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Eumolpus drew forth his blade; Lydon still made an effort to regain his balance his sword left his grasp he struck mechanically at the gladiator with his naked hand and fell prostrate on the arena. With one accord, ædile and assembly made the signal of mercy; the officers of the arena approached, they took off the helmet of the vanquished.
I see thou art a man of merit and virtue; give me thy hand, my hero! 'Jolly old Burbo! cried the gladiators, applauding, 'staunch to the backbone. Give him thy hand, Lydon. 'Oh, to be sure, said the gladiator: 'but now I have tasted his blood, I long to lap the whole. 'By Hercules! returned the host, quite unmoved, 'that is the true gladiator feeling.
'Fair play! cried the gladiators: 'one to one'; and, crowding round Lydon and the woman, they separated our pleasing host from his courteous guest. But Lydon, feeling ashamed at his present position, and endeavoring in vain to shake off the grasp of the virago, slipped his hand into his girdle, and drew forth a short knife.
'Well! said Lydon, turning away, 'I thank the gods that it is not the lion or the tiger I am to contend with; even you, Niger, are a gentler combatant than they. 'But equally dangerous, said the gladiator, with a fierce laugh; and the bystanders, admiring his vast limbs and ferocious countenance, laughed too.
There were now on the arena six combatants: Niger and his net, matched against Sporus with his shield and his short broadsword; Lydon and Tetraides, naked save by a cincture round the waist, each armed only with a heavy Greek cestus and two gladiators from Rome, clad in complete steel, and evenly matched with immense bucklers and pointed swords.
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