Etruscanprophecywhichsaith，\"Whenthemountainopens，thecityshallfall——whenthesmokecrownstheHilloftheParchedFields，thereshallbewoeandweepinginthehearthsoftheChildrenoftheSea。\"Dreadmaster，ereIleavethesewallsforsomemoredistantdwelling，Icometothee。Asthoulivest，knowIinmyheartthattheearthquakethatsixteenyearsagoshookthiscitytoitssolidbase，wasbuttheforerunnerofmoredeadlydoom。ThewallsofPompeiiarebuiltabovethefieldsoftheDead，andtheriversofthesleeplessHell。Bewarnedandfly！’
’Witch，Ithanktheeforthycareofonenotungrateful。Onyontablestandsacupofgold；takeit，itisthine。Idreamtnotthattherelivedone，outofthepriesthoodofIsis，whowouldhavesavedArbacesfromdestruction。Thesignsthouhastseeninthebedoftheextinctvolcano，’
continuedtheEgyptian，musingly，’surelytellofsomecomingdangertothecity；perhapsanotherearthquake——fiercerthanthelast。Bethatasitmay，thereisanewreasonformyhasteningfromthesewalls。AfterthisdayI
willpreparemydeparture。DaughterofEtruria，whitherwendestthou？’
’IshallcrossovertoHerculaneumthisday，and，wanderingthencealongthecoast，shallseekoutanewhome。Iamfriendless：mytwocompanions，thefoxandthesnake，aredead。GreatHermes，thouhastpromisedmetwentyadditionalyearsoflife！’
’Aye，’saidtheEgyptian，’Ihavepromisedthee。But，woman，’headded，liftinghimselfuponhisarm，andgazingcuriouslyonherface，’tellme，I
praythee，whereforethouwishesttolive？Whatsweetsdostthoudiscoverinexistence？’
’Itisnotlifethatissweet，butdeaththatisawful，’repliedthehag，inasharp，impressivetone，thatstruckforciblyupontheheartofthevainstar—seer。Hewincedatthetruthofthereply；andnolongeranxioustoretainsouninvitingacompanion，hesaid，’Timewanes；Imustprepareforthesolemnspectacleofthisday。Sister，farewell！enjoythyselfasthoucanstovertheashesoflife。’
Thehag，whohadplacedthecostlygiftofArbacesintheloosefoldsofhervest，nowrosetodepart。Whenshehadgainedthedoorshepaused，turnedback，andsaid，’Thismaybethelasttimewemeetonearth；butwhitherflieththeflamewhenitleavestheashes？——Wanderingtoandfro，upanddown，asanexhalationonthemorass，theflamemaybeseeninthemarshesofthelakebelow；andthewitchandtheMagian，thepupilandthemaster，thegreatoneandtheaccursedone，maymeetagain。Farewell！’
’Out，croaker！’mutteredArbaces，asthedoorclosedonthehag’statteredrobes；and，impatientofhisownthoughts，notyetrecoveredfromthepastdream，hehastilysummonedhisslaves。
Itwasthecustomtoattendtheceremonialsoftheamphitheatreinfestiverobes，andArbacesarrayedhimselfthatdaywithmorethanusualcare。Histunicwasofthemostdazzlingwhite：hismanyfibulaewereformedfromthemostpreciousstones：overhistunicflowedalooseeasternrobe，half—gown，half—mantle，glowingintherichesthuesoftheTyriandye；andthesandals，thatreachedhalfwayuptheknee，werestuddedwithgems，andinlaidwithgold。Inthequackeriesthatbelongedtohispriestlygenius，Arbacesneverneglected，ongreatoccasions，theartswhichdazzleandimposeuponthevulgar；andonthisday，thatwasforevertoreleasehim，bythesacrificeofGlaucus，fromthefearofarivalandthechanceofdetection，hefeltthathewasarrayinghimselfasforatriumphoranuptialfeast。
Itwascustomaryformenofranktobeaccompaniedtotheshowsoftheamphitheatrebyaprocessionoftheirslavesandfreedmen；andthelong’family’ofArbaceswerealreadyarrangedinorder，toattendthelitteroftheirlord。
