A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Deposition of a Tribune 421
to him and begged him to desist from his veto. As he
would not yield, the votes of the other tribes were taken.
There were thirty-five tribes at this time. The seventeen
which first voted, angrily sustained this motion. If the
eighteenth should do the same, it would make a majority.
Again did Gracchus, in the sight of the people, urgently
importune Octavius in his present extreme danger not to
prevent this most pious work, so useful to Italy, and not
to frustrate the wishes so earnestly entertained by the
people, whose desires he ought rather to share in his
character of tribune, and not risk the loss of his ofiice by
public condemnation.
After speaking thus, he called the
gods to witness that he did not willingly do any despite
to his colleague. But as Octavius was still unyielding, he
went on to take the votes. Octavius was forthwith reduced
to the rank of a private citizen and slunk away unobserved.
The law concerning the land was immediately afterward
carried. . . .
Plutarch,
Tiberius
Gracchus, 13.
II.
Gaius Gracchus
The common opinion is
that Gaius was a pure demagogue
and much more greedy of popular favor than Tiberius.
But in fact the younger brother took part in
public affairs through necessity rather than choice. Cicero
the orator says that Gaius declined all offices and had
determined to live in retirement, but that his brother appeared
to him in a dream and said, " Gaius, why do you
hesitate?
There is no escape—it is our fate to live and die
Gaius
Gracchus.
Plutarch,
Gaius Gracchus,
I.
Ancient
World, 413-6.
for the people."
On entering ofiice (the tribunate) he soon made him- 123 B.C
self first on the board, for he surpassed every Roman
in eloquence, and his misfortunes gave him a license