Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
20. On The Bosom Of The Deep
“Youhaveseen?”askedZaemon.
“Ihaveseen.”
“Youunderstand?”
“Inpart.”
“Thenletmetellyouall.Thisisthebeginning,andtheendwillfollowswiftly.ThemostHighGods,thatsitbehindthestars,havealimittoevenTheirsublimepatience;andthathasbeenpassed.ThecityofAtlantis,thegreatcontinentthatisbeyond,andallthatareinthemaredoomedtounutterabledestruction.Ofolditwasforeseenthatthisgreatwiping-outwouldhappenthroughthesinsofmen,andtothisendtheArkoftheMysterieswasbuiltunderthedirectionoftheGods.Nomortalimplementscansomuchasscratchitssurface,nowavesorrockswreckit.Insideisstoredonsheetsoftheancientwritingallthatisknownintheworldoflearningthatisnotsharedbythecommonpeople,alsothereisgraininastore,andsweetwaterintankssufficientfortwopersonsforthespaceoffouryears,togetherwithseeds,weapons,andallsuchothermattersasweredeemedfit.
“OutofallthisvastcountryithasbeendecreedbytheHighGodsthattwoshallnotperish.Twoshallbechosen,amanandawoman,whoarefitandproperpersonstocarryawaywiththemtheancientlearningtodisposeofitastheyseebest,andafterwardstorearuparacewhoshallintimebuildanotherkingdomanddohonourtoourLordtheSunandtheotherGodsinanotherplace.ThewomaniswithintheArkalready,andseatedintheplaceappointedforher,andthoughsheisadaughterofmine,theburdenofherchoosingiswithyou.Fortheman,thechoicehasfallenuponyourself.
