Beric was much pleased when he heard from the master that he intended to confine his teaching to these two exercises only with regard to his companions; for although men were sometimes seriously hurt by blows given by the masses of leather and lead, which, wound round the fist, were used to give weight to the blows, a final termination to the contests was rare. In the exercises the men practised with many wrappings of wadding and cotton wound round the caestus, answering the purpose of the modern boxing glove. Beric himself was very partial to the exercise, and as it strengthened the muscles, and gave quickness and activity to the limbs, Scopus encouraged him in it.
"I do not see the use of the caestus," Beric said one day. "One could hit and guard much more quickly without it. It is good, no doubt, for exercise, as it strengthens the muscles, but surely for fighting it would be better to lay it aside. What is the advantage of it? With the bare fist one can knock an opponent down, and with a very few blows strike him senseless. What more can you want than that?"
"Yes, for men like you Britons that would do, for a straight blow from any one of you would well nigh break in the bones of the face of an ordinary man, and, as you say, you could strike much more quickly without the weight on your hands, but with smaller men a contest might last for hours without the caestus, and the spectators would get tired of it; but I will try the experiment some day, and put up one of the Britons against Asthor the Gaul, hands against the caestus, and see what comes of it. At present he is more skilful11 than any of your people, but they are getting on fast, and when one of them is fairly his match in point of skill I will try it. If the Briton wins, I will, when they first go into the arena, match them against the champions of the other schools with bare hands against armed ones, and they will get great credit if they win under those conditions. Both at that and at wrestling you Britons are likely to carry all before you. I should like to train you all only for that."
"I wish you would," Beric said earnestly.
"There is less honour in winning at wrestling and boxing than in the other contests," Scopus said.
"For that I care nothing whatever, Scopus; besides, you would get more credit from my winning in those games than from my being killed in the others. Strength and height count for much in them, while against an active retiarius strength goes for very little."
"But you are active as well as strong, Beric, and so is Boduoc. Moreover, when Caesar sent you to me to be prepared for the ring, he meant that you should take part in the principal contests, and he would be furious if, on some great occasion, when he expected to see you stand up against a famous champion, it turned out that you were only a wrestler6."
"I am ready and willing to learn all the exercises, Scopus--I should like to excel in them all--but you might put me up as a wrestler and boxer8; then if Nero insisted on my betaking myself to other weapons, I could do so without discredit13 to you. But my opinion is that every man should do what he can do best. Were we to fight with clubs, I think that we need have no fear of any antagonists15; but our strength is for the most part thrown away at sword play, at which any active man with but half our strength is our match. You have told me that Nero often looks in at your school, and doubtless he will do so when he comes back from Greece. You could then tell him that you had found that all the Britons were likely to excel rather in wrestling and boxing, where their strength and height came into play, than in the other exercises, and that you therefore were instructing them chiefly in them."
"I will see what I can do," Scopus said. "I like you Britons, you are good tempered, and give me no trouble. I will tell you what I will do, I will send to Greece for the best instructor16 in wrestling I can get hold of, they are better at that than we are, and wrestling has always ranked very high in their sports. Most of you already are nearly a match for Decius; but you are all worth taking pains about, for there are rich prizes to be won in the provincial arenas17, as well as at Rome; and in Greece, where they do not care for the serious contests, there is high honour paid to the winners in the wrestling games."
As time went on Beric had little leisure to spend in libraries, for the exercises increased in severity, and as, instead of confining himself, as most of the others did, to one particular branch, he worked at them all, the day was almost entirely18 given up to exercises of one kind or another. His muscles, and those of his companions, had increased vastly under the training they received. All had been accustomed to active exercise, but under their steady training every ounce of superfluous19 flesh disappeared, their limbs became more firmly knit, and the muscles showed out through the clear skin in massive ridges20.
"We should astonish them at home, Beric," Boduoc said one day. "It is strange that people like the Romans, who compared to us are weakly by nature, should have so studied the art of training men in exercises requiring strength. I used to wonder that the Roman soldiers could wield21 such heavy spears and swords. Now I quite understand it. We were just as nature made us, they are men built up by art. Why, when we began, my arms used to ache in a short time with those heavy clubs, now I feel them no more than if they were willow22 wands."
