Vathek; An Arabian Tale

by William Beckford

impertinent,” said he, “whence got you false keys? or are youbeloved of some genius that hath given you a picklock? I will try theextent of your power; come, to your chamber! through the two sky-lights,and expect not the company of Gulchenrouz. Be expeditious! I will shutyou up in the double tower.”

  At these menaces Nouronihar indignantly raised her head, opened on Shabanher black eyes, which since the important dialogue of the enchanted grotwere considerably enlarged, and said:

  “Go, speak thus to slaves! but learn to reverence her who is born to givelaws, and subject all to her power.”

  She was proceeding in the same style, but was interrupted by a suddenexclamation of,

  “The Caliph! the Caliph!”

  The curtains at once were thrown open, and the slaves prostrate in doublerows, whilst poor little Gulchenrouz hid himself beneath the elevation ofa sofa. At first appeared a file of black eunuchs trailing after themlong trains of muslin embroidered with gold, and holding in their handscensers, which dispensed as they passed the grateful perfume of the woodof aloes. Next marched Bababalouk with a solemn strut, and tossing hishead as not over pleased at the visit. Vathek came close after superblyrobed; his gait was unembarrassed and noble, and his presence would haveengaged admiration, though he had not been the sovereign of the world.He approached Nouronihar with a throbbing heart, and seemed enraptured atthe full effulgence of her radiant eyes, of which he had before caughtbut a few glimpses; but she instantly depressed them, and her confusionaugmented her beauty.

  Bababalouk, who was a thorough adept in coincidences of this nature, andknew that the worst game should be played with the best face, immediatelymade a signal for all to retire, and no sooner did he perceive beneaththe sofa the little one’s feet, than he drew him forth without ceremony,set him upon his shoulders, and lavished on him as he went off a thousandodious caresses. Gulchenrouz cried out, and resisted till his cheeksbecame the colour of the blossom of the pomegranite, and the tears thatstarted into his eyes shot forth a gleam of indignation. He cast asignificant glance at Nouronihar, which the Caliph noticing, asked:

  “Is that then your Gulchenrouz?”

  “Sovereign of the world,” answered she, “spare my cousin, whose innocenceand gentleness deserve not your anger!”

  “Take comfort,” said Vathek with a smile, “he is in good hands.Bababalouk is fond of children, and never goes without sweetmeats andcomfits.”

  The daughter of Fakreddin was abashed; and suffered Gulchenrouz to beborne away without adding a word. The tumult of her bosom betrayed herconfusion; and Vathek becoming still more impassioned, gave a loose tohis frenzy, which had only not subdued the last faint strugglings ofreluctance, when the emir suddenly bursting in, threw his face upon theground at the feet of the Caliph, and said:

  “Commander of the faithful, abase not yourself to the meanness of yourslave.”

  “No, emir,” replied Vathek, “I raise her to an equality with myself; Ideclare her my wife; and the glory of your race shall extend from onegeneration to another.”

  “Alas! my lord,” said Fakreddin, as he plucked off the honours of hisbeard, “cut short the days of your faithful servant rather than force himto depart from his word. Nouronihar, as her hands evince, is solemnlypromised to Gulchenrouz, the son of my bother, Ali Hassan; they areunited also in heart; their faith is mutually plighted; and affiances sosacred cannot be broken.”

  “What, then,” replied the Caliph bluntly, “would you surrender thisdivine beauty to a husband more womanish than herself? And can youimagine that I will suffer her charms to decay in hands so inefficientand nerveless? No! she is destined to live out her life within myembraces: such is my will: retire, and disturb not the night I devote tothe homage of her charms.”

  The irritated emir drew forth his sabre, presented it to Vathek, andstretching out his neck, said in a firm tone of voice:

  “Strike your unhappy host my lord! he has lived long enough, since hehath seen the prophet’s vicegerent violate the rights of hospitality.”

  At his uttering these words, Nouronihar unable to support any longer theconflict of her passions, sunk down in a swoon. Vathek, both terrifiedfor her life, and furious at an opposition to his will, bade Fakreddinassist his daughter, and withdrew, darting his terrible look at theunfortunate emir, who suddenly fell backward bathed in a sweat, cold asthe damp of death.

