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Lydonsighed，shruggedhisshoulders，andremainedsilent。Meanwhilethecommongazerslistenedwithstaringeyesandlipsapart：thegladiatorswereobjectsofinterestaswellasthebeasts——theywereanimalsofthesamespecies；sothecrowdglancedfromonetotheother——themenandthebrutes——whisperingtheircommentsandanticipatingthemorrow。
’Well！’saidLydon，turningaway，’IthankthegodsthatitisnotthelionorthetigerIamtocontendwith；evenyou，Niger，areagentlercombatantthanthey。’
’Butequallydangerous，’saidthegladiator，withafiercelaugh；andthebystanders，admiringhisvastlimbsandferociouscountenance，laughedtoo。
’Thatasitmaybe，’answeredLydon，carelessly，ashepressedthroughthethrongandquittedtheden。
’Imayaswelltakeadvantageofhisshoulders，’thoughttheprudentSosia，hasteningtofollowhim：’thecrowdalwaysgivewaytoagladiator，soI
willkeepclosebehind，andcomeinforashareofhisconsequence。’
ThesonofMedonstrodequicklythroughthemob，manyofwhomrecognizedhisfeaturesandprofession。
’ThatisyoungLydon，abravefellow：hefightsto—morrow，’saidone。
’Ah！Ihaveabetonhim，’saidanother；’seehowfirmlyhewalks！’
’Goodlucktothee，Lydon！’saidathird。
’Lydon，youhavemywishes，’halfwhisperedafourth，smiling（acomelywomanofthemiddleclass）——’andifyouwin，why，youmayhearmoreofme。’
’Ahandsomeman，byVenus！’criedafifth，whowasagirlscarceinherteens。’Thankyou，’returnedSosia，gravelytakingthecomplimenttohimself。
HoweverstrongthepurermotivesofLydon，andcertainthoughitbethathewouldneverhaveenteredsobloodyacallingbutfromthehopeofobtaininghisfather’sfreedom，hewasnotaltogetherunmovedbythenoticeheexcited。Heforgotthatthevoicesnowraisedincommendationmight，onthemorrow，shoutoverhisdeath—pangs。Bynaturefierceandreckless，aswellasgenerousandwarm—hearted，hewasalreadyimbuedwiththeprideofaprofessionthathefanciedhedisdained，andaffectedbytheinfluenceofacompanionshipthatinrealityheloathed。Hesawhimselfnowamanofimportance；hisstepgrewyetlighter，andhismienmoreelate。
’Niger，’saidhe，turningsuddenly，ashehadnowthreadedthecrowd；’wehaveoftenquarrelled；wearenotmatchedagainsteachother，butoneofus，atleast，mayreasonablyexpecttofall——giveusthyhand。’
’Mostreadily，’saidSosia，extendinghispalm。
’Ha！whatfoolisthis？Why，IthoughtNigerwasatmyheels！’
’Iforgivethemistake，’repliedSosia，condescendingly：’don’tmentionit；
theerrorwaseasy——IandNigeraresomewhatofthesamebuild。’
’Ha！ha！thatisexcellent！Nigerwouldhaveslitthythroathadheheardthee！’
’Yougentlemenofthearenahaveamostdisagreeablemodeoftalking，’saidSosia；’letuschangetheconversation。’
’Vah！vah！’saidLydon，impatiently；’Iaminnohumortoconversewiththee！’
’Why，truly，’returnedtheslave，’youmusthaveseriousthoughtsenoughtooccupyyourmind：to—morrowis，Ithink，yourfirstessayinthearena。
Well，Iamsureyouwilldiebravely！’
’Maythywordsfallonthineownhead！’saidLydon，superstitiously，forhebynomeanslikedtheblessingofSosia。’Die！No——Itrustmyhourisnotyetcome。’
’Hewhoplaysatdicewithdeathmustexpectthedog’sthrow，’repliedSosia，maliciously。’Butyouareastrongfellow，andIwishyouallimaginableluck；andso，vale！’
Withthattheslaveturnedonhisheel，andtookhiswayhomeward。
’Itrusttherogue’swordsarenotominous，’saidLydon，musingly。’Inmyzealformyfather’sliberty，andmyconfidenceinmyownthewsandsinews，Ihavenotcontemplatedthepossibilityofdeath。Mypoorfather！Iamthyonlyson！——ifIweretofall……’
