Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
19. Destruction Of Atlantis
Butitwasbetterthatitshouldcrashdowntoruinintheabyssbelow,thanthatPhoreniceshouldprofaneitwithherimpioussandals.
AtfirstIhadfearedthatitwouldbeneedfultosacrificetheknotofbravemenwhoweresovaliantlydefendingthegatethenbeingattacked.Itisdisgustingtobeforcedintoameasureofthiskind,butinhardwarfareitisoftenneedfultothecarryingoutofhisschemesforageneraltoleaveapartofhistroopstofighttoafinish,andwithouthopeofrescue,asvaliantlyastheymay;andallhecandofortheirrewardistorecommendthemearnestlytothecareoftheGods.Butwhentheworkofdestroyingthepathwaywasnearlycompleted,Isawachanceofretrievingthem.
Wehadnotbeencontentmerelywithbreakingarches,andthrowingdownthepiers.Wehadgotourramsandleversunderthelivingrockitselfonwhichallthewholefabricstood;andfirestoodreadytoheattheramsfortheirwork;andwhenthewordwasgiven,thewholecouldbesentcrashingdownthefaceofthecliffsbeyondchanceofrepair.
Allwas,Isay,finallypreparedinthisfashion,andthenIgavethewordtohold.Anarrowledgestillremainedundestroyed,andofferedfootway,andoverthisIcrossed.Thecutwehadmadewasimmediatelybelowtheuppermostgateofall,andbelowittherewerethreemoremassivegatesstillunviolated,besidestheonethenbeingsovehementlyattacked.
