and turned furiously on the Gracchan party, and, it is alleged, accused Caius of complicity with the revolt. [Sidenote:  Caius Gracchus accused of treason.  He stands for the tribunate.] It was rash provocation to give to such a man at such a time.  If he was accused, he was acquitted, and he at once stood for the tribunate.  Thus the party which had slain his brother found itself again at death-grips with an even abler and more implacable foe.

[Sidenote:  Prominence of Gracchus at home and abroad.] There is no doubt that for some time past Caius Gracchus, young as he was, and having as yet filled none of the regular high offices, had had the first place in all men’s thoughts.  His first speech had been received by the people with wild delight.  He was already the greatest orator in Rome.  His importance is shown by the Senate’s actually prolonging the consul’s command, in order to keep his quaestor longer abroad.  But his friends were consoled for his absence by the stories they heard of the respect shown to him by foreign nations.  The Sardinians would not grant supplies to Orestes, and the Senate approved their refusal.  But Gracchus interposed, and they voluntarily gave what they had before appealed against.  Micipsa, son of Masinissa, also sent corn to Orestes, but averred that it was out of respect to Gracchus.  The Senate’s fears and the esteem of foreigners were equally just.  What the life of Gracchus was in Sardinia he has himself told us; and from the implied contrast we may judge what was the life of the nobles of the time. [Sidenote:  His description of the life of a noble.] ’My life,’ he said to the people, ’in the province was not planned to suit my ambition, but your interests.  There was no gormandising with me, no handsome slaves in waiting, and at my table your sons saw more seemliness than at head-quarters.  No man can say without lying that I ever took a farthing as a present or put anyone to expense.  I was there two years; and if a single courtesan ever crossed my doors, or if proposals from me were ever made to anyone’s slave-pet, set me down for the vilest and most infamous of men.  And if I was so scrupulous towards slaves, you may judge what my life must have been with your sons.  And, citizens, here is the fruit of such a life.  I left Rome with a full purse and have brought it back empty.  Others took out their wine jars full of wine, and brought them back full of money.’

Such was the man who now came back to Rome to demand from the aristocracy a reckoning for which he had been yearning with undying passion for nearly ten years.  An exaggerated contrast between him and Tiberius at the expense of the latter has been previously condemned.  The man who originates is always so far greater than the man who imitates, and Caius only followed where his brother led.  He was not greater than but only like his brother in his bravery, in his culture, in the faculty of inspiring in his friends strong enthusiasm and devotion, in his unswerving