Asthethoughtcrossedhim，thegladiatorstrodeonwithamorerapidandrestlesspace，whensuddenly，inanoppositestreet，hebeheldtheveryobjectofhisthoughts。Leaningonhisstick，hisformbentbycareandage，hiseyesdowncast，andhisstepstrembling，thegrey—hairedMedonslowlyapproachedtowardsthegladiator。Lydonpausedamoment：hedivinedatoncethecausethatbroughtforththeoldmanatthatlatehour。
’Besure，itisIwhomheseeks，’thoughthe；’heishorrorstruckatthecondemnationofOlinthus——hemorethaneveresteemsthearenacriminalandhateful——hecomesagaintodissuademefromthecontest。Imustshunhim——I
cannotbrookhisprayers——histears。’
Thesethoughts，solongtorecite，flashedacrosstheyoungmanlikelightning。Heturnedabruptlyandfledswiftlyinanoppositedirection。
Hepausednottill，almostspentandbreathless，hefoundhimselfonthesummitofasmallacclivitywhichoverlookedthemostgayandsplendidpartofthatminiaturecity；andastherehepaused，andgazedalongthetranquilstreetsglitteringintheraysofthemoon（whichhadjustarisen，andbroughtpartiallyandpicturesquelyintolightthecrowdaroundtheamphitheatreatadistance，murmuring，andswayingtoandfro），theinfluenceofthesceneaffectedhim，rudeandunimaginativethoughhisnature。Hesathimselfdowntorestuponthestepsofadesertedportico，andfeltthecalmofthehourquietandrestorehim。Oppositeandnearathand，thelightsgleamedfromapalaceinwhichthemasternowheldhisrevels。Thedoorswereopenforcoolness，andthegladiatorbeheldthenumerousandfestivegroupgatheredroundthetablesintheatrium；whilebehindthem，closingthelongvistaoftheilluminedroomsbeyond，thesprayofthedistantfountainsparkledinthemoonbeams。There，thegarlandswreathedaroundthecolumnsofthehall——there，gleamedstillandfrequentthemarblestatue——there，amidstpealsofjocundlaughter，rosethemusicandthelay。
EPICUREANSONG
AwaywithyourstoriesofHades，WhichtheFlamenhasforgedtoaffrightus——
WelaughatyourthreeMaidenLadies，YourFates——andyoursullenCocytus。
PoorJovehasatroublesomelife，sir，Couldwecredityourtalesofhisportals——
Inshuttinghisearsonhiswife，sir，Andopeninghiseyesuponmortals。
Oh，blestbethebrightEpicurus！
Whotaughtustolaughatsuchfables；
OnHadestheywantedtomoorus，Andhishandcuttheterriblecables。
If，then，there’saJoveoraJuno，Theyvexnottheirheadsaboutus，man；
Besides，iftheydid，Iandyouknow’Tisthelifeofagodtolivethus，man！
What！thinkyouthegodsplacetheirbliss——eh？——
Inplayingthespyonasinner？
Incountingthegirlsthatwekiss，eh？
Orthecupsthatweemptyatdinner？
Contentwiththesoftlipsthatloveus，Thismusic，thiswine，andthismirth，boys，Wecarenotforgodsupaboveus——
Weknowthere’snogodforthisearth，boys！
WhileLydon’spiety（whichaccommodatingasitmightbe，wasinnoslightdegreedisturbedbytheseverses，whichembodiedthefashionablephilosophyoftheday）slowlyrecovereditselffromtheshockithadreceived，asmallpartyofmen，inplaingarmentsandofthemiddleclass，passedbyhisresting—place。Theywereinearnestconversation，anddidnotseemtonoticeorheedthegladiatorastheymovedon。
’Ohorroronhorrors！’saidone；’Olinthusissnatchedfromus！ourrightarmisloppedaway！WhenwillChristdescendtoprotecthisown？’
’Canhumanatrocitygofarthersaidanother：’tosentenceaninnocentmantothesamearenaasamurderer！Butletusnotdespair；thethunderofSinaimayyetbeheard，andtheLordpreservehissaint。"Thefoolhathsaidinhisheart，ThereisnoGod。"’
Atthatmomentoutbrokeagain，fromtheilluminedpalace，theburdenofthereveller’ss
