
Thus, the peasants could not eat during the whole journey. goats and
sheep which Providence seemed to send them, and whose milk might
freshen them up, fled at the sight of the disgusting animal and its strange
riders. Caratis herself did not need ordinary food, since for a long time
she was content with an opiate of her own invention, which she shared with
with their dumb favorites.
As night fell, Albufaki suddenly stopped and stamped his foot.
Caratis, knowing his manners, realized that there was probably a cemetery nearby.
Indeed, in the pale light of the moon, a long wall was visible and in it
a half-open door high enough for Albufaki to pass through.
The unfortunate guides, feeling that their hour of death is approaching, humbly
asked Caratis to bury them in any way she pleased, and
gave their soul to God. Nerkes and Kafur, in their own way, laughed at the
stupidity of these
people, they really liked the cemetery, and they found that the tombs have
pleasant view; there were at least two thousand of them on the hillside. Karatis,
too busy with her grandiose plans to dwell on
such a spectacle, however pleasing to the eye, decided to capitalize on
his position. “Probably,” she said to herself, “such a beautiful cemetery
frequented by ghouls; these hums are not devoid of mind; because I'm wrong
let her stupid guides die, I’ll ask the ghouls for directions, but so that
attract, I will invite them to taste fresh meat." Then she explained herself with
gestures
with Nerkes and Kafur and ordered them to go knock on the graves and see what
will be.
Negro women, pleased with this order and counting on a pleasant company
hums, retired with a victorious look and began to tap on the graves. AT
a dull noise was heard from under the ground, the sand stirred, and hums,
Attracted by the smell of fresh corpses, they crawled from everywhere, sniffing the
air. All
they gathered at the tomb of white marble, where Caratis sat and her bodies lay
unfortunate conductors. The queen received the guests with excellent courtesy;
After dinner, they began to talk about business. She soon learned all she needed
and, without wasting time, decided to go on a journey; black women tied up
love tricks with hums, signs begged Caratis to wait at least until dawn,
but Caratis was virtue itself and the sworn enemy of love and tenderness; she
doesn't
heeded their prayer and, climbing on Albufaki, ordered as soon as possible
sit down. For four days and four nights they traveled without stopping anywhere.
On the fifth we crossed the mountains and drove through half-burnt forests, and
on the sixth they arrived at the luxurious screens that sheltered from immodest
gazes
the voluptuous delusions of her son.
The sun was rising; the guards snored nonchalantly at their posts; stomp of
Albufaka
suddenly awakened them; it seemed to them that they were people from the kingdom
darkness, and in fear they unceremoniously fled. Vathek and Nuroniar sat in the
pool;
he listened to fairy tales and mocked Bababaluk who told them.
Alarmed by the cries of bodyguards, he jumped out of the water, but soon
returned, seeing that it was Caratis; still sitting on Albufaki, she
approached with her negro women, tore to shreds muslin and other thin
curtain fabrics. Nuroniar, whose conscience was not entirely at peace, thought,
that the hour of heavenly vengeance had come, and passionately clung to the caliph.
Then
Karatis, without dismounting from his camel and seething with rage at the sight of
the
her chaste gaze of the spectacle, burst into merciless abuse. "The monster about
two heads and four legs,” she exclaimed, “what are these things? Not
Are you ashamed to exchange the scepter of the ancient sultans for a girl? So
because of
this beggar you recklessly disregarded the Giaur's orders? You are with her
Are you wasting precious hours? So this is the fruit you derive from all knowledge,
with which I have provided you! Is this the purpose of your journey? Get out of
hugs of this fool; drown her in the pool and follow me."
In the first moment of anger, Vathek had the desire to rip open Albufaka's
belly,
fill it with black women, along with Karatis herself, but the thought of Giaur, of
the palace
Istakhara, about sabers and talismans, flashed like lightning in his mind. He told
his mother
politely, but decisively: "Terrible woman, I obey you; Nuroniar, I do not
drown. It is sweeter than candied mirabolan; she loves rubies very much, especially
the ruby of Jamshid, which is promised to her; she will go with us, for I want
she slept on Suleiman's sofas; without it, I lose sleep." - "Good afternoon!" -
answered Caratis, dismounting from Albufaki, whom she handed over to the negro
women.
Nuroniar, who did not want to part with her prey, calmed down
a little and tenderly she said to the caliph: "Dear lord of my heart, I will follow
follow you, if necessary, and to Kaf, to the land of the Afrites; I'm not afraid
for you
climb into the nest of the Simurgh, who, after your mother, is the most respected
creation in the world." - "Here," said Caratis, "a young woman, not without
courage and knowledge". This was true, but, despite all his firmness,
Nuroniar could not sometimes help thinking of the glorious little Gülchenruz and
days of love spent with him; a few tears clouded her eyes,
did not escape the caliph; by mistake, she even said aloud: "Alas, my
dear brother, what will happen to you?" At these words, Vatek frowned, and Karatis
exclaimed: "What are those grimaces? What is she saying?" The Caliph replied: "She
inopportunely sighs about a little boy with a languid look and soft hair,
who loved her." - "Where is he? interrupted Caratis. - I want to meet
this handsome man; I intend,” she added quite quietly, “before leaving
make peace with Giaur; the heart of a fragile child, for the first time
surrendering to love,
will be the most delicious dish for him.
Coming out of the pool, Vathek ordered Bababaluk to gather people, women and
other movables of his seraglio and prepare everything for departure in three days.
Karatis retired alone to the tent, where the Giaour amused her
hopeful visions. Waking up, she saw at her feet the Nerkes and
Kafur; they explained to her by signs that they were taking Albufaki to the shore
of a small
lake, so that he nibbles gray moss, rather poisonous, and saw such
the same bluish fish, as in the reservoir on the Samarra tower. "Oh," said
she—I must go there at once; in one step i
I will make these fish predict the future for me; they will tell me a lot, and from
them
I will find out where Gulhenruz is, whom I certainly want to sacrifice. "And
she set off with her black retinue.
Bad deeds are done quickly, and Caratis and her negro women will soon
was by the lake. They lit the magic potions they always had with them,
undressed naked and went up to the neck into the water. Nerkes and Kafur shook
lit torches, and Caratis cast spells. Fish pulled out of the water
heads, intensely disturbing her with fins, under the influence of witchcraft power
plaintively
opened their mouths and said with one voice: "We are devoted to you from head to
tail,
what do you want from us?" - "Pisces," said Caratis, "I conjure you with your
shiny scales, tell me where is little Gulchenruz?" - "On the other side
this rock, mistress, - answered the fish in chorus, - are you satisfied? It's hard
for us
to be long in the air with an open mouth. "-" Yes, - the queen answered, - I myself
I see that you are not accustomed to long speeches; I will leave you alone even
though I have
I have many other questions for you." This ended the conversation. The water
subsided, and
the fish are gone.
