Vathek; An Arabian Tale

by William Beckford

spacious valley of Rocnabad. The season ofspring was in all its vigour, and the grotesque branches of the almondtrees in full blossom fantastically chequered the clear blue sky. Theearth, variegated with hyacinths and jonquils, breathed forth a fragrancewhich diffused through the soul a divine repose. Myriads of bees, andscarce fewer of Santons had there taken up their abode. On the banks ofthe stream hives and oratories were alternately ranged, and theirneatness and whiteness were set off by the deep green of the cypressesthat spired up amongst them. These pious personages amused themselveswith cultivating little gardens that abounded with flowers and fruits,especially musk-melons of the best flavour that Persia could boast.Sometimes dispersed over the meadow they entertained themselves withfeeding peacocks whiter than snow, and turtles more blue than thesapphire. In this manner were they occupied when the harbingers of theimperial procession began to proclaim:

  “Inhabitants of Rocnabad, prostrate yourselves on the brink of your purewaters, and tender your thanksgivings to heaven that vouchsafeth to shewyou a ray of its glory; for lo! the commander of the faithful drawsnear.”

  The poor Santons, filled with holy energy, having bustled to light up waxtorches in their oratories, and expand the koran on their ebony desks,went forth to meet the Caliph with baskets of honeycomb, dates, andmelons. But whilst they were advancing in solemn procession and withmeasured steps, the horses, camels, and guards wantoned over their tulipsand other flowers, and made a terrible havoc amongst them. The Santonscould not help casting from one eye a look of pity on the ravagescommitting around them, whilst the other was fixed upon the Caliph andheaven. Nouronihar, enraptured with the scenery of a place which broughtback to her remembrance the pleasing solitudes where her infancy hadpassed, entreated Vathek to stop, but he, suspecting that each oratorymight be deemed by the Giaour a distinct habitation, commanded hispioneers to level them all. The Santons stood motionless with horror atthe barbarous mandate, and at last broke out into lamentations, but thesewere uttered with so ill a grace, that Vathek bade his eunuchs to kickthem from his presence. He then descended from the litter withNouronihar. They sauntered together in the meadow, and amused themselveswith culling flowers, and passing a thousand pleasantries on each other.But the bees, who were staunch Mussulmans, thinking it their duty torevenge the insult on their dear masters the Santons, assembled sozealously to do it with effect, that the Caliph and Nouronihar were gladto find their tents prepared to receive them.

  Bababalouk, who in capacity of purveyor, had acquitted himself withapplause, as to peacocks and turtles, lost no time in consigning somedozens to the spit, and as many more to be fricasseed. Whilst they werefeasting, laughing, carousing, and blaspheming at pleasure on the banquetso liberally furnished, the Moullahs, the Sheiks, the Cadis, and Imans ofSchiraz (who seemed not to have met the Santons) arrived, leading bybridles of ribband, inscribed from the koran, a train of asses which wereloaded with the choicest fruits the country could boast. Havingpresented their offerings to the Caliph, they petitioned him to honourtheir city and mosques with his presence.

  “Fancy not,” said Vathek, “that you can detain me. Your presents Icondescend to accept, but beg you will let me be quiet, for I am not overfond of resisting temptation. Retire then. Yet, as it is not decent forpersonages so reverend to return on foot, and as you have not theappearance of expert riders, my eunuchs shall tie you on your asses withthe precaution that your backs be not turned towards me, for theyunderstand etiquette.”

  In this deputation were some high-stomached Sheiks, who taking Vathek fora fool, scrupled not to speak their opinion. These Bababalouk girdedwith double cords; and having well disciplined their asses with nettlesbehind, they all started with a preternatural alertness, plunging,kicking, and running foul of each other in the most ludicrous mannerimaginable.

  Nouronihar and the Caliph mutually contended who should most enjoy sodegrading a sight. They burst out in volleys of laughter to see the oldmen and their asses fall into the stream. The leg of one was fractured,the shoulder of another dislocated, the teeth of a third dashed out, andthe rest suffered still worse.

  Two days more, undisturbed by fresh embassies, having been devoted to thepleasures of Rocnabad, the expedition proceeded, leaving Schiraz on theright, and verging towards a large plain, from whence were discernible onthe edge of the horizon the dark summits of the mountains of Istakar.