Only，totheirgreatchagrin，theslavesinattendanceonIone，andtheworthySosia，asgaolertoNydia，werecondemnedtoremainathome。
’Callias，’saidArbaces，aparttohisfreedman，whowasbucklingonhisgirdle，’IamwearyofPompeii；Iproposetoquititinthreedays，shouldthewindfavor。ThouknowestthevesselthatliesintheharborwhichbelongedtoNarses，ofAlexandria；Ihavepurchaseditofhim。Thedayaftertomorrowweshallbegintoremovemystores。’
’Sosoon！’Tiswell。Arbacesshallbeobeyed——andhisward，Ione？’
’Accompaniesme。Enough！——Isthemorningfair？’
’Dimandoppressive；itwillprobablybeintenselyhotintheforenoon。’
’Thepoorgladiators，andmorewretchedcriminals！Descend，andseethattheslavesaremarshalled。’
Leftalone，Arbacessteppedintohischamberofstudy，andthenceupontheporticowithout。Hesawthedensemassesofmenpouringfastintotheamphitheatre，andheardthecryoftheassistants，andthecrackingofthecordage，astheywerestrainingaloftthehugeawningunderwhichthecitizens，molestedbynodiscomfortingray，weretobehold，atluxuriousease，theagoniesoftheirfellowcreatures。Suddenlyawildstrangesoundwentforth，andassuddenlydiedaway——itwastheroarofthelion。Therewasasilenceinthedistantcrowd；butthesilencewasfollowedbyjoyouslaughter——theyweremakingmerryatthehungryimpatienceoftheroyalbeast。
’Brutes！’mutteredthedisdainfulArbacesareyelesshomicidesthanIam？
Islaybutinself—defence——yemakemurderpastime。’
Heturnedwitharestlessandcuriouseye，towardsVesuvius。Beautifullyglowedthegreenvineyardsrounditsbreast，andtranquilaseternitylayinthebreathlessskiestheformofthemightyhill。
’Wehavetimeyet，iftheearthquakebenursing，’thoughtArbaces；andheturnedfromthespot。HepassedbythetablewhichborehismysticscrollsandChaldeancalculations。
’Augustart！’hethought，’IhavenotconsultedthydecreessinceIpassedthedangerandthecrisistheyforetold。Whatmatter？——Iknowthathenceforthallinmypathisbrightandsmooth。Havenoteventsalreadyprovedit？Away，doubt——away，pity！ReflectOmyheart——reflect，forthefuture，buttwoimages——EmpireandIone！’
ChapterII
THEAMPHITHEATRE。
NYDIA，assuredbytheaccountofSosia，onhisreturnhome，andsatisfiedthatherletterwasinthehandsofSallust，gaveherselfuponcemoretohope。Sallustwouldsurelylosenotimeinseekingthepraetor——incomingtothehouseoftheEgyptian——inreleasingher——inbreakingtheprisonofCalenus。ThatverynightGlaucuswouldbefree。Alas！thenightpassed——thedawnbroke；sheheardnothingbutthehurriedfootstepsoftheslavesalongthehallandperistyle，andtheirvoicesinpreparationfortheshow。By—and—by，thecommandingvoiceofArbacesbrokeonherear——aflourishofmusicrungoutcheerily：thelongprocessionweresweepingtotheamphitheatretogluttheireyesonthedeath—pangsoftheAthenian！
TheprocessionofArbacesmovedalongslowly，andwithmuchsolemnitytillnow，arrivingattheplacewhereitwasnecessaryforsuchascameinlittersorchariotstoalight，Arbacesdescendedfromhisvehicle，andproceededtotheentrancebywhichthemoredistinguishedspectatorswereadmitted。Hisslaves，minglingwiththehumblercrowd，werestationedbyofficerswhoreceivedtheirtickets（notmuchunlikeourmodernOperaones），inplacesinthepopularia（theseatsapportionedtothevulgar）。Andnow，fromthespotwhereArbacessat，hiseyesscannedthemightyandimpatientcrowdthatfilledthestupendoustheatre。
