They told of the king of promise--that he would bring to men the gift of immortal life, that the heavens would declare his authority.

Superstitious to the blood and bone, not a few were thrilled by the message.
The minds of thinking men were sad, fearful, and beset with curiosity.
"If there be no gods," they were wont to ask, "have we any hope and responsibility ?" They studied the philosophers Plato, Aristotle, Zeno, Epicurus, and were unsatisfied.
The nations were at peace, but not the souls of men.

A universal and mighty war of the spirit was near at hand.

The skirmishers were busy--patrician and plebeian, master and slave, oppressor and oppressed.

Soon all were to see the line of battle, the immortal captains, the children of darkness, the children of light, the beginning of a great revolution.
Rome was like a weary child whose toys are gods and men, and who, being weary of them, has yet a curiosity in their destruction..