The History of Caliph Vathek | Page 8

spoken!
he hath spoken!" Nor were these words forgotten in the public festivals
which were celebrated the same evening, to testify the general joy; for
the poets applied them as a chorus to all the songs they composed.
The Caliph in the meanwhile caused the palaces of the senses to be

again set open; and, as he found himself prompted to visit that of taste
in preference to the rest, immediately ordered a splendid entertainment,
to which his great officers and favourite courtiers were all invited. The
Indian, who was placed near the prince, seemed to think that as a
proper acknowledgment of so distinguished a privilege he could neither
eat, drink, nor talk too much. The various dainties were no sooner
served up than they vanished, to the great mortification of Vathek, who
piqued himself on being the greatest eater alive, and at this time in
particular had an excellent appetite.
The rest of the company looked round at each other in amazement; but
the Indian, without appearing to observe it, quaffed large bumpers to
the health of each of them, sung in a style altogether extravagant,
related stories at which he laughed immoderately, and poured forth
extemporaneous verses, which would not have been thought bad but for
the strange grimaces with which they were uttered. In a word, his
loquacity was equal to that of a hundred astrologers; he ate as much as
a hundred porters, and caroused in proportion.
The Caliph, notwithstanding the table had been thirty times covered,
found himself incommoded by the voraciousness of his guest, who was
now considerably declined in the prince's esteem. Vathek, however,
being unwilling to betray the chagrin he could hardly disguise, said in a
whisper to Bababalouk, the chief of his eunuchs: "You see how
enormous his performances in every way are; what would be the
consequence should he get at my wives? Go! redouble your vigilance,
and be sure look well to my Circassians, who would be more to his
taste than all of the rest."
The bird of the morning had thrice renewed his song when the hour of
the Divan sounded. Vathek, in gratitude to his subjects, having
promised to attend, immediately rose from table and repaired thither,
leaning upon his vizir, who could scarcely support him, so disordered
was the poor prince by the wine he had drunk, and still more by the
extravagant vagaries of his boisterous guest.
The vizirs, the officers of the crown and of the law, arranged
themselves in a semicircle about their sovereign, and preserved a

respectful silence, whilst the Indian, who looked as cool as if come
from a fast, sat down without ceremony on the step of the throne,
laughing in his sleeve at the indignation with which his temerity had
filled the spectators.
The Caliph, however, whose ideas were confused and his head
embarrassed, went on administering justice at haphazard, till at length
the prime vizir, perceiving his situation, hit upon a sudden expedient to
interrupt the audience and rescue the honour of his master, to whom he
said in a whisper: "My Lord, the Princess Carathis, who hath passed the
night in consulting the planets, informs you that they portend you evil,
and the danger is urgent. Beware lest this stranger, whom you have so
lavishly recompensed for his magical gewgaws, should make some
attempt on your life; his liquor, which at first had the appearance of
effecting your cure, may be no more than a poison of a sudden
operation. Slight not this surmise; ask him at least of what it was
compounded, whence he procured it, and mention the sabres which you
seem to have forgotten."
Vathek, to whom the insolent airs of the stranger became every
moment less supportable, intimated to his vizir by a wink of
acquiescence that he would adopt his advice, and at once turning
towards the Indian, said: "Get up and declare in full Divan of what
drugs the liquor was compounded you enjoined me to take, for it is
suspected to be poison; add also the explanation I have so earnestly
desired concerning the sabres you sold me, and thus show your
gratitude for the favours heaped on you."
Having pronounced these words in as moderate a tone as a caliph well
could, he waited in silent expectation for an answer. But the Indian,
still keeping his seat, began to renew his loud shouts of laughter, and
exhibit the same horrid grimaces he had shown them before, without
vouchsafing a word in reply. Vathek, no longer able to brook such
insolence, immediately kicked him from the steps; instantly descending,
repeated his blow, and persisted with such assiduity as incited all who
were present to follow his example. Every foot was aimed at the Indian,
and no sooner had any one