Caratis, saturated with the poison of her designs, immediately climbed up the
rock and
saw dear Gülchenruz in the shade of the trees; next to him sat dwarfs and
muttered their prayers. These little people had the gift of smelling the approach
enemies of good Muslims; of course, they immediately felt Caratis; that
suddenly stopped, thinking to herself: "How gently he bowed his
little head! That's the kind of child I want." The dwarfs interrupted these
noble reflections, rushed at her and began to scratch with all their might.
Nerkes and Kafur immediately rushed to the defense of their mistress and began to
pinch dwarfs that they gave their souls to God, asking Mohammed to take revenge on
this evil
woman and all her family.
From the noise of this strange battle, Gülchenruz woke up, made a desperate
jump, climbed up a fig tree and, reaching the top of the rock, ran what was
forces; exhausted, he fell dead into the arms of the good old genius, tenderly
who loved children and protected them. This genius, bypassing the air
open spaces, rushed at the cruel Giaur, when he growled in his terrible
cleft, and took away from him fifty little boys, whom Vathek in
sacrificed to him in his wickedness. He raised his pets in
sky-high nests, and he himself lived in the largest nest, which he won from
vultures.
These safe havens were guarded from divas and afrites by the fluttering
banners on which the names of Allah were written in glittering golden letters
and the Prophet. Gulhenruz, who had not yet been convinced of his imaginary death,
decided
that he is in the refuge of eternal peace. He surrendered without fear to the
caresses of his
little friends; they all gathered in the nest of a venerable genius and vied with
each other
kissed the smooth forehead and beautiful eyes of the new comrade. Here, away from
earthly vanity, from the excesses of harems, from the rudeness of eunuchs and from
inconstancy
women, he found himself a true refuge. He was happy, like him
comrades; days, months, years passed in their peaceful society. Instead of the
mortal
wealth and vain knowledge, the genius endowed his pets with the gift of eternal
childhood.
Caratis, not accustomed to letting her prey out of her hands, became terribly
angry at
black women; instead of having fun with unnecessary dwarfs, which
they pinched to death, they should have seized the child at once. She grumbles
returned to the valley. Vatek was still sleeping with his beauty, and she poured
out on them
your bad mood; nevertheless she consoled herself with the thought that tomorrow
they
they will move to Istakhar, and through Giaur she will get acquainted with Eblis
himself.
{38} But fate decided otherwise.
In the evening, the queen called Dilara, who liked her very much, and for a
long time
talked to her. Suddenly Bababaluk appeared with the news that the sky from the side
Samarra is engulfed in flames and, apparently, some kind of misfortune has
happened. Immediately
she took up her astrolabes and her magical tools, measured the height
planets, made calculations and, to the utmost chagrin, found out that in Samarra
formidable rebellion that Motavekel, taking advantage of the fact that his brother
excited
general horror, angered the people, took possession of the palace and laid siege to
the tower, where
Morakanabad retreated with a small number of loyalists remaining.
"How!" she exclaimed. "I will lose my tower, my black women, dumb,
mummies, and most importantly, the laboratory, which cost me so much work, and also
I don't know if my reckless son will achieve anything! No I won't give myself
to fool; I will immediately go to the aid of Morakanabad; with his scary
with art we will shower the rising rain of nails and red-hot iron; I
I will release my snakes and rays that live under the high vaults of the tower and
hunger
driven to rage, and we'll see if they can resist us."
With these words, Caratis ran to her son, who was quietly feasting with Nuroniar in
his luxurious scarlet tent. "A glutton," she told him, "if not for my
vigilance, you would soon become the master of pate; your faithful
violated the oath given to you; your brother Motawekel took the throne and
reigns now on Pinto Hill, and if I didn't have some
help in the tower, he would not soon give up his prey. But not to lose
time, I'll tell you just three words: fold your tents, get under way now
in the evening and do not stop anywhere for nothing! Even though you broke the
command
parchment, all is not yet lost, for, it must be confessed, you have graciously
violated
the laws of hospitality, seducing the emir's daughter in gratitude for his
bread and salt. These antics probably liked the Giaur, and if you dear
commit another little crime, everything will turn out fine: you
You will enter Suleiman's palace in triumph. Goodbye! Albufac and black women are
waiting
me at the door."
The Caliph did not find a single word to answer to all this; he wished his
mother
bon voyage and finished your dinner. At midnight we set off at the sound of
trumpets.
But no matter how hard the musicians tried, because of the thunder of the timpani,
screams were still heard
the emir and his bearded men, who were blinded by tears and tore out all their hair
as a sign of grief. This music upset Nuroniar, and she was very pleased,
when beyond the distance nothing could be heard. She reclined with
caliph in the royal litter, and they amused themselves with what they imagined,
with what splendor they will soon be surrounded. The rest of the women sat sadly in
on her palanquins, while Dilara waited patiently, wondering how she would indulge
the cult of fire on the majestic terraces of Istakhar.
Four days later we arrived in the cheerful valley of Rokhnabad. Spring was in
in full swing; whimsical branches of blossoming almonds were carved on a shining
blue sky. The earth, dotted with hyacinths and daffodils, smelled sweetly;
here lived thousands of bees and almost as many ascetics. Along the stream
hives and chapels alternated, the purity and whiteness of which stood out even
brighter
on the dark green of tall cypresses. Pious hermits were engaged
the cultivation of small orchards abounding in fruit and, especially,
musk melons, the best in Persia. In the meadow some of them had fun
feeding snow-white peacocks and blue doves. Among these activities, they
found the vanguard of the royal caravan. The riders shouted: "Inhabitants of
Rokhnabad,
prostrate yourself along the banks of your bright springs and give thanks to the
sky,
sending you a ray of its glory, for behold, you draw near" Lord
the faithful!"
The poor ascetics, full of sacred zeal, hurriedly lit
wax candles in the chapels, unfolded their Korans on ebony lecterns and went out
towards the caliph with baskets of figs, honey and melons. While they solemnly
approached with measured steps, horses, camels and guards ruthlessly trampled
tulips and other flowers. The ascetics could not be indifferent to this, and
cast mournful glances at the ruin, then looked at the caliph and at the sky.
