Vathek, ninth Caliph of the race of the
Abassides, was the son of Motassem, and the
grandson of Haroun al Raschid. From an early
accession to the throne, and the talents
he possessed to adorn it, his subjects were
induced to expect that his reign would be
long and happy. His figure was pleasing and
majestic; but when he was angry, one of his
eyes became so terrible, that no person could
bear to behold it; and the wretch upon whom
it was fixed, instantly fell backward, and
sometimes expired. For fear, however, of
depopulating his dominions and making his
palace desolate, he but rarely gave way to
his anger.
Being much addicted to women and the pleasures
of the table, he sought by his affability,
to procure agreeable companions; and he succeeded
the better as his generosity was unbounded
and his indulgencies unrestrained: for he
did not think, with the Caliph Omar Ben Abdalaziz,
that it was necessary to make a hell of this
world to enjoy paradise in the next.
He surpassed in magnificence all his predecessors.
The palace of Alkoremi, which his father,
Motassem, had erected on the hill of Pied
Horses, and which commanded the whole city
of Samarah, was, in his idea, far too scanty:
he added, therefore, five wings, or rather
other palaces, which he destined for the
particular gratification of each of the senses.
In the first of these were tables continually
covered with the most exquisite dainties;
which were supplied both by night and by
day, according to their constant consumption;
whilst the most delicious wines and the choicest
cordials flowed forth from a hundred fountains
that were never exhausted. This palace was
called The Eternal or Unsatiating Banquet.
The second was styled, The Temple of
Melody, or The Nectar of the Soul.
It was inhabited by the most skilful musicians
and admired poets of the time; who not
only displayed their talents within, but
dispersing in bands without, caused every
surrounding scene to reverberate their
songs; which were continually varied in
the most delightful succession.
The palace named The Delight of the Eyes,
or The Support of Memory, was
one entire enchantment. Rarities, collected
from every corner of the earth, were there
found in such profusion as to dazzle and
confound, but for the order in which they
were arranged. One gallery exhibited the
pictures of the celebrated Mani, and statues
that seemed to be alive. Here a well-managed
perspective attracted the sight; there
the magic of optics agreeably deceived
it: whilst the naturalist on his part exhibited
in their several classes the various gifts
that Heaven had bestowed on our globe.
In a word, Vathek omitted nothing in this
palace that might gratify the curiosity
of those who resorted to it, although he
was not able to satisfy his own; for, of
all men, he was the most curious.
The Palace of Perfumes, which was
termed likewise The Incentive to Pleasure,
consisted of various halls, where the different
perfumes which the earth produces were kept
perpetually burning in censers of gold. Flambeaux
and aromatic lamps were here lighted in open
day. But the too powerful effects of this
agreeable delirium might be alleviated by
descending into an immense garden, where
an assemblage of every fragrant flower diffused
through the air the purest odours.
The fifth palace, denominated The Retreat
of Mirth, or the Dangerous,
was frequented by troops of young females
beautiful as the Houris, and not less seducing;
who never failed to receive with caresses,
all whom the Caliph allowed to approach
them, and enjoy a few hours of their company.
Notwithstanding the sensuality in which
Vathek indulged, he experienced no abatement
in the love of his people, who thought that
a sovereign giving himself up to pleasure,
was as able to govern, as one who declared
himself an enemy to it. But the unquiet and
impetuous disposition of the Caliph would
not allow him to rest there. He had studied
so much for his amusement in the life-time
of his father, as to acquire a great deal
of knowledge, though not a sufficiency to
satisfy himself; for he wished to know every
thing; even sciences that did not exist.
He was fond of engaging in disputes with
the learned; but did not allow them to push
their opposition with warmth. He stopped
with presents the mouths of those whose mouths
could be stopped; whilst others, whom his
liberality was unable to subdue, he sent
to prison to cool their blood; a remedy that
often succeeded.
Vathek discovered also a predilection for
theological controversy; but it was not with
the orthodox that he usually held. By this
means he induced the zealots to oppose him,
and then persecuted them in return; for he
resolved, at any rate, to have reason on
his side.
The great prophet, Mahomet, whose vicars
the caliphs are, beheld with indignation
from his abode in the seventh heaven, the
irreligious conduct of such a vicegerent. "Let
us leave him to himself," said he to
the Genii, who are always ready to receive
his commands: "let us see to what lengths
his folly and impiety will carry him: if
he run into excess, we shall know how to
chastise him. Assist him, therefore, to complete
the tower, which, in imitation of Nimrod,
he hath begun; not, like that great warrior,
to escape being drowned, but from the insolent
curiosity of penetrating the secrets of heaven: — he
will not divine the fate that awaits him."
The Genii obeyed; and, when the workmen
had raised their structure a cubit in the
day time, two cubits more were added in the
night. The expedition, with which the fabric
arose, was not a little flattering to the
vanity of Vathek: he fancied that even insensible
matter shewed a forwardness to subserve his
designs; not considering that the successes
of the foolish and wicked form the first
rod of their chastisement.