Ontheuppertier（butapartfromthemalespectators）satwomen，theirgaydressesresemblingsomegaudyflower—bed；itisneedlesstoaddthattheywerethemosttalkativepartoftheassembly；andmanywerethelooksdirecteduptothem，especiallyfromthebenchesappropriatedtotheyoungandtheunmarriedmen。Onthelowerseatsroundthearenasatthemorehigh—bornandwealthyvisitors——themagistratesandthoseofsenatorialorequestriandignity；thepassageswhich，bycorridorsattherightandleft，gaveaccesstotheseseats，ateitherendoftheovalarena，werealsotheentrancesforthecombatants。Strongpalingsatthesepassagespreventedanyunwelcomeeccentricityinthemovementsofthebeasts，andconfinedthemtotheirappointedprey。Aroundtheparapetwhichwasraisedabovethearena，andfromwhichtheseatsgraduallyrose，weregladiatorialinscriptions，andpaintingswroughtinfresco，typicaloftheentertainmentsforwhichtheplacewasdesigned。Throughoutthewholebuildingwoundinvisiblepipes，fromwhich，asthedayadvanced，coolingandfragrantshowersweretobesprinkledoverthespectators。Theofficersoftheamphitheatrewerestillemployedinthetaskoffixingthevastawning（orvelaria）whichcoveredthewhole，andwhichluxuriousinventiontheCampaniansarrogatedtothemselves：itwaswovenofthewhitestApulianwool，andvariegatedwithbroadstripesofcrimson。Owingeithertosomeinexperienceonthepartoftheworkmen，ortosomedefectinthemachinery，theawning，however，wasnotarrangedthatdaysohappilyasusual；indeed，fromtheimmensespaceofthecircumference，thetaskwasalwaysoneofgreatdifficultyandart——somuchso，thatitcouldseldombeadventuredinroughorwindyweather。Butthepresentdaywassoremarkablystillthatthereseemedtothespectatorsnoexcusefortheawkwardnessoftheartificers；andwhenalargegapinthebackoftheawningwasstillvisible，fromtheobstinaterefusalofonepartofthevelariatoallyitselfwiththerest，themurmursofdiscontentwereloudandgeneral。
TheaedilePansa，atwhoseexpensetheexhibitionwasgiven，lookedparticularlyannoyedatthedefect，and，vowedbittervengeanceontheheadofthechiefofficeroftheshow，who，fretting，puffing，perspiring，busiedhimselfinidleordersandunavailingthreats。
Thehubbubceasedsuddenly——theoperatorsdesisted——thecrowdwerestilled——thegapwasforgotten——fornow，withaloudandwarlikeflourishoftrumpets，thegladiators，marshalledinceremoniousprocession，enteredthearena。Theysweptroundtheovalspaceveryslowlyanddeliberately，inordertogivethespectatorsfullleisuretoadmiretheirsternserenityoffeature——theirbrawnylimbsandvariousarms，aswellastoformsuchwagersastheexcitementofthemomentmightsuggest。
’Oh！’criedthewidowFulviatothewifeofPansa，astheyleaneddownfromtheirloftybench，’doyouseethatgiganticgladiator？howdrollyheisdressed！’
’Yes，’saidtheaedile’swife，withcomplacentimportance，forsheknewallthenamesandqualitiesofeachcombatant；’heisaretiariusornetter；heisarmedonly，yousee，withathree—prongedspearlikeatrident，andanet；hewearsnoarmor，onlythefilletandthetunic。Heisamightyman，andistofightwithSporus，yonthick—setgladiator，withtheroundshieldanddrawnsword，butwithoutbodyarmor；hehasnothishelmetonnow，inorderthatyoumayseehisface——howfearlessitis！——by—and—byhewillfightwithhisvizordown。’
’Butsurelyanetandaspeararepoorarmsagainstashieldandsword？’
’Thatshowshowinnocentyouare，mydearFulvia；theretiariushasgenerallythebestofit。’
’Butwhoisyonhandsomegladiator，nearlynaked——isitnotquiteimproper？
ByVenus！buthislimbsarebeautifullyshaped！’
