Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
13. The Burying Alive Of Nais
Vastshewas,andcalmandpeacefulbeyondallhumanimaginings,aperfectsymbolismofthatrestandquietnesswhichmanysighforsovainlyonthisrudeearth,butwhichtheywillneverattainunlessbytheirpietytheyearnaplaceinthehereafter,whereourLadytheMoonandtherestoftheHighOnesreigninTheireternalgloriousmajesty.
ItwaswithtireddragginglimbsthatImademywaybackagaintotheroyalpyramid,andatlastcametomyownprivatechamber.Ylgaawaitedmethere,thoughatfirstIdidnotseeher.Thesuspicionsofthesemoderndayshadtakenadeepholdofthegirl,andshemustneedscrouchinhidingtillshemadesureitwasIwhocametothechamber,and,moreover,thatIcamealone.
“Oh,frownatmeifyouchoose,”saidshesullenly,“Iampastcaringnowforyourgoodopinion.IhadheardsomuchofDeucalion,andIthoughtIreadhonestyinyouwhenfirstyoucameashore;butnowIknowthatyouarenobetterthantherest.Phoreniceoffersyouahighplace,andyoumarryherblithelytogetit.Andwhy,indeed,shouldyounotmarryher?Peoplesaysheispretty,andIknowshecanbewarm.Ihaveseenherwarmandlanguishingtoscoresofmen.Sheisclever,too,withhereyes,isourgreatEmpress;Igrantherthat.Andasforyou,itticklesyoutobecourted.”
“Ithinkyouareaverysillywoman,”Isaid.
“Ifyouflatteryourselfitmattersaraptomewhomyoumarry,youarelettingconceitrunawaywithyou.”
“Listen,”Isaid.“Ididnotaskyouheretomakefoolishspeecheswhichseemlargelybeyondmycomprehension.
