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About This Poem
I CHOOSE DEATH
today, I choose death
Caesar, behold true courage
this trained slave salutes no gods
my shield will not lift
citizens, you are cowards
the bravest fight Fortuna
no barbarian
never a mere murmillo
more than beast or spectacle
my heart hammers peace
come, combatant, spill my blood
one sword will know gore no more
About this poem
Most gladiators were not freemen, but slaves, treated like cattle, used like chess pieces. Julius Caesar owned over 300 gladiators and enjoyed the bloodsport. The gladiator games would open with “Those who are about to die salute you”. Fortuna is the Roman goddess of fate and luck, good and bad. A murmillo is a type of gladiator.
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