every year , on her birthday , gladiators would duel for the oft-spoken of , however rare , privilege of being granted a thirty-second audience with her , which would , to their eventual dismay , consist of little more than the opportunity for the blood-soaked victor to bow silently in front of her gigantic throne , before being escorted back to the center of the arena , where he would thereupon be drawn and quartered for the amusement of the spectators .