Greece -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
VIII. As the people extolled him for all these services, and were ready
to show their good will towards him in any way, he said on one occasion
when he was addressing them, that he would ask a favour, which he would
value above everything if it was granted, but if it were refused, he
should not complain. It was accordingly expected that he would ask for
the consulship, and everybody supposed that he would be a candidate for
the consulship and the tribunate at the same time. When the consular
comitia were near, and all were at the highest point of expectation,
Caius appeared conducting Caius Fannius into the Campus Martius, and
canvassing with his friends for Fannius.[102] This gave Fannius a great
advantage. Fannius was elected consul, and Caius tribune for the second
time, though he was neither a candidate nor canvassed, but his election
was entirely due to the zeal of the people. Perceiving, however, that
the senate was clearly opposed to him, and that the kind feeling of
Fannius towards him cooled, he forthwith endeavoured to attach the
people by other measures, by proposing to send colonies to Tarentum and
Capua, and by inviting the Latins to a participation in the Roman
franchise. The senate, fearing that Gracchus would become irresistible,
attempted a new and unusual method of diverting the people from him, by
opposing popular measures to his, and by gratifying the people, contrary
to sound policy. Livius Drusus was one of the colleagues of Caius, a man
by birth and education inferior to none in Rome, and in character,
eloquence, and wealth equal to any who enjoyed either honour or power by
the aid of these advantages. To him accordingly the chief nobles
applied, and they urged him to attack Caius, and to unite with them
against him, not by adopting violent measures, nor coming into collision
with the many, but by a course of administration adapted to please, and
by making such concessions as it would have been honourable to refuse,
even at the risk of unpopularity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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