Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
6. The Biters Of The City Walls
ButifshehadsubornedsomeweakermemberoftheClanontheSacredMount,thatwouldbeadifferentmatter.Forbeitrememberedthatitwasoneoftheelementsofourconstitutiontopreserveoursecretsandmysteriesinviolate,andtopursuewithundyinghatredboththemanwhohaddaredtobetraythem,andtheunhappyrecipientofhisconfidence.
Itwaswithveryundecidedfeelings,then,thatIobeyedthesummonsoftheearth-shaking,andbadetheslavesleadmethroughthewindingsofthepyramidtothegreatbanqueting-hall.Thescenetherewasdazzling.Themajesticchamberwithitsmarvellouscarvingswasfilledwithacompanydeckedoutwithallthegaudsandcoloursthatfancycouldconceive.Littlereckedtheyofthesolemnportentwhichhadsummonedthemtothemeal,ofthedeathandmiserythatstalkedopenlythroughthecitywardswithout,oftherebelswhichlayinleaguerbeyondthewalls,oftheneglectedGodsandtheirclanofpriestsontheSacredMountain.Theywereallgluttonousforthepassionsofthemoment;itwastheirfashionandconceittolookatnothingbeyond.
Flamingjetsofearth-breathlitthegreathalltothebrightnessofmidday;andwhenIsteppedoutuponthepavement,trumpetsblared,sothatallmightknowofmycoming.Buttherewasnoroarofwelcome.“Deucalion,”theylispedwithmincingvoices,bowingthemselvesridiculouslytothegroundsothatalltheirornamentsandsilksmightjangleandswish.Indeed,whenPhoreniceherselfappeared,andallsentuptheircriesandmadelawfulobeisance,therewasthesameartificialityinthewelcome.
