moments, found himself surrounded by
the dead bodies of his most faithful subjects, all of which were thrown
on the top of the pile.

VATHEK AND NOURONIHAR IN THE HALLS OF EBLIS

From 'The History of the Caliph Vathek'

The Caliph and Nouronihar beheld each other with amazement, at finding
themselves in a place which, though roofed with a vaulted ceiling, was
so spacious and lofty that at first they took it for an immeasurable
plain. But their eyes at length growing familiar with the grandeur of
the objects at hand, they extended their view to those at a distance,
and discovered rows of columns and arcades, which gradually diminished
till they terminated in a point, radiant as the sun when he darts his
last beams athwart the ocean; the pavement, strewed over with gold dust
and saffron, exhaled so subtle an odor as almost overpowered them; they
however went on, and observed an infinity of censers, in which ambergris
and the wood of aloes were continually burning; between the several
columns were placed tables, each spread with a profusion of viands, and
wines of every species sparkling in vases of crystal. A throng of genii
and other fantastic spirits of each sex danced lasciviously in troops,
at the sound of music which issued from beneath.

In the midst of this immense hall a vast multitude was incessantly
passing, who severally kept their right hands on their hearts, without
once regarding anything around them; they had all the livid paleness of
death; their eyes, deep sunk in their sockets, resembled those
phosphoric meteors that glimmer by night in places of interment. Some
stalked slowly on, absorbed in profound reverie; some, shrieking with
agony, ran furiously about, like tigers wounded with poisoned arrows;
whilst others, grinding their teeth in rage, foamed along, more frantic
than the wildest maniac. They all avoided each other, and though
surrounded by a multitude that no one could number, each wandered at
random, unheedful of the rest, as if alone on a desert which no foot
had trodden.

Vathek and Nouronihar, frozen with terror at a sight so baleful,
demanded of the Giaour what these appearances might seem, and why these
ambulating spectres never withdrew their hands from their hearts.

"Perplex not yourselves," replied he bluntly, "with so much at once; you
will soon be acquainted with all: let us haste and present you
to Eblis."

They continued their way through the multitude; but notwithstanding