Tiberius and Caius Gracchus

The differences between them, then, were of this nature; but as regards bravery in the face of the enemy, just dealings with subject peoples, scrupulous fidelity in public office, and restraint in pleasurable indulgence, they were exactly alike. Tiberius, however, was nine years older than his brother; and this set a different period for the political activity of each, and more than anything else vitiated their undertakings. They did not rise to eminence at the same time, and so did not combine their powers into one. Such an united power would have proved irresistibly great. We must therefore give an account of each by himself and of the elder first.

Tiberius, then, as soon as he got past boyhood, was so widely known as to be thought worthy of a place among the priests called Augurs; and this was due to his virtues rather than to his excellent birth, as was clearly shown by Appius Claudius. For Appius, who had been consul and censor, had been made Dean of the Roman senate[*](Princeps Senatus.) by virtue of his dignity, and in loftiness of spirit far surpassed his contemporaries, at a banquet of the augurs[*](Presumably at the induction of Tiberius into office.) addressed Tiberius with words of friendship, and asked him to become the husband of his daughter.

Tiberius gladly accepted the invitation, and the betrothal was thus arranged, and when Appius returned home, from the doorway where he stood he called his wife and cried in a loud voice: Antistia, I have betrothed our Claudia. And Antistia, in amazement, said: Why so eager, or why so fast? If thou hadst only found Tiberius Gracchus for betrothal to her!

I am aware that some[*](Cf. Livy. xxxviii. 57. ) refer this story to Tiberius the father of the Gracchi and Scipio Africanus Major, but the majority of writers tell it as I do, and Polybius says[*](Cf. Polybius, xxxii. 13. ) that after the death of Scipio Africanus the relatives of Cornelia chose out Tiberius in preference to all others and gave her to him, as one who had been left by her father unaffianced and unbetrothed.

The younger Tiberius, accordingly, serving in Africa under the younger Scipio,[*](In the campaign of 146 B.C., which ended with the destruction of Carthage.) who had married his sister, and sharing his commander’s tent, soon learned to understand that commander’s nature (which produced many great incentives towards the emulation of virtue and its imitation in action), and soon led all the young men in discipline and bravery;