. A child's book of warriors . held amagnificent sarcophagus broken open. It containeda sovereign of bygone time—embalmed, crowned,clothed in imperial purple. The body was draggedforth and held erect amid peals of ribald laughter,and Justinian recognised that it was himself. Thecrown was snatched from the hoary head; the jewelsplucked from neck and arms. The rich robes wererent away. Naked as he was born into the world,the emperor was flung aside for the dogs. So fleets away the glory of Justinian, said theangel. The tumultuous streets, the smouldering palaces, thesacrilegious host of the Crus
. A child's book of warriors . held amagnificent sarcophagus broken open. It containeda sovereign of bygone time—embalmed, crowned,clothed in imperial purple. The body was draggedforth and held erect amid peals of ribald laughter,and Justinian recognised that it was himself. Thecrown was snatched from the hoary head; the jewelsplucked from neck and arms. The rich robes wererent away. Naked as he was born into the world,the emperor was flung aside for the dogs. So fleets away the glory of Justinian, said theangel. The tumultuous streets, the smouldering palaces, thesacrilegious host of the Crusaders vanished like mist. Now behold the destiny of thy basilica! I will not look! I will not look! sobbedJustinian, covering his eyes with his hands. Ihave sinned; I have sinned; but that I built withpure heart and clean hands, if anything be pure andclean in Thy sight. Thou knowest that I did notglory till the work was done! He hath forgotten me, remembering God,thought the angel, and melted silently into themoonlight. 3 H. The Guardians of Rome Thus, said the Abbot Finnian, having kissedthe hallowed earth of our Lords country for the lasttime, we repaired to Joppa, and took ship for I come to the strangest part of my have visited the Holy Places, and many willvisit them in days to come; but what I saw in Rome,that sacred city of the martyrs, eyes never lookedon before; and never, I think, will the like be seenagain. The abbot sat on the steps of the cross upon thegreen knoll. The brethren, grouped about him onthe grass, drew still closer to listen. The red andyellow leaves fluttered softly down on the little bee-hive huts of stone in the clearing. On the bluelough lay the warm light of the autumn sun, drowsingtowards eventide. How we fared on the windy sea-ways, said theabbot, there is little need to tell. At Syracuse, 115 A Childs Book of Warriors where doubtless we landed on the very stones troddenby Paul the Blessed, we learned that Rome was sorebele
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