"Perplex not yourselves," replied he bluntly, "with so much; at once you
will soon be acquainted with all; let us haste and present you to Eblis."
They continued their way through the multitude but, notwithstanding their
confidence at first, they were not sufficiently composed to examine with
attention the various perspectives of halls and of galleries that opened
on the right hand and left, which were all illuminated by torches and
braziers, whose flames rose in pyramids to the centre of the vault. At
length they came to a place where long curtains, brocaded with crimson
and gold, fell from all parts in striking confusion; here the choirs and
dances were heard no longer; the light which glimmered came from afar.
After some time Vathek and Nouronihar perceived a gleam brightening
through the drapery, and entered a vast tabernacle carpeted with the
skins of leopards; an infinity of elders with streaming beards, and
Afrits in complete armour, had prostrated themselves before the ascent of
a lofty eminence, on the top of which, upon a globe of fire, sat the
formidable Eblis. His person was that of a young man, whose noble and
regular features seemed to have been tarnished by malignant vapours; in
his large eyes appeared both pride and despair; his flowing hair retained
some resemblance to that of an angel of light; in his hand, which thunder
had blasted, he swayed the iron sceptre that causes the monster
Ouranabad, the Afrits, and all the powers of the abyss to tremble; at his
presence the heart of the Caliph sank within him, and for the first time
he fell prostrate on his face.
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