Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
12. The Drug Of Our Lady The Moon
ThecauseofthematterwastheunrestandtheprevalencytostreetviolencewhichIhavespokenofabove,andthedesperatepovertyofthecommonpeople,whichledthemtotakeanyriskifitshowedthemachanceofwinningthewherewithaltopurchaseameal.Wehadoncemoremountedthelitter,andoncemorethebearers,withtheirheadsbeneaththepole,boreusonattheiraccustomedswingingtrot.Phorenicewastellingmeabouthernewsuppliesofgold.Shehadmadefreshsumptuarylaws,itappeared.
“Intheolddays,”saidshe,“whenyellowgoldwastediouslydredgedupgrainbygrainfromrivergravelsinthedangerouslands,aquillfullwouldcostarichman’ssavings,andsononebutthosewhosehighstationfittedthemtobesoadornedcouldweargoldenornaments.Butwhenthesea-watergavemegoldherebythedoublehandfuladay,Ifoundthatthepriceoftheseriverhoardsdecreased,andoneday—couldyoucreditit?—acommonfellow,whowasoneofmysmiths,cametomewearingacollarofyellowgoldonhisowncommonneck.Well,Ihadthatneckdivided,aspaymentforhispresumption;andasIpromisedtorepeatthedivisionpromptlyonallotheroffenders,thatspecialspeciesofforwardnessseemstobecheckedforthetime.Therearemanyexasperations,Deucalion,ingoverningthesecommonpeople.
