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。