’ItisLydon，ayounguntriedman！hehastherashnesstofightyonothergladiatorsimilarlydressed，orratherundressed——Tetraides。TheyfightfirstintheGreekfashion，withthecestus；afterwardstheyputonarmor，andtryswordandshield。’
’Heisaproperman，thisLydon；andthewomen，Iamsure，areonhisside。’
’Soarenottheexperiencedbetters；Clodiusoffersthreetooneagainsthim！’
’Oh，Jove！howbeautiful！’exclaimedthewidow，astwogladiators，armedcap—a—pie，roderoundthearenaonlightandprancingsteeds。Resemblingmuchthecombatantsinthetiltsofthemiddleage，theyborelancesandroundshieldsbeautifullyinlaid：theirarmorwaswovenintricatelywithbandsofiron，butitcoveredonlythethighsandtherightarms；shortcloaks，extendingtotheseat，gaveapicturesqueandgracefulairtotheircostume；theirlegswerenaked，withtheexceptionofsandals，whichwerefastenedalittleabovetheankle。’Oh，beautiful！Whoarethese？’askedthewidow。
’TheoneisnamedBerbix——hehasconqueredtwelvetimes；theotherassumesthearrogantnameofNobilior。TheyarebothGauls。’
Whilethusconversing，thefirstformalitiesoftheshowwereover。Tothesesucceededafeignedcombatwithwoodenswordsbetweenthevariousgladiatorsmatchedagainsteachother。Amongstthese，theskilloftwoRomangladiators，hiredfortheoccasion，wasthemostadmired；andnexttothemthemostgracefulcombatantwasLydon。Thisshamcontestdidnotlastaboveanhour，nordiditattractanyverylivelyinterest，exceptamongthoseconnoisseursofthearenatowhomartwaspreferabletomorecoarseexcitement；thebodyofthespectatorswererejoicedwhenitwasover，andwhenthesympathyrosetoterror。Thecombatantswerenowarrangedinpairs，asagreedbeforehand；theirweaponsexamined；andthegravesportsofthedaycommencedamidstthedeepestsilence——brokenonlybyanexcitingandpreliminaryblastofwarlikemusic。
Itwasoftencustomarytobeginthesportsbythemostcruelofall，andsomebestiarius，orgladiatorappointedtothebeasts，wasslainfirst，asaninitiatorysacrifice。Butinthepresentinstance，theexperiencedPansathoughtitbetterthatthesanguinarydramashouldadvance，notdecrease，ininterestand，accordingly，theexecutionofOlinthusandGlaucuswasreservedforthelast。Itwasarrangedthatthetwohorsemenshouldfirstoccupythearena；thatthefootgladiators，pairedOff，shouldthenbeloosedindiscriminatelyonthestage；thatGlaucusandthelionshouldnextperformtheirpartinthebloodyspectacle；andthetigerandtheNazarenebethegrandfinale。And，inthespectaclesofPompeii，thereaderofRomanhistorymustlimithisimagination，norexpecttofindthosevastandwholesaleexhibitionsofmagnificentslaughterwithwhichaNerooraCaligularegaledtheinhabitantsoftheImperialCity。TheRomanshows，whichabsorbedthemorecelebratedgladiators，andthechiefproportionofforeignbeasts，wereindeedtheveryreasonwhy，inthelessertownsoftheempire，thesportsoftheamphitheatrewerecomparativelyhumaneandrare；
andinthis，asinotherrespects，Pompeiiwasbuttheminiature，themicrocosmofRome。Still，itwasanawfulandimposingspectacle，withwhichmoderntimeshave，happily，nothingtocompare——avasttheatre，risingrowuponrow，andswarmingwithhumanbeings，fromfifteentoeighteenthousandinnumber，intentuponnofictitiousrepresentation——notragedyofthestage——buttheactualvictoryordefeat，theexultantlifeorthebloodydeath，ofeachandallwhoenteredthearena！
