Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
19. Destruction Of Atlantis
Withextraordinarynimblenessshemusthaveplannedanenginesuchaswasnecessarytosuitherpurposes,andgivenordersforitsmaking;forevenwiththevastforceandresourcesatherdisposal,thespeedwithwhichitwasbuiltwasprodigious.
Therewasverylittlenoisemadetotellofwhatwasafoot.Allthewoodworkandmetalworkwascut,andtongued,andforged,andfittedfirstbyskilledcraftsmenbelow,intheplainatthefootofthecleft;andwheneachponderousbalkandeachcrosspiece,andeachplankwasdraggedupthesteeppassthroughtheconqueredgates,itwasreadyinstantlyforfittingintoitsappointedplaceinthecompletedmachine.
Thecleftwasstraightwheretheysetabouttheirbuilding,andtherewasnocurveorspuroftheclifftohidetheirhandiworkfromthoseofthePriestswhowatchedfromtherampartsaboveouroneremaininggate.ButPhorenicehadacoynesslestherengineshouldbeseenbeforeitwascompleted,andsotoscreenitshehadavastfirebuiltattheuppermostpointwherethecausewaywasbrokenoff,andfeddiligentlywithwetsedgeandgreenwood,sothatagreatsmokepouredout,risinglikeacurtainthatshutoutallview.AndsothoughthePriestsontherampartabovethegatepickedoffnowandagainsomeofthosewhotendedthefire,theycoulddothebesiegersnofurtherinjury,andremaineduptothelastquiteinignoranceoftheirtactics.
