Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
8. The Preacher From The Mountains
Byexample,Phorenice(whoseofficebeadored)isagreatpersonagehereathome;butoverthereinthecolonywebarelyknewsomuchashername.Here,sinceIhavebeenashore,Ihaveseenmanynewwonders;Ihavebeencarriedbyaridingmammoth;Ihavesatatabanquet;butinwhatnewpoliciesthereareafoot,Ihaveyettobeschooled.”
“Then,iftrulyyoudonotknowit,letmerepeattoyouthecommontale.Phorenicehastiredofherunmatedlife.”
“Staythere.IwillhearnowordagainsttheEmpress.”
“Pah,mylord,yourscruplesaremostdecorous.ButIdidnomorethanrepeatwhattheEmpresshadmadepublicbyproclamation.Sheismindedtotaketoherselfahusband,andnothingshortofthebestisgoodenoughforPhorenice.Oneafteranotherhasbeenputupinturnasfavourite—andbeenfoundwanting.Oh,Itellyou,wehereinAtlantishavewatchedhercourtshipwithjumpinghearts.Firstitwasthisonehere,thenitwasthatonethere;nowitwasthisgeneraljustreturnedfromavictory,andadaylaterhehadbeenpackedbacktohiscamp,togiveplacetosomedashinggovernorwhohadsqueezedincreasedrevenuesfromhisprovince.ButeveryshipthatcamefromtheWestsaidthattherewasastrongermanthananyoftheseinYucatan,andatlasttheEmpresschangedthewordingofhervow.‘I’llhaveDeucalionformyhusband,’saidshe,‘andthenwewillseewhocanstandagainstmywishes.’”
“TheEmpress(whosenamebeadored)candoasshepleasesinsuchmatters,”Isaidguardedly;“butthatisbesidetheargument.
