ghty potentate, with interludes of
Talapoins more mangy than dogs? Were I you, I would command a fire to be
kindled, and at once purge the earth of the Emir, his harem, and all his
menagerie."

"Tush, dolt!" answered Vathek; "and know that all this infinitely charms
me; nor shall I leave the meadow till I have visited every hive of these
pious mendicants."

Wherever the Caliph directed his course objects of pity were sure to
swarm round him: the blind, the purblind, smarts without noses, damsels
without ears, each to extol the munificence of Fakreddin, who, as well as
his attendant grey-beards, dealt about gratis plasters and cataplasms to
all that applied. At noon a superb corps of cripples made its
appearance, and soon after advanced by platoons on the plain, the
completest association of invalids that had ever been embodied till then.
The blind went groping with the blind, the lame limped on together, and
the maimed made gestures to each other with the only arm that remained;
the sides of a considerable waterfall were crowded by the deaf, amongst
whom were some from Pegu with ears uncommonly handsome and large, but
were still less able to hear than the rest; nor were there wanting others
in abundance with humpbacks, wenny necks, and even horns of an exquisite
polish.

The Emir, to aggrandise the solemnity of the festival in honour of his
illustrious visitant, ordered the turf to be spread on all sides with
skins and table-cloths, upon which were served up for the good Mussulmans
pilaus of every line, with other orthodox dishes; and, by the express
order of Vathek, who was shamefully tolerant, small plates of
abominations for regaling the rest. This prince, on seeing so many
mouths put in motion, began to think it time for employing his own; in
spite, therefore, of every remonstrance from the chief of his eunuchs, he
resolved to have a dinner dressed on the spot. The complaisant Emir
immediately gave orders for a table to be placed in the shade of the
willows. The first service consisted of fish, which they drew from a
river flowing over sands of gold at the foot of a lofty hill; these were
broiled as fast as taken, and served up with a sauce of vinegar, and
small herbs that grow on Mount Sinai; for everything with the Emir was
excellent and pious.

The dessert was not quite set on when the sound of lutes from the hill
was repeated by the echoes of the neighbouring mountains. The Caliph,
with an emotion of