His pride arrived at its height, when having
ascended, for the first time, the fifteen
hundred stairs of his tower, he cast his
eyes below, and beheld men not larger than
pismires; mountains, than shells; and cities,
than bee-hives. The idea, which such an elevation
inspired of his own grandeur, completely
bewildered him: he was almost ready to adore
himself; till, lifting his eyes upward, he
saw the stars as high above him as they appeared
when he stood on the surface of the earth.
He consoled himself, however, for this intruding
and unwelcome perception of his littleness,
with the thought of being great in the eyes
of others; and flattered himself that the
light of his mind would extend beyond the
reach of his sight, and extort from the stars
the decrees of his destiny.
With this view, the inquisitive Prince passed
most of his nights on the summit of his tower,
till becoming an adept in the mysteries of
astrology, he imagined that the planets had
disclosed to him the most marvelous adventures,
which were to be accomplished by an extraordinary
personage, from a country altogether unknown.
Prompted by motives of curiosity, he had
always been courteous to strangers; but,
from this instant, he redoubled his attention,
and ordered it to be announced, by sound
of trumpet through all the streets of Samarah,
that no one of his subjects, on peril of
his displeasure, should either lodge or detain
a traveller, but forthwith bring him to the
palace.
Not long after this proclamation, arrived
in his metropolis a man so abominably hideous
that the very guards who arrested him were
forced to shut their eyes, as they led him
along: the Caliph himself appeared startled
at so horrible a visage; but joy succeeded
to this emotion of terror, when the stranger
displayed to his view such rarities as he
had never before seen, and of which he had
no conception.
In reality, nothing was ever so extraordinary
as the merchandize this stranger produced:
most of his curiosities, which were not less
admirable for their workmanship than splendour,
had, besides, their several virtues described
on a parchment fastened to each. There were
slippers which, by spontaneous springs, enabled
the feet to walk; knives that cut without
motion of the hand; sabres that dealt the
blow at the person they were wished to strike;
and the whole enriched with gems that were
hitherto unknown.
The sabres, especially, the blades of which
emitted a dazzling radiance, fixed, more
than all the rest, the Caliph's attention;
who promised himself to decipher, at his
leisure, the uncouth characters engraven
on their sides. Without, therefore, demanding
their price, he ordered all the coined gold
to be brought from his treasury, and commanded
the merchant to take what he pleased. The
stranger obeyed, took little, and remained
silent.
Vathek, imagining that the merchant's
taciturnity was occasioned by the awe which
his presence inspired, encouraged him to
advance; and asked him, with an air of condescension,
who he was? whence he came? and where he
obtained such beautiful commodities? The
man, or rather monster, instead of making
a reply, thrice rubbed his forehead, which,
as well as his body, was blacker than ebony;
four times clapped his paunch, the projection
of which was enormous; opened wide his huge
eyes, which glowed like firebrands; began
to laugh with a hideous noise, and discovered
his long amber-coloured teeth, bestreaked
with green.
The Caliph, though a little startled, renewed
his inquiries, but without being able to
procure a reply. At which, beginning to be
ruffled, he exclaimed: — "Knowest
thou, wretch, who I am, and at whom thou
art aiming thy gibes?" — Then,
addressing his guards, — "Have
ye heard him speak? — is he dumb?" — "He
hath spoken," they replied, "but
to no purpose." "Let him speak
then again," said Vathek, "and
tell me who he is, from whence he came, and
where he procured these singular curiosities;
or I swear, by the ass of Balaam, that I
will make him rue his pertinacity."
This menace was accompanied by one of the
Caliph's angry and perilous glances,
which the stranger sustained without the
slightest emotion; although his eyes were
fixed on the terrible eye of the Prince.
No words can describe the amazement of the
courtiers, when they beheld this rude merchant
withstand the encounter unshocked. They all
fell prostrate with their faces on the ground,
to avoid the risk of their lives; and would
have continued in the same abject posture,
had not the Caliph exclaimed in a furious
tone — "Up, cowards! seize the
miscreant! see that he be committed to prison,
and guarded by the best of my soldiers! Let
him, however, retain the money I gave him;
it is not my intent to take from him his
property; I only want him to speak."
No sooner had he uttered these words, than
the stranger was surrounded, pinioned and
bound with strong fetters, and hurried away
to the prison of the great tower; which was
encompassed by seven empalements of iron
bars, and armed with spikes in every direction,
longer and sharper than spits. The Caliph,
nevertheless, remained in the most violent
agitation. He sat down indeed to eat; but,
of the three hundred dishes that were daily
placed before him, he could taste of no more
than thirty-two.
A diet to which he had been so little accustomed
was sufficient of itself to prevent him from
sleeping; what then must be its effect when
joined to the anxiety that preyed upon his
spirits? At the first glimpse of dawn he
hastened to the prison, again to importune
this intractable stranger; but the rage of
Vathek exceeded all bounds on finding the
prison empty, the grates burst asunder, and
his guards lying lifeless around him. In
the paroxism of his passion he fell furiously
on the poor carcases, and kicked them till
evening without intermission. His courtiers
and vizirs exerted their efforts to soothe
his extravagance; but, finding every expedient
ineffectual, they all united in one vociferation — "The
Caliph is gone mad! the Caliph is out of
his senses!" * * *