Not know that there in a stone-built arena They drive them at each other, and that slaves Are hounded on them, who for life or death Must face them in the fight, and they the while Circled around upon high benches sit All jubilant when wounds of death are gaping And when the red blood spurts on sprinkled sand? SAMEAS. Such things the wildest fancy of my dreaming Ne’er showed me; but it joys my very soul If such they do. It fits the breed o’ them! (_With raised hands._) Lord, Thou art great; and though Thy will vouchsafe The heathen life, he must requite the gift By payment to Thee of a gruesome tribute. Thou dost chastise him as he uses others. Such games I could well see! ALEX. Your wish will find Fruition soon as Herod comes again. He plans to introduce them. SAMEAS. Never, never! ALEX. That’s what I said to you. Why not? We have Lions enough for sure. The mountain herd Will be rejoiced to see their tale diminished By saving many kine and many calves.[7] SAMEAS. To raise no other point, where would he find The fighters? In our folk there are no slaves Bound to his beck and call for life or death. ALEX. The first I see before me. SAMEAS. What? ALEX. For sure! You will, as now, twist up your angry face, Forget yourself, perhaps, and clench the fists, Set eyes at rolling and the teeth at gnashing If spared to witness that high day on which, August, as Solomon of yore the Temple, He consecrates the heathenish arena. This will not slip his eyes, and for reward He passes you a signal that you enter And show to the assembled folk your powers When you stand face to face against a lion Who’d been whole days before made sharp with hunger. But since among our folk there’s lack of slaves, The death-devoted criminals must needs Supply their place; and who’s more death-devoted Than he who openly defies the King? SAMEAS. He may---- ALEX. Dispel your doubts! It would go ill If he should lose his head before his time. There would be projects nipped along with him That Pompey, who with brazen heathendom Dared the approach unto the Holy of Holies, Himself might---- SAMEAS (_breaking out_). Antony, if thou’lt but grip him; A whole year’s space I vow I will not curse thee! And if thou dost it not--then good, we’re ready! ALEX. He says that if our folk were not ordained To mix with others, then had we this earth-ball From God received for our sole dwelling-portion. SAMEAS. He says so? ALEX.