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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....

Ha, ha! see how he rallies! That was a home stroke: he has cut open Lydon's shoulder. A Tetraides! a Tetraides!" "But Lydon is not disheartened. By Pollux! how well he keeps his temper! See how dextrously he avoids those hammer-like hands! dodging now here, now there circling round and round. Ah, poor Lydon! he has it again." "Three to one still on Tetraides! What say you, Lepidus?"

'Well, man, what is your weapon? said Clodius, tablet in hand. 'We are to fight first with the cestus; afterwards, if both survive, with swords, returned Tetraides, sharply, and with an envious scowl. 'With the cestus! cried Glaucus; 'there you are wrong, Lydon; the cestus is the Greek fashion: I know it well.

Another blow he falls he falls!" "Earth revives him then. He is once more up; but the blood rolls down his face." "By the Thunderer! Lydon wins it. See how he presses on him! That blow on the temple would have crushed an ox! it has crushed Tetraides. He falls again he cannot move habet! habet!" "Habet!" repeated Pansa. "Take them out and give them the armor and swords." ...

Ha, ha! see how he rallies! That was a home stroke: he has cut open Lydon's shoulder. A Tetraides! a Tetraides! 'But Lydon is not disheartened. By Pollux! how well he keeps his temper. See how dexterously he avoids those hammer-like hands! dodging now here, now there circling round and round. Ah, poor Lydon! he has it again. 'Three to one still on Tetraides! What say you, Lepidus?

Tetraides, though not taller than Lydon, weighed considerably more; the natural size of his muscles was increased, to the eyes of the vulgar, by masses of solid flesh; for, as it was a notion that the contest of the cestus fared easiest with him who was plumpest, Tetraides had encouraged to the utmost his hereditary predisposition to the portly.

'Noble editor, said the officers, 'we fear that Tetraides will not recover in time; howbeit, we will try. 'Do so. In a few minutes the officers, who had dragged off the stunned and insensible gladiator, returned with rueful countenances. They feared for his life; he was utterly incapacitated from re-entering the arena.

In proportion, too, as he wanted flesh, he was likely to possess activity; and a haughty smile on his resolute face, which strongly contrasted with the solid heaviness of his enemy's, gave assurance to those who beheld it and united their hope to their pity; so that despite the disparity of their seeming strength, the cry of the multitude was nearly as loud for Lydon as for Tetraides.

Tetraides, tho no taller than Lydon, weighed considerably more; the natural size of his muscles was increased, to the eyes of the vulgar, by masses of solid flesh; for, as it was a notion that the contest of the cestus fared easiest with him who was plumpest, Tetraides had encouraged to the utmost his hereditary predisposition to the portly.

The initiatory contest between Lydon and Tetraides being less deadly than that between the other combatants, no sooner had they advanced to the middle of the arena than as by common consent the rest held back, to see how that contest should be decided, and wait till fiercer weapons might replace the cestus ere they themselves commenced hostilities.