Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
10. A Wooing
Therewasnosoundoflifewithinthetempleprecincts;therewereevidencesofdecayanddisusespreadbroadcastoneveryhand;butaccordingtotheancientlawthereshouldbeeternallyoneatleastonwatchinthepriests’dwellings,sodownthepassageswhichledtothemImademyway.Itwouldhavesurprisedmelittletohavefoundeventhesedeserted.ThattheoldorderwaschangedIknew,butIwasonlythenbeginningtorealisetheruthlessnesswithwhichithadbeensweptaway,andhowmuchithadgivenplacetothenew.
However,therecanbesomefaithfulmenremainingeveninanageofgeneralapostasy,andonmakingmywaytothedoorofthedwelling(whichlayintheroofofthetemple)Igavethecall,andpresentlyitwasopenedtome.Themanwhostoodbeforeme,peeringdullythroughthegloom,hadatleastremainedconstanttohisvows,andImadethesalutationbeforehimwithafeelingofrespect.
HisnamewasRo,andIrememberedhimwell.Wehadpassedthroughthesacredcollegetogether,andalwayshehadbeenknownasthedullard.HehadcapacityforlearninglittleofthecultoftheGods,lessoftheartsofruling,lessstillofthehandlingofarms;andhehadbeenappointedtosomelowlyofficeinthisobscuretemple,andhadrisentobeingitssecondpriestandoneofitstwocustodiansmerelythroughthedesertionofallhiscolleagues.Butitwasnotpleasanttothinkthatafoolshouldremaintruewherecleverermenabandonedtheoldbeliefs.
Rodidbeforemethegreaterobeisance.Heworehisbeardcurledintheprevailingfashion,butitwasbadlydone.
