BOOK VII.] History of Nature. 203 



seen to spit ; and Pomponius the Poet, a Consular Man, who 

 never belched. Such as naturally have their Bones solid, 

 who are seldom met with, are called Cornel (hard as Horn). 



CHAPTER XX. 

 Of Strength and Swiftness. 1 



VARRO, in his Treatise of prodigious Strength, maketh 

 Report of Tritanus, who was little in Person, but of incom- 

 parable Strength, much renowned in the Gladiatorial Play, 

 with the Armature of the Samnites. He maketh mention 

 also of a Son of his, a Soldier under Pompey the Great ; and 

 that he had all over his Body, as well as through his Arms 

 and Hands, Sinews running straight and across like Net- 

 work : and when an Enemy challenged him to a Combat, 

 he overcame him with his right Hand unarmed, and in the 

 End caught hold of him, and brought him into the Camp 

 with one Finger. Junius Valens, a Centurion in the Praeto- 

 rium of Divus Augustus, was accustomed to bear up Waggons 

 laden with Sacks, until they were discharged : with one Hand 

 he would hold back a Chariot, standing firm against all the 

 Force of the Horses. He did also other wonderful Things, 

 which are to be seen engraved on his Tomb : and therefore 

 Varro saith that being called Hercules Rusticellus, he took 

 up his Mule and carried him away. Fusius Salvius carried 

 up over the Stairs two hundred Pounds' weight on his Feet, 

 as many in his Hands, and twice as much upon his Shoul- 

 ders. Myself have seen a Man named Athanatus, with a 

 great deal of Ostentation walk upon the Stage clothed in a 



1 It is observable that in this, and chap, xxiii., Pliny's instances apply 

 only to animal endurance. Martial took a more correct view of the mental 

 property, when he said : 



" Rebus in angustis facile est contemnere vitam : 

 Fortiter ille facit, qui miser esse potest." B. xi. Ep. 35. 



When Fortune frowns, 'tis easy life to hate ; 

 But real courage is not crush'd by fate. 



Wem. Club. 



