Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди

           Butitwasbetterthatitshouldcrashdowntoruinintheabyssbelow,thanthatPhoreniceshouldprofaneitwithherimpioussandals.

           AtfirstIhadfearedthatitwouldbeneedfultosacrificetheknotofbravemenwhoweresovaliantlydefendingthegatethenbeingattacked.Itisdisgustingtobeforcedintoameasureofthiskind,butinhardwarfareitisoftenneedfultothecarryingoutofhisschemesforageneraltoleaveapartofhistroopstofighttoafinish,andwithouthopeofrescue,asvaliantlyastheymay;andallhecandofortheirrewardistorecommendthemearnestlytothecareoftheGods.Butwhentheworkofdestroyingthepathwaywasnearlycompleted,Isawachanceofretrievingthem.

           Wehadnotbeencontentmerelywithbreakingarches,andthrowingdownthepiers.Wehadgotourramsandleversunderthelivingrockitselfonwhichallthewholefabricstood;andfirestoodreadytoheattheramsfortheirwork;andwhenthewordwasgiven,thewholecouldbesentcrashingdownthefaceofthecliffsbeyondchanceofrepair.

           Allwas,Isay,finallypreparedinthisfashion,andthenIgavethewordtohold.Anarrowledgestillremainedundestroyed,andofferedfootway,andoverthisIcrossed.Thecutwehadmadewasimmediatelybelowtheuppermostgateofall,andbelowittherewerethreemoremassivegatesstillunviolated,besidestheonethenbeingsovehementlyattacked.