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by force； sent a messenger to desire a truce； and conditions
of peace。 But they refused to give their confidence to any
one except Tiberius； and required that he should be sent to
treat with them。 This was not only in regard to the young
man's own character； for he had a great reputation amongst
the soldiers； but also in remembrance of his father Tiberius；
who； in his command against the Spaniards； had reduced great
numbers of them to subjection； but granted a peace to the
Numantines； and prevailed upon the Romans to keep it
punctually and inviolably。
Tiberius was accordingly dispatched to the enemy； whom he
persuaded to accept of several conditions； and he himself
complied with others； and by this means it is beyond a
question； that he saved twenty thousand of the Roman
citizens； besides attendants and camp followers。 However；
the Numantines retained possession of all the property they
had found and plundered in the encampment； and amongst other
things were Tiberius's books of accounts； containing the
whole transactions of his quaestorship； which he was
extremely anxious to recover。 And therefore； when the army
were already upon their march； he returned to Numantia；
accompanied with only three or four of his friends； and
making his application to the officers of the Numantines； he
entreated that they would return him his books； lest his
enemies should have it in their power to reproach him with
not being able to give an account of the monies entrusted to
him。 The Numantines joyfully embraced this opportunity of
obliging him； and invited him into the city； as he stood
hesitating； they came up and took him by the hands； and
begged that he would no longer look upon them as enemies； but
believe them to be his friends； and treat them as such。
Tiberius thought it well to consent； desirous as he was to
have his books returned； and was afraid lest he should
disoblige them by showing any distrust。 As soon as he
entered into the city； they first offered him food； and made
every kind of entreaty that he would sit down and eat
something in their company。 Afterwards they returned his
books； and gave him the liberty to take whatever he wished
for in the remaining spoils。 He； on the other hand； would
accept of nothing but some frankincense； which he used in his
public sacrifices； and； bidding them farewell with every
expression of kindness； departed。
When he returned to Rome； he found the whole transaction
censured and reproached； as a proceeding that was base； and
scandalous to the Romans。 But the relations and friends of
the soldiers； forming a large body among the people； came
flocking to Tiberius； whom they acknowledged as the preserver
of so many citizens； imputing to the general all the
miscarriages which had happened。 Those who cried out against
what had been done； urged for imitation the example of their
ancestors； who stripped and handed over to the Samnites not
only the generals who had consented to the terms of release；
but also all the quaestors； for example； and tribunes； who
had in any way implicated themselves in the agreement； laying
the guilt of perjury and breach of conditions on their heads。
But； in this affair； the populace； showing an extraordinary
kindness and affection for Tiberius； indeed voted that the
consul should be stripped and put in irons； and so delivered
to the Numantines； but for the sake of Tiberius； spared all
the other officers。 It may be probable； also； that Scipio；
who at that time was the greatest and most powerful man among
the Romans； contributed to save him； though indeed he was
also censured for not protecting Mancinus too； and that he
did not exert himself to maintain the observance of the
articles of peace which had been agreed upon by his kinsman
and friend Tiberius。 But it may be presumed that the
difference between them was for the most part due to
ambitious feelings； and to the friends and reasoners who
urged on Tiberius； and； as it was； it never amounted to any
thing that might not have been remedied； or that was really
bad。 Nor can I think that Tiberius would ever have met with
his misfortunes； if Scipio had been concerned in dealing with
his measures； but he was away fighting at Numantia； when
Tiberius； upon the following occasion； first came forward as
a legislator。
Of the land which the Romans gained by conquest from their
neighbors； part they sold publicly； and turned the remainder
into common； this common land they assigned to such of the
citizens as were poor and indigent； for which they were to
pay only a small acknowledgment into the public treasury。
But when the wealthy men began to offer larger rents； and
drive the poorer people out； it was enacted by law； that no
person whatever should enjoy more than five hundred acres of
ground。 This act for some time checked the avarice of the
richer； and was of great assistance to the poorer people； who
retained under it their respective proportions of ground； as
they had been formerly rented by them。 Afterwards the rich
men of the neighborhood contrived to get these lands again
into their possession； under other people's names； and at
last would not stick to claim most of them publicly in their
own。 The poor； who were thus deprived of their farms； were
no longer either ready； as they had formerly been； to serve
in war； or careful in the education of their children；
insomuch that in a short time there were comparatively few
freemen remaining in all Italy； which swarmed with workhouses
full of foreign…born slaves。 These the rich men employed in
cultivating their ground； of which they dispossessed the
citizens。 Caius Laelius； the intimate friend of Scipio；
undertook to reform this abuse； but meeting with opposition
from men of authority； and fearing a disturbance； he soon
desisted； and received the name of the Wise or the Prudent；
both which meanings belong to the Latin word Sapiens。
But Tiberius； being elected tribune of the people； entered
upon that design without delay； at the instigation； as is
most commonly stated； of Diophanes； the rhetorician； and
Blossius； the philosopher。 Diophanes was a refugee from
Mitylene； the other was an Italian； of the city of Cuma； and
was educated there under Antipater of Tarsus； who afterwards
did him the honor to dedicate some of his philosophical
lectures to him。 Some have also charged Cornelia； the mother
of Tiberius； with contributing towards it； because she
frequently upbraided her sons； that the Romans as yet rather
called her the daughter of Scipio； than the mother of the
Gracchi。 Others again say Spurius Postumius was the chief
occasion。 He was a man of the same age with Tiberius； and
his rival for reputation as a public speaker； and when
Tiberius； at his return from the campaign； found him to have
got far beyond him in fame and influence； and to be much
looked up to； he thought to outdo him； by attempting a
popular enterprise of this difficulty； and of such great
consequence。 But his brother Caius has left it us in
writing； that when Tiberius went through Tuscany to Numantia；
and found the country almost depopulated； there being hardly
any free husbandmen or shepherds； but for the most part only
barbarian； imported slaves； he then first conceived the
course of policy which in the sequel proved so fatal to his
family。 Though it is also most certain that the people
themselves chiefly excited his zeal and determination in the
prosecution of it； by setting up writings upon the porches；
walls； and monuments； calling upon him to reinstate the poor
citizens in their former possessions。
However； he did not draw up his law without the advice and
assistance of those citizens that were then most eminent for
their virtue and authority； amongst whom were Crassus； the
high…priest； Mucius Scaevola； the lawyer； who at that time
was consul； and Claudius Appius； his father…in…law。 Never
did any law appear more moderate and gentle； especially being
enacted against such great oppression and avarice。 For they
who ought to have been severely punished for transgressing
the former laws； and should at least have lost all their
titles to such lands which they had unjustly usurped； were
notwithstanding to receive a price for quitting their
unlawful claims； and giving up their lands to those fit
owners who stood in need of help。 But though this
reformation was managed with so much tenderness； that； all
the former transactions being passed over； the people were
only thankful to prevent abuses of the like nature for the
future； yet； on the other hand； the moneyed men； and those of
great estates were exasperated； through their covetous
feelings against the law itself； and against the law giver；
through anger and party spirit。 They therefore endeavored to
seduce the people； declaring that Tiberius was designing a
general redivision of lands； to o