Looking along the line of life's yesterdays the reason became apparent why all the wondrous attainments of Poseid had ceased and left no sign, why Atla, which metaphorically held aloft the world into the light of science, had sunk beneath the waters and gone down into deep, mysterious caverns, to be hidden in an ignorance greater than that which shadowed Pompeii and Herculaneum from subsequent centuries.
Reflecting on history's trajectory, it became clear why Poseid's remarkable achievements had vanished without a trace. We understood why Atla, once a beacon of scientific enlightenment, had sunk beneath the waves and retreated into deep, enigmatic caverns. Its fate was to be shrouded in an obscurity even greater than that which concealed Pompeii and Herculaneum from later generations.
Natural decadence tells the story. As the centuries succeeding the time of the great Rai Gwauxln lapsed, ten, fifteen, twenty and more, the nation came to a greater glory of mechanics, of science, and of Physical condition than even Gwauxln's time had known. One by one the scholars found that those things which had always been possible only through mechanical contrivance were more easily accomplished by purely psychic means; they learned it was possible to divest themselves of the flesh, and in astral body go whither they would and appear, instant as the electric current, at any distance. They learned that they could perform material actions when they had thus projected themselves. Then it was that the cruder methods, vailx and naim, and all else similar, were suffered to lapse into that semi-forgetfulness of the Suerni; and exactly as they, so the mass of Poseidi depended on the priesthood for all these things. For only the few exalted minds could thus reach out into the deeper night-side of Nature; the many must remain in the lesser places. Inevitably then came corruption of power; the few were masters, and the many had no recourse, because the master of psychics is invulnerable to the laws of physicality when wielded by men less than he.
Natural decline tells the story. Ten, fifteen, twenty, and more centuries passed after the time of the great Rai Gwauxln. Over them the nation rose to a greater glory of mechanics, of science, and of physical condition than even Gwauxln's time had known. One by one the scholars found that things that had always been possible only through mechanical devices were more easily done by purely psychic means. They learned they could lay aside the flesh and go wherever they wished in the astral body. They could appear at any distance, as instantly as the electric current. They learned that they could perform material actions when they had projected themselves in this way. Then the cruder methods, vailx and naim and all else like them, were allowed to lapse into the same half-forgotten state as among the Suerni. And just as with the Suerni, the mass of the Poseidi depended on the priesthood for all these things. For only the few exalted minds could reach out like this into the deeper night-side of Nature. The many had to remain in the lesser places. Corruption of power inevitably followed. The few were masters, and the many had no recourse. For the master of psychic powers is invulnerable to the laws of the physical world when lesser men wield them.
Then, indeed, was the day come when ripeness was on the land and on the people. The ripe pear can not keep perfect, but at the heart begins a decay that spreads from core to cortex, and lo, the end. So in Poseid, at the core began the outward-spreading rot. That core was the education of the people. Whenever earth's nations shall cease to educate the coming generation, decay shall begin for the people. In Poseid the few had attained such exalted knowledge of natural forces that the many could not hope to overtake them. Then, discontented with the comparatively poor education themselves had, they suffered all its marvels to wane. Thus, ere thirty centuries after Gwauxln the Poseid race was as Suern, but more corrupt, and lust, appetite, passion and power had laid fatal grasp on the proudest people the earth has ever known. How little dost thou realize when thou readest in Hebrew Scriptures of the destruction of the cities of the Plain it is the account, of the doom of Marzeus and Terna, destroyed by the Navaz forces they had forgotten how to control That destruction heralded that of the continent, nine centuries later. A, ye! Poseid arose to an altitude which the wildest dreams of science have not predicted for the modem world; arose, flourished and decayed, in the fullness of cyclic times. And America is Poseid come again, reincarnated, and shall see its scientific people repeat, but on a higher plane, the attainments of Atla. As the centuries pass it shall see the successive enfleshment of those souls which in Atla, made that land proud, prouder, proudest. But it shall do more, for America hath developed that soul-element which, when her people were Poseidi, was first faintly traced. So, though repeating, it shall do more--it shall have all Atla's marvels wedded to the glorious soul foreseen for mankind by Him of Nazareth. It shall flourish so, and then, in the fullness of its time, decay. But that shall not be for four and a half centurial decades.
Then, indeed, the day had come when ripeness was on the land and on the people. The ripe pear cannot stay perfect. At its heart a decay begins that spreads from core to skin, and then comes the end. So in Poseid, the rot began at the core and spread outward. That core was the education of the people. Whenever the nations of the earth stop educating the coming generation, decay will begin for that people. In Poseid the few had reached such exalted knowledge of natural forces that the many could not hope to catch up with them. Then, dissatisfied with the comparatively poor education they themselves had, they let all its marvels fade. So, before thirty centuries had passed after Gwauxln, the Poseid race was like Suern, but more corrupt. Lust, appetite, passion, and power had laid a fatal grip on the proudest people the earth has ever known. When you read in the Hebrew Scriptures of the destruction of the cities of the Plain, how little you realize that it is the account of the doom of Marzeus and Terna! They were destroyed by the Navaz forces they had forgotten how to control. That destruction heralded the destruction of the continent, nine centuries later. Ah, you! Poseid rose to a height that the wildest dreams of science have not predicted for the modern world. It rose, flourished, and decayed, in the fullness of cyclic times. And America is Poseid come again, reincarnated. It will see its scientific people repeat the attainments of Atla, but on a higher plane. As the centuries pass, it will see the souls that made Atla proud, prouder, proudest take on flesh again, one after another. But it will do more. For America has developed the soul-element that was first faintly traced when her people were Poseidi. So, though repeating, it will do more. It will have all Atla's marvels wedded to the glorious soul that the One of Nazareth foresaw for mankind. It will flourish so, and then, in the fullness of its time, decay. But that will not be for four and a half centurial decades.