The Gladiators. A Tale of Rome and Judæa

by G. J. Whyte-Melville

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE ARENA

  A hundred thousand tongues, whispering and murmuring with Italianvolubility, send up a busy hum like that of an enormous beehive into thesunny air. The Flavian amphitheatre, Vespasian's gigantic concession tothe odious tastes of his people, has not yet been constructed; and Romemust crowd and jostle in the great circus, if she would behold thatslaughter of beasts, and those mortal combats of men, in which she nowtakes far more delight than in the innocent trials of speed and skill forwhich the enclosure was originally designed. That her luxurious citizensare dissatisfied even with this roomy edifice, is sufficiently obviousfrom the many complaints that accompany the struggling and pushing ofthose who are anxious to obtain a good place. To-day's bill-of-fare isindeed tempting to the morbid appetites of high and low. A rhinoceros andtiger are to be pitted against each other; and it is hoped that,notwithstanding many recent failures in such combats, these two beasts maybe savage enough to afford the desired sport. Several pairs of gladiators,at least, are to fight to the death, besides those on whom the populacemay show mercy, or from whom they may withhold it at will. In addition toall this, it has been whispered that one well-known patrician intends toexhibit his prowess on the deadly stage. Much curiosity is expressed, andmany a wager has been already laid, on his name, his skill, the nature ofhis conflict, and the chances of his success. Though the circus be largeenough to contain the population of a thriving city, no wonder that it isto-day full to the very brim. As usual in such assemblages, the hours ofwaiting are lightened by eating and drinking, by jests, practical andotherwise, by remarks, complimentary, sarcastic, or derisive, on theseveral notabilities who enter at short intervals, and take their placeswith no small stir and assumption of importance. The nobility anddistinguished characters of this dissolute age are better known thanrespected by their plebeian fellow-citizens.

  There is, however, one exception. Though Valeria's Liburnians laythemselves open to no small amount of insolence, by the emphatic manner inwhich they make way for their mistress, as she proceeds with her usualhaughty bearing to her place near the patrician benches--an insolence ofwhich some of the more pointed missiles do not spare the scornful beautyherself--it is no sooner observed that she is accompanied by her kinsman,Licinius, than a change comes over the demeanour even of those who feelthemselves most aggrieved, by being elbowed out of their places, andpushed violently against their neighbours, while admiring glances and arespectful silence denote the esteem in which the Roman general is held byhigh and low.

  It wants a few minutes yet of noon. The southern sun, though his intensityis modified by canvas awnings stretched over the spectators wherever it ispossible to afford them shade, lights and warms up every nook and crannyof the amphitheatre; gleams in the raven hair of the Campanian matron, andthe black eyes of the astonished urchin in her arms; flashes off thegolden bosses that stud the white garments on the equestrian benches;bleaches the level sweep of sand so soon to bear the prints of mortalstruggle, and flooding the lofty throne where Caesar sits in state, deepensthe broad crimson hem that skirts his imperial garment, and sheds adeathlike hue over the pale bloated face, which betrays even now no signof interest, or animation, or delight. Vitellius attends these brutalexhibitions with the same immobility that characterises his demeanour inalmost all the avocations of life. The same listlessness, the same wearyvacancy of expression, pervades his countenance here, as in the senate orthe council. His eye never glistens but at the appearance of a favouritedish; and the emperor of the world can only be said to _live_ once in thetwenty-four hours, when seated at the banquet.

  Insensibility seems, however, in all ages to be an affectation of thehigher classes; and here, while the plebeians wrangle, and laugh, andchatter, and gesticulate, the patricians are apparently bent on provingthat amusement is for them a simple impossibility, and suffering orslaughter matters of the most profound indifference. And on commonoccasions who so impassible, so cold, so unmoved by all that takes placearound her, as the haughty Valeria? but to-day there is an unusual gleamin the grey eyes, a quiver of the lip, a fixed red spot on either cheek;adding new charms to her beauty, not lost upon the observers who surroundher.

  Quoth Damasippus to Oarses (for the congenial rogues stand, as usual,shoulder to shoulder)--

  "I would not that the patron saw her now. I never knew her look so fair asthis. Locusta must have left her the secret of her love philtres."

