undertaken by Flavius, one of the tribunes for the year 60 B.C., who proposed in Pompey's interest an Agrarian Law. Cicero acted in a wise and statesmanlike manner. He suggested amendments in the proposal to make it more workable, and then gave the measure his support. In the month 60 B.C.of March he writes[1]: "The chief political news is that an Agrarian Law is being vigorously pushed by the tribune Flavius, backed by Pompey; nothing in it is popular except its backer. Out of this bill, with full assent of the meeting, I cut all the clauses which infringed on vested interests; I exempted all the land which had been public property in the tribuneship of Tiberius Gracchus[2]; I confirmed Sulla's grantees in their holdings, and left in full possession the people of Volaterra and Arretium, whose lands Sulla had confiscated but never parcelled out. One principle of the bill, however, I accepted, namely, that land for distribution should be purchased out of the wind-fall which the Treasury will have in the income to be derived during the next five years from the newly acquired sources of revenue. But the Senate sets itself in opposition to the principle of any Agrarian Law whatever, under the idea that some new power for Pompey is designed. Pompey on his side puts all his energies into carrying the bill."
The struggle over this question was enlivened by a ludicrous episode.[3] The consul Metellus carriedPage:Cicero And The Fall Of The Roman Republic.djvu/214
182
Cicero's Ideal Party.
[60 B.C.
