he mouths of
those with presents whose mouths could be stopped, whilst others, whom
his liberality was unable to subdue, he sent to prison to cool their
blood: a remedy that often succeeded.

Vathek discovered also a predilection for theological controversy, but it
was not with the orthodox that he usually held. By this means he induced
the zealots to oppose him, and then persecuted them in return; for he
resolved at any rate to have reason on his side.

The great prophet Mahomet, whose vicars the caliphs are, beheld with
indignation from his abode in the seventh heaven the irreligious conduct
of such a vicegerent. "Let us leave him to himself," said he to the
genii, who are always ready to receive his commands; "let us see to what
lengths his folly and impiety will carry him; if he run into excess we
shall know how to chastise him. Assist him, therefore, to complete the
tower which, in imitation of Nimrod, he hath begun, not, like that great
warrior, to escape being drowned, but from the insolent curiosity of
penetrating the secrets of Heaven; he will not divine the fate that
awaits him."

The genii obeyed, and when the workmen had raised their structure a cubit
in the day-time, two cubits more were added in the night. The expedition
with which the fabric arose was not a little flattering to the vanity of
Vathek. He fancied that even insensible matter showed a forwardness to
subserve his designs, not considering that the successes of the foolish
and wicked form the first rod of their chastisement.

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 his eyes upward, he saw the stars as high above him as they
appeared when he stood on the surface of the earth. He consoled himself,
however, for this transient perception of his littleness with the thought
of being great in the eyes of others, and flattered himself that the
light of his mind would extend beyond the reach of his sight, and
transfer to the stars the decrees of his destiny.

With this view the inquisitive prince passed most of his nights on the
summit of his tower, till he became an adept in the mysteries of
astrology, and imagined tha