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.