The chief of the eunuchs dragged him off with
horrible grimaces, and repeated as he went: "Ay, I foresaw she would play
you some ungracious turn!"
No sooner was the Caliph gone than the Emir commanded biers to be
brought, and forbad that any one should enter the harem. Every window
was fastened, all instruments of music were broken, and the Imams began
to recite their prayers; towards the close of this melancholy day Vathek
sobbed in silence, for they had been forced to compose with anodynes his
convulsions of rage and desperation.
At the dawn of the succeeding morning the wide folding doors of the
palace were set open, and the funeral procession moved forward for the
mountain. The wailful cries of "La Ilah illa Allah!" reached to the
Caliph, who was eager to cicatrise himself and attend the ceremonial; nor
could he have been dissuaded, had not his excessive weakness disabled him
from walking; at the few first steps he fell on the ground, and his
people were obliged to lay him on a bed, where he remained many days in
such a state of insensibility, as excited compassion in the Emir himself.
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