  "Oh, innocent!" replies the other. "Knowest thou not that the patronfights to-day? Seest thou her restless hands, and that fixed smile, likethe mask of an old Greek player? She loves him; trust me, therefore, shehas lost her power, were she subtle as Arachne. Dost not know the patron?To do him justice, he never prizes the stakes when he has won the game."

  And the two fall to discussing the dinner they have brought with them, andthink they are perfectly familiar with the intricacies of a woman'sfeelings. Meantime Valeria seems to cling to Licinius as though there weresome spell in her kinsman's presence to calm that beating heart of whichshe is but now beginning to learn the wayward and indomitable nature. Forthe twentieth time she asks: "Is he prepared at all points? Does he knowevery feint of the deadly game? Are his health and strength as perfect astraining can make them? And oh, my kinsman! is he confident in himself?Does he feel sure that he will win?"

  To which questions, Licinius, though wondering at the interest she betraysin such a matter, answers as before--

  "All that skill, and science, and Hippias can do, has been done. He hasthe advantage in strength, speed, and height. Above all, he has thecourage of his nation. As they get fiercer they get cooler, and they arenever so formidable as when you deem them vanquished. I could not sit hereif I thought he would be worsted."

  Then Valeria took comfort for a while, but soon she moved restlessly onher cushions.

  "How I wish they would begin!" said she; yet every moment of delay seemedat the same time to be a respite of priceless value, even while it addedto the torture of suspense.

  Many hearts were beating in that crowd with love, hope, fear, and anxiety;but perhaps none so wildly as those of two women, separated but by a fewpaces, and whose eyes some indefinable attraction seemed to drawirresistibly towards each other. While Valeria, in common with many ladiesof distinction, had encroached upon the space originally allotted to thevestal virgins, and established, by constant attendance in theamphitheatre, a prescriptive right to a cushioned seat for herself and herfriends, women of lower rank were compelled to station themselves in anupper gallery allotted to them, or to mingle on sufferance with the crowdin the lower tier of places, where the presence of a male companion wasindispensable for protection from annoyance, and even insult.Nevertheless, within speaking distance of the haughty Roman lady stoodMariamne, accompanied by Calchas, trembling with fear and excitement inevery limb, yet turning her large dark eyes upon Valeria, with anexpression of curiosity and interest that could only have been aroused byan instinctive consciousness of feelings common to both. The latter, too,seemed fascinated by the gaze of the Jewish maiden, now bending on her ahaughty and inquiring glance, anon turning away with a gesture of affecteddisdain; but never unobservant, for many seconds together, of the darkpale beauty and her venerable companion.

  When she was at last fairly wedged in amongst the crowd, Mariamne couldhardly explain to herself how she came there. It had been with greatdifficulty that she persuaded Calchas to accompany her; and, indeed,nothing but his interest in Esca, and the hope that he might, even here,find some means of doing good, would have tempted the old man into such ascene. It was with many a burning blush and painful thrill that sheconfessed to herself, she must go mad with anxiety were she absent fromthe death-struggle to be waged by the man whom she now knew she loved sodearly; and it was with a wild defiant recklessness that she resolved ifaught of evil should befall him to give herself up thenceforth to despair.She felt as if she was in a dream; the sea of faces, the j
abber oftongues, the strange novelty of the spectacle, confused and wearied her;yet through it all Valeria's eye seemed to look down on her with anominous boding of ill; and when, with an effort, she forced her sensesback into self-consciousness, she felt so lonely, so frightened, and sounhappy, that she wished she had never come.

  And now, with peal of trumpets and clash of cymbals, a burst of wildmartial music rises above the hum and murmur of the seething crowd. Undera spacious archway, supported by marble pillars, wide folding-doors areflung open, and two by two, with stately step and slow, march in thegladiators, armed with the different weapons of their deadly trade. Fourhundred men are they, in all the pride of perfect strength and symmetry,and high training, and practised skill. With head erect and haughtybearing, they defile once round the arena, as though to give thespectators an opportunity of closely scanning their appearance, and haltwith military precision to range themselves in line under Caesar's throne.For a moment there is a pause and hush of expectation over the multitude,while the devoted champions stand motionless as statues in the full glowof noon; then bursting suddenly into action, they brandish their gleamingweapons over their heads, and higher, fuller, fiercer, rises the terriblechant that seems to combine the shout of triumph with the wail ofsuffering, and to bid a long and hopeless farewell to upper earth, even inthe very recklessness and defiance of its despair--

  "Ave, Caesar! Morituri te salutant!"