Nuroniar, delighted with the wonderful places that reminded her of the places dear
to her heart
childhood, asked Vathek to stop. But the caliph, believing that in the eyes
Giaura all these little chapels can pass for housing, ordered his soldiers
destroy them. The hermits were dumbfounded when they began to do this.
barbaric order; they wept bitterly, and Vathek ordered the eunuchs to drive them
kicks. Here, together with Nuroniar, the caliph got out of the stretcher, and they
began to walk
through the meadow, picking flowers and chatting, but the bees, like good Muslim
women,
decided to avenge their hermit masters and with such bitterness
began to sting them that the proximity of the stretcher was more than welcome.
The corpulence of peacocks and doves did not hide from Bababaluk, and he
ordered
roast on a spit and cook a few dozen. Caliph and his attendants ate,
laughed, clinked glasses, blasphemed as much as the mullahs, sheikhs, khedives and
the imams of Shiraz, probably not having met the hermits, arrived with donkeys,
decorated with wreaths of flowers, ribbons and silver bells and
loaded with everything that was the best in the country. They brought their gifts
to the caliph,
imploring him to honor their cities and mosques by his visit. "Oh," said
Vatek, - I will refrain from this; I accept your offerings and ask you to leave
me at ease, for I do not like to struggle with temptations; but since it is
indecent,
that honorable men like you should return on foot, and since you,
apparently unimportant riders, my eunuchs, as a precaution, will tie
you to our donkeys and in particular they will take care that you do not turn to
back to me, they know etiquette." Among those who arrived were brave sheikhs; they
decided that Vathek had gone mad and voiced their opinion out loud. Bababaluk
took care to fasten them well to the saddles; donkeys spurred on
thorns, they rushed at a gallop, amusingly kicking and pushing each other.
Nuroniar with the Caliph heartily enjoyed this unworthy spectacle; they
laughed loudly when the old men fell with their donkeys into the stream, and alone
got up lame, others lost their arms, still others knocked out their front teeth and
even worse.
The society spent two very pleasant days in Rokhnabad, which were not
spoiled by the appearance of new embassies. On the third day they set off.
Shiraz remained on the right. They reached a great plain, on the edge of which,
above
the black peaks of the mountains of Istakhara appeared on the horizon.
Beside themselves with delight, the caliph and Nuroniar jumped out of the
stretcher with joyful
exclamations, which surprised everyone who heard them. "Where are we going,
they asked each other, to palaces shining with light, or to gardens more
delightful than in Sheddad?" Poor mortals! - so they were lost in
conjecture: the abyss of the secrets of the Almighty was hidden from them.
Meanwhile, the good geniuses, who watched Vathek's behavior a little more,
ascended to the seventh heaven to Mohammed and said to him: "Merciful Prophet,
lend a helping hand to your Viceroy, or he will be irretrievably entangled in
networks,
which our enemies of the diva have placed for him; The giaour is waiting for him in
the disgusting
palace of underground fire; if he enters there, he is lost forever." Mohammed with
he replied indignantly: “He deserved too much to be left to himself;
however, I permit you to make one last effort to save him."
Immediately the good genius assumed the form of a shepherd, more famous for
his
piety than all the dervishes and ascetics of the country; he sat on the slope of a
small
hill, near a flock of white sheep and began to play on an unknown
melody instrument, the touching melody of which penetrated the soul,
aroused pangs of conscience and banished vain thoughts. From these powerful
sounds of the sun covered with dark clouds and crystal clear waters
small lake became redder than blood. All who were in the magnificent caravan of the
Caliph,
against their will rushed to the hill; everyone lowered their eyes in sorrow; all
reproached themselves for the evil committed in life; Dilara's heart was beating,
and the boss
eunuchs with a contrite look asked for forgiveness from women whom he often
tormented
for your own pleasure.
Vathek and Nuroniar turned pale and, glancing sullenly at each other,
remembered
with bitter repentance: he is about the multitude of the darkest
crimes, about her impious and power-hungry plans, and she about her
destroyed family, about the deceased Gulhenruze. Nuroniar it seemed that in these
fatal sounds, the screams of a dying father are heard, and Vathek imagined sobs
fifty children whom he sacrificed to Giaur. In this mental turmoil
they were irresistibly attracted to the shepherd. There was something so impressive
in his appearance,
that Vathek was embarrassed for the first time in his life, and Nuroniar covered
her face with her hands.
The music stopped, and the genius turned to the caliph with the words: "Mad ruler,
to whom Providence has entrusted the care of the people! So you do your
responsibilities? You have exceeded the measure of crime, and now you are rushing
for
retribution? You know that behind these mountains is the gloomy kingdom of Eblis
and
cursed divas, and, seduced by the insidious ghost, you give yourself up in their
power! You are offered help for the last time; leave your disgusting
plan, return, give Nuroniar to the father, in whom life is still glimmering,
destroy the tower with all its abominations, do not listen to the advice of
Caratis, be
just to your subjects, respect the messengers of the Prophet, make amends for your
iniquity
an exemplary life, and instead of indulging in voluptuousness, repent of
tears on the graves of their pious ancestors! Do you see the clouds that cover
sun? If your heart does not soften, then at the hour when the heavenly body
reappear, the hand of mercy will no longer reach out to you."
In fear and indecision, Vathek was ready to throw himself at the feet of the
shepherd,
who felt something superior to human, but pride won
up, and, daringly raising his head, he darted his terrible glance at him. "Who
whatever you are,” he replied, “enough! Leave your useless advice. Or
do you want to deceive me, or are you deceiving yourself: if what I did is so
criminal, as you say, then for me there is not even a drop of mercy; i spilled
a sea of blood to reach the power that will make you tremble
similar; don't expect me to retreat when I reach my goal, or to abandon the one
which is dearer to me than life and your mercy. Let the sun appear
let it light my path, I don't care where it leads!" From these words
the genius himself shuddered, and Vathek threw himself into the arms of Nuroniar
and ordered to move
forward.
It was not difficult to carry out this order; the obsession is gone, the sun
it shone again, and the shepherd disappeared with a plaintive cry. But a fatal
impression
the music of genius still remains in the hearts of most Vathek people; they With
looked at each other in horror. At nightfall, everyone fled, and from
only the head of the eunuchs remained in the large retinue, somewhat selflessly
devoted slaves, Dilara and a bunch of women who, like her, belonged to the religion
mages.
