Fox of France

The Petersen Theater was packed with people, and everyone was waiting for the premiere of "Spartacus". As a theater located near the St. Antoine district, the Petersen Theater is not large in scale, and the backstage is very narrow, and Amon added a singing team to the script for the soundtrack and chorus. These people can't hide in the backstage at all-the backstage is outside the changing room, and some musical instruments have been stuffed, which is already full. There was no other way, Amon had no choice but to arrange the singing team in the auditorium. The auditorium of the Peterson Theater is also not big, it only has more than 300 seats, and there are no boxes at all. The singing team occupied more than 20 seats, resulting in no more than 300 seats in the auditorium.

Of course, there are advantages to having such a small theater, that is, it is particularly easy to be full. Amon has been bragging about his new script for a long time, and he has a wide range of friends, dozens of his friends have come, plus some people mobilized by his friends, plus Amon from the Duke of Orleans There was a little sponsorship there, so he announced that the premiere would be free of tickets. As a result, the Petersen Theater, which originally could only accommodate 300 people, squeezed in about 600 people in one go, and more people wanted to squeeze in. In order to let them in, the theater manager simply decided to remove all the seats in the theater and let everyone stand. But because there is no charge, the entire theater is still packed. Coupled with the fact that the common people at the bottom do not pay much attention to etiquette, the whole theater was as lively as a vegetable market. An aunt even squeezed in with a hen just bought from the market.

"Spartacus" began in such a commotion. At the beginning of the first act, Spartacus led a small team of gladiators and another team of gladiators led by his friend Enomay confronted each other in the arena. On the other side, the host of the gladiatorial event announced: "The generous Crassus has decided that in this battle, the winner who kills the enemy will become a free man!" Immediately afterwards, for "freedom", the two teams fought Standing up, people kept falling down, and soon, only Spartacus and Enomayi were still standing. However, Enomayi was already injured at this time, so he could barely stand, and his small shield was also lost in the previous battle, which made it almost impossible for him to fight effectively. His rival, and best friend Spartacus, was barely hurt. The outcome seems to have lost suspense.

"Kill him, kill him!" cried the actor playing the gladiatorial audience.

"Spartacus, come on, kill me, and you will be free." Enomayi knew that even in her best condition, she probably wasn't Spartacus, who had already won the battle in the arena. The opponent of the guy who has won more than a hundred times. What's more, he was already injured at this time.

"There are not many opportunities like this," Enomayi said, "It's rare that Crassus is generous, otherwise, your new master, Akzien's stingy temper, missed this opportunity, and you will be killed again." There will be no chance of becoming a free man. If I were you, I would never let this chance go."

"No," said Spartacus, "I will not kill my friends. If I would swing my sword at my friends, I would be a citizen of Rome now."

After saying this, Spartacus ignored the shouts around him, sheathed his sword, and turned to leave.

"Kill him! Or you'll be whipped!" someone yelled.

"You despicable slave!" Someone yelled.

"I knew he was a sissy!" one audience member sneered. Amon's friend Louie played the role of Spartacus in the premiere. His figure is fine, but his face is too handsome, even a bit like a girl, so it seems that he is not suitable for the role of Spartacus A role like Kex.

"Go to hell!" Enomayi yelled suddenly, brandishing a short sword and staggering towards Spartacus whose back was facing him.

With a slight flash, Spartacus passed Enomayi's sword, and at the same time hit Enomayi's chest with his elbow. Enomayi dropped his dagger and fell down in pain. on the ground.

"Kill me!" Enomayi gasped.

"No, I won't fall for your tricks. I won't swing a sword at a friend."

In the next scene, a scourged Spartacus is with the other surviving gladiators who ask him why he didn't kill Enomay so he could go free. Spartacus still replied with "I don't swing a sword at my friends". But another gladiator, Kress, pointed out coldly that his persistence would be useless, because Enomayi would soon die in the next gladiatorial fight for the entertainment of the public: "It is said that there are very few gladiators who can There is a chance to become a free man, or to leave the arena. But I have never seen such a lucky one. Even, except for you, Spartacus, I have never seen a gladiator who can live for three years .Spartacus, you are an invincible warrior who has won more than a hundred battles, whether against men or tigers, but do you really think you can survive in the arena?"

This made everyone silent, and finally someone said: "Unless we escape!"

