There was no difficulty in obeying these orders, for the attraction had
ceased; the sun shone forth in all his glory, and the shepherd vanished
with a lamentable scream.
The fatal impression of the music of the Genius remained,
notwithstanding, in the heart of Vathek's attendants; they viewed each
other with looks of consternation; at the approach of night almost all of
them escaped, and of this numerous assemblage there only remained the
chief of the eunuchs, some idolatrous slaves, Dilara and a few other
women, who, like herself, were votaries of the religion of the Magi.
The Caliph, fired with the ambition of prescribing laws to the
Intelligences of Darkness, was but little embarrassed at this
dereliction; the impetuosity of his blood prevented him from sleeping,
nor did he encamp any more as before. Nouronihar, whose impatience, if
possible, exceeded his own, importuned him to hasten his march, and
lavished on him a thousand caresses to beguile all reflection; she
fancied herself already more potent than Balkis, and pictured to her
imagination the Genii falling prostrate at the foot of her throne.
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