Phials of serpents' oil, mummies, and bones were
soon set in order on the balustrade of the tower; the pile began to rise,
and in three hours was as many cubits high. At length darkness
approached, and Carathis, having stripped herself to her inmost garment,
clapped her hands in an impulse of ecstasy and struck light with all her
force. The mutes followed her example; but Vathek, extenuated with
hunger and impatience, was unable to support himself, and fell down in a
swoon. The sparks had already kindled the dry wood, the venomous oil
burst into a thousand blue flames, the mummies dissolving emitted a thick
dun vapour, and the rhinoceros' horns beginning to consume, all together
diffused such a stench, that the Caliph, recovering, started from his
trance, and gazed wildly on the scene in full blaze around him. The oil
gushed forth in a plenitude of streams; and the negresses, who supplied
it without intermission, united their cries to those of the princess. At
last the fire became so violent, and the flames reflected from the
polished marble so dazzling, that the Caliph, unable to withstand the
heat and the blaze, effected his escape, and clambered up the imperial
standard.
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