, quaffed large bumpers to the
health of each of them, sung in a style altogether extravagant, related
stories at which he laughed immoderately, and poured forth extemporaneous
verses, which would not have been thought bad but for the strange
grimaces with which they were uttered. In a word, his loquacity was
equal to that of a hundred astrologers; he ate as much as a hundred
porters, and caroused in proportion.

The Caliph, notwithstanding the table had been thirty times covered,
found himself incommoded by the voraciousness of his guest, who was now
considerably declined in the prince's esteem. Vathek, however, being
unwilling to betray the chagrin he could hardly disguise, said in a
whisper to Bababalouk, the chief of his eunuchs: "You see how enormous
his performances in every way are; what would be the consequence should
he get at my wives? Go! redouble your vigilance, and be sure look well
to my Circassians, who would be more to his taste than all of the rest."

The bird of the morning had thrice renewed his song when the hour of the
Divan sounded. Vathek, in gratitude to his subjects, having promised to
attend, immediately rose from table and repaired thither, leaning upon
his vizir, who could scarcely support him, so disordered was the poor
prince by the wine he had drunk, and still more by the extravagant
vagaries of his boisterous guest.

The vizirs, the officers of the crown and of the law, arranged themselves
in a semicircle about their sovereign, and preserved a respectful
silence, whilst the Indian, who looked as cool as if come from a fast,
sat down without ceremony on the step of the throne, laughing in his
sleeve at the indignation with which his temerity had filled the
spectators.

The Caliph, however, whose ideas were confused and his head embarrassed,
went on administering justice at haphazard, till at length the prime
vizir, perceiving his situation, hit upon a sudden expedient to interrupt
the audience and rescue the honour of his master, to whom he said in a
whisper: "My Lord, the Princess Carathis, who hath passed the night in
consulting the planets, informs you that they portend you evil, and the
danger is urgent. Beware lest this stranger, whom you have so lavishly
recompensed for his magical gewgaws, should make some attempt on your
life; his liquor, which at first had the appearance of effecting your
cure, may be no more than a poison of a sudden operation. Slight not
this surmise;