Nero and Commodus, it will be remembered, devoted themselves to the chariot.

Ben-Hur arose and forced a passage down nearly to the railing in front of the lower seat of the stand.

His face was earnest, his manner eager.
And directly the whole person of the driver was in view.

A companion rode with him, in classic description a Myrtilus, permitted men of high estate indulging their passion for the race-course.

Ben-Hur could see only the driver, standing erect in the chariot, with the reins passed several times round his body--a handsome figure, scantily covered by a tunic of light-red cloth; in the right hand a whip; in the other, the arm raised and lightly extended, the four lines.