Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди

           Wecameinsightofthepeakofthesacredmountain,withitsglareofeternalfireswhichstandbehindthecity,onemorningwiththeday’sbreak,andthewhipsoftheboatswainscrackedmorevehemently,sothatthoseoffensiveslavesshouldgivethegalleyafinalspurt.Thewindwasadverse,andnosailcouldbespread,butunderoarsalonewemadeaprettypace,andthesidesofthesacredmountaingrewlonger,andpresentlythepeaksofthepyramidsinthecity,thetowersofthehigherbuildings,begantoshowthemselvesasthoughtheyfloateduponthegleamingwater.ItwastwentyyearssinceIhadseenAtlantislast,andmyheartglowedwiththethoughtoftreadingagainuponherpaving-stones.

           Thesplendidcitygrewoutoftheseaasweapproached,andtoeverythroboftheoars,theshoresleapednearer.IsawthetemplewhereIhadbeenadmittedfirsttomanhood;IsawthepyramidinwhoseheartIhadbeeninitiatedtothesmallmysteries;andthen(asthelesserobjectsbecamediscernible)Imadeoutthehousewhereafatherandamotherhadrearedme,andmyeyesbecamedimasthememoriesrose.

           Wedrewupoutsidethewhitewallsoftheharbour,asthelawwas,andtheslavespantedandsobbedinquietudeovertheoar-looms.Forvesselsthusstationedthereis,generally,asufficiencyofwaiting,foraport-captainisapttobesouncertainofhisowndignity,thathemuste’enkeepfolkswaitingtoproveittothem.Buthereforusitmighthavebeenthattheport-captain’sboatwaswaiting.