Pollio had remained but two months in Rome, and had then gone out with a newly appointed general to Syria. Beric had missed his light hearted friend much, but he was not sorry to give up the visits with him to the houses of his friends. He felt that in these houses he was regarded as a sort of show, and that the captured British chief, who was acquainted with the Latin tongue and with Roman manners, was regarded with something of the same curiosity and interest as a tamed tiger might be. Besides, however much gladiators might be the fashion in Rome, he felt a degradation23 in the calling, although he quite appreciated the advantage that the training would be to him should he ever return to Britain. He was pleased to learn from Pollio, on the day before he started, that he had heard that his uncle would ere long return to Rome.
"I believe," he said, "that it is entirely my aunt's doing. You know how she hates what she calls her exile, and I hear that she has been quietly using all her family influence to obtain his recall and his appointment as a magistrate24 here. I learn she is likely to succeed, and that my uncle will be one of these fine days astounded25 at receiving the news that he is appointed a magistrate here. I don't suppose he will ever learn my aunt's share in the matter, and will regard what others would take as a piece of supreme26 good luck as a cruel blow of fortune. However, if he did discover it, my aunt would maintain stoutly28 that she did it for the sake of the girls, whom she did not wish to see married to some provincial officer, and condemned29, as she had been, to perpetual exile; and as she would have the support of all her relations, and even of my father, who is also convinced that it is the greatest of all earthly happiness for a Roman to reside at Rome, my uncle for once will have to give in. Aemilia, too, will be glad to return to Rome, though I know that Ennia is of a different opinion. I believe, from what she let drop one day, that she has a leaning towards the new sect30, of which she has heard from the old slave who was her nurse. It will be a great misfortune if she has, for it would cause terrible trouble at home, and if any fresh persecution31 breaks out, she might be involved. I am sure my aunt has no suspicion of it, for if she had the slave would be flogged to death or thrown to the fishes, and Ennia's life would be made a burden to her till she consented to abandon the absurd ideas she had taken up."
But if Norbanus had returned with his family to Rome, Beric had heard nothing of it. Had Pollio been at Rome he would at once have taken him to see them on their return, but now that he had gone there was no one from whom he would hear of their movements, and Norbanus himself would be so much occupied with his new duties, and with the society with which Lesbia would fill the house, that he would have no time to inquire about the British captive he had received as his guest at Massilia.
One evening, when the rest of the gladiators were engaged in a hot discussion as to the merits of some of those who were to appear at the games given in celebration of the funeral obsequies of a wealthy senator, Beric asked Boduoc to accompany him for a walk.
"One gets sick of all that talk about fighting," he said as they went out. "How men can sit indoors in a hot room heavy with the smoke of the lamps, when they can go out on such a lovely night as this, I cannot understand. We do not have such nights as this at home, Boduoc."
"No," Boduoc assented33 reluctantly, for it was seldom that he would allow anything Roman to be superior to what he was accustomed to in Britain; "the nights are certainly fine here, and so they need be when it is so hot all day that one can scarcely breathe outside the house. It seems to me that the heat takes all the strength out of my limbs."
Beric laughed. "It did not seem so, Boduoc, when today you threw Borthon, who is as heavy and well nigh as strong as yourself, full five yards through the air. Let us turn out from these busy streets and get among the hills--not those on which the palaces stand, but away from houses and people."
"What a night it would be for wolf hunting!" Boduoc said suddenly, when they had walked along for some distance in silence.
"Yes, that was fine sport, Boduoc; and when we slew34 we knew we were ridding the land of fierce beasts."
"Well, many of the gladiators are not much better, Beric. There is Porus, who may be likened to a panther; there is Chresimus, who is like a savage35 bull; Gripus, who, when not at work, is for ever trying to stir up strife36. Truly, I used to think, Beric, that I could not slay37 a man unless he was an enemy, but I scarce feel that now. The captives in war are like ourselves, and I would not, if I could help it, lift sword against them. But many of the men are malefactors, who have been sentenced to death as gladiators rather than to death by the executioner, and who, by the terms of the sentence, must be killed within the course of a year. Well, there is no objection to killing38 these; if you do not do it, someone else will. Then there are the Romans, these are the roughest and most brutal39 of all; they are men who have been the bullies40 of their quarters, who fight for money only, and boast that it is a disappointment to them when, by the vote of the spectators, they have to spare an antagonist14 they have conquered. It is at least as good a work to kill one of these men as to slay a wolf at home. Then there are the patricians41, who fight to gain popular applause, and kill as a matter of fashion; for them I have assuredly no pity.
