4. The Welcome Of Phorenice

           Now,whenwecameupwiththecoastsofAtlantis,thoughTob,withtheaidofhismoderninstruments,hadmadehislandfallwithmostmarvellousskillandnearness,therestillremainedsometendays’morejourneyinwhichwehadtoretraceourcourse,tillwecametothatarmoftheseaupwhichliesthegreatcityofAtlantis,thecapital.

           Thesightoftheland,andthebreathofearthandherbagewhichcameofffromitwiththebreezes,were,Ibelieve,undertheGods,themeansofsavingthelivesofallofus.For,asisnecessarywithlongcross-oceanvoyages,manyofourships’companieshaddied,andstillmoreweresickwithscurvythroughtheunnaturaltossing,or(assomehaveit)throughthesalt,unnaturalfoodinseparablefromshipboard.Buttheselast,thesightandthesmellsoflandheartenedupinextraordinaryfashion,andfrombeinghelplesslogs,unabletomoveevenunderblowsofthescourge,theybecameactiveagain,abletohelpintheshipwork,andlusty(whenthetimecame)tofightfortheirlivesandtheirvessels.

           FromthemomentthatIwasdeposedinYucatan,despiteTatho’sassurances,therehadbeendoubtsinmymindastowhatnaturewouldbemyreceptioninAtlantis.ButIhadfacedthiseventofthefuturewithoutconcern:itwasinthehandsoftheGods.TheEmpressPhorenicemightbesupremeonearth;shemightcausemyheadtobeloppedfromitspropershouldersthemomentIsetfootashore;butmyLordtheSunwasabovePhorenice,andifmyheadfell,itwouldbebecauseHesawbestthatitshouldbeso.