登陆注册
5159900000018

第18章 THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK(16)

Never had such an incident happened before.Full of mortification, shame, and despondence, and not knowing how to walk, the ladies fell into the dirt."Must I go on foot?" said one; "Must I wet my feet?" cried another; "Must I soil my dress?" asked a third; "Execrable Bababalouk!" exclaimed all; "Outcast of hell! what hadst thou to do with torches? Better were it to be eaten by tigers than to fall into our present condition! we are for ever undone! Not a porter is there in the army, nor a currier of camels, but hath seen some part of our bodies, and, what is worse, our very faces!" On saying this the most bashful amongst them hid their foreheads on the ground, whist such as had more boldness flew at Bababalouk; but he, well apprized of their humour, and not wanting in shrewdness, betook himself to his heels along with his comrades, all dropping their torches and striking their tymbals.

It was not less light than in the brightest of the dog-days, and the weather was hot in proportion; but how degrading was the spectacle, to behold the Caliph bespattered like an ordinary mortal! As the exercise of his faculties seemed to be suspended, one of his Ethiopian wives (for he delighted in variety) clasped him in her arms, threw him upon her shoulder like a sack of dates, and finding that the fire was hemming them in, set off with no small expedition, considering the weight of her burden.The other ladies, who had just learnt the use of their feet, followed her, their guards galloped after, and the camel-drivers brought up the rear as fast as their charge would permit.

They soon reached the spot where the wild beasts had commenced the carnage, and which they had too much spirit to leave, notwithstanding the approaching tumult and the luxurious supper they had made; Bababalouk nevertheless seized on a few of the plumpest, which were unable to budge from the place, and began to flay them with admirable adroitness.The cavalcade being got so far from the conflagration as that the heat felt rather grateful than violent, it was immediately resolved on to halt.The tattered chintzes were picked up, the scraps left by the wolves and tigers interred, and vengeance was taken on some dozens of vultures that were too much glutted to rise on the wing.The camels, which had been left unmolested to make sal ammoniac, being numbered, and the ladies once more enclosed in their cages, the imperial tent was pitched on the levellest ground they could find.

Vathek, reposing upon a mattress of down, and tolerably recovered from the jolting of the Ethiopian, who to his feelings seemed the roughest trotting jade he had hitherto mounted, called out for something to eat.But, alas! those delicate cakes which had been baked in silver ovens for his royal mouth, those rich manchets, amber comfits, flagons of Schiraz wine, porcelain vases of snow, and grapes from the banks of the Tigris, were all irremediably lost! And nothing had Bababalouk to present in their stead but a roasted wolf, vultures a la daube, aromatic herbs of the most acrid poignancy, rotten truffles, boiled thistles, and such other wild plants as most ulcerate the throat and parch up the tongue.Nor was he better provided in the article of drink, for he could procure nothing to accompany these irritating viands but a few vials of abominable brandy, which had been secreted by the scullions in their slippers.

Vathek made wry faces at so savage a repast, and Bababalouk answered them with shrugs and contortions; the Caliph, however, ate with tolerable appetite, and fell into a nap that lasted six hours.The splendour of the sun reflected from the white cliffs of the mountains, in spite of the curtains that enclosed him, at length disturbed his repose; he awoke terrified, and stung to the quick by those wormwood-coloured flies, which emit from their wings a suffocating stench.The miserable monarch was perplexed how to act, though his wits were not idle in seeking expedients,whilst Bababalouk lay snoring amidst a swarm of those insects, that busily thronged to pay court to his nose.The little pages, famished with hunger, had dropped their fans on the ground, and exerted their dying voices in bitter reproaches on the Caliph, who now for the first time heard the language of truth.

Thus stimulated, he renewed his imprecations against the Giaour, and bestowed upon Mahomet some soothing expressions."Where am I?" cried he; "what are these dreadful rocks? these valleys of darkness? are we arrived at the horrible Kaf? is the Simurgh coming to pluck out my eyes, as a punishment for undertaking this impious enterprise!" Having said this, he bellowed like a calf and turned himself towards an outlet in the side of his pavilion; but, alas! what objects occurred to his view! on one side a plain of black sand that appeared to be unbounded, and on the other perpendicular crags, bristled over with those abominable thistles which had so severely lacerated his tongue.He fancied, however, that he perceived, amongst the brambles and briers, some gigantic flowers, but was mistaken; for these were only the dangling palampores and variegated tatters of his gay retinue.As there were several clefts in the rock from whence water seemed to have flowed, Vathek applied his ear, with the hope of catching the sound of some latent runnel, but could only distinguish the low murmurs of his people, who were repining at their journey, and complaining for the want of water.

同类推荐
  • 孔氏志怪

    孔氏志怪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 持咒仙人飞钵仪轨

    持咒仙人飞钵仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玄怪录

    玄怪录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孙明复小集

    孙明复小集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三极至命筌谛

    三极至命筌谛

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 巴林纪程

    巴林纪程

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灰烬之翼

    灰烬之翼

    三百年后又三百年,在日起月落的第数不清多少次后,锁链终于断去,无垠的大地之上,伊戈斯的双翼遮天蔽日。巨龙发出了他千年以来第一次的咆哮。“啊!舒坦!”(话唠巨龙与一群神经病的严肃黑暗但又有那么一丝欢乐向的大冒险)(国际惯例群号877240259)
  • 宇宙制造者

    宇宙制造者

    叶勐,河北省作协会员。作品见于《人民文学》《芙蓉》等期刊。小说《老正是条狗》入选《2005年短篇小说年选》。《亡命之徒》电影改编。《塞车》被译成英文。《为什么要把小说写得这么好》获2008年度河北十佳优秀作品奖。现为河北省文学院签约作家。
  • 太极拳散手秘诀