  Then they wheel out once more, and range themselves on either side of thearena; all but a chosen band who occupy the central place of honour, andof whom every second man at least is doomed to die. These are the pickedpupils of Hippias; the quickest eyes and the readiest hands in the Family;therefore it is that they have been selected to fight by pairs to thedeath, and that it is understood no clemency will be extended to them fromthe populace.

  With quickened breath and eager looks, Valeria and Mariamne scan theirranks in search of a well-known figure: both feel it to be a questionablerelief that he is not there; but the Roman lady tears the edge of hermantle to the seam, and the Jewish girl offers an incoherent prayer in herheart, for she knows not what.

  Esca's part is not yet to be performed, and he is still in the background,preparing himself carefully for the struggle. The rest of the Family,however, muster in force. Tall Rufus stalks to his appointed station witha calm business-like air that bodes no good to his adversary, whoever hemay be. He has fought too often not to feel confident in, his owninvincible prowess; and when compelled to despatch a fallen foe, he willdo it with sincere regret, but none the less dexterously and effectuallyfor that. Hirpinus, too, assumes his usual air of jovial hilarity. Thereis a smile on his broad good-humoured face; and though, notwithstandingthe severity of his preparation, his huge muscles are still a trifle toofull and lusty, he will be a formidable antagonist for any fighter whoseproportions are less than those of a Hercules. As the crowd pass thedifferent combatants in review, none, with the exception perhaps of Rufus,have more backers than their old favourite. Lutorius, too, notwithstandinghis Gallic origin, which places him but one remove, as it were, from abarbarian, finds no slight favour with those who pride themselves on theirexperience in such matters. His great activity and endurance, combinedwith thorough knowledge of his weapon, have made him the victor in many apublic contest. As Damasippus observes to his friend, "Lutorius can alwaystire out an adversary and despatch him at leisure;" to which Oarsesreplies, "If he be pitted to-day against Manlius, I will wager thee athousand sesterces blood is not drawn in the first three assaults."

  The pairs had already been decided by lot; but amongst the score ofcombatants who were to fight to the death, these formidable champions werethe most celebrated, and as such the especial favourites of the populace.Certain individuals in the crowd, who were sufficiently familiar with thegladiators to exchange a word of greeting, and to call them by theirnames, derived, in consequence, no small increase of importance amongstthe bystanders. The swordsmen, although now ranged in order round thearena, are destined, for a time at least, to remain inactive. The sportsare to commence with a combat between a lately imported rhinoceros, and aLibyan tiger, already familiarly known to the public, as having destroyedtwo or three Christian victims and a negro slave. It is only in the eventof these animals being unwilling to fight, or becoming dangerous to thespectators, that Hippias will call in the assistance of his pupils fortheir destruction. In the meantime, they have an excellent view of theconflict, though perhaps it might be seen in greater comfort from thefarther and safer side of the barrier.

  Vitellius, with a feeble inclination of his head, signs to begin, and aportable wooden building which has been wheeled into the lists, creatingno little curiosity, is now taken to pieces by a few strokes of thehammer. As the slaves carry away the dismembered boards, with the rapidityof men in terror of their lives, a huge, unwieldy beast stands disclosed,and the rhinoceros of which they have been talking for the last weekbursts on the delighted eyes of the Roman public. These are perhaps alittle disappointed at first, for the animal seems peaceably, not to sayindolently, disposed. Taking no notice of the shouts which greet hisappearance, he digs his horned muzzle into the sand in search of food, asthough secure in the overlapping plates of armour that sway loosely on hisenormous body, with every movement of his huge ungainly limbs. So intentare the spectators on this rare monster, that their attention is onlydirected to the farther end of the arena by the restlessness which therhinoceros at length exhibits. He stamps angrily with his broad flat feet,his short pointed tail is furiously agitated, and the gladiators who arenear him observe that his little eye is glowing like a coal. A long, low,dark object lies coiled up under the barrier as though seeking shelter,nor is it till the second glance that Valeria, whose interest, in commonwith that of the multitude, is fearfully excited, can make out thefawning, cruel head, the glaring eyes, and the striped sinewy form of theLibyan tiger.