  Gulchenrouz, who had escaped from the hands of Bababalouk, and was thatinstant returned, called out for help as loudly as he could, not havingstrength to afford it himself. Pale and panting, the poor childattempted to revive Nouronihar by caresses, and it happened that thethrilling warmth of his lips restored her to life. Fakreddin beginningalso to recover from the look of the Caliph, with difficulty tottered toa seat, and after warily casting round his eye to see if this dangerousprince were gone, sent for Shaban and Sutlememe, and said to them apart—

  “My friends, violent evils require as violent remedies; the Caliph hasbrought desolation and horror into my family, and how shall we resist hispower? Another of his looks will send me to my grave. Fetch then thatnarcotic powder which the Dervise brought me from Aracan. A dose of it,the effect of which will continue three days, must be administered toeach of these children. The Caliph will believe them to be dead, forthey will have all the appearance of death. We shall go as if to interthem in the cave of Meimoune, at the entrance of the great desert ofsand, and near the cabin of my dwarfs. When all the spectators shall bewithdrawn, you, Shaban, and four select eunuchs shall convey them to thelake, where provision shall be ready to support them a month; for, oneday allotted to the surprise this event will occasion, five to the tears,a fortnight to reflection, and the rest to prepare for renewing hisprogress, will, according to my calculation, fill up the whole time thatVathek will tarry, and I shall then be freed from his intrusion.”

  “Your plan,” said Sutlememe, “is a good one, if it can but be effected.I have remarked that Nouronihar is well able to support the glances ofthe Caliph, and that he is far from being sparing of them to her; beassured therefore, notwithstanding her fondness for Gulchenrouz, she willnever remain quiet while she knows him to be here, unless we can persuadeher that both herself and Gulchenrouz are really dead, and that they wereconveyed to those rocks for a limited season to expiate the little faultsof which their love was the cause. We will add that we killed ourselvesin despair, and that your dwarfs whom they never yet saw will preach tothem delectable sermons. I will engage that every thing shall succeed tothe bent of your wishes.”

  “Be it so,” said Fakreddin; “I approve your proposal; let us lose not amoment to give it effect.” They forthwith hastened to seek for thepowder, which being mixed in a sherbet was immediately drunk byGulchenrouz and Nouronihar. Within the space of an hour both were seizedwith violent palpitations, and a general numbness gradually ensued. Theyarose from the floor, where they had remained ever since the Caliph’sdeparture, and ascending to the sofa, reclined themselves at full lengthupon it, clasped in each other’s embraces.

  “Cherish me, my dear Nouronihar,” said Gulchenrouz; “put thy hand upon myheart, for it feels as if it were frozen. Alas! thou art as cold asmyself! hath the Caliph murdered us both with his terrible look?”

  “I am dying,” cried she in a faltering voice; “press me closer, I amready to expire!”

  “Let us die then together,” answered the little Gulchenrouz, whilst hisbreast laboured with a convulsive sigh; “let me at least breathe forth mysoul on thy lips.”

  They spoke no more, and became as dead.

  Immediately the most piercing cries were heard through the harem, whilstShaban and Sutlememe personated with great adroitness the parts ofpersons in despair. The emir, who was sufficiently mortified to beforced into such untoward expedients, and had now for the first time madea trial of his powder, was under no necessity of counterfeiting grief.The slaves, who had flocked together from all quarters, stood motionlessat the spectacle before them. All lights were extinguis
hed save twolamps, which shed a wan glimmering over the faces of these lovelyflowers, that seemed to be faded in the spring-time of life. Funeralvestments were prepared; their bodies were washed with rose water; theirbeautiful tresses were braided and incensed; and they were wrapped insymars whiter than alabaster. At the moment that their attendants wereplacing two wreaths of their favourite jasamines on their brows, theCaliph, who had just heard the tragical catastrophe, arrived. He lookednot less pale and haggard than the goules that wander at night amonggraves. Forgetful of himself and every one else, he broke through themidst of the slaves, fell prostrate at the foot of the sofa, beat hisbosom, called himself “atrocious murderer,” and invoked upon his head athousand imprecations. With a trembling hand he raised the veil thatcovered the countenance of Nouronihar, and uttering a loud shriek felllifeless on the floor. The chief of the eunuchs dragged him off withhorrible grimaces, and repeated as he went:

  “Aye, I foresaw she would play you some ungracious turn.”

  No sooner was the Caliph gone than