British Manly Exercises

282 T R A I N I N G . relative condition, as effected by training, atthe hour of trial. Training wasknown to the ancients, who paid much attention to the means of augmenting corporeal vigour and activity. Accordingly, amongthe Greeks and Romans, certain rules of exercise and regimen were prescribed to the candidates for gymnastic celebrity. We are assured, that, among the Greeks, previouslyto the solemn contestsat the public games, the strictest tem­ perance, sobriety, and regularity in living, were indispen­ sably requisite. The canditates were,at the same time, subjected to daily exercise in the gymnasium,which con­ tinued duringten months, andwhich, with the prescribed regimen, constitutedthe preparatory training adopted by the athletae of Greece. Among the Romans, the exercises of the palaestra de­ generated from the rank of a liberal art, and became a profession, which was embraced only by the lowest of mankind; the exhibitions ofthe gladiators being bloody and ferocious spectacles, which evinced the barbarous taste of the people. The combatants, however, were regularly trained by proper exercise, and a strict observance of regimen. Among them, pure and salubrious air wasdeemed a chief requisite; and, accordingly, the principal schoolsof their athletae were establishedat Capua and Ravenna, the most healthy placesin Italy. Previously to entering on this regimen, the athletae were subjected to the evacuating process, by means of emetics, whichthey preferred to purgatives.