The Gracchi were brothers, nobly descended, and virtuously educated, but unfortunately too ambitious. Cæsars in short born near a century before their time. They proposed an Agrarian law (Spencean) and to get it passed, struck at the root of that liberty of which they professed themselves the champions, conceiving, perhaps, with other hasty reformers, that the end justified the means. They were murdered with every circumstance of barbarity; Tiberius G. in the midst of his followers, by Scipio Nasica, and Caius G. some time after, by a mob more powerful and more profligate than his own. The hero of this chapter died miserably in banishment at Botany Bay, a just victim to the offended laws of his country. CHAP. XLII. P. 266. The subject of this chapter is well explained by an old Greek ceremony. It was the custom at Athens to introduce at the marriage ceremony a boy who was covered with prickly branches, and the common acorn, and carrying in his hand baskets full of bread; he was taught to exclaim, εφυγον κακον, ευρον αμεινον, as much as to say, I have exchanged the bad, that is, thorns and acorns, for good, or in other words, for bread. Nor is it less to the purpose to add, that these also were the terms used by those who were initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries—εφυγον κακον, ευρον αμεινον. CHAP. XLIII. P. 275. The same subject continued. “There could be no great ones if there were no little.” CHAP. XLIV. P. 282. The same subject. Familiar Epistles. By the way, it is an error to call Cicero’s Epistles, Familiar Epistles. Epistolæ ad familiares, has a distinct meaning. CHAP. XLV. P. 296. A really great man. With a fair wind how steadily and cheerily the vessel scuds along. It is not easy to estimate the value of the help of Theseus; did he not assist Meleager in the destruction of the Caledonian boar? What, without his aid, could Perithous have done in his battle with the Centaurs, or Hercules in his contest with the Amazons? CHAP. XLVI. P. 307. Virgil tells us that Jupiter was so indignant with Esculapius for restoring Hippolitus to life, that he struck him dead with his thunder. Nam Pater Omnipotens aliquem indignatus ab umbris Mortalem infernis ad lumina surgere vitæ, Ipse repertorem medicinæ iratus et artis Flumine Phœbeginam Stygias detrusit ad undas. What rare punishments would he not have devised for the accomplished individuals here recapitulated. CHAP. XLVII. P. 315. The same subject. The first personage who is here introduced might exclaim, Laborum (morborum) Nulla mihi nova nunc facies inopinaque surgit Omnia præcepi atque animo mecum ante peregi.