There is something in Nature very unaccountable on such Occasions, when we see the People take a certain painful Gratification in beholding these Encounters.  Is it Cruelty that administers this Sort of Delight?  Or is it a Pleasure which is taken in the Exercise of Pity?  It was methought pretty remarkable, that the Business of the Day being a Tryal of Skill, the Popularity did not run so high as one would have expected on the Side of Buck.  Is it that People’s Passions have their Rise in Self-Love, and thought themselves (in spite of all the Courage they had) liable to the Fate of Miller, but could not so easily think themselves qualified like Buck?

Tully speaks of this Custom with less Horrour than one would expect, though he confesses it was much abused in his Time, and seems directly to approve of it under its first Regulations, when Criminals only fought before the People.

’Crudele Gladiatorum spectaculum et inhumanum nonnullis videri solet; et haud scio annon ita sit ut nunc fit; cum vero sontes ferro depugnabant, auribus fortasse multa, oculis quidem nulla, poterat esse fortior contra dolorem et mortem disciplina.

The Shows of Gladiators may be thought barbarous and inhumane, and I know not but it is so as it is now practised; but in those Times when only Criminals were Combatants, the Ear perhaps might receive many better Instructions, but it is impossible that any thing which affects our Eyes, should fortifie us so well against Pain and Death.’ [3]

T.

[Footnote 1:  See note on p. 118, vol. i. [Footnote 2 of No. 31.]]

[Footnote 2:  John Sparkes of Coventry has this piece of biography upon his tombstone: 

’To the memory of Mr. John Sparkes, a native of this city; he was a man of a mild disposition, a gladiator by profession, who, after having fought 350 battles in the principal parts of Europe with honour and applause, at length quitted the stage, sheathed his sword, and, with Christian resignation, submitted to the grand victor in the 52nd year of his age.

    Anno salutis humanae, 1733.’

Serjeant James Miller afterwards became a captain, and fought in Scotland, under the Duke of Cumberland in 1745.]

[Footnote 3:  Tuscul.  Quaest. lib.  II., De Tolerando Dolore.]

* * * * *

No. 437.  Tuesday, July 22, 1712.

  ’Tune impune haec facias?  Tune hic homines adolescentulos
  Imperitos rerum, eductos libere, in fraudem illicis? 
  Sollicitando, et pollicitando eorum animos lactas? 
  Ac meritricios amores nuptiis conglutinas?’

  Ter.  And.