immersed in pleasure was not less tolerable to his subjects than one that
employed himself in creating them foes. But the unquiet and impetuous
disposition of the Caliph would not allow him to rest there; he had
studied so much for his amusement in the life-time of his father as to
acquire a great deal of knowledge, though not a sufficiency to satisfy
himself; for he wished to know everything, even sciences that did not
exist. He was fond of engaging in disputes with the learned, but liked
them not to push their opposition with warmth; he stopped the mouths of
those with presents whose mouths could be stopped, whilst others, whom
his liberality was unable to subdue, he sent to prison to cool their
blood: a remedy that often succeeded.

Vathek discovered also a predilection for theological controversy, but it
was not with the orthodox that he usually held. By this means he induced
the zealots to oppose him, and then persecuted them in return; for he
resolved at any rate to have reason on his side.

The great prophet Mahomet, whose vicars the caliphs are, beheld with
indignation from his abode in the seventh heaven the irreligious conduct
of such a vicegerent. "Let us leave him to himself," said he to the
genii, who are always ready to receive his commands; "let us see to what
lengths his folly and impiety will carry him; if he run into excess we
shall know how to chastise him. Assist him, therefore, to complete the
tower which, in imitation of Nimrod, he hath begun, not, like that great
warrior, to escape being drowned, but from the insolent curiosity of
penetrating the secrets of Heaven; he will not divine the fate that
awaits him."

The genii obeyed, and when the workmen had raised their structure a cubit
in the day-time, two cubits more were added in the night. The expedition