Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
3. A Rival Navy
Andwhyindeedshoulditbeotherwise?Ifapeopleistobegoverned,itshouldbetheirprivilegetopayhandsomelyfortheirprince.”
“Weshallnotagreeonthis.Youhavethepowernow,andcanemployitasyouchoose.IfIthoughtitwouldbeofanyuse,Ishouldliketosupplicateyoumosthumblytodealwithleniencewhenyoucometotaxthesepeoplewhoareunderyou.Theyhavegrownverydeartome.”
“Ihavedisgustedyouwithme,andIamgrievedforit.Buteventoretainyourgoodopinion,Deucalion—whichIvaluemorethanthatofanymanliving—Icannotdohereasyouhavedone.Itwouldbeimpossible,evenifIwishedit.Youmustnotjudgeallothermenbyyourownstrongstandard:aTathoisbynomeansacolossuslikeaDeucalion.Andbesides,Ihaveawifeandchildren,andtheymustbeprovidedfor,evenifIneglectmyself.”
“Ah,there,”Isaid,“itdoesseemthatIpossesstheadvantage.Ihavenowife,toclogme.”
Hecaughtupmywordquickly.“Itseemstomeyouhavenothingthatmakeslifeworthliving.Youhaveneitherwife,children,riches,cooks,retinue,dresses,noranythingelseinproportiontoyourstation.Youwillpardonmysayingit,oldcomrade,butyouareplagueyignorantaboutsomematters.Forexample,youdonotknowhowtodine.Duringeverydayofaverywearyvoyage,Ihavepromisedmyselfwhensittingbeforethemeagreseavictual,thatpresentlytheabstinencewouldbemorethanrepaidbyDeucalion’swelcomingfeast.Oh,Itellyouthatfeastwasoneofthevividestthingsthatevercamebeforemyeyes.