Caliph, devoured by a proud desire to prescribe laws to the powers of
darkness,
little upset by this flight. The excitement of the blood prevented him from
sleeping, and he did not
camped as usual. Nuroniar, whose impatience almost
did not exceed the impatience of the caliph, hurried him and lavished tender
caresses,
to completely confuse his mind. She already imagined herself more powerful,
than Valkis, {39} and imagined how geniuses would fall prostrate before
the steps of her throne. Thus they moved by the light of the moon, and saw
finally, two high rocks, which formed, as it were, a portal at the entrance to
a small valley, closed in the distance by the vast ruins of Istakhar. High
numerous tombs of kings looked from the mountain; the darkness of the night
intensified the eerie
impression of this painting. Passed two towns, almost completely
abandoned. Only a few decrepit old men remained in them; seeing horses and
stretcher, they threw themselves on their knees, exclaiming: "Oh, my God, again
these ghosts,
tormenting us for six months! Alas! all the inhabitants, frightened by the strange
ghosts and noise in the bowels of the mountains, left us to the mercy of evil
spirits! " These
complaints seemed to the caliph a bad omen; he trampled the poor
elders with their horses and finally arrived at the foot of a large terrace from
black marble. There he and Nuroniar stepped out of the stretcher. With beating
hearts
they scanned everything around with wandering eyes and waited with involuntary
trembling.
the appearance of Giaur; but nothing indicated his presence. ominous silence
reigned in the air and on the mountains. The moon cast shadows on the large terrace
huge columns rising almost to the clouds. On these bleak lighthouses
the number of which seemed immeasurable, there were no roofs, and their capitals,
unknown
in the annals of the land of style, served as a refuge for night birds, which,
Frightened by the approach of people, they disappeared with a croak.
The chief eunuch, numb with horror, begged Vathek to allow the fire to be lit
and
something to eat. "No, no," answered the caliph, "there is no time to think of such
things; sit still and wait for orders!" He said this in a decisive tone and
Nuroniar offered his hand. Climbing the steps of a large staircase, they found
themselves on
terrace, paved with marble slabs, like a smooth lake, where not
no weed could break through. To the right were the lighthouses that stood in front
of
the ruins of a huge palace, the walls of which were covered with various
images; terrifying gigantic statues of four
animals like vultures and leopards; not far from them by the light of the moon,
illuminating this place especially brightly, it was possible to distinguish the
inscriptions
reminiscent of those that were on the sabers of Giaur; they were also constantly
changing;
when at last they took the form of Arabic letters, the caliph read:
"_Vatek, you did not fulfill the dictates of my parchment; you deserve that I
sent you back; but out of respect for your companion and in consideration of the
fact
what did you do to get what you promised, Eblis allows you to open before you
the door of your palace and accept you among the worshipers of the underground
flame_".
As soon as he read these words, the mountain, to which the terrace adjoined,
shuddered and the beacons almost fell on their heads. The rock is half open
and a smooth marble staircase appeared in its bowels; she seemed to be descending
to the abyss. There were two candles on the steps, similar to the ones she had
seen.
Nuroniar in his vision; their camphor smoke rose in clubs to the vault.
This sight did not frighten the daughter of Fakreddin; on the contrary, it
gave her
courage; she did not even deign to say goodbye to the moon and sky, and without
hesitation
left the pure air to descend into the fumes of hell. Both wicked
walked proudly and decisively. Descending by the bright light of these torches,
they admired
each other, and blinded by their greatness, they were ready to take themselves for
heavenly beings. The only thing that gave them anxiety was that the steps
there was no end in sight. In fiery impatience they were in such a hurry that
soon their descent began to resemble a swift fall into the abyss; finally at
they stopped at a large ebony portal: the caliph immediately recognized him; here
A Gyaur with a golden key was waiting for them. "Welcome - to the evil of Mohammed
and his
henchmen,” he said with a repulsive smile, “now I will lead you into
palace, where you have honestly earned your place." With these words, he touched
with his key to the enamel lock, and immediately both halves of the door opened
with
with a noise like the roar of summer thunder, and with the same noise they closed,
only
they just entered.
Caliph and Nuroniar looked at each other with surprise. Although the room
where they were was covered with a vault, it seemed so vast and
high, that at first they took it for a vast plain. When their eyes
finally looked at the size of the objects, they sorted out the rows of columns and
arches; gradually decreasing in distance, they led to a radiant point,
like the sun throwing its last rays onto the surface of the sea. Floor,
sprinkled with gold powder and saffron, emitted such a pungent odor that they
head is spinning. They nevertheless moved forward and noticed many
incense burners with sulphur, ambergris and aloe. Between the columns stood tables
filled with
countless dishes of all kinds and foaming wines in crystal vessels.
Crowds of jinn and other flying spirits of both sexes danced voluptuous
dancing to the sound of music coming from somewhere below.
Many men and women walked in this vast hall, holding
right hand near the heart; they seemed occupied only with themselves and kept a
deep
silence. They were all pale as corpses, and their deep-set eyes
shone with a phosphorescent light, such as can be seen at night in cemeteries.
Some were immersed in deep thought, others rushed about in a frenzy
side to side, like tigers wounded by poisoned arrows; they avoided
each other; and although there was a whole crowd of them, they all wandered at
random, as if in complete
loneliness.
At the sight of this gloomy gathering, Vathek and Nuroniar went cold with
horror.
They persistently asked the Giaur what it was and why the wandering
the ghosts keep their right hand at the heart all the time. "Nothing to think about
now
this, - he answered sharply, - you will soon find out everything; need to introduce
myself soon
Eblis." And they continued to make their way forward, but in spite of their former
self-confidence, they no longer had the courage to pay attention to the enfilade
hall and galleries, opening to the right and left; they were all illuminated
flaming torches and the light of bonfires, the pyramidal flames of which reached
up to the vault. Finally, they came to a place where lush curtains from
bright crimson brocade, embroidered with gold, fell from all sides into
majestic mess. There was no more music and dancing; light,
seemed to come here from afar.
Vatek and Nuroniar parted the folds of the curtains and entered the vast
a sanctuary lined with leopard skins. Many old men with long
beards, Afrites in full armor lay prostrate at the steps of the dais, where
on the fireball sat the formidable Eblis. He seemed like a young man
twenty; the regular and noble features of his face seemed to have faded from
harmful fumes. Despair reflected in his huge eyes.
haughtiness, and wavy hair partly betrayed in him a fallen Angel of Light.
In his tender but lightning-blackened hand he held a copper scepter,
which trembled the monstrous Uranbad, {40} the Africans, and all the powers of
darkness.