"No, I hope I shall never have to stand up against a captive like myself but against all others I can draw my sword without any of the scruples42 I used to feel. I hear that if one of us can but hold his own for three years, in most cases he is given his liberty. I do not mean that he would be allowed to go home, but he is free from the arena."
They were now near the summit of one of the hills, where a clear sweep had been made of all the houses standing43 there in order that a stately temple should be erected44 on the site. Suddenly they heard a scream in a female voice.
"There is some villainy going on, Boduoc, let us break in upon the game." They ran at the top of their speed in the direction from which they had heard the cry, and came upon a group of seven or eight men, belonging, as they could see by the light of the moon, to the dregs of the city. A female was lying on the ground, another was clinging to her, and two men with coarse jeers45 and laughter were dragging her from her hold when the two Britons ran up.
Beric struck one of the men to the ground with a terrible blow, while Boduoc seizing the other hurled46 him through the air, and he fell head foremost among a heap of the masonry47 of a demolished48 building. The other men drew their knives, but as Beric and his companion turned upon them there was a cry, "They are gladiators," and the whole of them without a moment's hesitation49 took to their heels.
Beric then turned towards the females, and as the light of the moon fell full on his face the one with whom the men had been struggling exclaimed, "Why, it is surely Beric!"
Beric looked at her in surprise. "It is the lady Ennia!" he exclaimed. "Why, what are you doing at this time of night in so lonely a place, and without other attendants than this woman?"
"It is my nurse," Ennia said; "I was on my way with her, Beric, to a secret meeting of Christians50 held in an underground room of one of the villas51 that stood here. I have been there several times before and we have not been molested52, but, as I gathered from what the men said, they noticed the light fall upon my necklace and bracelet53 as I passed by a lamp, and so followed us. Happily they overtook us before we reached the place of meeting. Had they followed us farther they might have come upon us there, and then much more harm would have been done. They came up and roughly demanded who we were, and bade me hand over my jewels. Lycoris answered them, and they struck her down. I threw myself down on her and clung to her, but they would soon have plundered55 and perhaps killed me had not you arrived."
"Do not you think, Ennia, that it is foolish and wrong of you thus to go out unprotected at night to such a place as this, and, as I suppose, without the knowledge of your father and mother?"
"They do not know," she said, "but it is my duty to go. It is the only opportunity I have for hearing the Word preached."
"I cannot think, Ennia, that it is your duty," Beric said gravely. "The first duty of a young woman is to obey her parents, and I think that you, being as yet scarce a woman, are not able to judge between one religion and another. I know nothing of the doctrines56 of this sect save what your father told me; but he said that they were good and pure, and, being so, I am sure that they cannot countenance57 disobedience to parents."
"That could not have been said to one of your age, Ennia. I was reading the Jewish sacred book the other day, and one of the chief commandments is to honour your father and mother. Well, I think, at any rate, that it were best not to go there tonight. These men may return, and at any rate I will not allow you thus to wander about at night unprotected. Boduoc and I will escort you to your house. When you get there I trust that you will think this over, and that you will see that such midnight excursions are altogether wrong, whatever the motive59 may be; but at any rate, if you must go, I must obtain your promise that you will write to me at the school of Scopus the gladiator, to tell me at what hour you start. I shall not intrude60 my presence upon you, nor accompany you, for this would be to make myself an accomplice61 in what I consider your folly62; but I shall always be near you, and if you are again disturbed on your way Boduoc and I will be at hand to punish those who meddle63 with you."
"You are the nurse of this young lady," Beric said to her sternly, "and should know better than to bring her into danger. If Norbanus knew what you have done he would have you cut in pieces."
"It is not the fault of Lycoris. She begged and entreated65 me not to come, but I would not listen to her. You are angry with me, Beric, but you would not be angry if you knew what it was to me. Younger than I have died for the Faith, and I would die too if it were necessary."
