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Updated: September 18, 2025
Horror-struck with this account, he drew forth two poniards, or short swords, tried their edges, and then, in utter imbecility of purpose, returned them to their scabbards, alleging that the destined moment had not yet arrived. Then he called upon Sporus, the infamous partner in his former excesses, to commence the funeral anthem.
'Cease thy gabble, good mistress, and bring us our meat I am hungry, said Sporus, impatiently. 'And I, too, echoed the grim Niger, whetting his knife on the palm of his hand.
He started, and bent down, with straining eyes and clasped hands, to view the encounter. The first interest was attracted toward the combat of Niger with Sporus; for this spectacle of contest, from the fatal result which usually attended it, and from the great science it required in either antagonist, was always peculiarly inviting to the spectators.
Of all his late crowd of courtiers only three friends now remained with him, Sporus, a servant; Phaon, a freedman; and Epaphroditus, his secretary. "'My wife, my father, and my mother doom me dead!" he bitterly cried, quoting a line from a Greek tragedy. With a last hope he bade the soldiers on duty to hasten to Ostia and prepare a ship, on which he might embark for Egypt. The men refused.
XLVIII. But this furious impulse subsiding, he wished for some place of privacy, where he might collect his thoughts; and his freedman Phaon offering him his country-house, between the Salarian and Nomentan roads, about four miles from the city, he mounted a horse, barefoot as he was, and in his tunic, only slipping over it an old soiled cloak; with his head muffled up, and an handkerchief before his face, and four persons only to attend him, of whom Sporus was one.
It was a terribly stormy night, when Nero, accompanied by the boy Sporus, and a few slaves, reached the estate of his freedman Phaon. Phaon did not dare to receive him, but advised him to hide in a clay-pit. But the Emperor did not wish to creep into the earth, but sprang into a pond, when he heard the pursuers approaching, and remained standing in the water.
They had placed themselves at the onset face to face, at the distance of modern fencers from each other; but the extreme caution which both evinced at first had prevented any warmth of engagement, and allowed the spectators full leisure to interest themselves in the battle between Sporus and his foe.
'Never fear, we'll fill the purse, my Hector, said Clodius: 'let me see you fight against Niger? Glaucus, a bet I back Niger. 'I told you so, cried Niger exultingly. 'The noble Clodius knows me; count yourself dead already, my Sporus. Clodius took out his tablet. 'A bet ten sestertia. What say you? 'So be it, said Glaucus. 'But whom have we here?
He is a mighty man, and is to fight with Sporus, yon thick-set gladiator, with the round shield and drawn sword but without body armor; he has not his helmet on now, in order that you may see his face how fearless it is! By-and-by he will fight with his visor down."... While thus conversing, the first formalities of the show were over.
'What story could he tell against me, vain Lydon? said Tetraides, frowning. 'Or me, who have conquered in fifteen fights? said the gigantic Niger, stalking up to the gladiator. 'Or me? grunted Sporus, with eyes of fire. 'Tush! said Lydon, folding his arms, and regarding his rivals with a reckless air of defiance. 'The time of trial will soon come; keep your valor till then.
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