g, boxing, wrestling and throwing the _discus_ or
quoit. Boxers covered their hands with a kind of gloves, which had lead
or iron sewed into them, to make the strokes fall with greater weight;
the combatants were previously trained in a place of exercise, and
restricted to a particular diet.

Third; what was called _venatio_, or the fighting of wild beasts with
one another, or with men, called _bestiarii_, who were either forced to
this by way of punishment, as the primitive christians often were, or
fought voluntarily, either from a natural ferocity of disposition, or
induced by hire. An incredible number of animals of various kinds, were
brought from all quarters, for the entertainment of the people, at an
immense expense; and were kept in enclosures called _vivaria_, till the
day of exhibition. Pompey, in his second consulship, exhibited at once
five hundred lions, and eighteen elephants, who were all despatched in
five days.

Fourth; _naumachia_, or the representation of a sea fight; those who
fought, were usually composed of captives or condemned malefactors, who
fought to death, unless saved by the clemency of the emperors.

In the next class of games were the shows of gladiators; they were first
exhibited at Rome by two brothers called Bruti, at the funeral of their
father, and for some time they were only exhibited on such occasions;
but afterwards, also by the magistrates, to entertain the people,
chiefly at the _saturnalia_ and feasts of Minerva.

Incredible numbers of men were destroyed in this manner; after the
triumph of Trajan over the Dacians, spectacles were exhibited for one
hundred twenty-three days, in which eleven thousand animals, of
different kinds, were killed, and ten thousand gladiators fought, whence
we may judge of other instances. The emperor Claudius, although
naturally of a gentle disposition, is said to have been rendered cruel
by often attending these spectacles.

Gladiators were at first composed of slaves and captives, or of
condemned malefactors, but afterwards also of free born citizens,
induced by hire or inclination.

When any gladiator was wounded, he lowered his arms as a sign of his
being vanquished, but his fate depended on the pleasure of the people,
who, if they wished him to be saved, pressed down their thumbs; if to be
slain, they turned them up, and ordered him to receive the sword, which
gladiators usually submitted to with amazing fortitude.

Such was the spirit e