The Caliph was taken aback and prostrated himself. Nuroniar, despite all his
excitement, was fascinated by the beauty of Eblis, for she expected to see a
terrible
giant. In a voice softer than one might have guessed, but
deep sorrow, Eblis said to them: "Sons of dust, I take you into my
kingdom. You are one of my admirers; use everything you see
palace, - the treasures of the ancient sultans who lived before the time of Adam,
their magical
sabers and talismans that will make the divas open up to you
dungeons of Mount Kaf, communicating with these. There you will find many things
satisfy your insatiable curiosity. You will be able to enter the fortress
Acherman and into the halls of Ardzhenok, {41} where there are images of all
reasonable
creatures and animals that lived on earth before the creation of a despicable
creature,
whom you call the father of men."
This speech comforted and reassured Vathek and Nuroniar. They spoke with
vivacity
Giaru: "Show us the precious talismans as soon as possible!" "Let's go," replied
evil Div with an insidious grin, - let's go, you will get everything that you
promised you
Lord, and even more." And the Gyaur led them along a long passage that communicated
with the sanctuary; he walked ahead with long strides, and the poor converts with
gladly followed him. They entered a vast hall with a high dome,
on the sides of which were fifty bronze doors locked with steel
chains. Here, gloomy darkness reigned, and on imperishable cedar beds were
the withered bodies of the famous ancient kings of the Pre-Adamites, once
rulers of all the earth. There was still enough life in them to
feel the hopelessness of their condition; their eyes were sad
mobility; they looked at each other in anguish, pressing their right hand to their
hearts. At
their feet could be seen inscriptions, reporting on their reigns, power,
pride and crime. Soliman Raad, Soliman Ducky and Soliman surnamed
Jian ben Jian, the sultans who imprisoned the divas in the dungeons of the cave on
Mount Kaf and
who became so arrogant that they doubted the existence of the Higher Beginning,
constituted an honorary rank there and, however, were lower than the prophet
Suleiman bin
Daud.
This king, famous for his wisdom, reclined above all, under the very
dome. It seemed that there was more life in it than in others, and although from
time to time
time, he sighed deeply and held his right hand to his heart, like the others, his
his face was calmer, and it seemed that he was listening to the noise of the black
waterfall, visible through the bars of one of the doors. Only one waterfall
broke the silence of these gloomy places. A row of copper vessels surrounded the
dais.
"Remove the lids from these Kabbalistic vaults," said Giaur to Vatek, "
take out the talismans from there, they will open these bronze doors for you, and
you will become
the lord of the treasures locked up there, and the lord of the spirits guarding
them!"
The caliph, crushed by these ominous preparations, with an unsteady tread
went up to the vessels and was numb with fear, hearing the groans of Suleiman, who
in
I took the first moment of confusion for a corpse. The Prophet clearly spoke with
his
with bluish lips the following words: "In life, I sat on a magnificent throne. By
at my right hand stood twelve thousand golden seats, where the patriarchs and
the prophets heeded my teachings; left on as many silver thrones
wise men and scholars were present at the administration of justice by me. So far
so
in this way I dealt with the affairs of countless subjects, birds in a cloud
circled over my head, shielding me from the sun. My people
prospered; my palaces rose to heaven; Temple of the Almighty
built by me, became one of the wonders of the world. But I cowardly succumbed
passion for women and curiosity, which was not limited to sublunar
affairs. I took the advice of Acherman and Pharaoh's daughter; I worshiped fire and
heavenly bodies, and leaving the holy city, I ordered the geniuses to build
magnificent palaces of Istakhar and a terrace of lighthouses, each of them
dedicating one of
stars. There for some time I enjoyed with all my being
by the splendor of the throne and voluptuousness; not only people, but also
geniuses were subject to
to me. I began to think, like these unfortunate kings among whom I lie, that
there is no heavenly vengeance, when suddenly lightning crushed my buildings and
overthrew me
here. I am not without hope, however, like others. "The Angel of Light brought me
the news that, in consideration of the piety of my youthful years, my torments will
end,
when this waterfall dries up, the drops of which I count; but alas, when it comes
this desired hour? I suffer, I suffer! Merciless fire devours mine
heart!"
With these words, Suleiman raised his hand to heaven in prayer, and the caliph
saw
that his chest is made of transparent crystal, through which the heart can be seen,
engulfed in flames. Terrified, Nuroniar fell into Vathek's arms. "Oh, Gyaur! -
exclaimed the unfortunate sovereign. - Where did you take us? Let us out of here; I
I give up everything! Oh Mohammed! don't you have more
mercy to us?" - "No, there is no more, - answered the evil Div, -
know: here is the land where hopelessness and retribution reign, your heart will be
like this
the same blaze, like all the worshipers of Eblis; {42} few days left for you
to the fatal end, use them as you wish; sleep on piles of gold
command the powers of hell, roam these endless dungeons as
you want; all doors will open before you. As for me, I have fulfilled my
commission and leave you to your own devices.” With these words he disappeared.
Caliph and Nuroniar remained in mortal despondency; they couldn't cry
with difficulty they kept on their feet; Finally, sadly holding hands, they
with unsteady steps they left the gloomy hall, not knowing where to go. All doors
opened at their approach, divas prostrated themselves before them; piles of wealth
presented themselves to their eyes, but they had no more curiosity or
pride or greed. With the same indifference they listened to the choirs
jinn and looked at the magnificent dishes that appeared from all sides. They are
wandered aimlessly from hall to hall, from room to room, from passage to
passage through bottomless and limitless spaces, illuminated by gloomy
light, among the same sad luxury, among the same creatures seeking rest
and relief, but they searched in vain, for everywhere with them was a heart
tormented
flame. They were avoided by all these unfortunates, whose glances seemed to say
to each other: "It was you who seduced me, it was you who corrupted me," and they
kept aloof, longingly waiting for their turn to come.
"How!" said Nuroniar. "Is there really a time when I will take
my hand from yours?" - "Oh," said Vathek, "won't my eyes
still draw passion in yours? Are the moments of happiness experienced together
will terrify me? No, you didn't bring me into this vile place;
the wicked instructions of Caratis, who corrupted me from my youth, the cause of
our
death. So let her at least suffer with us!"
these woeful words, he called the afrit, who was stirring the coals, and ordered
him
retrieve Queen Caratis from the palace at Samarra and bring her here.
