資源描述：
《THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK(加里弗.維克史) 》由會(huì)員上傳分享，免費(fèi)在線閱讀，更多相關(guān)內(nèi)容在學(xué)術(shù)論文-天天文庫(kù)。
1、THEHISTORYOFTHECALIPHVATHEKTHEHISTORYOFTHECALIPHVATHEK1THEHISTORYOFTHECALIPHVATHEKINTRODUCTIONWilliamBeckford,bornin1759,theyearbeforetheaccessionofKingGeorgetheThird,wasthesonofanAldermanwhobecametwiceLordMayorofLondon.Hisfamily,originallyofGloucestershire,hadthrivenbythepl
2、antationsinJamaica;andhisfather,senttoschoolinEngland,andformingaschoolfriendshipatWestminsterwithLordMansfield,begantheworldinthiscountryasamerchant,withinheritanceofanenormousWestIndiafortune.WilliamBeckfordtheelderbecameMagistrate,MemberofParliament,Alderman.Fouryearsbefo
3、rethebirthofWilliamBeckfordtheyoungerhebecameoneoftheSheriffsofLondon,andthreeyearsafterhisson'sbirthhewasLordMayor.AsMayorhegaveverysumptuousdinnersthatmadeepochsinthelivesoffeedingmen.Hisson'sfamous"HistoryoftheCaliphVathek"looksasifithadbeenplannedforanAlderman'sdreamafte
4、raveryheavydinnerattheMansionHouse.Thereisdevotioninittothesenses,emphasisonheavydining.Vathekpiquedhimselfonbeingthegreatesteateralive;butwhentheIndiandinedwithhim,thoughthetableswerethirtytimescovered,therewasstillwantofmorefoodforthevoraciousguest.Thereisthirst:foratonepa
5、rtofthedream,whenVathek'smother,hiswives,andsomeeunuchs"assiduouslyemployedthemselvesinfillingbowlsofrockcrystal,andemulouslypresentedthemtohim,itfrequentlyhappenedthathisavidityexceededtheirzeal,insomuchthathewouldprostratehimselfuponthegroundtolapupthewater,ofwhichhecouldn
6、everhaveenough."AndthenightmareincidentsoftheArabiantaleallculminateinamostterribleheartburn.CouldtheconceptionofVathekhavefirstcometothesonafteraCitydinner?Thoughamagnificenthost,theelderBeckfordwasnoglutton.IntheyearofhisfirstMayoralty,1763,Beckford,stoodbythesideofAlderma
7、nWilkes,attackedforhisNo.45ofTheNorthBriton.Aschampionofthepopularcause,whenhehadbeenagainelectedtotheMayoralty,Beckford,onthe23rdofMay,1770,wentuptoKingGeorgetheThirdattheheadof2THEHISTORYOFTHECALIPHVATHEKtheAldermenandLiverywithanaddresswhichthekingsnubbedwithashortanswer.
8、Beckfordaskedleavetoreply,andbeforeHisMajestyrecoveredbreathfromhisastonish
