1^80 On th€ list and Abuse of 



nunc fit : cum vero soiiics ferro depugnabant, 

 auribus fortassc multa?, oculis quidem nulla 

 pGtcrat esse fortior contra dolorem & mortem 

 4isciplina." — "The shews of gladiators to some 

 persons may seem barbarous and inhuman : 

 and I don^t know as the case now stands that 

 the censure is unjust : — But when only guilty 

 persons were the combatants, the ear might 

 rcceive better instruction — it is impossible, 

 however, that any lesson to the eye can better 

 fortify the mind against the assaults of grief 

 and death/* A ridiculous and inhuman as- 

 sertion (an eloquent historian exclaims) ad- 

 mirably confuted by the bravery of ancient 

 Greece and modem Europe. 



-Indeed so little was the practice connected 

 with military ardour and true courage, that 

 before its establishment the Romans were, 

 perhaps, more distinguished for bravery, stea- 

 diness of discipline and contempt of death, 

 than at any subsequent period of their history. 

 It is, however, certain, that in proportion 

 to the frequency and extent of these blopi^ly 

 exhibitions, did the military valour and dis- 

 cipline of the Romans sink into a state of 

 degradation and contempt. — " After subsisting 

 a period of 600 years" (according to the re- 

 mark of Gibbon), " Honorius gave the final 

 blow to this inveterate abuse, which d^- 



