Vathek an Arabian Tale Author:William Beckford Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ledge of languages is a trifle at best; and the accomplishment of none but a pedant. Issue a proclamation, that you will confer such rewards as become your great... more »ness, upon any one that shall interpret what you do not understand, and what is beneath you to learn; you will soon find your curiosity gratified." " That may be," said the caliph; " but, in the mean time, I shall be horribly disgusted by a crowd of smatterers, who will come to the trial as much for the pleasure of retailing their jargon, as from the hope of gaining the reward. To avoid this evil, it will be proper to add, that I will pu. every candidate to death, who shall fail to give satisfaction; for, thank Heaven ! I have skill enough to distinguish, whether one translates or invents." " Of that I have no doubt,", replied Carathis; " but to put the ignorant to death is somewhat severe, and may be productive of dangerous effects. Content yourself with commanding their beards to be burnt: beards in a state are not quite so essential as men." The caliph submitted to the reasons of his mother; and, sending for Morakanabad, his prime vizir, said, —" Let the common criers proclaim, not only in Samarah, but throughout every city in my empire, that whosoever will repair hither and decipher certain characters which appear to be inexplicable, shall experience that liberality for which I am renowned; but that all who fail upon trial shall have their beards burnt off to the last hair. Let them add, also, that I will bestow fifty beautiful slaves, and as many jars of apricots from the Isle of Kirmith, upon any man that shall bring me intelligence of the stranger." The subjects of the caliph, like their sovereign, being great admirers of women and apricots from Kirmith, felt their mouths water at these promises, but wer...« less