him, with an air of composure and
commiseration, that the fire at the top of the tower was extinguished; but that
it had cost the lives of the brave people who sought to assist them.
    »Still more misfortunes!« cried Morakanabad, with a sigh. »Ah, commander of
the faithful, our holy prophet is certainly irritated against us! it behoves you
to appease him.« - »We will appease him, hereafter!« replied the Caliph, with a
smile, that augured nothing of good. »You will have leisure sufficient for your
supplications, during my absence: for this country is the bane of my health. I
am disgusted with the mountain of the four fountains, and am resolved to go and
drink of the stream of Rocnabad. I long to refresh myself, in the delightful
vallies which it waters. Do you, with the advice of my mother, govern my
dominions, and take care to supply whatever her experiments may demand: for, you
well know, that our tower abounds in materials for the advancement of science.«
    The tower but ill suited Morakanabad's taste. Immense treasures had been
lavished upon it; and nothing had he ever seen carried thither but female
negroes, mutes and abominable drugs. Nor did he know well what to think of
Carathis, who, like a cameleon, could assume all possible colours. Her cursed
eloquence had often driven the poor mussulman to his last shifts. He considered,
however, that if she possessed but few good qualities, her son had still fewer;
and that the alternative, on the whole, would be in her favour. Consoled,
therefore, with this reflection; he went, in good spirits, to soothe the
populace, and make the proper arrangements for his master's journey.
    Vathek, to conciliate the Spirits of the subterranean palace, resolved that
his expedition should be uncommonly splendid. With this view he confiscated, on
all sides, the property of his subjects; whilst his worthy mother stripped the
seraglios she visited, of the gems they contained. She collected all the
sempstresses and embroiderers of Samarah and other cities, to the distance of
sixty leagues; to prepare pavilions, palanquins; sofas, canopies, and litters
for the train of the monarch. There was not left, in Masulipatan, a single piece
of chintz; and so much muslin had been brought up to dress out Bababalouk and
the other black eunuchs, that there remained not an ell of it in the whole Irak
of Babylon.
    During these preparations, Carathis, who never lost sight of her great
object, which