  At this prospect the Caliph and Nouronihar were unable to repress theirtransports. They bounded from their litter to the ground, and brokeforth into such wild exclamations as amazed all within hearing.Interrogating each other, they shouted,

  “Are we not approaching the radiant palace of light, or gardens moredelightful than those of Sheddad?”

  Infatuated mortals! they thus indulged delusive conjecture, unable tofathom the decrees of the Most High!

  The good Genii who had not totally relinquished the superintendence ofVathek, repairing to Mahomet in the seventh heaven, said:

  “Merciful Prophet! stretch forth thy propitious arms towards thyvicegerent, who is ready to fall irretrievably into the snare which hisenemies the Dives have prepared to destroy him. The Giaour is awaitinghis arrival in the abominable palace of fire, where if he once set hisfoot his perdition will be inevitable.”

  Mahomet answered with an air of indignation:

  “He hath too well deserved to be resigned to himself; but I permit you totry if one effort more will be effectual to divert him from pursuing hisruin.”

  One of these beneficent Genii, assuming without delay the exterior of ashepherd, more renowned for his piety than all the Dervises and Santonsof the region, took his station near a flock of white sheep on the slopeof a hill, and began to pour forth from his flute such airs of patheticmelody, as subdued the very soul; and awakening remorse, drove far fromit every frivolous fancy. At these energetic sounds, the sun hid himselfbeneath a gloomy cloud; and the waters of two little lakes, that werenaturally clearer than chrystal, became a colour like blood. The wholeof this superb assembly, was involuntarily drawn towards the declivity ofthe hill. With downcast eyes, they all stood abashed; each upbraidinghimself with the evil he had done. The heart of Dilara palpitated; andthe chief of the eunuchs, with a sigh of contrition, implored pardon ofthe women, whom, for his own satisfaction, he had so often tormented.

  Vathek and Nouronihar turned pale in their litter; and, regarding eachother with haggard looks, reproached themselves—the one with a thousandof the blackest crimes, a thousand projects of impious ambition; theother, with the desolation of her family, and the perdition of theamiable Gulchenrouz. Nouronihar persuaded herself that she heard in thefatal music the groans of her dying father; and Vathek, the sobs of thefifty children he had sacrificed to the Giaour. Amidst these complicatedpangs of anguish, they perceived themselves impelled towards theshepherd, whose countenance was so commanding, that Vathek, for the firsttime, felt overawed; whilst Nouronihar concealed her face with her hands.The music paused, and the Genius, addressing the Caliph, said:

  “Deluded Prince! to whom Providence hath confided the care of innumerablesubjects, is it thus that thou fulfillest thy mission? Thy crimes arealready completed; and, art thou now hastening towards thy punishment?Thou knowest, that beyond these mountains, Eblis and his accursed Diveshold their infernal empire; and seduced by a malignant phantom, thou artproceeding to surrender thyself to them! This moment is the last ofgrace allowed thee! Abandon thy atrocious purpose. Return. Give backNouronihar to her father, who still retains a few sparks of life.Destroy thy tower, with all its abominations. Drive Carathis from thycouncils. Be just to thy subjects. Respect the ministers of theProphet. Compensate for thy impieties by an exemplary life; and, insteadof squandering thy days in voluptuous indulgence, lament thy crimes onthe sepulchres of thy ancestors. Thou beholdest the clouds that obscurethe sun; at the instant he recovers his splendour, if thy heart be notchanged, the time of mercy assigned thee will be past for ever.”

  Vathek, depressed wit
h fear, was on the point of prostrating himself atthe feet of the shepherd, whom he perceived to be of a nature superior toman, but his pride prevailing, he audaciously lifted his head, andglancing at him one of his terrible looks, said:

  “Whoever thou art, withhold thy useless admonitions. Thou wouldst eitherdelude me, or art thyself deceived. If what I have done be so criminalas thou pretendest, there remains not for me a moment of grace. I havetraversed a sea of blood, to acquire a power which will make thy equalstremble; deem not that I shall retire when in view of the port; or that Iwill relinquish her who is dearer to me than either my life or thy mercy.Let the sun appear! Let him illumine my career! It matters not where itmay end.”

  On uttering these words, which made even the Genius shudder, Vathek threwhimself into the arms of Nouronihar, and commanded that his horses shouldbe forced back to the road.

  There was no difficulty in obeying these orders, for the attraction hadceased, the sun shone forth in all his glory, and the shepherd