"But who can lead us to flee?" asked another.

In the second act, Spartacus escaped from the gladiator school with a group of gladiators. They tried to flee north and escape from Rome, but Roman soldiers kept chasing them. Many gladiators died while fleeing, and finally they had to turn south and hide in the mountains of Vesuvius.

On the way to escape, Spartacus came to a conclusion, that is: "Slaves cannot really be free just by escaping. There is true freedom. Our goal should not be to try to escape the Roman soldiers, but to destroy Rome and free all the slaves. Only when all the slaves are free can we truly achieve our own freedom!"

When Spartacus said these words to the remaining dozens of exhausted companions, in the background, the orchestra began to play the melody of Joseph's new battle song, first of all, the low and tragic prelude, then Like a low-hanging dark cloud before a storm comes, it weighs down heavily. Then the gloomy first theme began to play, the music was calm and firm, and at the end of each measure, there would be a heavy accent, like heavy raindrops falling from the sky, or rumbling drums of war.

In the sound of the music, Spartacus's speech continued: "I know, my friends, my brothers, you will have doubts, you will say, 'There are so many soldiers in Rome, they are well-trained. Well-equipped, well-organized, with so few of us, how can we fight against the whole of Rome?"

But I say, fear not, my brothers, what have we to fear? We have nothing to fear! For what could be more painful, more terrible than the life we ​​live through? We live like pigs and are trampled like dirt. What is there to fear for us? Is there anything else we can lose? Is there anything else in our life that is worth nostalgic for?

Friends, brothers, if we have anything to lose in battle, the only thing we can lose is the chains that bind us, but once we win, what we win will be the whole world! A brand new world where no one can oppress and enslave people anymore! Take heart, my brothers, it is Rome that should be feared, the slave masters, the vampires! We, we need not be afraid! "

The theater fell silent. Those uneducated low-class people stopped talking. They all stared longingly at the actor who played Spartacus, listened to his sonorous speech, and nodded silently. Someone whispered: "True, we, we are not kings, we are not nobles, what have we but chains? What have we to fear?"

The remaining gladiators regained their spirits. Since then, they have continued to attack nearby manors to liberate the slaves there, and the escaped slaves from other areas have also fled to Vesuvius. Spartacus and his friends have continuously won new victories. Now their team It has reached thousands of people. Spartacus' friend Enomayi also joined the rebel army during this time. Under the auspices of Spartacus, the slaves even established a real democratic system based on the equality of all people.

"This is really, this is really wonderful, it's like a dream." An audience member couldn't help but whispered under the stage.

"It's almost like an archangel is speaking. I kind of understand how they cast a girl as a general," said another viewer.

"Isn't it? I dare say that even God's heaven can't be better than this." Another audience also responded in a low voice. Then he hurriedly drew the sign of the cross on his chest, "Lord, please forgive me."

"All people are equal, there are no nobles, no privileged classes, that's good. But men and women are equal... Can women be allowed to overwhelm men?" Some people said.

But then the plot became tense again. In order to destroy them, Rome sent an officer named Claudius, with three thousand well-equipped soldiers, to encircle them. With the assistance of local slave owners, these guys entered Vesuvius. The rebel army, lacking weapons and supplies, could hardly stop the Roman soldiers in a frontal battle. They retreated steadily and were finally surrounded by a steep mountain. In front of them are Roman soldiers waiting in battle, and behind them are cliffs. Spartacus and his rebel army seem to have reached a desperate situation. Even Kress said, "It seems that this will be the last period of my life. Fortunately, during this period, I am a free man."

But in a desperate situation, a female slave named Agnipe proposed a way: "There are many wild vines on this mountain. We can weave these vines into ropes, and then you men can slide down the mountain along these ropes." Go and attack those Roman soldiers from behind."

"Hmph, I looked down on women just now, without our women, it's just you stupid men..." The aunt who was still holding a chicken in her hand couldn't help but said.

Spartacus took Agnipe's advice, and he led his soldiers down the mountain at night using these ropes, and then launched a surprise attack from behind, crushing the Roman army in one fell swoop. Spartacus waved his short sword and led the slaves to chase the Roman soldiers. He shouted: "Brothers, sing our song!"

So amidst the deep and majestic music, the slaves on the stage sang this song:

"

Debout!

Debout! les forats de la faim..."