Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
14. Again The Gods Make Change
Thelowerpartstoodmorethantwoman-heightsabovetheground,andnostoneofitscoursesweighedlessthantwentymen;theupperpartwasdoubletheweightofanyofthese,andwascarvedsothattheroyalsnakeencircledthechair,andthegreathoodedheadovershadowedit.Butatpresenttheupperpartwasnotonitsbed,beinghelduphighbyliftingrams,forwhatpurposesallmenknew.
Itwastofacethisscene,then,thatIcameoutfromtheroyalpyramidatthesummonsofthechamberlainsinthecoolofnextmorning.Eachgreatmanwhohadcometherebeforemehadbanner-bearersandtrumpeterstoproclaimhispresence;themiddleclasseswereinalltheirbraveryofapparel;andevenpoorsqualidcreatures,withribsofhungershowingthroughtheirdustyskins,hadturbansandwispsofcolourwrappedabouttheirheadstomarkthegaietyoftheday.
Thetrumpetsproclaimedmycoming,andthepeopleshoutedwelcome,andwiththegorgeouschamberlainswalkingbackwardsinadvance,Iwentacrosstoascarletawningthathadbeenprepared,andtookmyseatuponthecushionsbeneathit.
AndthencamePhorenice,mybridethatwastobethatday,freshfromsleep,andgloriousinhersplendidbeauty.ShewasborneoutfromthepyramidinanopenlitterofgoldandivorybyfantasticsavagesfromEurope,herownrefinementoffeaturebeingthrownupintoallthehigherreliefbycontrastwiththeirbrutishugliness.