Thetwohorsemenwerenowateitherextremityofthelists（ifsotheymightbecalled）；and，atagivensignalfromPansa，thecombatantsstartedsimultaneouslyasinfullcollision，eachadvancinghisroundbuckler，eachpoisingonhighhislightyetsturdyjavelin；butjustwhenwithinthreepacesofhisopponent，thesteedofBerbixsuddenlyhalted，wheeledround，and，asNobiliorwasbornerapidlyby，hisantagonistspurreduponhim。ThebucklerofNobilior，quicklyandskillfullyextended，receivedablowwhichotherwisewouldhavebeenfatal。
’Welldone，Nobilior！’criedthepraetor，givingthefirstventtothepopularexcitement。
’Bravelystruck，myBerbix！’answeredClodiusfromhisseat。
Andthewildmurmur，swelledbymanyashout，echoedfromsidetoside。
Thevizorsofboththehorsemenwerecompletelyclosed（likethoseoftheknightsinaftertimes），buttheheadwas，nevertheless，thegreatpointofassault；andNobilior，nowwheelinghischargerwithnolessadroitnessthanhisopponent，directedhisspearfullonthehelmetofhisfoe。Berbixraisedhisbucklertoshieldhimself，andhisquick—eyedantagonist，suddenlyloweringhisweapon，piercedhimthroughthebreast。Berbixreeledandfell。
’Nobilior！Nobilior！’shoutedthepopulace。
’Ihavelosttensestertia，’saidClodius，betweenhisteeth。
’Habet！——hehasit，’saidPansa，deliberately。
Thepopulace，notyethardenedintocruelty，madethesignalofmercy；butastheattendantsofthearenaapproached，theyfoundthekindnesscametoolate——theheartoftheGaulhadbeenpierced，andhiseyesweresetindeath。Itwashislife’sbloodthatflowedsodarklyoverthesandandsawdustofthearena。
’Itisapityitwassosoonover——therewaslittleenoughforone’strouble，’saidthewidowFulvia。
’Yes——IhavenocompassionforBerbix。AnyonemighthaveseenthatNobiliordidbutfeint。Mark，theyfixthefatalhooktothebody——theydraghimawaytothespoliarium——theyscatternewsandoverthestage！
Pansaregretsnothingmorethanthatheisnotrichenoughtostrewthearenawithboraxandcinnabar，asNerousedtodo。’
’Well，ifithasbeenabriefbattle，itisquicklysucceeded。SeemyhandsomeLydononthearena——ay——andthenet—bearertoo，andtheswordsmen！
oh，charming！’
Therewerenowonthearenasixcombatants：Nigerandhisnet，matchedagainstSporuswithhisshieldandhisshortbroadsword；LydonandTetraides，nakedsavebyacinctureroundthewaist，eacharmedonlywithaheavyGreekcestus——andtwogladiatorsfromRome，cladincompletesteel，andevenlymatchedwithimmensebucklersandpointedswords。
TheinitiatorycontestbetweenLydonandTetraidesbeinglessdeadlythanthatbetweentheothercombatants，nosoonerhadtheyadvancedtothemiddleofthearenathan，asbycommonconsent，therestheldback，toseehowthatcontestshouldbedecided，andwaittillfiercerweaponsmightreplacethecestus，eretheythemselvescommencedhostilities。Theystoodleaningontheirarmsandapartfromeachother，gazingontheshow，which，ifnotbloodyenough，thoroughlytopleasethepopulace，theywerestillinclinedtoadmire，becauseitsoriginwasoftheirancestralGreece。
Nopersoncould，atfirstglance，haveseemedlessevenlymatchedthanthetwoantagonists。Tetraides，thoughnottallerthanLydon，weighedconsiderablymore；thenaturalsizeofhismuscleswasincreased，totheeyesofthevulgar，bymassesofsolidflesh；for，asitwasanotionthatthecontestofthecestusfaredeasiestwithhimwhowasplumpest，Tetraideshadencouragedtotheutmosthishereditarypredispositiontotheportly。
