Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
5. Zaemon’s Curse
Butthiswomanwhosatunderthesacredsnakesinhergoldenhalf-castleonthemammoth’sback,fairlybaffledme.OfherthoughtsIcouldreadnosinglesyllable.Icouldseeabodyslight,supple,andbeautifullymoulded;infigurerathersmall.Herfacewasamostperfectbookofcleverness,yetshewasfair,too,beyondbelief,withhairofalovelyruddiness,cutshortinthenewfashion,andbunchingonhershoulders.Andeyes!Gods!whocouldplumbthedepthsofPhorenice’seyes,orfindinmeretintatraceoftheirheaven-madecolour?
Itwasplain,also,thatsheinherturnwassearchingmedowntomyverysoul,anditseemedthatherscrutinywasnotwithoutitssatisfaction.ShemovedherheadinlittlenodsasIdrewnear,andwhenIdidtherequisiteobeisancepermittedtomyrank,shebademeinavoiceloudandclearenoughforallathandtohear,nevertoputforeheadonthegroundagainonherbehalfsolongassheruledinAtlantis.
“Forothers,”shesaid,“itisfittingthattheyshoulddoso,once,twice,orseveraltimes,accordingtotheirrankandstation,forIamEmpress,andtheyareallsofarbeneathme;butyouareDeucalion,mylord,andthoughtillto-dayIknewyouonlyfrompicturesdrawnwithtongues,Ihaveseenyounow,andhavejudgedformyself.AndsoImakethisdecree:DeucalionisaboveallothermeninAtlantis,andifthereisonewhodoesnotrenderhimobedience,thatmanisenemyalsoofPhorenice,andshallfeelheranger.
