Gracchus died early, and Cornelia, his widow, devoted herself to the cause of his three children, refusing to be married again, which was very uncommon in a Roman lady.  When a lady asked her to show her her ornaments, she called her two boys, Tiberius and Caius, and their sister Sempronia, and said, “These are my jewels;” and when she was complimented on being the daughter of Africanus, she said that the honor she should care more for was the being called “the mother of the Gracchi.”

It was not, however, one of her sons that was chosen to carry on their grandfather’s name and the sacrifices of the Cornelian family.  Probably Caius was not born when Scipio died, for his choice had been the second son of his sister and of Lucius AEmilius Paulus (son of him who died at Cannae.) This child being adopted by his uncle, was called Publius Cornelius Scipio AEmilianus, and when he grew up was to marry his cousin Sempronia.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXI.

THE CONQUEST OF GREECE, CORINTH, AND CARTHAGE.

179—­145.

It was a great change when Rome, which to the Greeks of Pyrrhus’ time had seemed so rude and simple, was thought such a school of policy that Greek and half-Greek kings sent their sons to be educated there, partly as hostages for their own peaceableness, and partly to learn the spirit of Roman rule.  The first king who did this was Philip of Macedon, who sent his son Demetrius to be brought up at Rome; but when he came back, his father and brother were jealous of him, and he was soon put to death.

When his brother Perseus came to the throne, there was hatred between him and the Romans, and ere long he was accused of making war on their allies.  He offered to make peace, but they replied that they would hear nothing till he had laid down his arms, and this he would not do, so that Lucius AEmilius Paulus (the brother-in-law of Scipio) was sent to reduce him.  As AEmilius came into his own house after receiving the appointment, he met his little daughter crying, and when he asked her what was the matter, she answered, “Oh, father, Perseus is dead!” She meant her little dog, but he kissed her and thanked her for the good omen.  He overran Macedon, and gained the great battle of Pydna, after which Perseus was obliged to give himself up into the hands of the Romans, begging, however, not to be made to walk in AEmilius’ triumph.  The general answered that he might obtain that favor from himself, meaning that he could die by his own hand; but Perseus did not take the hint, which seems to us far more shocking than it did to a Roman; he did walk in the triumph, and died a few years after in Italy.  AEmilius’ two sons were with him throughout this campaign, though still boys under Polybius, their Achaian tutor.  Macedon was divided into four provinces, and became entirely subject to Rome.

[Illustration:  CORINTH.]