Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
17. Nais The Regained
WhocaresforEgypttheselatteryears?Whocaresforanyoneoranythingforthatmatterexceptforhimselfandhisownproperestate?Timewaswhenthecountryfolkandthehuntershereaboutsbroughtmeofferingstothiscaveforsheerpiety’ssake.Butnowtheynevercomenearunlesstheyseeawayofgettinggoodvalueinreturnfortheirgifts.And,byresult,insteadoflivingfatandhearty,Imakeleanmealsoffhoneyandgrubs.It’sapoorlife,anymph’s,intheselatteryearsItellyou,mylord.It’sthefashionforallclassestobelieveinnokindofmysterynow.”
“Whatmannerofpestilenceisthisyouspokeof?”
“Ihavenotseenit.ThanktheGodsithasnotcomethisway.ButtheydosaythatithasgrownfromthefolkPhorenicehasslain,andwhosebodiesremainunburied.Sheisalwaysslaying,andsothebodiesliethickerthanthebirdsandbeastscaneatthem.Forwhichofoursins,Iwonder,didtheGodsletPhorenicecometoreign?Iwishthatsheandhertwinswereboiledaliveinbrinebeforetheycamebetweenanhonestnymphoftheforestandherliving.
“Theysayshehasputanimageofherselfinallthetemplesofthecitynow,andhasorderedprayersandsacrificestobemadenightandmorning.ShehasdecreedallotherGodsinferiortoherselfandforbiddentheirworship,andthoseofthepeoplethatarenotsufficientlydevoutforhertaste,havetheirhamstringsslitbytheirtormentorstoaidthemconstantlyintoadevotionalattitude.—Willyoueatofmygrubsandhoney?Thereisnothingelse.
