Tiberius and Caius Gracchus

By accident, however, it happened that the lot fell on him to go to Sardinia as quaestor for Orestes the consul.[*](In 126 B.C.) This gave pleasure to his enemies, and did not annoy Caius. For he was fond of war, and quite as well trained for military service as for pleading in the courts. Moreover, he still shrank from public life and the rostra, but was unable to resist the calls to this career which came from the people and his friends. He was therefore altogether satisfied with this opportunity of leaving the city.

And yet a strong opinion prevails that he was a demagogue pure and simple, and far more eager than Tiberius to win the favour of the multitude. But this is not the truth; nay, it would appear that he was led by a certain necessity rather than by his own choice to engage in public matters.

And Cicero the orator also relates[*](De div. 1. 26, 56) that Caius declined all office and had chosen to live a quiet life, but that his brother appeared to him in a dream and addressed him, saying: Why, pray, dost thou hesitate, Caius? There is no escape; one life is fated for us both, and one death as champions of the people.

After reaching Sardinia, then, Caius gave proof of every excellence, and far surpassed all the other young men in conflicts with the enemy, in just dealings with the subject peoples, and in the good will and respect which he showed towards his commander, while in self-restraint, frugality, and industry, he excelled even his elders.