Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
17. Nais The Regained
Thesentencehasgoneoutthatsheistodie,anditshallbecarriedintoeffect,eventhoughwehavetosetloosethemostdreadfulpowersthatarestoredintheArkoftheMysteries,andwreckthiscontinentinoureffort.WehavebornewithherinfamiesalltheseyearsbycommandsentdownbythemostHighGods;butnowshehasgonebeyondendurance,andTheyitiswhohavegiventhewordforhercuttingoff.”
“YouareoneofthehighestThree;IamonlyoneoftheSeven;youbestknowthecost.”
“Therecanbenocountingthecostnow,mybrother,andmyking.Itisanorder.”
“Itisanorder,”Irepeatedformally,“soIobey.”
“Ifitwerenotimpioustodoso,itwouldbeeasytojustifythisdecisionoftheGods.Thewomanhasusurpedthethrone;yetshewasforgivenandbiddenruleonwisely.Shehastamperedwithourholyreligion;yetshewasforgiven.ShehaskilledthepeoplesofAtlantisingreedyuselesswars,anddestroyedthecountry’strade;yetshewasforgiven.Shehasdesecratedtheoldtemples,andlatterlyhassetupinthemimagesofherselftobeworshippedasadeity;yetshewasforgiven.ButatlastherevilclevernesshasdiscoveredtoherthetremendousSecretofLifeandDeath,andtheresheoversteppedtheboundaryoftheHighGods’forbearance.
“Imyselfwenttocarryafinalwarning,andoncemorefacedherinthegreatbanqueting-hall.SolemnlyIrecitedtohertheedict,andshechosetotakeitasachallenge.Shewouldliveoneternallyherselfandshewouldshareherknowledgewiththosethatpleasedher.Tathothatwasherhusbandshouldalsobeimmortal.
