Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
20. On The Bosom Of The Deep
Buttheywentthroughtheworkofraisingmetotheirowndegree,withallthegrandandmajesticformwhichhasgathereddignityfromtheages,andbynoonesentencedidtheycurtailit.Aburningmountainburstwithabellowingroarastheincomingwatersmetitsfires,butgravelytheywenton,inturnrecitingtheirsentences.Phorenice’stroopsbrokedownthelastresistance,andpouredinafrenziedstreamamongstthegrovesandtemples,butstilltheyquaveredneverintheritual.
Ithadbeensaidthatthisceremonyisthegrandestandthemostimpressiveofallthoseconnectedwithourholyreligion;andcertainlyIfounditso;andIspeakasoneintimatewithalltheothers.EventhetremendouscircumstanceswhichhemmedthemincoulddonothingtomakethesefrailoldmenforgetthedeferencewhichwasduetothehighestorderoftheClan.
Formyself,IwillfreelyownIwaslessrapt.Istoodtherebareheadedintheheat,amantryingtoconcentratehimself,andyettornthewhilebyathousandforeignemotions.Theawfulthingthatwashappeningallaroundcompelledsomeofmyattention.Acontinentwasintheveryactandarticleofmeetingwithcompletedestruction,andifZaemonandtheotherPriestwerestrongenoughtogivetheirmindswhollyuptoamatterparochialtothepriesthood,Iwasnotsostoical.Andmoreover,IwasfilledwithotheranxietiesandthoughtsconcerningNais.
