ATLANTIS.
THE ARGUMENT.
Neptune, having made war with Athena for the possession of Acta, and being about to prevail, the noise of their conflict reached the ears of Zeus, monarch of the gods, who, descending, commanded that Neptune should inherit all lands, save only Acta; upon whose plains still should flourish the olive, symbol of the power of Athena, and whose people should worship only her forever.
The ocean-god, fain to submit to the unalterable flat, sped thence across the Ionian and Tyrrhenian waters, passing beyond the Pillars of Hercules, and delaying not until the wheels of his chariot had swept the shores of that mid-sea island, Atlantis.
There abiding, with Amphitrite, his wife, all good fortune befell the island and the people thereof.
Nevertheless, having afterward permitted that his sons should rule in his stead,—receiving all kingly observances as became their divine birth,—they grew over-proud, murmuring among themselves against that decree of Heaven, and desiring tribute and adoration from the Athenians.
Their ever-loyal subjects, hearing their murmurings, and being concerned for the honor of their god, gathered themselves together with all the armaments of war, and voyaged toward Acta, designing to compel her people to forsake their queen, Athena, and worship only Neptune,—counted greatest among terrestrial powers. But the children of Acta, having been warned to prepare for war by many signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, met them in great force when they had landed, and waged warfare with them mightily for the space of half a day. Being driven back, however, to the foot of their mountains, they must have utterly perished, had not Athena hastened to their rescue. Her following, they turned upon those Islanders, overcame and wholly slew them, so that all
