14. Again The Gods Make Change

           ThereisnodenyingthatthewishesofPhorenicewerecarriedintoquickeffectinthecityofAtlantis.HermoderntheorywasthatthecountryandallthereinexistedonlyforthegoodoftheEmpress,andwhenshehadadesire,nocostcouldpossiblybetoogreatinitscarryingout.

           ShehadgivenforthheredictconcerningtheburyingaliveofNais,andthoughthewordswerethatIwastobuildthethroneofstone,itwasanunderstoodthingthatthemanuallabourwastobedoneformebyothers.Heraldsmadetheproclamationineverywardofthecity,andmasons,labourers,stonecutters,sculptors,engineers,andarchitectstookhandsfromwhateverwasoccupyingthemforthemoment,andhastenedtotherendezvous.Thearchitectschoseachiefwhogavedirections,andthelesserarchitectsandtheengineerssawthesecarriedintoeffect.Anymaterialwithinthewallsofthecityonwhichtheysettheirseal,wastakenatoncewithoutpaymentorcompensation;andastheblocksofstonetheychosewerethemostmonstrousthatcouldbegot,theywereforcedtodemolishnofewbuildingstogivethempassage.

           Ihavebeforespokenofthemodernrageforerectingnewpalacesandpyramids,andeventhoughatthemomentanarmyofrebelswasbatteringwithwarenginesatthecitywalls,thebuildingguildsweresteadilyatwork,andtheirskill(withPhorenice’smarvellousinventiontoaidthem)wasconstantlyontheincrease.