Then they continued on their way through the silent crowd until they heard
conversation at the end of the gallery. Assuming they are just as unfortunate as
they, over whom the sentence has not yet been pronounced, they headed for the sound
votes. The voices came from a small square room where sofas
four young men of pleasant appearance and a beautiful woman were sitting; they
they talked sadly in the half-light of the lamp. They were all gloomy and
depressed, and
the two of them hugged each other tenderly. At the sight of the caliph and the
daughter of Faqreddin
they rose politely, bowed, and gave them a seat. Then what seemed the most
venerable of them turned to the caliph with the words: "Foreigner, you, of course,
you are in the same terrible expectation as we are, for you still do not hold the
right
hands at the heart; if you come to spend with us the terrible hours left to us
before the beginning of the punishment, deign to tell about the adventures that led
you to this fateful place, and we will tell about ours; they deserve to be
listened to. Recall and relive your crimes, although already
no time to repent of them - the only thing left so unhappy as
we".
Caliph and Nuroniar accepted the offer, and Vatek, not without a shudder,
began
sincere story. When he finished the heavy story, the young
the man who had spoken to him began to tell his story in response. Further
follow:
The story of two friends - princes Alazi and Firu, imprisoned in the
underground
palace.
 The story of Prince Borkiarok, imprisoned in an underground palace.
The story of Prince Kalila and Princess Zulkais, imprisoned in the underground
palace. {43}
The third prince had told half of his story when he was interrupted by a noise
from which the vaults of the dungeon trembled and opened slightly. cloud little by
little
dispersed, and Karathis appeared, riding an afrit, complaining bitterly about
I wear mine. The queen jumped down to the ground and, going up to her son, said to
him: "What are you
doing in this little room? Seeing that the divas obey you, I thought,
that you are sitting on the throne of ancient sultans."
"A vile woman!" replied the caliph. "Cursed be the day when you
gave birth to me! Follow this afrit, let him take you to the hall
prophet Suleiman, there you will find out what the purpose of the palace is, so for
you
desired, and how should I curse the wicked knowledge with which you
supplied!" - "You have achieved power and your mind has clouded with joy, -
objected Caratis. - I better and do not want how to honor the prophet Suleiman.
By the way, since the afrit told me that neither you nor I will return to Samarra,
know that I asked permission to put my affairs in order and he was
kind enough to agree. I took advantage of these minutes.
set fire to our tower, burned alive the dumb, the black women, the stingrays and
the snakes that
nevertheless rendered me many services, and I would have done the same with the
vizier if he
didn't trade me for Motawekel. As for Bababaluk, foolishly
returned to Samarra and found husbands for your wives, I would betray him
torture if there was time; but I had no time, and, having attracted him
by cunning, like women, on my side, I only ordered him to be hanged; on
on my own order, women were buried alive in the ground by negro women, than they
delivered to themselves
great pleasure in the last moments of life. As for Dilara, always
I liked, she showed her usual mind by going here and going
serve one magician; I think she will be ours soon." Vathek was too
dejected to resent this speech; he ordered the afrita to be removed
Caratis remained in gloomy thought, which they did not dare to break.
comrades in misfortune.
Meanwhile, Caratis quickly walked to the hall of Suleiman and, without paying
attention
attention to the groans of the prophet, boldly pulled off the covers from the
vessels and took possession of
talismans. Then she raised a howl such as had never been heard before in these
places, and forced the divas to show her the most carefully hidden
treasures, the deepest storerooms that no afrit has ever seen.
She descended steep descents known only to Eblis and his loved ones.
close, and penetrated with the help of talismans into the very bowels of the earth,
from where
blows sanfar, the icy wind of death; nothing frightened her indomitable
hearts. However, in all those who pressed their right hand to their hearts, she
found
a little oddity that she didn't like.
When she emerged from a certain abyss, Eblis appeared before her eyes.
Despite the impressiveness of his appearance, she was not at a loss and greeted him
with great resourcefulness. The proud monarch answered her: "Queen, whose knowledge
and
crimes deserve a high position in my country! You well
use the rest of your free time; soon flame and torment will take over
your heart and cause you enough trouble." With these words, he disappeared
behind the curtains of his sanctuary.
 Karatis was a little embarrassed, but, having decided to boldly go to the end
and follow
advice of Eblis, she gathered all the genies and divas to pay her
honors. So she walked with triumph through the fragrant fumes under the joyful
the cry of all the evil spirits, most of which were familiar to her. She was going
even drive one of the Solimans off the throne in order to take his place, when
suddenly
a voice from the abyss of death exclaimed: "It is done!" Immediately haughty
forehead
the fearless queen was covered with wrinkles of agony; she let out a plaintive cry,
and
her heart turned into a burning coal; she put her hand to him, and could not
already take it away.
In a frenzy, forgetting their ambitious plans and thirst for knowledge,
which are inaccessible to mortals, she overturned the gifts laid by the jinn to her
feet, and cursing the hour of her birth and the womb that bore her, she began
rushing about without stopping for a moment, not tasting a minute of rest.
Almost at the same time, the same voice announced the hopeless verdict on the
caliph,
Nuroniar, four princes and a princess. Their hearts were on fire and they
lost the most precious of the gifts of heaven - _hope!_ The unfortunate ones turned
out to be
separated and cast angry glances at each other. Vathek saw in the look
Nuroniar only rage and thirst for revenge; she is in his eyes - disgust and
hopelessness. Two princes, who had just embraced tenderly as friends,
parted with a shudder. Kalila and his sister started cursing each other.
Terrible convulsions and stifled cries of two other princes testified to
how they hate themselves. They all plunged into the crowd of outcasts,
to wander in eternal torment.
Such was and such should be the punishment for unbridled passions and for
cruelty of acts; such will be the punishment of the blind curiosity of those who
seeks to penetrate beyond the limits set by the creator of human knowledge;
such is the punishment of arrogance, which wants to reach the knowledge available
only to beings of a higher order, and reaches only insane pride, not
noticing that the destiny of man is to be humble and ignorant.
So Caliph Vatek, in pursuit of vain pomp and forbidden power,
denigrated himself with many crimes, became the prey of remorse and
endless, boundless torment, and the humble, despised Gulchenruz spent
century in quiet peace and in the happiness of blissful childhood.

NOTES

William Beckford. "Vatek" (pp. 163-227)

Literature

Texts:
An Arabian Tale, from an unpublished manuscript; with, notes critical
and explanatory. London, 1786 [translated by S. Henley].
Vathek. Lausanne, 1787 [late 1786].
Vathek. Conte Arabe. Paris, 1787.
Le Vathek de Beckford. Reimprime sur l'Edition francaise originale avec
Preface par Stephane Mallarme. Paris, 1876.
Vathek with the Episodes of Vathek. By William Beckford of Fonthill.