Beric made no reply, he was indeed deeply vexed66 at what he considered an act of mad folly. The daughters of Norbanus had been very friendly and kind to him at Massilia, and he felt a debt of gratitude67 to their father; and this escapade on the part of Ennia, who was as yet scarce sixteen, vexed him exceedingly. He was not sure, indeed, but that he ought to go straight to Norbanus and tell him what had happened, yet he feared that in such a case the anger of the magistrate would be so great that Ennia would be forced by him into becoming one of the vestal virgins68, or be shut up in strict imprisonment69. Scarce a word was spoken as they passed down the hill and into the streets, now almost deserted70. At last Ennia stopped at the entrance used by the slaves to her father's house.
"Will you give me your promise," he asked, "about going out at night again? I implore71 you, I beseech72 you do not again leave the house of your father at night unknown to him. You cannot tell the dangers you run by so doing, or the misery73 you may bring, not only on yourself, but on your parents."
"I promise you," Ennia said. "I owe you so great a debt of gratitude that even your harsh words do not anger me. I will think over what you have said, and try to do what may seem to me my duty."
"That is all I ask," Beric said more gently; and then turning walked away with Boduoc, who had but faintly understood what was being said, but was surprised at the recognition between Beric and this girl, whom he had not particularly noticed when at Massilia.
"That is Pollio's cousin, the younger daughter of the magistrate I stayed with at Massilia. It was well for her that it was not Pollio who came to her rescue instead of us."
"I should say so," Boduoc said dryly. "Pollio would scarcely be a match for eight cutthroats."
"I did not mean that, Boduoc. I meant that he would have rated her soundly."
"It seemed to me that you were rating her somewhat soundly, Beric. I scarce ever heard you speak so harshly before, and I wondered the more as you are neither kith nor kin12 to her, while by the heartiness74 with which you scolded her you might have been her own brother."
"I did not think whether I had a right to scold her or not, Boduoc. I liked both the maiden75 and her sister, and their father was very kind to me. Moreover, after all Pollio has done for us, the least I could do was to look after his cousin. But even if I had known nothing whatever of her or her friends, I should have spoken just as I did. The idea of a young girl like that wandering about at night with no one but an old slave to protect her in an unfrequented quarter of Rome! It is unheard of."
"But what were they doing there, Beric?"
"They were going to a meeting place of a new religion there is in Rome. The people who belong to it are persecuted76 and obliged to meet in secret. The old woman belongs to it, and has, I suppose, taught Ennia. I have heard that the sect is spreading, and that although most of those who adhere to it are slaves, or belong to the poorer class, there are many of good family who have also joined it."
"Well, I should have thought," Boduoc said, "that the Romans had no cause to be dissatisfied with their gods. They have given them victory, and dominion77, and power, and wealth. What more could they want of them? I could understand that we, whose god did nothing to assist us in our fight against the Romans, should seek other gods who might do more for us. But that a Roman should have been discontented with his gods is more than I can understand. But what is that sudden flash of light?"
"It is a fire, and in these narrow streets, with a brisk wind blowing, it may well spread. There, do you hear the watchmen's trumpets78 giving the alarm? Let us get back quickly, Boduoc. It may be that we shall be all turned out to fight the fire if it spreads."
They were not far from the school now, and a few minutes' run took them there. The house was quiet, but a few oil lamps burning here and there enabled them to make their way to the broad planks79, arranged like a modern guard bed, on which they slept with their three comrades.
"Is that you, Beric?" Scopus, who slept in a cubicule leading off the great room, asked.
"Yes it is; Boduoc and I."
Beric laughed.
"No, I need not ask you," Scopus went on. "If it had been some of the others who had been out so late, I should have been sure they would have come home as drunk as hogs81; but that is not your way."
"There is a fire not very far off, Scopus, and the wind is blowing strongly."
Scopus was at once on his feet and came out into the room. "I don't like fires," he said uneasily. "Let us go up on the roof and see what it is like."
Short as the time had been since Beric first saw the flash of light the fire had already spread, and a broad sheet of flame was shooting up into the air. "It is down there in the most crowded quarter, and the wind is blowing strongly. It is likely to be a big fire. Listen to the din9."