    太极拳散手秘诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 乱世猎人(13)

    乱世猎人(13)

    他来自山野林间,他是一个普通的猎人,但却有着一位极具传奇性的父亲!他无意名扬天下,他不爱江山只爱美人,但时势却将他造就成一段武林的神话!他无意争霸天下,但他为了拯救天下苍生于水火,而成为乱世中最可怕的战士!他就是——蔡风!北魏末年,一位自幼与兽为伍的少年,凭着武功与智慧崛起于江湖,他虽无志于天下,却被乱世的激流一次次推向生死的边缘,从而也使他深明乱世的真谛——狩猎与被猎。
  • 世界杯冷知识

    世界杯冷知识

    Egmont UK(艾阁萌英国)出品,北斗出版集团引进。一部世界杯《世说新语》,段子手+历史学家+足球专家撰写,几百条足球知识,笑点泪点虐心,冷知识热资讯,球迷提升手册!
  • 带着责任心和使命感工作

    带着责任心和使命感工作

    责任心和使命感是人生宝贵的财富。任何一个员工,无论从事什么职业,都应该以责任心和使命感为基本准则。这不仅会使你成为企业不可或缺的员工,也会让你成为老板无法离开的左膀右臂。一个有责任心和使命感的人,即使在看似微不足道的岗位上,也会做的非常出色。为了使自己和企业更加出色,让我们带着责任感和使命感去工作吧!在企业中,一个人无论从事什么职业,都必须认识到,你是一个肩负责任和使命的人。责任心和使命感,是一个人最基本的职业素养。如果你在自己的职业生涯中缺乏责任心和使命感,即使给你极为优越的从业条件,你也不可能做好你的工作。甚至,你会毫不在意地浪费你的优越,最终一事无成。
  • 北纬31度东经121度

    北纬31度东经121度

    相遇相离,都是特定时间地点发生的概率事件。自认为无一不普通的李瞳,总以为家世优渥的季彦对她是一时兴起。漂亮骄傲的云珈我行我素,却期盼能和初恋的安以陌一同站在家族面前。玩世不恭的何子炀,在帮助未婚妻私奔的瞬间怦然心动。但在流言和隐秘、利益和代价、优雅和伪饰交错成行的浮华世界,爱情无非是冲动,有人抓住,有人没有。
  • 狂秦

    狂秦

    秦王扫六合,虎视何雄哉!挥剑决浮云,诸侯尽西来。毕六王,一四海,逆古制,称皇帝,威震天下。废诸侯,立郡县,平百越,镇匈奴,功传万世。八荒之内,皇帝之土,六合之间,帝王之业。始皇帝如山巍峨,镇压这个时代。但人固有一死,帝陨之际,这个帝国将何去何从?当一个来自两千年后的灵魂出现在这个时代之后,帝国是分崩离析,还是万世绵延?历史会因此而改变吗?
  • 亡灵女巫

    亡灵女巫

    本文乃是西方玄幻言情,背景华丽,浪漫神话!费雯.洁雅岑:无上的尊贵,纯血的代表,继承了先祖的荣耀,篆刻了父母的爱情;亚特大陆上没有一个媲美得上你,但却是通奸的证据,肮脏的混合。在死气中得到哺育,从亡灵中获得新生。再次立于人前,且看她如何纵横傲立,让男子哭泣,女子匍匐……她到底是谁?死神新娘?王子情人?或是异界女神?亚特的灭世者,还是救世者?其实一切早有答案,万年前注定的故事,三千年的沉淀,五千年的相伴!高绝神祗也无法扭转的意志!“即便结局是死,我也无悔自己的选择,这就是我!”冰绿色的眼眸玉粲光耀,如闪烁繁星。尘封的记忆、相貌的秘密,将慢慢揭开,众神的演绎节节呈现!亚特大陆上将要掀起一个女子的传说!◆◆◆◆【剧中节选】:亲爱的,为了你,耀世的头衔可以丢弃,天生的能力亦如蛛丝。花开了,然后凋零;星星再璀璨,可那光芒也会消失。我的一生如果最后一定要归于尘土,但只要能再看你一眼,我愿意付出永恒的等待,笑看生死,笑看你我!●●●●剧中人物略赏:【梅赫斯】“女人该是用来赞美和疼爱的!”【修瑞缇】“你爱或不爱,我就在这里…”【伊瑞克】“她要什么都可以,但爱在我这里,只是单程票,不能退,不能换,更没有返回!”【兰帕托】“这世上,没有什么比禁忌之恋更让我热血沸腾的了!”【贝拉】“男人的习惯是,说‘我要你’时生猛有劲;讲‘我爱你’时有气无力!”●●●●父帝:赫塔安火之女神——芙奥耶;水之神——瓦利瑟;光明女神——丽希特;玄之神——路伏德;黑暗之神——施瓦兹;大地女神——爱尔迪;死亡之神——伊瑞克;生命女神——卡瑟琳中立神:太阳神——欧纳斯;四季女神——茵茉琪;冶炼之神——赫丙克●●●●泠君简介无能,请大家移驾正文看看!泠君无牙求收藏,求票票,求推荐。有喜欢的可以加群150370254一起讨论哦,敲门砖就是文的名字:亡灵女巫,一定要写哦。么么大家推荐好友文文:《调教多夫》:她是调教世家的独女,从小到大耳濡目染各种调教床技。恰逢十八岁生日,遭遇亲生哥哥的强暴,她穿越成了娘不爱爹不疼的软弱养女。她岂会任人欺负,凭着一手调教绝学,走青楼,踏江湖,斗皇宫……只是……身后的男人,为何越来越多言情推荐区:夜沐洛《异界之倾世狂颜》苡潆枫《狼少的通缉军火妻》楚雲《霸上特工女军师》简红装《刁—妾》紫魂