  In vain the people wait for him to commence the attack. Although he issufficiently hungry, having been kept for more than a day without food, itis not his nature to carry on an open warfare. Damasippus and Oarses jeerhim loudly as he skulks under the barrier; and Calchas cannot forbearwhispering to Mariamne, that "a curse has been on the monster since hetore the brethren limb from limb, in that very place, for the glory of thetrue faith." The rhinoceros, however, seems disposed to take theinitiative; with a short labouring trot he moves across the arena, leavingsuch deep footprints behind him, as sufficiently attest his enormous bulkand weight. There is a flash like real fire from the tiger's eyes,hitherto only sullen and watchful--his waving tail describes a semicirclein the sand--and he coils himself more closely together, with a deep lowgrowl; even now he is not disposed to fight save at an advantage.

  'with a short labouring trot he moves across the arena.']

  A hundred thousand pairs of eyes, straining eagerly on the combatants,could scarce detect the exact moment at which that spring was made. Allthey can now discern is the broad mailed back of the rhinoceros swaying toand fro, as he kneels upon his enemy, and the grating of the tiger's clawsagainst the huge beast's impenetrable armour can be heard in the farthestcorner of the gallery that surrounds the amphitheatre. The leap was madeas the rhinoceros turned his side for an instant towards his adversary;but with a quickness marvellous in a beast of such prodigious size, hemoved his head round in time to receive it on the massive horn that armedhis nose, driving the blunt instrument, from sheer muscular strength,right through the body of the tiger, and finishing his work by falling onhim with his knees, and pressing his life out under that enormous weight.Then he rose unhurt, and blew the sand out of his nostrils, and left, asit seemed, unwillingly, the flattened, crushed, and mangled carcass,turning back to it once and again, with a horrible, yet ludicrous,pertinacity, ere he suffered the Ethiopians who attended him to lure himout of the amphitheatre with a bundle or two of green vegetable food.

  The people shouted and applauded loudly. Blood had been drawn, and theirappetite was sharpened for slaught
er. It was with open undisguisedsatisfaction that they counted the pairs of gladiators, and looked forwardto the next act of the entertainment.

  Again the trumpets sound, and the swordsmen range themselves in oppositebodies, all armed alike with a deep concave buckler, and a short,stabbing, two-edged blade; but distinguished by the colour of theirscarves. Wagers are rapidly made on the green and the red; so skilfullyhas the experienced Hippias selected and matched the combatants, that theoldest patrons of the sport confess themselves at a loss which to choose.

  The bands advance against each other, three deep, in imitation of the realsoldiers of the empire. At the first crash of collision, when steel beginsto clink, as thrust and blow and parry are exchanged by these practisedwarriors, the approbation of the spectators rises to enthusiasm; but men'svoices are hushed, and they hold their breath when the strife begins towaver to and fro, and the ranks open out and disengage themselves, andblood is to be seen in patches on those athletic frames, and a few arealready down, lying motionless where they fell. The green is giving way,but their third rank has been economised, and its combatants are as yetfresh and untouched; these now advance to fill the gaps made among theircomrades, and the fortunes of the day seem equalised once more.

  And now the arena becomes a ghastly and forbidding sight; they die hard,these men, whose very trade is slaughter; but mortal agony cannot alwayssuppress a groan, and it is pitiful to see some prostrate giant,supporting himself painfully on his hands, with drooping head and fast-closing eye fixed on the ground, while the life-stream is pouring from hischest into the thirsty sand. It is real sad earnest, this representationof war, and resembles the battle-field in all save that no prisoners aretaken and quarter is but rarely given. Occasionally, indeed, somevanquished champion, of more than common beauty, or who has displayed morethan common address and courage, so wins on the favour of the spectators,that they sign for his life to be spared. Hands are turned outwards, withthe thumb pointing to the earth, and the victor sheathes his sword, andretires with his worsted antagonist from the contest; but more generallythe fallen man's signal for mercy is neglected; ere the shout "A hit!" hasdied upon his ears, his despairing eye marks the thumbs of his judgespointing upwards, and he disposes himself to welcome the steel with a calmcourage, worthy of a better cause.