Hisshoulderswerevast，andhislowerlimbsthick—set，double—jointed，andslightlycurvedoutward，inthatformationwhichtakessomuchfrombeautytogivesolargelytostrength。ButLydon，exceptthathewasslenderevenalmosttomeagreness，wasbeautifullyanddelicatelyproportioned；andtheskilfulmighthaveperceivedthat，withmuchlesscompassofmusclethanhisfoe，thatwhichhehadwasmoreseasoned——ironandcompact。Inproportion，too，ashewantedflesh，hewaslikelytopossessactivity；andahaughtysmileonhisresolutefacewhichstronglycontrastedthesolidheavinessofhisenemy’s，gaveassurancetothosewhobeheldit，andunitedtheirhopetotheirpity：sothat，despitethedisparityoftheirseemingstrength，thecryofthemultitudewasnearlyasloudforLydonasforTetraides。
Whoeverisacquaintedwiththemodernprize—ring——whoeverhaswitnessedtheheavyanddisablingstrokeswhichthehumanfist，skillfullydirected，haththepowertobestow——mayeasilyunderstandhowmuchthathappyfacilitywouldbeincreasedbyabandcarriedbythongsofleatherroundthearmashighastheelbow，andterriblystrengthenedabouttheknucklesbyaplateofiron，andsometimesaplummetoflead。Yetthis，whichwasmeanttoincrease，perhapsratherdiminished，theinterestofthefray：foritnecessarilyshorteneditsduration。Averyfewblows，successfullyandscientificallyplanted，mightsufficetobringthecontesttoaclose；andthebattledidnot，therefore，oftenallowfullscopefortheenergy，fortitudeanddoggedperseverance，thatwetechnicallystylepluck，whichnotunusuallywinsthedayagainstsuperiorscience，andwhichheightenstosopainfuladelighttheinterestinthebattleandthesympathyforthebrave。
’Guardthyself！’growledTetraides，movingnearerandnearertohisfoe，whorathershiftedroundhimthanreceded。
Lydondidnotanswer，savebyascornfulglanceofhisquick，vigilanteye。
Tetraidesstruck——itwasastheblowofasmithonavice；Lydonsanksuddenlyononeknee——theblowpassedoverhishead。NotsoharmlesswasLydon’sretaliation：hequicklysprungtohisfeet，andaimedhiscestusfullonthebroadbreastofhisantagonist。Tetraidesreeled——thepopulaceshouted。
’Youareunluckyto—day，’saidLepidustoClodius：’youhavelostonebet————youwillloseanother。’
’Bythegods！mybronzesgototheauctioneerifthatisthecase。IhavenolessthanahundredsestertiauponTetraides。Ha，ha！seehowherallies！
Thatwasahomestroke：hehascutopenLydon’sshoulder。ATetraides！——aTetraides！’
’ButLydonisnotdisheartened。ByPollux！howwellhekeepshistemper。
Seehowdexterouslyheavoidsthosehammer—likehands！——dodgingnowhere，nowthere——circlingroundandround。Ah，poorLydon！hehasitagain。’
’ThreetoonestillonTetraides！Whatsayyou，Lepidus？’
’Well，ninesestertiatothree——beitso！What！again，Lydon？Hestops——hegaspsforbreath。Bythegods，heisdown。No——heisagainonhislegs。
BraveLydon！Tetraidesisencouraged——helaughsloud——herushesonhim。’
’Fool——successblindshim——heshouldbecautious。Lydon’seyeislikethelynx’s，’saidClodius，betweenhisteeth。
’Ha，Clodius！sawyouthat？Yourmantotters！Anotherblow——hefalls——hefalls！’
’Earthreviveshim，then。Heisoncemoreup；butthebloodrollsdownhisface。’
’Bythethunderer！Lydonwinsit。Seehowhepressesonhim！Thatblowonthetemplewouldhavecrushedanox！ithascrushedTetraides。Hefallsagain——hecannotmove——habet！——habet！’
’Habet！’repeatedPansa。’Takethemoutandgivethemthearmorandswords。’
’Nobleeditor，’saidtheofficers，’wefearthatTetraideswillnotrecoverintime；howbeit，wewilltry。’
’Doso。’
Inafewminutestheofficers，whohaddraggedoffthestunnedandinsensiblegladiator，returnedwithruefulcountenances。Theyfearedforhislife；hewasutterlyincapacitatedfromre—enteringthearena。
’Inthatcase，’saidPansa，’holdLydonasubdititius；andthefirstgladiatorthatisvanquished，letLydonsupplyhisplacewiththevictor。’