Edited with a Historical Introduction and Notes by Guy Champan. 2 vols.
Cambridge, 1929.
Beckford. Vathek. Arabian tale. Transl. Boris Zaitsev, introductory
article by P. Muratov. Ed. K. Nekrasov. M., 1912.

Scientific literature:
Lewis Melville. The Life and Letters of Willam Beckford of Fonthill.
London, 1910.
A Bibliography of William Beckford of Fonthill, by Guy Chapman and John
Hodkin. London, 1930.
Guy Chapman. Beckford. London, [1937].
Andre Parreaux. William Beckford, auteur de Vathek. Etude de la
creation letter. Paris, 1960.
Pierre Martino. L'Orient dans la litterature francaise au XVIIe
etXVIIIe siecle. Paris, 1906.
Marie-Louise Dufrenoy. L'Orient Romanesque en France. 1704-1789. Vols.
I-II. Montreal, 1946.
Martha Pike Conant. The Oriental Tale in England in the Eighteenth Cen-
tury. New York, 1908.
In explaining the meaning of Beckford's "Orientalisms" we refer to
"Oriental Library" d'Herbelot as the main source with which he
used (D'Herbelot. Bibliotheque Orientale. Paris, 1697). That's why
See the question: Andre Parreaux. William Beckford, pp. 341-342.
1 Vathek, the ninth caliph of the Abassid family... - According to d'Herbelot,
the historical caliph Vathek succeeded his father Mutasim in 227 AH,
died in 232 at the age of 32 (849-854). He supported
rationalistic sect of the Mu'tazilites, who denied uncreation and eternity
Koran, and severely persecuted its opponents, was interested in the sciences and
dabbled in astrology. He was a great glutton and voluptuary, and died of
dropsy. D'Herbelo conveys the legend of his terrible look, with which he could
kill on the spot those who provoked his wrath (D'Herbelot, pp. 911-912). About
Vathek
and Mutazilites, see: I. P. Petrushevsky. Islam in Iran in the 7th-15th centuries.
Ed.
Leningrad State University. A. A. Zhdanova, 1966, p.
211.
2 ... like Omar ben Abdalaziz... - Omar ben Abdalaziz - Omar II, eighth
caliph from the Umayyad dynasty, famous for his piety and asceticism
(D'Herbelot, pp. 689-690).
3 ... over the entire city of Samarra ... - City of Samarra in Babylonia
(Iraq)
was built by Caliph Mutasim, father of Vathek, as a residence instead of
Baghdad, where riots often took place (D'Herbelot, p. 752).
4 ... a gallery of paintings by the famous Mani ... - Mani is the founder of
the sect
Manichean, revered in Muslim countries as the greatest artist
antiquity (D'Herbelot, pp. 548-549). See the mention of him in Alisher's poem
Navoi "Farhad and Shirin", ch. III.
5 ... in imitation of Nimrod ... - Nimrod in the Bible is a hunter ("strong
trappers"), the construction of the "Tower of Babel" is not attributed to him. In
In Muslim legends, Nimrod is the first god-fighter, a king who put himself above
god and demanded worship. He built the "Tower of Babel" to
rise to the sky and see God, but when he ascended to its top, he
made sure that the sky is as far from him as it was before - a motive,
used in "Vatek" (see article, p. 283). Built by Nimrod
the tower miraculously toppled twice (D'Herbelot, pp. 668-669).
6 ... as from ebony ... - Eben - "ebony".
7 I swear by the donkey of Balaam ... - The donkey of the pagan prophet
Balaam,
received, according to biblical legend, the gift of speech, was revered as sacred
animal (D'Herbelot, pp. 180-181).
8 ... for more resemblance to the Garden of Eden ... - Eden - biblical
legend, the earthly paradise in which Adam lived before the fall.
9 ... the hour of the Divan has struck ... - The sofa is the room in which
they sit
civil servants or dignitaries, in a figurative sense - the title
the corresponding board (in this case, the meeting of the caliph's advisers).
10 ... ordered the muezzins ... - Muezzin - a servant of a religious cult
among Muslims, at the appointed hours, calling the faithful to prayer from the
minaret.
11 ... Suleiman bin Daoud rests there ... - Suleiman - the biblical king
Solomon, son of King David. In the East, legends about
wisdom of King Solomon, master of spirits and elements, about his magic ring and
others; believed that he was the ruler of the whole world. (Compare: A. N.
Veselovsky.
Slavic legends about Solomon and Kitovras and Western legends about Morolf and
Merlin. SPb., 1872; see: Collected Works, vol. VIII, Pgr., 1921). AT
In Muslim legends, the name "Suleimanov" is carried by the kings of the "pre-
Adamites" who ruled
all the earth before the creation of Adam (D'Herbelot, pp. 818-821). See note.
thirty.
12 ... Faghfur vases ... - Faghfur - the title of Chinese emperors on
Middle East. Fagfur_i_ - the name of Chinese dishes, from where the European
the words porcelain (D'Herbelot, p. 335).
13 ... go to Istakhar... - Istakhar - the ancient capital of the Persian
kings (in Greek Persepolis), about the beauty and splendor of which existed
numerous legends. Jamshid was considered the builder of Istakhar (see note 31),
according to other stories - one of the pre-Adamite kings Jian ben Jian, the ruler
peri, miraculously erecting his palaces (D'Herbelot, pp. 327 et 396).
14 ... the dog of the Seven Sleepers ... - According to the Koran (XVIII
sura), seven
youths who refused to worship the pagan gods hid in a cave and
by the will of Allah were immersed in a dream that lasted three hundred years; at
the entrance to
a dog lay in the cave, guarding their sleep.
15 ... Teriak (pers.) - a medicinal substance used as
antidote.
16 ... enamels of Frangistan ... - Frangistan - the country of the Franks,
western
Europe.
17 ... came to the terrible Kaf ... - Kaf - a mountain range surrounding
land, which in later times was identified with the Caucasus. Land of divas and
peri (D'Herbelot, p. 231).
18 ... The Simurgh will peck out my head now ... - The Simurgh is a giant
bird,
often mentioned in Arabian tales (D'Herbelot, p. 810). In folklore
Turkic peoples - Alp Kara Kush.
19 ... ruthless afrits ... - Afrits (or ifrits) - fabulous
monsters, cruel and terrible, often found in Arabian tales.
Belong to a breed of jinn, male and female demons, sometimes evil,
sometimes good, created from fire and occupying in Muslim mythology
middle ground between humans and angels.
20 ... serves us for abdest... - Abdest - ritual bathing
(D'Herbelot, p. 10).
