ly said to the Giaour:--

"Bring us instantly to the place which contains these precious
talismans."

"Come!" answered this wicked Dive, with his malignant grin, "come! and
possess all that my Sovereign hath promised, and more."

He then conducted them into a long aisle adjoining the tabernacle,
preceding them with hasty steps, and followed by his disciples with the
utmost alacrity. They reached at length a hall of great extent, and
covered with a lofty dome, around which appeared fifty portals of
bronze, secured with as many fastenings of iron. A funereal gloom
prevailed over the whole scene. Here, upon two beds of incorruptible
cedar, lay recumbent the fleshless forms of the pre-Adamite kings, who
had been monarchs of the whole earth. They still possessed enough of
life to be conscious of their deplorable condition; their eyes retained
a melancholy motion; they regarded each other with looks of the deepest
dejection, each holding his right hand motionless on his heart. At their
feet were inscribed the events of their several reigns, their power,
their pride, and their crimes. Soliman Raad, Soliman Daki, and Soliman
Di Gian Ben Gian, who, after having chained up the Dives in the dark
caverns of Kaf, became so presumptuous as to doubt of the Supreme
Power,--all these maintained great state, though not to be compared with
the eminence of Soliman Ben Daoud [Solomon the son of David].

This king, so renowned for his wisdom, was on the loftiest elevation,
and placed immediately under the dome; he appeared to possess more
animation than the rest, though from time to time he labored with
profound sighs, and like his companions, kept his right hand on his
heart; yet his countenance was more composed, and he seemed to be
listening to the sullen roar of a vast cataract, visible in part through
the grated portals; this was the only sound that intruded on the silence
of these doleful mansions. A range of brazen vases surrounded the
elevation.

"Remove the covers from these cabalistic depositaries," said the Giaour
to Vathek, "and avail thyself of the talismans, which will break asunder
all these gates of bronze, and not only render thee master of the
treasures contained within them, but also of the spirits by which they
are guarded."

The Caliph, whom this ominous preliminary had entirely disconcerted,
approached the vases with faltering footsteps, and was ready to sink
with terror when he heard the groans of Soliman. As he