n the most abject affliction; their
tears unable to flow, scarcely could they support themselves. At length,
taking each other despondingly by the hand, they went faltering from this
fatal hall, indifferent which way they turned their steps; every portal
opened at their approach; the Dives fell prostrate before them; every
reservoir of riches was disclosed to their view; but they no longer felt
the incentives of curiosity, pride, or avarice. With like apathy they
heard the chorus of Genii, and saw the stately banquets prepared to
regale them; they went wandering on from chamber to chamber, hall to
hall, and gallery to gallery, all without bounds or limit, all
distinguishable by the same lowering gloom, all adorned with the same
awful grandeur, all traversed by persons in search of repose and
consolation, but who sought them in vain; for every one carried within
him a heart tormented in flames: shunned by these various sufferers, who
seemed by their looks to be upbraiding the partners of their guilt, they
withdrew from them to wait in direful suspense the moment which should
render them to each other the like objects of terror.

"What!" exclaimed Nouronihar; "will the time come when I shall snatch my
hand from thine!"

"Ah!" said Vathek; "and shall my eyes ever cease to drink from thine long
draughts of enjoyment! Shall the moments of our reciprocal ecstasies be
reflected on with horror? It was not thou that broughtest me hither; the
principles by which Carathis perverted my youth have been the sole cause
of my perdition!" Having given vent to these painful expressions, he
called to an Afrit, who was stirring up one of the braziers, and bade him
fetch the Princess Carathis from the palace of Samarah.

After issuing these orders, the Caliph and Nouronihar continued walking
amidst the silent crowd, till they heard voices at the end of the
gallery; presuming them to proceed from some unhappy beings, who, like
themselves, were awaiting their final doom, they followed the sound, and
found it to come from a small square chamber, where they discovered
sitting on sofas five young men of goodly figure, and a lovely female,
who were all holding a melancholy conversation by the glimmering of a
lonely lamp; each had a gloomy and forlorn air, and two of them were
embracing each other with great tenderness. On seeing the Caliph and the
daughter of Fakreddin enter, they arose, saluted, and gave them place;
then he who appeared