acter of Roman soldiers.

"Friends," cried Gallienus, turning to the plebeian multitude, "I am not
about to balk you of your sport."

At a sign from him the legionaries ascended to the seats allotted to the
philosophic portion of the audience, and a torrent of wisdom in their
persons, including that of Leaena, flung forth with the energy of a
catapult, descended abruptly and violently to the earth. They were
instantly seized and dragged into an erect attitude by the remainder of the
soldiery, who, amid the most tempestuous peals of laughter and applause
from the delighted public, thrust swords into their hands, ranged them in
opposite ranks, and summoned them to begin the fight and quit themselves
like men. It was equally ludicrous and pitiable to see the bald, mostly
grey-bearded men, their garments torn in their expulsion and their persons
bruised by the fall, confronting each other with quaking limbs, helplessly
brandishing their weapons or feebly calling their adversaries to come on,
while the soldiers prodded them from behind with spears, and urged them
into the close quarters they so anxiously desired to avoid. Plotinus,
helpless with his bonds and gag, looked on in impotent horror. Gallienus
was often cruel, but could he intend such a revolting massacre? There must
be something behind.

The honour of developing the Emperor's purpose was reserved for Theocles,
who, with admirable presence of mind, had ever since he found he must fight
been engaged in trying to select the weakest antagonist. After hesitating
between the unwieldy chief of the Peripatetics and the feminine Leaena he
fixed on the latter, partly moved, perhaps, by the hope of avenging his
beard. With a martial cry he sprang towards her, and upraised his weapon
for a swashing blow. But he had sadly miscalculated. Leaena was hardly less
versed in the combats of Mars than in those of Venus, having, in fact,
commenced her distinguished career as a camp-follower of the Emperor
Gordian. A tremendous stroke caught him on the hand; his blade dropped to
the earth; why did not the fingers follow? Leaena elucidated the problem by
a still more violent blow on his face; torrents of blood gushed forth
indeed, but only from the nose. The sword doubled up; it had neither point
nor edge. Encouraged by this opportune discovery the philosophers attacked
each other with infinite spirit and valour. Infuriated by the blows given
and received, by the pokings and proddings