History of Julius Caesar | Page 7

each in
his turn, all that opposed them. Mankind have always execrated their
crimes, but have never ceased to admire the frightful and almost
superhuman energy with which they committed them.
CHAPTER II.
CAESAR'S EARLY YEARS.
[Sidenote: Caesar's resolution.]
Caesar does not seem to have been much disheartened and depressed
by his misfortunes. He possessed in his early life more than the usual
share of buoyancy and light-heartedness of youth, and he went away
from Rome to enter, perhaps, upon years of exile and wandering, with a
determination to face boldly and to brave the evils and dangers which
surrounded him, and not to succumb to them.
[Sidenote: His person and character.]
Sometimes they who become great in their maturer years are thoughtful,
grave, and sedate when young. It was not so, however, with Caesar. He
was of a very gay and lively disposition. He was tall and handsome in
his person, fascinating in his manners, and fond of society, as people
always are who know or who suppose that they shine in it. He had

seemed, in a word, during his residence at Rome, wholly intent upon
the pleasures of a gay and joyous life, and upon the personal
observation which his rank, his wealth, his agreeable manners and his
position in society secured for him. In fact, they who observed and
studied his character in these early years, thought that, although his
situation was very favorable for acquiring power and renown, he would
never feel any strong degree of ambition to avail himself of its
advantages. He was too much interested, they thought, in personal
pleasures ever to become great, either as a military commander or a
statesman.
[Sidenote: Sylla's estimation of Caesar.] [Sidenote: Caesar's friends
intercede for him.]
Sylla, however, thought differently. He had penetration enough to
perceive, beneath all the gayety and love of pleasure which
characterized Caesar's youthful life, the germs of a sterner and more
aspiring spirit, which, he was very sorry to see, was likely to expend its
future energies in hostility to him. By refusing to submit to Sylla's
commands, Caesar had, in effect, thrown himself entirely upon the
other party, and would be, of course, in future identified with them.
Sylla consequently looked upon him now as a confirmed and settled
enemy. Some friends of Caesar among the patrician families interceded
in his behalf with Sylla again, after he had fled from Rome. They
wished Sylla to pardon him, saying that he was a mere boy and could
do him no harm. Sylla shook his head, saying that, young as he was, he
saw in him indications of a future power which he thought was more to
be dreaded than that of many Mariuses.
[Sidenote: Caesar's studies.] [Sidenote: His ambition to be an orator.]
One reason which led Sylla to form this opinion of Caesar was, that the
young nobleman, with all his love of gayety and pleasure, had not
neglected his studies, but had taken great pains to perfect himself in
such intellectual pursuits as ambitious men who looked forward to
political influence and ascendency were accustomed to prosecute in
those days He had studied the Greek language, and read the works of
Greek historians; and he attended lectures on philosophy and rhetoric,

and was obviously interested deeply in acquiring power as a public
speaker. To write and speak well gave a public man great influence in
those days. Many of the measures of the government were determined
by the action of great assemblies of the free citizens, which action was
itself, in a great measure, controlled by the harangues of orators who
had such powers of voice and such qualities of mind as enabled them to
gain the attention and sway the opinions of large bodies of men.
[Sidenote: The Forum.] [Sidenote: Its porticoes and statues.] [Sidenote:
Attractions of the Forum.]
It most not be supposed, however, that this popular power was shared
by all the inhabitants of the city. At one time, when the population of
the city was about three millions the number of free citizens was only
three hundred thousand. The rest were laborers, artisans, and slaves,
who had no voice in public affairs. The free citizens held very frequent
public assemblies. There were various squares and open spaces in the
city where such assemblies were convened, and where courts of justice
were held. The Roman name for such a square was forum. There was
one which was distinguished above all the rest, and was called
emphatically The Forum. It was a magnificent square, surrounded by
splendid edifices, and ornamented by sculptures and statues without
number. There were ranges of porticoes along the sides, where the
people were sheltered from the weather when necessary, though it is
seldom that there is any necessity for shelter under an Italian