Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/519

TIHERIUS GRACCHUS. 511 truce, and conditions of peace. But they refused to give their confidence to any one except Tiberius, and required that he should be sent to treat with them. This was not only in regard to the young man's own character, for he had a great reputation amongst the soldiers, but also in remembrance of his father Tiberius, who, in his command against the Spaniards, had reduced great numbers of them to subjection, but granted a peace to the Numantines, and prevailed upon the Romans to keep it punctually and inviolably. Tiberius was accordingly despatched to the enemy, whom he persuaded to accept of several conditions, and he himself complied with others ; and by this means it is beyond a question, that he saved twenty thousand of the Roman citizens, besides attendants and camp followers. However, the Numantines retained possession of all the property they had found and plundered in the encamp- ment ; and amongst other things were Tiberius's books of accounts, containing the whole transactions of his quoastorship, which he was extremely anxious to recover. And therefore, when the army were already upon their march, he returned to Numantia, accompanied with only three or four of his friends ; and making his application to the officers of the Numantines, he entreated that they would return him his books, lest his enemies should have it in their power to reproach him with not being able to give an account of the moneys intrusted to him. The Numantines joyfully embraced this opportunity of oblig- ing him, and invited him into the city ; as he stood hesi- tating, they came up and took him by the hands, and begged that he would no longer look upon them as ene- mies, but believe them to be his friends, and treat them as such. Tiberius thought it well to consent, desirous as he was to have his books returned, and was afraid lest he should disoblige them by showing any distrust. As