>>15944870Look at this painting.
The defeated man is a prisoner. He is young and his muscles are lean and tawt. He pleads to the vestal virgins as if they were gods, because it is THEIR pity that will save him, not that of the man standing over him.
The victor is the true slave. He is old. He is fat. His muscles sag. He has been doing this for a long time. He may or may not also be a prisoner. (Perhaps he is kept in the dungeons, or perhaps he has a 9-5 and does this for kicks on the weekends). It does not matter. He still looks to the virgins, also as if they were gods, to make his decision for him. If they command it, he will kill the other man without thought; or release him without thought. He does not think for himself. He is the true slave.
