Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
14. Again The Gods Make Change
ShewasrememberingwhatwasduetoAtlantis,andIwasthrilledwithloveandprideasIwatchedher.
ButoutwardlyI,too,wasimpassiveasamanofstone,andthoughIknewthatPhorenice’seyewasonmyface,therewasneveranythingonitfromfirsttolastthatIwouldnothavehadhersee.
“Nais,”saidtheEmpress,“youhaveeatenfrommyplatterwhenyouwerefan-girl,anddrunkfrommycup,andwhatwasyoursIgaveyou.Youshouldhavehadmorethangratitude,youshouldhavehadknowledgealsothatthearmoftheEmpresswaslongandherhandconsummatelyheavy.Butitseemsthatyouhaveneitherofthesethings.And,moreover,youhavetriedtotakeacertainmatterthattheEmpresshassetapartforherself.Youwereofferedpardon,onterms,andyourejectedit.Youwerefoolish.ButitisadaynowwhenIaminclinedtoclemency.Presently,seatedonthatcarvedthroneofgranitewhichhehasbuiltmeyonder,IshalltakemyLordDeucaliontohusband.Givemeaplainwordthatyouaresorry,girl,andnameamanwhomyouwouldchoose,andIwillrememberthebrightnessoftheoccasion,youshallbepardonedandwedbeforewerisefromthesecushions.”
“Iwillnotwed,”shesaidquietly.
“Thinkforthelasttime,Nais,ofwhatistheotherchoice.Youwillbetaken,warm,andquick,andbeautifulasyoustandtherethisminute,andlaidinthehollowplacethatismadebeneaththethrone-stone.
