Long ago the Gladiators, br When the call to combat came, br Marching past the massed spectators, br Hailed the Emp'ror with acclaim! br Voices ringing with the fury br Of the strife so soon to be, br Cried, "O Caesar, morituri br salutamus te!" br br Nowadays the massed spectators br See the unaccustomed sight -- br Legislative gladiators br Marching to their last great fight; br Young and old, obscure and famous, br Hand to hand and knee to knee -- br Hear the war-cry, "Salutamus br morituri te!" br br Fight! Nor be the fight suspended br Till the corpses strew the plain. br Ere the grisly strife be ended br Five and thirty must be slain. br Slay and spare not, lest another br Haply may discomfit thee: br Brother now must war with brother -- br "Salutamus te!" br br War-torn vet'ran, skilled debater, br Trickster famed of bridge and road, br Now for each grim gladiator br Gapes Oblivion's drear abode.