  The reserve, consisting of ten pairs of picked gladiators, has not yetbeen engaged. The green and the red have fought with nearly equal success;but when the trumpet has sounded a halt, and the dead have been draggedaway by grappling-hooks, leaving long tracks of crimson in their wake, acareful enumeration of the survivors gives the victory by one to thelatter colour. Hippias, coming forward in a suit of burnished armour,declares as much, and is greeted with a round of applause. In all herpreoccupation, Valeria cannot refrain from a glance of approval at thehandsome fencing-master; and Mariamne, who feels that Esca's life hangs onthe man's skill and honesty, gazes at him with mingled awe and horror, ason some being of another world. But the populace have little inclinationto waste the precious moments in cheering Hippias, or in calculating lossand gain. Fresh wagers are, indeed, made on the matches about to takeplace; but the prevailing feeling over that numerous assemblage is one ofmorbid excitement and anticipation. The ten pairs of men now marching soproudly into the centre of the lists, are pledged to fight to the death.

  It would be a disgusting task to detail the scene of bloodshed; to dwellon the fierce courage wasted, and the brutal useless slaughter perpetratedin those Roman shambles; yet, sickening as was the sight, so inured werethe people to such exhibitions, so completely imbued with a taste for thehorrible, and so careless of human life, that scarcely an eye was turnedaway, scarcely a cheek grew paler, when a disabling gash was received, ora mortal blow driven home; and mothers with babies in their arms would bidthe child turn its head to watch the death-pang on the pale stern face ofsome prostrate gladiator.

  Licinius had looked upon carnage in many forms, yet a sad, gravedisapproval sat on the general's noble features. Once, after a glance athis kinswoman's eager face, he turned from her with a gesture of anger anddisgust; but Valeria was too intent upon the scene enacted within a fewshort paces to spare attention for anything besides, except, perhaps, thevague foreboding of evil that was gnawing at her heart, and to which sucha moment of suspense as the present afforded a temporary relief.

  Rufus and Manlius had been pitted against each other by lot. The tallerframe and greater strength of the former were supposed to be balanced bythe latter's exquisite skill. Collars and bracelets were freely offered ateven value amongst the senators and equestrians on each. While the otherpairs were waging their strife with varying success in different parts ofthe amphitheatre, these had found themselves struggling near the barrierclose under the seat occupied by Valeria. She could hear distinctly theirhard-drawn breath; could read on each man's face the stern set expressionof one who has no hope save in victory; for whom defeat is inevitable andinstant death. No wonder she sat, so still and spell-bound, with her palelips parted and her cold hands clenched.

  The blood was pouring from more than one gash on the giant's naked body,yet Rufus seemed to have lost neither coolness nor strength. He continuedto ply his adversary with blow on blow, pressing him, and following himup, till he drove him nearly against the barrier. It was obvious thatManlius, though still unwounded, was overmatched and overpowered. Atlength Valeria drew in her breath with a gasp, as if in pain. It seemed asif she, the spectator, winced from that fatal thrust, which was acceptedso calmly by the gladiator whom it pierced. Rufus could scarcely believehe had succeeded in foiling his adversary's defence, and driving it deftlyhome, so unmoved was the familiar face looking over its shield into hisown--so steady and skilful was the return which instantaneously succeededhis attack. But that face was growing paler and paler with everypulsation. Valeria, gazing with wild fixed eyes, saw it wreathed in astrange sad smile, and Manlius reeled and fell where he stood, breakinghis sword as he went down, and burying it beneath his body in the sand.The other strode over him in act to strike. A natural impulse of habit orself-preservation bade the fallen man half raise his arm, with the gestureby which a gladiator was accustomed to implore the clemency of thepopulace, but he recollected himself, and let it drop proudly by his side.Then he looked kindly up in his victor's face.

  "Through the heart, comrade," said he quietly, "for old friendship'ssake;" and he never winced nor quailed when the giant drove the blow homewith all the strength that he could muster.

  They had fed at the same board, and drunk from the same winecup for years;and this was all he had it in his power to bestow upon his friend. Thepeople applauded loudly, but Valeria, who had heard the dead man's lastappeal, felt her eyes fill with tears; and Mariamne, who had raised herhead to look, at this unlucky moment, buried it once more in her kinsman'scloak, sick and trembling, ready to faint with pity, and dismay, and fear.