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The Lost Continent-Part8_C.J.Cutcliffe Hyne(1865-1944)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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Of course, he had to confess that there were none.



Upon which I retorted that Phorenice had commanded Deucalion,

the man, to attend before her, and had sent no word of her pleasure



as to his outer casing.

"This dress," I said, "suits my temper well. It shields my



poor body from the heat and the wind, and, moreover, it is clean.

It seems to me, sirs," I added, "that your interfering savours



somewhat of an impertinence."

With one accord the chamberlains drew their swords and pushed



the hilts towards me.

"It would be a favour," said their spokesman, "if the great



Lord Deucalion would take his vengeance now, instead of delivering

us to the tormentors hereafter."



"Poof," I said, "the matter is forgotten. You make too much

of a little."



Nevertheless, their action gave me some enlightenment. They

were perfectly in earnest in offering me the swords, and I



recognised that this was a different Atlantis that I had come home

to, where a man had dread of the torture for a mere difference



concerning the cut of a coat.

There was a bath in the pavilion, and in that I regaled myself



gladly, though there was some paltry scent added to the water that

took away half its refreshing power; and then I set myself to wait



with all outwardcomposure and placidity. The chamberlains were

too well-bred to break into my calm, and I did not condescend to



small talk. So there we remained, the four of us, I sitting, they

standing, with our Lord the Sun smiting heavily on the scarlet roof



of the pavilion, whilst the music blared, and the welcoming fires

dispersed their odours from the great paved square without, which



faced upon the quay.

It has been said that the great should always collect dignity



by keeping those of lesser degree waiting their pleasure, though

for myself I must say I have always thought the stratagem paltry



and beneath me. Phorenice also seemed of this opinion, for (as she

herself told me later) at the moment that Tob's galley was reported



as having its flank against the marble of the royal quay, at that

precise moment did she start out from the palace. The gorgeous



procession was already marshalled, bedecked, and waiting only for

its chiefest ornament, and as soon as she had mounted to her steed,



trumpets gave the order, and the advance began.

Sitting in the doorway of the pavilion, I saw the soldiery who



formed the head of this vast concourse emerge from the great broad

street where it left the houses. They marched straight across to



give me the salute, and then ranged themselves on the farther side

of the square. Then came the Mariners' Guild, then more soldiers,



all making obeisance in their turn, and passing on to make room for

others. Following were the merchants, the tanners, the



spear-makers and all the other acknowledged Guilds, deliberately

attired (so it seemed to me) that they might make a pageant; and



whilst most walked on foot, there were some who proudly rode on

beasts which they had tamed into rendering them this menial



service.

But presently came the two wonders of all that dazzling



spectacle. From out of the eclipse of the houses there swung into

the open no less a beast than a huge bull mammoth. The sight had



sufficient surprise in it almost to make me start. Many a time

during my life had I led hunts to kill the mammoth, when a herd of



them had raided some village or cornland under my charge. I had

seen the huge brutes in the wild ground, shaggy, horrid, monstrous;



more fierce than even the cave-tiger or the cave-bear; most

dangerous beast of all that fight with man for dominion of the



earth, save only for a few of the greater lizards. And here was

this creature, a giant even amongstmammoths, yet tame as any



well-whipped slave, and bearing upon its back a great half-castle

of gold, stamped with the outstretched hand, and bedecked with



silver snakes. Its murderous tusks were gilded, its hairy neck was

garlanded with flowers, and it trod on in the procession as though



assisting at such pageantry was the beginning and end of its

existence. Its tameness seemed a fittingsymbol of the masterful



strength of this new ruler of Atlantis.




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