Aboutthirty—twoyearsbeforethatevent，theemperorSeverus，returningfromaneasternexpedition，haltedinThrace，tocelebrate，withmilitarygames，thebirthdayofhisyoungerson，Geta。Thecountryflockedincrowdstobeholdtheirsovereign，andayoungbarbarianofgiganticstatureearnestlysolicited，inhisrudedialect，thathemightbeallowedtocontendfortheprizeofwrestling。AstheprideofdisciplinewouldhavebeendisgracedintheoverthrowofaRomansoldierbyaThracianpeasant，hewasmatchedwiththestoutestfollowersofthecamp，sixteenofwhomhesuccessivelylaidontheground。
Hisvictorywasrewardedbysometriflinggifts，andapermissiontoenlistinthetroops。Thenextday，thehappybarbarianwasdistinguishedaboveacrowdofrecruits，dancingandexultingafterthefashionofhiscountry。Assoonasheperceivedthathehadattractedtheemperor\'snotice，heinstantlyranuptohishorse，andfollowedhimonfoot，withouttheleastappearanceoffatigue，inalongandrapidcareer。\"Thracian，\"saidSeveruswithastonishment，\"artthoudisposedtowrestleafterthyrace?\"
\"Mostwillingly，sir，\"repliedtheunweariedyouth；and，almostinabreath，overthrewsevenofthestrongestsoldiersinthearmy。Agoldcollarwastheprizeofhismatchlessvigorandactivity，andhewasimmediatelyappointedtoserveinthehorseguardswhoalwaysattendedonthepersonofthesovereign。
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[Footnote2:Hist。Augustp。138。]