A chorus of shouts, the shrieks82 of women, and the tramp of many feet running, mingled83 with the sounding of the watchmen's horns.
"The soldiers will soon be there to keep order," Scopus said. "As every household is obliged to keep a bucket in readiness, and there is an abundance of water; they will cope with it. At any rate the wind is not blowing in this direction. It is half a mile away fully84."
"Can we go down and see if we can be of any assistance?" Beric asked. "We might help in removing goods from the houses, and in carrying off the aged10 and sick."
"You can if you like, Beric. I would not say as much for those who are training hard, for the loss of a night's rest is serious; but as it will be some months before you Britons are ready for the arena, it will do you no harm."
Beric went below, aroused his countrymen, and went with them and Boduoc. The streets were alive. Men were running in the direction of the fire carrying buckets; women were standing at the doors inquiring of the passersby85 if they knew what street was on fire, and whether it was likely to spread. The sound of military trumpets calling the soldiers to arms rose in various parts of the city, and mingled with the hoarse86 sound of the watchmen's horns. As they approached the fire the crowd became thicker.
Beric admired the coolness shown and the order that already reigned87. The prefect of the 7th Cohort of the Night Guard, always on duty to guard the streets from thieves or fire, was already on the spot, and under his directions, and those of several inferior officials, the men, as fast as they arrived, were set to pass buckets along from the fountains and conduits.
"Who are you?" the magistrate asked, as the five tall figures came up the street in the light of the fire.
"We belong to the school of Scopus," Beric said. "We have come down to see if we can be of assistance. We are strong, and can move goods from houses threatened, or carry off the sick should there be any; or we can throw water on the flames."
"The soldiers will do that," the magistrate said, "that is their business; but, as you say, you may be of use in helping88 clear the houses outside their lines. The flames are spreading. Come with me, I will take you to the centurion89 commanding a company of the Night Guard here, for if he saw you coming out of the house with goods he might take you for plunderers."
"It were well to get some more stout27 fellows like these," he said to the magistrate. "In spite of our efforts the fire is making headway, and the sooner the houses in its path are stripped the better."
A strong body of volunteers for the work was soon organized, and an official placed in charge of it. All night they worked without intermission, Beric and his comrades keeping together and astonishing those who were working with them by the strength and activity they displayed. But fast as they worked the flames advanced faster. They were half suffocated90 by smoke, and the sparks fell thickly round them. The workers carried the goods out of the houses into the street, where other parties conveyed them to open spaces. Lines of men down all the streets leading to the scene of the fire passed along buckets of water. These the soldiers carried up on to the roofs, which they deluged91, while others wetted the hangings and furniture that had not been removed.
Parties of troops strove to pull down the houses in the path of the flames, while others again marched up and down preserving order. The Night Guard entered the houses, compelled all to leave, and saw that none were left behind; while sentries92 kept guard over the goods piled high in the open spaces. When morning broke, Beric gave up the work to a fresh party and returned with his companions to the school. They found it deserted, save by the slaves, the others having, as they learned, gone to the fire an hour before with Scopus.
"We will have a bath to get rid of the dust and sweat," Beric said. "But first we will go up to the roof and have a look at the fire. We had no time when we were working to think much of it; but as we were always being driven back by it, it must have spread a good deal."
An exclamation93 of surprise broke from them when they gained the roof. Smoke and flames were rising over a large area. A dense94 canopy95 overhung the town, a confused din filled the air, while momentarily deep heavy sounds told of falling roofs and walls.
"This is terrible, Boduoc."
"Why terrible, Beric? For my part I should like to see Rome utterly96 destroyed, as she has destroyed so many other towns."
"The Romans would build it up again more magnificent than before, Boduoc. No, it would be a misfortune to the world if Rome were destroyed; but there is little chance of that. They have had many fires before now; this is a large one certainly, but by this time all the troops in the city must be there, and if the wind drops they will soon arrest the progress of the flames."
The other Britons quite agreed with Boduoc, and though ready to work their hardest to aid in saving the property of individuals, they looked on with undisguised satisfaction at the great conflagration97. On such a point as this Beric knew that it would be useless to argue with them.
