Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
7. The Biters Of The Walls (Further Account)
Wholewardshadbeensweptawaytomakespacefornewpalaces,andnewpyramidsofthewealthy,andIcouldnotbuthaveanadmirationfortheskillandthebrainwhichmadepossiblesuchsplendidmonuments.
And,indeed,gazingatthemthereunderthesilverofthemoonlight,IcouldalmostunderstandtheemotionsoftheEuropeansandotherbarbaroussavageswhichcausethemtoworshipallsuchgreatbuildingsasGods,sincetheydeemthemtoowonderfulandmajestictobesetupbyhumanhandsunaided.
Still,ifitwaseasytoadmire,itwassimplealsotoseeplainadvertisementofthecostatwhichthesegreatworkshadbeenreared.Fromeachgrantofground,whereoneofthesestatelypilesearnedsilverunderthemoon,ahundredfamilieshadbeenevictedandlefttoharbourastheypleasedintheopen;and,asaconsequence,noweverynichehaditsquotaofsleepers,andeveryshadowitssquadoffiercewildcreatures,readytorushoutandroborslayallwayfarersoflessforcethantheirown.
Myself,Iamnopampererofthecommonpeople.Isaythat,ifamanbelefttohungerandshiver,hewillworktogainhimfoodandraiment;andifnot,whythenhecandie,andtheStateiswellridofaworthlessfellow.Butherebesideus,aswemarchedthroughmanywards,weremarksofblindoppression;starveddeadbodies,withthebonesstartingthroughtheleanskin,sprawledinthegutter;andindeeditwasplainthat,saveforthefavouredfew,thepeopleofthegreatcapitalwereunderamostheavyoppression.
Butatthis,thoughImightregretitabominably,Icouldmakenostrongcomplaint.
