“Ave, Cæsar imperator! Morituri te salutant!”
Then they pushed apart quickly, occupying their places on the arena. They were to attack one another in whole detachments; but first it was permitted the most famous fencers to have a series of single combats, in which the strength, dexterity, and courage of opponents were best exhibited. In fact, from among the Gauls appeared a champion, well known to lovers of the amphitheatre under the name of Lanio, a victor in many games. With a great helmet on his head, and in mail which formed a ridge in front of his powerful breast and behind, he looked in the gleam of the golden arena like a giant beetle. The no less famous retiarius Calendio came out against him.
Among the spectators people began to bet.
“Five hundred sestertia on the Gaul!”
“Five hundred on Calendio!”
“By Hercules, one thousand!”
“Two thousand!”
Meanwhile the Gaul, reaching the centre of the arena, began to withdraw with pointed sword, and, lowering his head, watched his opponent carefully through the opening of his visor; the light retiarius, stately, statuesque, wholly naked save a belt around his loins, circled quickly about his heavy antagonist, waving the net with graceful movement, lowering or raising his trident, and singing the usual song of the retiarius,—
“Non te peto, piscem peto; Quid me fugis, Galle?”
[“I seek not thee, I seek a fish; Why flee from me O Gaul?”]