the history of the caliph vathek(加里弗[1].维克史)-第21部分
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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 with the unrelenting Cafour to attend。 〃I require
no other retinue；〃 said she to Morakanabad； 〃I am going on affairs of
emergency； a truce therefore to parade！ Take you care of the people；
fleece them well in my absence； for we shall expend large sums； and one
knows not what may betide。〃
The night was uncommonly dark； and a pestilential blast ravaged the
plain of Catoul that would have deterred any other traveller； however
urgent the call； but Carathis enjoyed most whatever filled others with
dread。 Nerkes concurred in opinion with her； and Cafour had a particular
predilection for a pestilence。 In the morning this accomplished caravan；
with the wood…fellers who directed their route； halted on the edge of an
extensive marsh； from whence so noxious a vapour arose as would have
destroyed any animal but Alboufaki； who naturally inhaled these
malignant fogs。 The peasants entreated their convoy not to sleep in this
place。
〃To sleep；〃 cried Carathis； 〃what an excellent thought！ I never sleep
but for visions； and； as to my attendants； their occupations are too many to
close the only eye they each have。〃
The poor peasants； who were not over…pleased with their party；
remained open…mouthed with surprise。
Carathis alighted； as well as her negresses； and severally stripping off
their outer garments； they all ran in their drawers； to cull from those spots
where the sun shone fiercest the venomous plants that grew on the marsh；
this provision was made for the family of the Emir； and whoever might
retard the expedition to Istakar。 The woodmen were overcome with fear
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when they beheld these three horrible phantoms run； and； not much
relishing the company of Alboufaki； stood aghast at the command of
Carathis to set forward； notwithstanding it was noon； and the heat fierce
enough to calcine even rocks。 In spite； however； of every remonstrance；
they were forced implicitly to submit。
Alboufaki； who delighted in solitude； constantly snorted whenever he
perceived himself near a habitation； and Carathis； who was apt to spoil
him with indulgence； as constantly turned him aside； so that the peasants
were precluded from procuring subsistence； for the milch goats and ewes；
which Providence had sent towards the district they traversed； to refresh
travellers with their milk； all fled at the sight of the hideous animal and his
strange riders。 As to Carathis； she needed no common aliment； for her
invention had previously furnished her with an opiate to stay her stomach；
some of which she imparted to her mutes。
At the fall of night Alboufaki； making a sudden stop； stamped with his
foot； which to Carathis； who understood his paces； was a certain indication
that she was near the confines of some cemetery。 The moon shed a bright
light on the spot； which served to discover a long wall； with a large door in
it standing ajar； and so high that Alboufaki might easily enter。 The
miserable guides； who perceived their end approaching； humbly implored
Carathis； as she had now so good an opportunity； to inter them； and
immediately gave up the ghost。 Nerkes and Cafour； whose wit was of a
style peculiar to themselves； were by no means parsimonious of it on the
folly of these poor people； nor could anything have been found more
suited to their tastes than the site of the burying…ground； and the
sepulchres which its precincts contained； there were at least two thousand
of them on the declivity of a hill： some in the form of pyramids； others
like columns； and； in short； the variety of their shapes was endless。
Carathis was too much immersed in her sublime contemplations to stop at
the view； charming as it appeared in her eyes； pondering the advantages
that might accrue from her present situation； she could not forbear to
exclaim：
〃So beautiful a cemetery must be haunted by Gouls！ and they want not
for intelligence； having heedlessly suffered my guides to expire； I will
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apply for directions to them； and as an inducement will invite them to
regale on these fresh corpses。〃
After this short soliloquy she beckoned to Nerkes and Cafour； and
made signs with her fingers； as much as to say； 〃Go； knock against the
sides of the tombs； and strike up your delightful warblings； that are so like
to those of the guests whose company I wish to obtain。〃
The negresses； full of joy at the behests of their mistress； and
promising themselves much pleasure from the society of the Gouls； went
with an air of conquest； and began their knockings at the tombs； as their
strokes were repeated a hollow noise was heard in the earth； the surface
hove up into heaps； and the Gouls on all sides protruded their noses； to
inhale the effluvia which the carcases of the wood…men began to emit。
They assembled before a sarcophagus of white marble； where Carathis
was seated between the bodies of her miserable guides； the princess
received her visitants with distinguished politeness； and； when supper was
ended； proceeded with them to business。 Having soon learnt from them
everything she wished to discover； it was her intention to set forward
forthwith on her journey； but her negresses； who were forming tender
connections with the Gouls； importuned her with all their fingers to wait at
least till the dawn。 Carathis； however； being chastity in the abstract； and
an implacable enemy to love and repose； at once rejected their prayer；
mounted Alboufaki； and commanded them to take their seats in a moment；
four days and four nights she continued her route； without turning to the
right hand or left； on the fifth she traversed the mountains and half…burnt
forests； and arrived on the sixth before the beautiful screens which
concealed from all eyes the voluptuous wanderings of her son
