Romans: Into the arena

Into the arena,
Mask and mime and drama,
Audience all round there,
Waiting for the show.
Tragedy and comedy
And poetry performed there,
Into the arena, go!

Into the arena,
Chariots and horses,
Teams of different colours
Red, white, blue and green.
Round the Circus Maximus
They race around in danger,
Who's the fastest to be seen?

Into the arena,
Cruelty and horror,
Animals displayed there
Hunted till they die,
Antelope and elephant
And lion, bear and leopard,
Into the arena, why?

Into the arena,
Gladiators fighting,
Locked in mortal combat
Fighting to the death.
Wrestling with weaponry
And nets and shields and armour,
Struggling for their final breath.

Into the arena,
Mask and mime and drama,
Audience all round there,
Waiting for the show.
Tragedy and comedy
And poetry performed there,
Into the arena, go!

Into the arena, go…!
Into the arena, go…!.
Into the arena, go…!
Into the arena, go…!