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Updated: July 18, 2025
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.
But Lydon, except that he was slender even almost to meagerness, was beautifully and delicately proportioned; and the skilful might have perceived that with much less compass of muscle than his foe, that which he had was more seasoned iron and compact.
To these succeeded a feigned combat with wooden swords between the various gladiators matched against each other. Among these the skill of two Roman gladiators, hired for the occasion, was the most admired; and next to them the most graceful combatant was Lydon.
Eumolpus had at first won their favor; but the gallantry of Lydon, and his well-timed allusion to the honour of the Pompeian lanista, had afterwards given the latter the preference in their eyes. 'Holla, old fellow! said Medon's neighbor to him. 'Your son is hardly matched; but never fear, the editor will not permit him to be slain no, nor the people neither; he has behaved too bravely for that.
'That shows how innocent you are, my dear Fulvia; the retiarius has generally the best of it. 'But who is yon handsome gladiator, nearly naked is it not quite improper? By Venus! but his limbs are beautifully shaped! 'It is Lydon, a young untried man! he has the rashness to fight yon other gladiator similarly dressed, or rather undressed Tetraides.
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, editor and assembly made the signal of mercy the officers of the arena approached they took off the helmet of the vanquished.
Yet yet the thought flashed across him the fray was indeed of deadly interest the first who fell was to make way for Lydon! He started, and bent down, with straining eyes and clasped hands, to view the encounter.
And then we brought you home hither, after it had got late enough to carry you through the streets, without making an uproar; and then Lydon and Chærea put you to bed; and I, and Geta, and Ardaric, as for us, we got drunk, seeing there was no more work to do last night, and not knowing what might be to do, to-day. And so it is all well, very well, as I see it."
'Thank you, returned Sosia, gravely taking the compliment to himself. However strong the purer motives of Lydon, and certain though it be that he would never have entered so bloody a calling but from the hope of obtaining his father's freedom, he was not altogether unmoved by the notice he excited.
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.
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