beard was a cubit
and a half longer than any that had appeared before him. The officers of
the palace whispered to each other, as they ushered him in, "What a pity
such a beard should be burnt!" Even the Caliph, when he saw it,
concurred with them in opinion, but his concern was entirely needless.
This venerable personage read the characters with facility, and explained
them verbatim as follows: "We were made where everything good is made; we
are the least of the wonders of a place where all is wonderful, and
deserving the sight of the first potentate on earth."

"You translate admirably!" cried Vathek; "I know to what these marvellous
characters allude. Let him receive as many robes of honour and thousands
of sequins of gold as he hath spoken words. I am in some measure
relieved from the perplexity that embarrassed me!"

Vathek invited the old main to dine, and even to remain some days in the
palace. Unluckily for him, he accepted the offer; for the Caliph, having
ordered him next morning to be called, said: "Read again to me what you
have read already; I cannot hear too often the promise that is made me,
the completion of which I languish to obtain."

The old man forthwith put on his green spectacles, but they instantly
dropped from his nose on perceiving that the characters he had read the
day preceding had given place to others of different import.

"What ails you?" asked the Caliph; "and why these symptoms of wonder?"

"Sovereign of the world," replied the old man, "these sabres hold another
language to-day from that they yesterday held."

"How say you?" returned Vathek; "but it matters not! tell me, if you can,
what they mean."

"It is this, my lord," rejoined the old man: "Woe to the rash mortal who
seeks to know that of which he should remain ignorant, and to undertake
that which surpasseth his power!"

"And woe to thee!" cried the Caliph, in a burst of indignation; "to-day
thou art void of understanding. Begone from my presence; they shall burn
but the half of thy beard, because, thou wert yesterday fortunate in
guessing; my gifts I never resume."

The old man, wise enough to perceive he had luckily escaped, considering
the folly of disclosing so disgusting a truth, immediately withdrew, and
appeared not again.

But it was not long before Vathek discovered abundant reason to regret
his precipitation; for though he could not decipher the characters
himself, yet by constantly poring upon them he