Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
8. The Preacher From The Mountains
IamheretoknowhowitwouldbebetterforAtlantisthatIshoulddie?”
“Youknowyouarethestrongestmaninthekingdom.”
“Itpleasesyoutosayso.”
“AndPhoreniceisthestrongestwoman.”
“Thatisbeyonddoubt.”
“Why,then,iftheEmpresstakesyouinmarriage,weshallbeunderadoubletyranny.Andherrulealoneismorecruellyheavythanwecanbearalready.”
“IpassnocriticismonPhorenice’srule.Ihavenotseenit.ButIcraveyourmercy,Nais,onthenewcomerintothiskingdom.Iamstrong,sayyou,andthereforeIamatyrant,sayyou.Nowtomethissequenceisfaulty.”
“Whoshouldastrongmanusestrengthfor,ifnotforhimself?Andifforhimself,whythatspellstyranny.Youwillgetallyourheart’sdesires,mylord,andyouwillforgetthatmanyathousandofthecommonpeoplewillhavetopayforthem.”
“Andthisisallyouraccusation?”
“Itseemstobeblackenough.Iamonethathasacompassionformyfellow-men,mylord,andbecauseofthatcompassionyouseemewhatIamto-day.Therewasatime,notlongpassed,whenIsleptassoftandateasdaintyasanyinAtlantis.”
Ismiled.“Yourspeechtoldmethatmuchfromthefirst.”
“ThenIwouldIhadcastthespeechoff,too,ifthatisalsoaliveryofthetyrant’sclass.ButItellyouIsawalltheoppressionmyselffromtheoppressor’sside.IwashighinPhorenice’sfavourthen.”
“That,too,iseasyofcredence.Ylgaisthefan-girltotheEmpressnow,andsecondladyinthekingdom,andthosewhohaveseenYlgacouldmakeaneasyguessattheparentageofNais.
