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There was some delay: the impatient Hector cursed and knocked again, and in a little while the door was opened. Hector entered swearing, hurried up stairs, bad me follow him, dashed open the door, and a young lady, in a sky-blue riding-habit, with embroidered button-holes, a nosegay in her bosom, and a purple cestus round her waist leaped into his arms! I stood in a trance! It was she herself!
Even boxing with the cestus was less esteemed than the other athletic exercises, and was excluded from the games exhibited by Alexander in his Asiatic invasions . Neither did any of those haughty assumptions of lineage or knightly blood, which characterize the feudal tournament, distinguish between Greek and Greek.
You should have encouraged flesh for that contest: you are far too thin for it avoid the cestus. 'I cannot, said Lydon. 'And why? 'I have said because he has challenged me. 'But he will not hold you to the precise weapon. 'My honour holds me! returned Lydon, proudly. 'I bet on Tetraides, two to one, at the cestus, said Clodius; shall it be, Lepidus? even betting, with swords.
Why, the man was transfigured! I wondered he was willing to shake hands with me when I left him; I knew before that his hands were brown and big and dirty, and mine were little and white and soap-scented; but I thought afterwards I'd as lief have been Peter as myself just then, and I think so still. Wherefore, young ladies all, learn from this that the true cestus, fabled No!
The wrestlers, too, do the same when they are training; and the boxers, when they aim a blow with the cestus at their adversary, give a groan, not because they are in pain, or from a sinking of their spirits, but because their whole body is put upon the stretch by the throwing-out of these groans, and the blow comes the stronger.
Tetraides struck it was as the blow of a smith on a vise; Lydon sank suddenly on one knee the blow passed over his head. Not so harmless was Lydon's retaliation; he quickly sprang to his feet, and aimed his cestus full on the broad chest of his antagonist. Tetraides reeled the populace shouted....
At the moment the ample hand of Professor Warren, bunched into a highly competent fist, flicked across and caught the assailant under the ear. Enderby, alias Livius, fell as if smitten by a cestus. As his arm touched the floor, Average Jones kicked unerringly at the wrist and the knife flew and tinkled in a far corner. Bertram, with a bound, landed on the fallen man's chest and pinned him.
But now, on a sudden, was the flash and ring of hard smitten steel, and behold, Sir Jocelyn's sword sprang from his grasp and thudded to earth a good three yards away; whereupon the three roared amain yet none so loud as Roger. "Now by sweet Cupid his tender bow!" panted Sir Jocelyn "by the cestus of lovely Venus aye, by the ox-eyed Juno, I swear 'twas featly done, Sir Smith!"
That goddess had arrayed herself in all her charms, and to crown all had borrowed of Venus her girdle, called "Cestus," which had the effect to heighten the wearer's charms to such a degree that they were quite irresistible. So prepared, Juno went to join her husband, who sat on Olympus watching the battle.
To the love-feast clearly ringing, Tolls the church-bell far and wide! With that sweetest holiday, Must the May of life depart; With the cestus loosed away Flies illusion from the heart! Yet love lingers lonely, When passion is mute, And the blossoms may only Give way to the fruit. The husband must enter The hostile life, With struggle and strife To plant or to watch.
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