Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
6. The Biters Of The City Walls
Youseemtothinklittleenoughofmygratitude,Ylga;but,creditme,Ineverhavebestoweditonawomanbefore,andsoyoushouldtreasureitforitsrarity.”
“Well,”shesaid,“mylord,thereisaneducationbeforeyou.”Sheleftmethen,showingmehowtocallslaveswhenIwishedfortheirhelp,andforafullminuteIstoodwonderingatthewordsIhadspokentoher.WhowasthedaughterofZaemonthatsheshouldinducemetochangethehabitofalifetime?
Theslavescameatmybidding,andshowedthemselvesanxioustodeckmewithathousandfoolishnessesinthematterofrobesandgauds,and(whatseemedtobethemodernfashionoftheirclass)holdingoutthevirtuesofascoreofperfumesandunguents.Theirmannerirritatedme.CleanIwasalready,andshaved;myhairwastrim,andmyrobewasunsoiled;and,consideringthesepressingattentionsoftheirssomethingofanimpertinence,Isetthemtobeatoneanotherasapunishment,promisingthatiftheydidnotdoitwiththoroughness,Iwouldhandthemontothebrandertobemarkedwithstripeswhichwouldendure.Itisstrange,butacommonmenialcanoftensurpassevenarebelliousgeneralinpowerofrufflingone.
Ihadseenmanystrangesightsthatday,andundergonemanynewsensations;butofallthethingswhichcametomynotice,Phorenice’smannerofsummoningthegueststoherfeastsurprisedmemost.Nay,itdidmore;itshockedmeprofoundly;andIcannotsaywhetheramazementatherprofanity,orwonderatherpower,wasforthemomentstrongestinmybreast.
