dropped from his nose on perceiving that the characters he had read the
day preceding had given place to others of different import.

"What ails you?" asked the Caliph; "and why these symptoms of wonder?"

"Sovereign of the world," replied the old man, "these sabres hold another
language to-day from that they yesterday held."

"How say you?" returned Vathek; "but it matters not! tell me, if you can,
what they mean."

"It is this, my lord," rejoined the old man: "Woe to the rash mortal who
seeks to know that of which he should remain ignorant, and to undertake
that which surpasseth his power!"

"And woe to thee!" cried the Caliph, in a burst of indignation; "to-day
thou art void of understanding. Begone from my presence; they shall burn
but the half of thy beard, because, thou wert yesterday fortunate in
guessing; my gifts I never resume."

The old man, wise enough to perceive he had luckily escaped, considering
the folly of disclosing so disgusting a truth, immediately withdrew, and
appeared not again.

But it was not long before Vathek discovered abundant reason to regret
his precipitation; for though he could not decipher the characters
himself, yet by constantly poring upon them he plainly perceived that
they every day changed, and unfortunately no other candidate offered to
explain them. This perplexing occupation inflamed his blood, dazzled his
sight, and brought on a giddiness and debility that he could not support.