At that period, besides other and more ordinary dangers, the
bands of gladiators, kept in the pay of the more ambitious amongst the
Roman nobles, gave a popular tone of ferocity and of personal risk to the
course of such contests; and either to forestall the victory of an
antagonist, or to avenge their own defeat, it was not at all impossible
that a body of incensed competitors might intercept his final triumph by
assassination. For this danger, however, he had no leisure in his thoughts
of consolation; the sole danger which _he_ contemplated, or supposed
his mother to contemplate, was the danger of defeat, and for that he
reserved his consolations. He bade her fear nothing; for that without
doubt he would return with victory, and with the ensigns of the dignity he
sought, or would return a corpse.
Early indeed did Caesar's trials commence; and it is probable, that, had
not the death of his father, by throwing him prematurely upon his own
resources, prematurely developed the masculine features of his character,
forcing him whilst yet a boy under the discipline of civil conflict and
the yoke of practical life, even _his_ energies would have been
insufficient to sustain them.
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