Caius Marius

However, this opinion was quickly modified by another political procedure of his. For when a law was introduced providing for the distribution of grain to the citizens, he opposed it most strenuously and carried the day, thereby winning for himself an equal place in the esteem of both parties as a man who favoured neither at the expense of the general good.

After his tribuneship, he became a candidate for the higher aedileship. For there are two classes of aediles, one taking its name of curule from the chairs with curving feet on which the magistrates sit in the exercise of their functions, the other, and the inferior, being called plebeian. When the superior aediles have been elected, the people cast a second vote for the others.

Accordingly, when it was clear that Marius was losing his election to the higher office, he immediately changed his tactics and applied for the other. But men thought him bold and obstinate, and he was defeated; nevertheless, although he had met with two failures in one day, a thing which had never happened to any candidate before, he did not lower his assurance in the least, but not long afterwards became a candidate for the praetorship[*](In 115 B.C. ) and narrowly missed defeat; he was returned last of all, and was prosecuted for bribery.