iling threats.

The hubbub ceased suddenly--the operators desisted--the crowd were
stilled--the gap was forgotten--for now, with a loud and warlike
flourish of trumpets, the gladiators, marshaled in ceremonious
procession, entered the arena. They swept round the oval space very
slowly and deliberately, in order to give the spectators full leisure to
admire their stern serenity of feature--their brawny limbs and various
arms, as well as to form such wagers as the excitement of the moment
might suggest.

"Oh!" cried the widow Fulvia to the wife of Pansa, as they leaned down
from their lofty bench, "do you see that gigantic gladiator? how drolly
he is dressed!"

"Yes," said the aedile's wife with complacent importance, for she knew
all the names and qualities of each combatant: "he is a retiarius or
netter; he is armed only, you see, with a three-pronged spear like a
trident, and a net; he wears no armor, only the fillet and the tunic. 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."

"But surely a net and a spear are poor arms against a shield and sword?"

"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. They
fight first in the Greek fashion, with the cestus; afterward they put on
armor, and try sword and shield."

"He is a proper man, this Lydon; and the women, I am sure, are on his
side."

"So are not the experienced bettors: Clodius offers three to one against
him."

"Oh, Jove! how beautiful!" exclaimed the widow, as two gladiators, armed
_cap-a-pie,_ rode round the arena on light and prancing steeds.
Resembling much the combatants in the tilts of the middle age, they
bore lances and round shields beautifully inlaid; their armor was woven
intricately with bands of iron, but it covered only the thighs and the
right arms; short cloaks extending to the seat gave a picturesque and
graceful air to their costume; their legs were naked with the exception
of sandals, which were fastened a little a