'the day came as prophesied , when my case , breaking free from the halls where it lay -- where it had lain when atlantis was still sovereign of the world -- where since his empery it had sunk into the green fathoms -- when my case , i say , was smitten by the deep sea tides and moved and stirred , and thrust aside the clinging seaweed that masks temples and minarets , and came floating up past the lofty sapphire and golden spires , up through the green waters , to float upon the lazy waves of the sea .