Identifier: childsbookofwarr00cant (find matches)
Title: A child's book of warriors
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Canton, William, 1845-1926
Subjects: Legends
Publisher: London : J.M Dent & sons, ld New York, E.P. Dutton & co. London, J.M. Dent
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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. Now this temple was one of the venerable relics ofbygone generations, and no enemy had despoiled it.It contained the giant brazen statue of Janus of theTwo Faces, whereof one was turned to the dawn andone to the setting sun. When Rome was pagan, itsbrazen doors were kept shut in the good times ofpeace and abundance, but in time of war they werethrown open for the god to march to battle withthe legions. As I listened I discovered that these men weresecret adherents of the old paganism, enchanters andworshippers of devils. They called upon Janus toawake, to come forth and arouse the fallen gods toresume their sway in Rome. By what evil sorceryit was I know not, but the brazen doors of the templeswung wide, and the hideous idol leaped forth witha war-cry of ancient days, which rang through thenight. Far-off voices answered. The air was beatenwith the rushing of many feet. The white groundwas mottled with the shapes and shadows of menand women—some dark, some pallid, some shining; 126
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1^ JDo not show yoursefffje said, I>ut /iear^en The Guardians of Rome and then I saw it was the gods and goddesses ofRome, the fauns and satyrs, the tyrants and perse-cutors—shall I not rather say, demons and lost souls ?—taking possession of the old-world statues of bronzeand marble, and giving them a semblance of life. It was in my mind to fling myself into thatwelter of evil, when a hand was laid upon me, and inthe shadow beside me I saw a man. Tall he wasrather than short, old rather than young, pleasantfeatured yet commanding. He was bare-footed andin fishers garb, and on his shoulder he carried anoar. Do not show yourself, he said, but hearken!The sleepers of the Colosseum and the Catacombshave wakened. I hear their voices; I hear themcoming. And I too heard. The earth was stirred beneathour feet with a deep murmur; vague risings of soundcame to us, as of distant harps played by the wind.Then from the Sacred Way streamed in a radiantmultitude, rosy children and tender mai

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