Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/518

510 TIBERIUS GRACCHUS. ferring Tiberius to all other competitors, gave her to him in marriage, not having been engaged or promised to any one by her father. This young Tiberius, accordingly, serving in Africa under the younger Scipio, who had married his sister, and living there under the same tent with him, soon learned to estimate the noble spirit of his commander, which was so fit to inspire strong feelings of emulation in virtue and desire to prove merit in action, and in a short time he excelled all the young men of the army in obedience and courage ; and he was the first that mounted the ene- my's wall, as Fannius says, who writes, that he himself climbed up with him, and was partaker in the achieve- ment. He was regarded, while he continued with the army, with great affection ; and left behind him on his departure a strong desire for his return. After that expedition, being chosen paymaster, it was his fortune to serve in the war against the Numantines, under the command of Caius Mancinus, the consul, a per- son of no bad character, but the most unfortunate of all the Roman generals. Notwithstanding, amidst the great- est misfortunes, and in the most unsuccessful enterprises, not only the discretion and valor of Tiberius, but also, which was still more to be admired, the great respect and honor which he showed for his general, were most eminently remarkable; though the general himself, when reduced to straits, forgot his own dignity and office. For being beaten in various great battles, he endeavored to dislodge by night, and leave his camp ; which the Numantines perceiving, immediately possessed them- selves of his camp, and pursuing that part of the forces which was in flight, slew those that were in the rear, hedged the whole army in on every side, and forced them into difficult ground, whence there could be no possibility of an escape. Mancinus, despairing to make his way through by force, sent a messenger to desire a