"You had better come down from the roof, Boduoc. There are others watching the fire besides ourselves; and if it were reported that some of the gladiators from the school were seen making exulting98 gestures, there would be a popular tumult99, and it is likely as not we should be charged with being the authors of the fire. Let us go down, get some food, and then have a bath and sleep for a while. There is little chance of the fire being checked at present. At any rate, we have done our share of work."
After a few hours' sleep Beric again went up to the roof. The fire had made great progress, and, as he could see, was not only travelling with the wind, but working up against it. It was already much nearer to the school than it had been. As to the width of the area of the conflagration the smoke prevented him from forming any opinion; but he judged that the length was fully a mile. It was evident that the progress of the fire was causing great dismay. Groups were gathered on the housetops everywhere, while the streets were crowded with fugitives100 laden101 with household goods, making their way towards the thinly populated portions of the hills. After eating some bread and fruit, Beric again sallied out with his four companions. On their way down they met Scopus with several of the gladiators returning.
"What is being done, Scopus?"
"As far as stopping the fire nothing is being done. It has been given up. What can be done when the fire is sweeping102 along a mile broad, and the heat is so great that there is no standing within a hundred yards of it? All the soldiers are there, and the magistrates103 and the guards, and all the rest of them, but all that can be done is to prevent the scum of the city from sacking and plundering104. Scores of men have been scourged105 and some beheaded, but it is no easy matter to keep down the mob. There are parties of guards in every street. The whole of the Praetorians are under arms, but the terror and confusion is so great and spread over so wide a space that it is well nigh impossible to preserve order. Proclamations have just been issued by the senate calling upon all citizens to gather at their places of assembly in arms, enjoining106 them to preserve order, and authorizing107 the slaying108 of all robbers caught in the act of plundering. All persons within a certain distance of the fire are recommended to send their wives and families, with their jewels and all portable wealth, to the public gardens, where strong guards of the Praetorians will be posted."
"It seems to me that the fire is advancing in this direction, also, Scopus."
"It is spreading everywhere," Scopus said gloomily. "The heat seems to draw the air in from all directions, and the flames surge sometimes one way and sometimes another. You had better not go far away, Beric; if the flames crawl up much nearer we shall have to prepare for a move. We have no jewels to lose, nor is the furniture of much value, but the arms and armour109, our apparatus110, clothes, and other things must be carried off."
The scene as Beric went forward was pitiful in the extreme. Weeping women carrying heavy burdens and with their children clinging to their dress came along. Some searched up and down frantically111 for members of the family who had been lost in the crowd. Old men and women were being helped along by their relations. The sick were being borne past upon doors or the tops of tables.
Among the fugitives were groups of men from the poorest districts by the river, who were only restrained from snatching at the ornaments112 and caskets of the women by the presence of the soldiers, standing at short intervals113 along the street and at the doors of the principal houses. In spite of the vigilance of the guard, however, such thefts occasionally took place, and the screams that from time to time rose in the side streets told of the work of plunder54 going on there.
"I should like to turn down here and give a lesson to some of these villains," Boduoc said.
"I should like nothing better, Boduoc, but it would not do to get into a fray114 at present. It would only bring up the guard, and they would not be likely to ask many questions as to who was in fault, but would probably assume at once that we, being gladiators, were there for the purpose of robbery, and that the row had arisen over the division of spoil. Look, there is a centurion taking a party of men down the street where we heard those screams. Let us move back a few paces and see what is going to happen. Yes, there is another party of soldiers coming in at the other end. The women are running out of the houses to tell their grievances115."
Small parties of soldiers entered the houses. Shouts and yells could be heard even above the surrounding din. Men jumped from windows or ran out into the street only to be cut down by the troops there, and so each body of soldiers continued to advance until they met in the centre of the street, and then, after a few words between the officers, each party returned by the way it had come. They had done their work, and the street had been completely cleared of the plunderers.
"You see, Boduoc, had we run down there when we heard the cries it would have gone hard with us. The troops certainly spent no time in questioning; the women might have told them, perhaps, that we had come to their assistance; still it is just as well that we keep clear of the matter."
