Prophet; compensate
for thy impieties by an exemplary life; and, instead of squandering thy
days in voluptuous indulgence, lament thy crimes on the sepulchres of thy
ancestors. Thou beholdest the clouds that obscure the sun; at the
instant he recovers his splendour, if thy heart be not changed, the time
of mercy assigned thee will be past for ever."

Vathek, depressed with fear, was on the point of prostrating himself at
the feet of the shepherd, whom he perceived to be of a nature superior to
man; but, his pride prevailing, he audaciously lifted his head, and,
glancing at him one of his terrible looks, said: "Whoever thou art,
withhold thy useless admonitions; thou wouldst either delude me, or art
thyself deceived. If what I have done be so criminal as thou pretendest,
there remains not for me a moment of grace; I have traversed a sea of
blood to acquire a power which will make thy equals tremble; deem not
that I shall retire when in view of the port, or that I will relinquish
her who is dearer to me than either my life or thy mercy. Let the sun
appear! let him illumine my career! it matters not where it may end." On
uttering these words, which made even the Genius shudder, Vathek threw
himself into the arms of Nouronihar, and commanded that his horse should
be forced back to the road.

There was no difficulty in obeying these orders, for the attraction had
ceased; the sun shone forth in all his glory, and the shepherd vanished
with a lamentable scream.

The fatal impression of the music of the Genius remained,
notwithstanding, in the heart of Vathek's attendants; they viewed each
other with looks of consternation; at the approach of night almost all of
them escaped, and of this numerous assemblage there only remained the
chief of the eunuchs, some idolatrous slaves, Dilara and a few other
women, who, like herself, were votaries of the religion of the Magi.

The Caliph, fired with the ambition of prescribing laws to the
Intelligences of Darkness, was but little embarrassed at this
dereliction; the impetuosity of his blood prevented him from sleeping,
nor did he encamp any more as before. Nouronihar, whose impatience, if
possible, exceeded his own, importuned him to hasten his march, and
lavished on him a thousand caresses to beguile all reflection; she
fancied herself already more potent than Balkis, and pictured to her
imagination the Genii falling prostrate at the foot of her throne. In
this manner they adv