Vathek: An Arabian Tale, with Notes, Critical and ExplanatoryJ.Miller, 1868 - 207 pages |
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Abassides admirable Afrit Alboufaki amazement amongst amused appeared Bababalouk bath beards beautiful Beckford began beheld bosom brought Caliph and Nouronihar camels Carathis chasm Circassians commanded cousin cried dark delightful Dives dromedaries dwarfs earth Eblis emir eunuchs eyes faithful Fakreddin fancied fell fire flames Fonthill Fonthill Abbey Genii Genius Giaour Gulchenrouz hands harem hast hath heard heart heaven Herbelot hither Indian instantly Istakhar Koran ladies length light litter lord magnificence Mahomet ments Morakanabad mountains mutes negresses never night Ottoman Empire palace perceived portal prayers pre-Adamite prince princess prophet prostrate replied repose rest retired rock sabres Samarah Santons Schiraz Shaban sight Simurgh slaves sofa Soliman soon soul sovereign splendor stranger subterranean sultanas Sutlememe tains talismans taste tears thee thou art thousand tion torches tower treasures tremble tymbals uttered valley Vathek Vathick viziers voice whence whilst WILLIAM BECKFORD women words
Popular passages
Page 194 - He then conducted them into a long aisle adjoining the tabernacle, preceding them with hasty steps, and followed by his disciples with the utmost alacrity. They reached, at length, a hall of great extent, and covered with a lofty dome, around which appeared fifty portals of bronze, secured with as many fastenings of iron. A funereal gloom prevailed over the whole scene. Here, upon two beds of incorruptible cedar, lay recumbent the fleshless forms of the preadamite kings, who had been monarchs of...
Page 199 - At these words he vanished. The caliph and Nouronihar remained in the most abject affliction. Their tears were unable to flow, and scarcely could they support themselves. At length, taking each other despondingly by the hand, they went faltering from this fatal hall, indifferent which way they turned their steps. Every portal opened at their approach. The dives fell prostrate before them. Every reservoir of riches was disclosed to their view; but they no longer felt the incentives of curiosity, of...
Page 195 - Avith the eminence of Soliman Ben Daoud. This king, so renowned for his wisdom, was . on the loftiest elevation, and placed immediately under the dome. He appeared to possess more animation than the rest. Though, from time to time, he...
Page 69 - you must have an excellent stomach if it can digest what I have been preparing." "Be quick," replied the Caliph. "But oh, heavens! what horrors! What do you intend?
Page 70 - ... horns beginning to consume, all together diffused such a stench, that the Caliph recovering started from his trance, and gazed wildly on the scene in full blaze around him. The oil gushed forth in a plenitude of streams ; and the negresses, who supplied it without intermission, united their cries to those of the princess. At last the fire became so violent, and the flames reflected from the polished marble so dazzling, that the Caliph, unable to withstand the heat and the blaze, effected his...
Page 197 - ... will. I began to think, as these unhappy monarchs around had already thought, that the vengeance of Heaven was asleep, when, at once, the thunder burst my structures asunder, and precipitated me hither, where, however, I do not remain, like the other inhabitants, totally destitute of hope; for an angel of light hath revealed that, in consideration of the piety of my early youth, my woes shall come to an end when this cataract shall for ever cease to flow. Till then I am in torments, ineffable...
Page 25 - His pride arrived at its height when, having ascended for the first time the eleven thousand 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...
Page 68 - said she, panting for breath. " I thought I heard, as I came up, the shrieks of a thousand bats, tearing from their crannies in the recesses of a cavern, and it was the outcry only of these poor mutes, whom you were so unmercifully abusing. In truth you but ill deserve the admirable provision I have brought you.
Page 192 - Perplex not yourselves," replied he bluntly, "with so much at once, you will soon be acquainted with all; let us haste and present you to Eblis." They continued their way through the multitude; but, notwithstanding their confidence at first, they were not sufficiently composed to examine with attention the various...
Page 12 - There thou too, Vathek! England's wealthiest son, Once form'd thy Paradise, as not aware When wanton Wealth her mightiest deeds hath done, Meek Peace voluptuous lures was ever wont to shun.