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TIBERIUS GRACCHUS
Having completed the first two narratives； we now may proceed
to take a view of misfortunes； not less remarkable； in the
Roman couple； and with the lives of Agis and Cleomenes；
compare these of Tiberius and Caius。 They were the sons of
Tiberius Gracchus； who； though he had been once censor； twice
consul； and twice had triumphed； yet was more renowned and
esteemed for his virtue than his honors。 Upon this account；
after the death of Scipio who overthrew Hannibal； he was
thought worthy to match with his daughter Cornelia； though
there had been no friendship or familiarity between Scipio
and him； but rather the contrary。 There is a story told；
that he once found in his bedchamber a couple of snakes； and
that the soothsayers； being consulted concerning the prodigy；
advised； that he should neither kill them both nor let them
both escape； adding； that if the male serpent was killed；
Tiberius should die； and if the female； Cornelia。 And that；
therefore； Tiberius； who extremely loved his wife； and
thought； besides； that it was much more his part； who was an
old man； to die； than it was hers； who as yet was but a young
woman； killed the male serpent； and let the female escape；
and soon after himself died； leaving behind him twelve
children borne to him by Cornelia。
Cornelia； taking upon herself all the care of the household
and the education of her children； approved herself so
discreet a matron； so affectionate a mother； and so constant
and noble…spirited a widow； that Tiberius seemed to all men
to have done nothing unreasonable； in choosing to die for
such a woman； who； when king Ptolemy himself proffered her
his crown； and would have married her； refused it； and chose
rather to live a widow。 In this state she continued； and
lost all her children； except one daughter； who was married
to Scipio the younger； and two sons； Tiberius and Caius；
whose lives we are now writing。
These she brought up with such care； that though they were
without dispute in natural endowments and dispositions the
first among the Romans of their time； yet they seemed to owe
their virtues even more to their education than to their
birth。 And as； in the statues and pictures made of Castor
and Pollux； though the brothers resemble one another； yet
there is a difference to be perceived in their countenances；
between the one； who delighted in the cestus； and the other；
that was famous in the course； so between these two noble
youths； though there was a strong general likeness in their
common love of fortitude and temperance； in their liberality；
their eloquence； and their greatness of mind； yet in their
actions and administrations of public affairs； a considerable
variation showed itself。 It will not be amiss； before we
proceed； to mark the difference between them。
Tiberius； in the form and expression of his countenance； and
in his gesture and motion； was gentle and composed； but
Caius； earnest and vehement。 And so； in their public
speeches to the people； the one spoke in a quiet orderly
manner； standing throughout on the same spot； the other would
walk about on the hustings； and in the heat of his orations；
pull his gown off his shoulders； and was the first of all the
Romans that used such gestures； as Cleon is said to have been
the first orator among the Athenians that pulled off his
cloak and smote his thigh； when addressing the people。
Caius's oratory was impetuous and passionate； making
everything tell to the utmost； whereas Tiberius was gentle；
rather； and persuasive； awakening emotions of pity。 His
diction was pure； and carefully correct； while that of Caius
was vehement and rich。 So likewise in their way of living；
and at their tables； Tiberius was frugal and plain； Caius；
compared with other men temperate and even austere； but
contrasting with his brother in a fondness for new fashions
and rarities； as appears in Drusus's charge against him； that
he had bought some silver dolphins； to the value of twelve
hundred and fifty drachmas for every pound weight。
The same difference that appeared in their diction； was
observable also in their tempers。 The one was mild and
reasonable； the other rough and passionate； and to that
degree； that often； in the midst of speaking； he was so
hurried away by his passion； against his judgment； that his
voice lost its tone； and he began to pass into mere abusive
talking； spoiling his whole speech。 As a remedy to this
excess； he made use of an ingenious servant of his； one
Licinius； who stood constantly behind him with a sort of
pitch…pipe； or instrument to regulate the voice by； and
whenever he perceived his master's tone alter； and break with
anger； he struck a soft note with his pipe； on hearing which；
Caius immediately checked the vehemence of his passion and
his voice； grew quieter； and allowed himself to be recalled
to temper。 Such are the differences between the two
brothers； but their valor in war against their country's
enemies； their justice in the government of its subjects；
their care and industry in office； and their self…command in
all that regarded their pleasures were equally remarkable in
both。
Tiberius was the elder by nine years； owing to which their
actions as public men were divided by the difference of the
times in which those of the one and those of the other were
performed。 And one of the principal causes of the failure of
their enterprises was this interval between their careers；
and the want of combination of their efforts。 The power they
would have exercised； had they flourished both together；
could scarcely have failed to overcome all resistance。 We
must therefore give an account of each of them singly； and
first of the eldest。
Tiberius； immediately on his attaining manhood； had such a
reputation； that he was admitted into the college of the
augurs； and that in consideration more of his early virtue
than of his noble birth。 This appeared by what Appius
Claudius did； who； though he had been consul and censor； and
was now the head of the Roman senate； and had the highest
sense of his own place and merit； at a public feast of the
augurs； addressed himself openly to Tiberius； and with great
expressions of kindness； offered him his daughter in
marriage。 And when Tiberius gladly accepted； and the
agreement had thus been completed； Appius； returning home； no
sooner had reached his door； but he called to his wife and
cried out in a loud voice； 〃O Antistia； I have contracted our
daughter Claudia to a husband。〃 She； being amazed； answered；
〃But why so suddenly； or what means this haste？ Unless you
have provided Tiberius Gracchus for her husband。〃 I am not
ignorant that some apply this story to Tiberius； the father
of the Gracchi； and Scipio Africanus； but most relate it as
we have done。 And Polybius writes； that after the death of
Scipio Africanus； the nearest relations of Cornelia；
preferring Tiberius to all other competitors； gave her to him
in marriage； not having been engaged or promised to anyone
by her father。
This young Tiberius； accordingly； serving in Africa under the
younger Scipio； who had married his sister； and living there
under the same tent with him； soon learned to estimate the
noble spirit of his commander； which was so fit to inspire
strong feelings of emulation in virtue and desire to prove
merit in action； and in a short time he excelled all the
young men of the army in obedience and courage； and he was
the first that mounted the enemy's wall； as Fannius says； who
writes； that he himself climbed up with him； and was partaker
in the achievement。 He was regarded； while he continued with
the army； with great affection； and left behind him on his
departure a strong desire for his return。
After that expedition； being chosen paymaster； it was his
fortune to serve in the war against the Numantines； under the
command of Caius Mancinus； the consul； a person of no bad
character； but the most unfortunate of all the Roman
generals。 Notwithstanding； amidst the greatest misfortunes；
and in the most unsuccessful enterprises； not only the
discretion and valor of Tiberius； but also； which was still
more to be admired； the great respect and honor which he
showed for his general； were most eminently remarkable；
though the general himself； when reduced to straits； forgot
his own dignity and office。 For being beaten in various
great battles； he endeavored to dislodge by night； and leave
his camp； which the Numantines perceiving； immediately
possessed themselves of his camp； and pursuing that part of
the forces which was in flight； slew those that were in the
rear； hedged the whole army in on every side； and forced them
into difficult ground； whence there could be no possibility
of an escape。 Mancinus； despairing to make his way through
by force； sent a messenger to desire a truce； and conditio