Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
14. Again The Gods Make Change
Onecouldhearthepeopledrawadeepbreathofdelightastheireyesfirstfelluponher;anditiseasytobelievetherewasnotamaninthatcrowdwhichthrongedthesquarewhodidnotenvymeherchoice,norwasthereasoulpresent(unlessYlgawastheresomewhereveiled)whocouldbyanystretchimaginethatIwasnotoverjoyedinwinningsolovelyawife.
Formyself,Isummonedupalltheironofmytrainingtoguardtheexpressionofmyface.Wewerehereonceremonialto-day;aghastlyenoughaffairthroughoutallitsacts,ifyouchoose,butstillceremonial;andIwasmindedtoshowPhoreniceagrandmannerthatwouldleavehernothingtocavilat.Afterallthathadbeengonethroughandendured,Ididnotintendagreatschemetobeshatteredbylettingmyagonyandpainshowthemselves,ineitherashakinghandoratwitchingcheek.Whenitcametothepoint,Itoldmyself,Iwouldlaythelivingbodyofmyloveinthehollowbeneaththestoneascalmly,andwithaslittleoutwardemotion,asthoughIhadbeenamerepriestcarryingouttheburialofsomedeadstranger.Andshe,onherpart,wouldnot,Iknew,betrayoursecret.Withher,too,itwastruly“BeforeallAtlantis.”
Ithinkitsparedapangtofindthattherewastobenomockeryorflippancyinwhatwentforward.Allwassolemnandimpressive;and,thoughacertaingrandeurandsombrenesswhichbitdeepintomybreastwaslosttothevulgarcrowd,Ifancythattheoutwardshapeofthedoublesacrificetheywitnessedthatdaywouldnotbeforgottenbyanyofthem,althoughtheinnermeaningofitallwascompletelyhiddenfromtheirminds.
