Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/547

CAIUS GRACCHUS. 539 the world ; yet if it were denied, he would never blame them for the refusal. This expression made the world believe that his ambition was to be consul; and it was generally expected that he wished to be both consul and tribune at the same time. When the day for election of consuls was at hand, and all in great expectation, he appeared in the Field with Caius Fannius, canvassing together with his friends for his election. This was of great effect in Fannius's favor. He was chosen consul, and Caius elected tribune the second time, without his own seeking or petitioning for it, but at the voluntary motion of the people. But when he understood that the senators were his declared enemies, and that Fannius him- self was none of the most zealous of friends, he began again to rouse the people with other new laws. He pro- posed that a colony of Roman citizens might be sent to re-people Tarentum and Capua, and that the Latins should enjoy the same privileges with the citizens of Rome. But the senate, apprehending that he would at last grow too powerful and dangerous, took a new and unusual course to alienate the people's affections from him, by playing the demagogue in opposition to him, and offering favors con- trary to all good policy. Livius Drusus was fellow- tribune with Caius, a person of as good a family and as well educated as any amongst the Romans, and noways inferior to those who for their eloquence and riches were the most honored and most powerful men of that time. To him, therefore, the chief senators made their applica- tion, exhorting him to attack Caius, and join in their con- federacy against him ; which they designed to carry on, not by using any force, or opposing the common people, but by gratifying and obliging them with such unreason- able things as otherwise they would have felt it honorable for them to incur the greatest unpopularity in resisting. Livius offered to serve the senate with his authority in