Thepeopleshoutedtheirapplauseatthissentence：thentheyagainsunkintodeepsilence。Thetrumpetsoundedloudly。Thefourcombatantsstoodeachagainsteachinpreparedandsternarray。
’DostthourecognizetheRomans，myClodius；aretheyamongthecelebrated，oraretheymerelyordinary？’
’Eumolpusisagoodsecond—rateswordsman，myLepidus。Nepimus，thelesserman，Ihaveneverseenbefore：butheisthesonofoneoftheimperialfiscales，andbroughtupinaproperschool；doubtlesstheywillshowsport，butIhavenoheartforthegame；Icannotwinbackmymoney——Iamundone。
CursesonthatLydon！whocouldhavesupposedhewassodexterousorsolucky？’
’Well，Clodius，shallItakecompassiononyou，andacceptyourowntermswiththeseRomans？’
’AneventensestertiaonEumolpus，then？’
’What！whenNepimusisuntried？Nay，nay；thatistobad。’
’Well——tentoeight？’
’Agreed。’
Whilethecontestintheamphitheatrehadthuscommenced，therewasoneintheloftierbenchesforwhomithadassumed，indeed，apoignant——astiflinginterest。TheagedfatherofLydon，despitehisChristianhorrorofthespectacle，inhisagonizedanxietyforhisson，hadnotbeenabletoresistbeingthespectatorofhisfate。Oneamidstafiercecrowdofstrangers——thelowestrabbleofthepopulace——theoldmansaw，feltnothing，buttheform——thepresenceofhisbraveson！Notasoundhadescapedhislipswhentwicehehadseenhimfalltotheearth——onlyhehadturnedpaler，andhislimbstrembled。Buthehadutteredonelowcrywhenhesawhimvictorious；
unconscious，alas！ofthemorefearfulbattletowhichthatvictorywasbutaprelude。
’Mygallantboy！’saidhe，andwipedhiseyes。
’IshethysonsaidabrawnyfellowtotherightoftheNazarene；’hehasfoughtwell：letusseehowhedoesby—and—by。Hark！heistofightthefirstvictor。Now，oldboy，praythegodsthatthatvictorbeneitheroftheRomans！nor，nexttothem，thegiantNiger。’
Theoldmansatdownagainandcoveredhisface。Thefrayforthemomentwasindifferenttohim——Lydonwasnotoneofthecombatants。Yet——yet——thethoughtflashedacrosshim——thefraywasindeedofdeadlyinterest——thefirstwhofellwastomakewayforLydon！Hestarted，andbentdown，withstrainingeyesandclaspedhands，toviewtheencounter。
ThefirstinterestwasattractedtowardsthecombatofNigerwithSporus；
forthisspeciesofcontest，fromthefatalresultwhichusuallyattendedit，andfromthegreatscienceitrequiredineitherantagonist，wasalwayspeculiarlyinvitingtothespectators。
Theystoodataconsiderabledistancefromeachother。ThesingularhelmetwhichSporuswore（thevizorofwhichwasdown）concealedhisface；butthefeaturesofNigerattractedafearfulanduniversalinterestfromtheircompressedandvigilantferocity。Thustheystoodforsomemoments，eacheyeingeach，untilSporusbeganslowly，andwithgreatcaution，toadvance，holdinghisswordpointed，likeamodernfencer’s，atthebreastofhisfoe。
Nigerretreatedashisantagonistadvanced，gatheringuphisnetwithhisrighthand，andnevertakinghissmallglitteringeyefromthemovementsoftheswordsman。SuddenlywhenSporushadapproachednearlyatarm’slength，theretiariusthrewhimselfforward，andcasthisnet。Aquickinflectionofbodysavedthegladiatorfromthedeadlysnare！heutteredasharpcryofjoyandrage，andrusheduponNiger：butNigerhadalreadydrawninhisnet，thrownitacrosshisshoulders，andnowfledroundthelistswithaswiftnesswhichthesecutorinvainendeavoredtoequal。Thepeoplelaughedandshoutedaloud，toseetheineffectualeffortsofthebroad—shoulderedgladiatortoovertaketheflyinggiant：when，atthatmoment，theirattentionwasturnedfromthesetothetwoRomancombatants。