with which the fabric arose was not a little flattering to the vanity of
Vathek. He fancied that even insensible matter showed a forwardness to
subserve his designs, not considering that the successes of the foolish
and wicked form the first rod of their chastisement.

His pride arrived at its height when, having ascended for the first time
the eleven thousand stairs of his tower, he cast his eyes below, and
beheld men not larger than pismires, mountains than shells, and cities
than bee-hives. The idea which such an elevation inspired of his own
grandeur completely bewildered him; he was almost ready to adore himself,
till, lifting his eyes upward, he saw the stars as high above him as they
appeared when he stood on the surface of the earth. He consoled himself,
however, for this transient perception of his littleness with the thought
of being great in the eyes of others, and flattered himself that the
light of his mind would extend beyond the reach of his sight, and
transfer to the stars the decrees of his destiny.

With this view the inquisitive prince passed most of his nights on the
summit of his tower, till he became an adept in the mysteries of
astrology, and imagined that the planets had disclosed to him the most
marvellous adventures, which were to be accomplished by an extraordinary
personage from a country altogether unknown. Prompted by motives of
curiosity, he had always been courteous to strangers, but from this
instant he redoubled his attention, and ordered it to be announced by
sound of trumpet, through all the streets of Samarah, that no one of his
subjects, on peril of displeasure, should either lodge or detain a
traveller, but forthwith bring him to the palace.

Not long after this proclamation there arrived in his metropolis a man so
hideous that the very guards who arrested him were forced to shut their