21 ... kafila bells ... - Kafila (arab.) - camel caravan.
22 ... what is Dejial ... - Dejial (Dajial) is a false messiah,
antichrist, whose coming is associated with ideas of doomsday
(D'Herbelot, p. 282).
23 ... began ... to pronounce "Bismillah" ... - "Bismillah" -
"In the name of Allah".
24 ... to a luxurious techtravan... - Techtravan - palanquin, stretcher.
 25 ... many calenders... - Calenders - wandering dervishes
Sufi order, they often went barefoot, in a sackcloth and in a cap with
metal trinkets; some behaved like fools.
26 ... from the island of Serendiba ... - Serendib (Ceylon) - an island in the
Indian
ocean, which is told by Arab sailors, rich in precious
stones, wonderful animals and plants (D'Herbelot, p. 806). Repeatedly
mentioned in Arabic tales; in French literature of the 18th century. compare:
"Voyages et aventures des trois princes de Serendibe". Paris, 1719 (cf.
article, p. 272). See: I. Yu. Krachkovsky. Selected Works, vol. IV,
M.-L., 1957, p. 69.
27 ... among those who came from Pegu ... - Pegu is an ancient state on
territory of Burma, which retained its independence until the middle of the XVIII
century.
Peguans professed Buddhism.
28 ... about the love of Majnun and Leyli ... - Majnun and Leyli are famous
Arab lovers, whose fate has repeatedly been the subject of romantic
narratives (poems by Nizami, Alisher Navoi). Majnun ("madman") - nickname
Arab poet Qais ibn-al Mullawah (died c. 700), whose love for
Leyli became the subject of a poetic legend (see: I. Yu. Krachkovsky. Early
history of the story about Majnun and Layla in Arabic literature. - Sat. "Alisher
Navoi", M., 1946, pp. 31-67).
29 ... about crafty divas and gloomy hums. - Ghouls - in Arabian fairy tales
demons belonging to the breed of evil jinn (see note 19). They devour
people, often attacking lost travelers. Divas - in Zoroastrian
mythologies - evil spirits created by Ahriman (see note 41) and constituting him
host. In the folklore of Muslim peoples, usually - monstrous giants,
often - cannibals, sometimes - good-natured and stupid (type of fairy tales about
"stupid
line"). Epic heroes enter into single combat with them (hero Rustam
as the destroyer of divas in Firdousi's "Shah-Nameh"). The female divas wear
the name of the peri (originally: wig). In folklore, these are beautiful fairies,
luring mortals and entering into a love relationship with them. Divas and Peri
genies, afrits and ghouls belong to the permanent magical apparatus of fairy tales
"Thousand and One Nights" and the like.
30 ... the treasures of the ancient sultans who lived before the time of
Adam... -
Pre-Adamite Sultans. According to Muslim legends,
the creation of Adam was preceded by many generations of living beings,
sovereigns (sultans), called Solimans, ruled (see notes 11 and 13).
The last of these was Gian ben Gian, who reigned immediately before
the creation of Adam (D'Herbelot, p. 820).
31 ... along with Jamshid's rubies... - Jamshid is the fourth of the ancient
kings of Persia, according to legend, subjugated all the countries of the East,
the builder of Istachar (see note 13); was renowned for his wisdom and
wealth; reigned seven hundred years and, considering himself immortal, demanded
divine honors, for which he was overthrown from the throne by Allah
(D'Herbelot, p. 394). Wed See also: Ferdowsi. Shahnameh, vol. I. Ed. Academy of
Sciences of the USSR.
1957, pp. 35-48 (pp. 815-1244) and note. to pp. 609-610. Byron in "Gyaur"
compares Leyla's eyes to "Jamshid's rubies".
32 ... some genie loves you ... - see approx. 19.
33 "Leilah-ileilah" is a Muslim prayer containing a confession
faith: "There is no god but God (Allah)..."
34 ... this is Monkir or Nekir ... - angels armed with sharp swords,
who, according to the ideas of Muslims, interrogate the soul of the deceased after
death (D'Herbelot, p. 58).
35 ... the fatal bridge ... - Al-Sirat bridge, narrow as the blade of a sword,
thrown over the abyss over the fiery stream; over this bridge the souls of the dead
go to heaven or fall into the abyss of hell. Mentioned by Byron in
"Gyaure".
36 ... about the sacred camel ... - The Qur'an mentions several times
sacred camel of Allah.
37 ... brought up by magicians, she rejoiced that the caliph was ready to
surrender
the cult of fire ... - The cult of fire is characteristic of Zoroastrianism, which
dominated in
Iran before the Arab conquest and forced Islamization. Magami
the priests of this religion were called. Muslim Arabs who eradicated
Zoroastrianism,
considered the religion of fire-worshipping magicians ("parsism") as the greatest
wickedness.
38 ...get to know Eblis himself. - Eblis - Muslim devil
mythology (Lucifer), the head of the fallen angels, who disobeyed God, refusing,
in your pride, bow before Adam (D'Herbelot, p. 307).
39 ... more powerful than Balkis ... - Balkis is the Queen of Sheba,
according to biblical legend, who arrived from her country (southern Arabia) to
marvel at the wisdom of King Solomon and test him with riddles. Leaving, she
gave him "gold from Ophir" and many precious stones. By
Muslim legend, she married Solomon (D'Herbelot, p. 182).
40 ... monstrous Uranbad ... - a fabulous monster like a dragon,
living on Mount Acherman (D'Herbelot, p. 915).
41 ... penetrate into the fortress of Acherman and into the halls of Ardzhenk.
- Acherman,
Ahriman (Ahriman) - the evil deity of the dualistic religion of the Zoroastrians,
hostile to the good deity Ormuzd (Ahura Mazda). On Mount Acherman
evil spirits gathered (D'Herbelot, p. 71). Div Argenk, contemporary
pre-Adamite sultans, kept in his palace on Mount Kaf sculptural
images of 72 Pre-Adamite sultans, as well as living beings that were his
subjects - many-headed, many-armed, with animal heads and torsos
(D'Herbelot, p. 82).
42 your heart will also burn like all the worshipers of Eblis... -
The image of a sinner with a heart on fire is borrowed by Beckford from
"Mongolian tales" T. Geletta "Sultanas from Guzarat" (Thomas Guelette. Les
Sultanes de Guzarate. Paris, 1732).
These three insert novellas were not completed by Beckford and were not
published.
during his lifetime as part of the "Vatek", for which they were intended (see.
article, pp. 283-284).

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