up the
volume dictated by the blessed Intelligence, and, kneeling by the light
of the fire that surrounded us, we recited the verse which says: 'Put no
trust in anything but the mercy of Heaven; there is no help save in the
holy Prophet; the mountain of Kaf itself may tremble, it is the power of
Allah only that cannot be moved.' After having pronounced these words we
felt consolation, and our minds were hushed into a sacred repose; silence
ensued, and our ears clearly distinguished a voice in the air, saying:
'Servants of my faithful servant! go down to the happy valley of
Fakreddin; tell him that an illustrious opportunity now offers to satiate
the thirst of his hospitable heart. The Commander of true believers is
this day bewildered amongst these mountains, and stands in need of thy
aid.' We obeyed with joy the angelic mission, and our master, filled
with pious zeal, hath culled with his own hands these melons, oranges,
and pomegranates; he is following us with a hundred dromedaries laden
with the purest waters of his fountains, and is coming to kiss the fringe
of your consecrated robe, and implore you to enter his humble habitation,
which, placed amidst these barren wilds, resembles an emerald set in
lead." The dwarfs, having ended their address, remained still standing,
and, with hands crossed upon their bosoms, preserved a respectful
silence.

Vathek in the midst of this curious harangue, seized the basket, and long
before it was finished the fruits had dissolved in his mouth; as he
continued to eat his piety increased, and in the same breath which
recited his prayers he called for the Koran and sugar.

Such was the state of his mind when the tablets, which were thrown by at
the approach of the dwarfs, again attracted his eye; he took them up, but
was ready to drop on the ground when he beheld, in large red characters,
these words inscribed by Carathis, which were indeed enough to make him
tremble:

"Beware of thy old doctors, and their puny messengers of but one cubit
high; distrust their pious frauds, and, instead of eating their melons,
impale on a spit the bearers of them. Shouldst thou be such a fool as to
visit them, the portal of the subterranean palace will be shut in thy
face, and with such force as shall shake thee asunder; thy body shall be
spit upon, and bats will engender in thy belly."

"To what tends this ominous rhapsody?" cries the Caliph. "And must I
then perish in these deserts with thi