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happened。 Gulchenrouz was amused with the delusive hope of once
more embracing Nouronihar in the interior recesses of the mountains；
where the ground； strewed over with orange blossoms and jasmines；
offered beds much more inviting than the withered leaves in their cabin；
where they might accompany with their voices the sounds of their lutes；
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and chase butterflies in concert。 Sutlememe was far gone in this sort of
description； when one of the four eunuchs beckoned her aside to apprise
her of the arrival of a messenger from their fraternity； who had explained
the secret of the flight of Nouronihar； and brought the commands of the
Emir。 A council with Shaban and the dwarfs was immediately held； their
baggage being stowed in consequence of it； they embarked in a shallop；
and quietly sailed with the little one； who acquiesced in all their proposals；
their voyage proceeded in the same manner till they came to the place
where the lake sinks beneath the hollow of the rock； but as soon as the
bark had entered it； and Gulchenrouz found himself surrounded with
darkness； he was seized with a dreadful consternation； and incessantly
uttered the most piercing outcries； for he now was persuaded he should
actually be damned for having taken too much freedom in his life…time
with his cousin。
But let us return to the Caliph and her who ruled over his heart。
Bababalouk had pitched the tents； and closed up the extremities of the
valley with magnificent screens of India cloth； which were guarded by
Ethiopian slaves with their drawn sabres； to preserve the verdure of this
beautiful enclosure in its natural freshness； the white eunuchs went
continually round it with their red water… vessels。 The waving of fans
was heard near the imperial pavilion； where； by the voluptuous light that
glowed through the muslins； the Caliph enjoyed at full view all the
attractions of Nouronihar。 Inebriated with delight； he was all ear to her
charming voice； which accompanied the lute； while she was not less
captivated with his descriptions of Samarah and the tower full of wonders；
but especially with his relation of the adventure of the ball； and the chasm
of the Giaour； with its ebony portal。
In this manner they conversed for a day and a night； they bathed
together in a basin of black marble； which admirably relieved the fairness
of Nouronihar。 Bababalouk； whose good graces this beauty had regained；
spared no attention that their repasts might be served up with the minutest
exactness； some exquisite rarity was ever placed before them； and he sent
even to Schiraz for that fragrant and delicious wine which had been
hoarded up in bottles prior to the birth of Mahomet； he had excavated little
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ovens in the rock to bake the nice manchets which were prepared by the
hands of Nouronihar； from whence they had derived a flavour so grateful
to Vathek； that he regarded the ragouts of his other wives as entirely
mawkish； whilst they would have died at the Emir's of chagrin at finding
themselves so neglected； if Fakreddin； notwithstanding his resentment；
had not taken pity upon them。
The Sultana Dilara； who till then had been the favourite； took this
dereliction of the Caliph to heart with a vehemence natural to her character；
for during her continuance in favour she had imbibed from Vathek many
of his extravagant fancies； and was filed with impatience to behold the
superb tombs of Istakar； and the palace of forty columns； besides； having
been brought up amongst the Magi； she had fondly cherished the idea of
the Caliph's devoting himself to the worship of fire； thus his voluptuous
and desultory life with her rival was to her a double source of affliction。
The transient piety of Vathek had occasioned her some serious alarms； but
the present was an evil of far greater magnitude； she resolved； therefore；
without hesitation； to write to Carathis； and acquaint her that all things
went ill； that they had eaten； slept； and revelled at an old Emir's； whose
sanctity was very formidable； and that after all； the prospect of possessing
the treasures of the pre…adamite Sultans was no less remote than before。
This letter was entrusted to the care of two wood…men； who were at work
on one of the great forests of the mountains； and； being acquainted with
the shortest cuts； arrived in ten days at Samarah。
The Princess Carathis was engaged at chess with Morakanabad； when
the arrival of these wood…fellers was announced。 She； after some weeks
of Vathek's absence； had forsaken the upper regions of her tower； because
everything appeared in confusion among the stars； whom she consulted
relative to the fate of her son。 In vain did she renew her fumigations； and
extend herself on the roof to obtain mystic visions； nothing more could she
see in her dreams than pieces of brocade； nosegays of flowers； and other
unmeaning gewgaws。 These disappointments had thrown her into a state
of dejection； which no drug in her power was sufficient to remove； her
only resource was in Morakanabad； who was a good man； and endowed
with a decent share of confidence； yet whilst in her company he never
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thought himself on roses。
No person knew aught of Vathek； and a thousand ridiculous stories
were propagated at his expense。 The eagerness of Carathis may be easily
guessed at receiving the letter； as well as her rage at reading the dissolute
conduct of her son。 〃Is it so？〃 said she； 〃either I will perish； or Vathek
shall enter the palace of fire。 Let me expire in flames； provided he may
reign on the throne of Soliman！〃 Having said this； and whirled herself
round in a magical manner； which struck Morakanabad with such terror as
caused him to recoil； she ordered her great camel Alboufaki to be brought；
and the hideous Nerkes wit