Beric's party skirted along the fire for some distance. At some points to windward of the flames efforts were still being made to prevent their spread, large numbers of men being employed in pulling down houses under the supervision116 of the fire guard. Bodies of troops guarded the entrances to all the streets, and kept back the crowd of sightseers, who had assembled from all parts of the city. Fearing that they might be impressed for the work of demolition117, the Britons returned to the school. The familia, as the members of any school of this kind were called, were all assembled. Scopus was walking moodily118 up and down the gymnasium, but it was evident by the countenances119 of most of the men that they felt a deep satisfaction at the misfortune that had befallen Rome. From time to time Scopus ascended120 to the roof, or sent one of the men out to gather news, but it was always to the same effect, the fire was still spreading, and assuming every hour more serious proportions. Towards evening the flames had approached so closely, that Scopus gave orders for the men to take up the bundles that had already been made up, containing everything of any value in the school.
"You had better not wait any longer," he said; "at any moment there may be orders for all schools to go down to help the troops, and then we should lose everything."
Accordingly the heavy packets were lifted by the men on to their heads or shoulders, and they started for the Palatine, which was the nearest hill. Here were many of the houses of the wealthy, and the owners of most of these had already thrown open their gardens for the use of the fugitives. In one of these the gladiators deposited their goods. Two of the party having been left to guard them the rest went out to view the fire.
There was little sleep in Rome that night. It was now evident to all that this was no local conflagration, but that, if the wind continued to blow, it threatened the entire destruction of a considerable portion of the town. Every space and vantage ground from which a view of the fire could be obtained was crowded with spectators.
"There were great fires when we destroyed Camalodunum, Verulamium, and London," Boduoc said, "but this is already larger than any of those, and it is ever spreading; even at this distance we can hear the roar of the flames, the crash of the falling houses, and the shouts of the workers."
"It is a terrible sight, indeed, Boduoc. It looks like a sea of fire. So far the part involved is one of the oldest and poorest in the city, but if it goes on like this the better quarters will soon be threatened. If we get no special orders tomorrow, we will go down to the house of Norbanus and give what help we can in the removal of his goods. His library is a very valuable one, and its loss would be a terrible blow to him. I remember that at Camalodunum there was nothing I regretted so much as the destruction of the books."
"It is all a matter of taste," Boduoc said. "I would rather have a good suit of armour and arms than all the books in Rome. Why some people should worry their brains to make those little black marks on paper, and others should trouble to make out what they mean, is more than I can understand. However, we shall be glad to help you to carry off the goods of Norbanus."
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1
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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3
aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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4
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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wrestler
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| n.摔角选手，扭 | |
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boxers
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| n.拳击短裤；（尤指职业）拳击手( boxer的名词复数 )；拳师狗 | |
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boxer
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| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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14
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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17
arenas
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| 表演场地( arena的名词复数 )； 竞技场； 活动或斗争的场所或场面； 圆形运动场 | |
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18
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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19
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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20
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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21
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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22
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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23
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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25
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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26
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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28
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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29
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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30
sect
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| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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32
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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33
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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35
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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36
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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37
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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38
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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40
bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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41
patricians
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| n.（古罗马的）统治阶层成员( patrician的名词复数 )；贵族，显贵 | |
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42
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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43
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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44
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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45
jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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47
masonry
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| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
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48
demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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49
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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50
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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51
villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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52
molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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53
bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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54
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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55
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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57
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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58
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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59
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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60
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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61
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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62
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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63
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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64
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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65
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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67
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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68
virgins
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| 处女，童男( virgin的名词复数 )； 童贞玛利亚（耶稣之母） | |
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69
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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70
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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71
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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72
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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73
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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74
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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75
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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76
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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77
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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78
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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79
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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80
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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81
hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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82
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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83
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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84
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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85
passersby
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| n. 过路人(行人,经过者) | |
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86
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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87
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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88
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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89
centurion
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| n.古罗马的百人队长 | |
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90
suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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91
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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92
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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93
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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94
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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95
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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98
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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99
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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100
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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101
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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102
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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103
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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104
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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105
scourged
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| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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106
enjoining
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| v.命令( enjoin的现在分词 ) | |
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107
authorizing
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| 授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 ) | |
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108
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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109
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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110
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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111
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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112
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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113
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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114
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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115
grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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116
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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117
demolition
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| n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹 | |
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118
moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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119
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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