loy them as thou wilt:
recline on these heaps of gold; command the Infernal Potentates; range
at thy pleasure through these immense subterranean domains; no barrier
shall be shut against thee. As for me, I have fulfilled my mission; I
now leave thee to thyself." At these words he vanished.

The Caliph and Nouronihar remained in 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, a