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divided。 These were Tiberius himself； Claudius Appius； his
father…in…law； and his brother； Caius Gracchus； who at this
time was not at Rome； but in the army under the command of
Scipio Africanus before Numantia。 These things were
transacted by Tiberius without any disturbance； none daring
to offer any resistance to him； besides which； he gave the
appointment as tribune in Octavius's place； not to any person
of distinction； but to a certain Mucius； one of his own
clients。 The great men of the city were therefore utterly
offended； and； fearing lest he should grow yet more popular；
they took all opportunities of affronting him publicly in the
senate house。 For when he requested； as was usual； to have a
tent provided at the public charge for his use； while
dividing the lands； though it was a favor commonly granted to
persons employed in business of much less importance； it was
peremptorily refused to him； and the allowance made him for
his daily expenses was fixed to nine obols only。 The chief
promoter of these affronts was Publius Nasica； who openly
abandoned himself to his feelings of hatred against Tiberius；
being a large holder of the public lands； and not a little
resenting now to be turned out of them by force。 The people；
on the other hand； were still more and more excited； insomuch
that a little after this； it happening that one of Tiberius's
friends died suddenly； and his body being marked with
malignant…looking spots； they ran； in tumultuous manner； to
his funeral； crying aloud that the man was poisoned。 They
took the bier upon their shoulders； and stood over it； while
it was placed on the pile； and really seemed to have fair
grounds for their suspicion of foul play。 For the body burst
open； and such a quantity of corrupt humors issued out； that
the funeral fire was extinguished； and when it was again
kindled； the wood still would not burn； insomuch that they
were constrained to carry the corpse to another place； where
with much difficulty it took fire。 Besides this； Tiberius；
that he might incense the people yet more； put himself into
mourning； brought his children amongst the crowd； and
entreated the people to provide for them and their mother； as
if he now despaired of his own security。
About this time； king Attalus； surnamed Philometor； died； and
Eudemus； a Pergamenian； brought his last will to Rome； by
which he had made the Roman people his heirs。 Tiberius； to
please the people； immediately proposed making a law； that
all the money which Attalus left； should be distributed
amongst such poor citizens as were to be sharers of the
public lands； for the better enabling them to proceed in
stocking and cultivating their ground； and as for the cities
that were in the territories of Attalus； he declared that the
disposal of them did not at all belong to the senate； but to
the people； and that he himself would ask their pleasure
herein。 By this he offended the senate more than ever he had
done before； and Pompeius stood up； and acquainted them that
he was the next neighbor to Tiberius； and so had the
opportunity of knowing that Eudemus； the Pergamenian； had
presented Tiberius with a royal diadem and a purple robe； as
before long he was to be king of Rome。 Quintus Metellus also
upbraided him； saying； that when his father was censor； the
Romans； whenever he happened to be going home from a supper；
used to put out all their lights； lest they should be seen to
have indulged themselves in feastings and drinking at
unseasonable hours； whereas； now； the most indigent and
audacious of the people were found with their torches at
night； following Tiberius home。 Titus Annius； a man of no
great repute for either justice or temperance； but famous for
his skill in putting and answering questions； challenged
Tiberius to the proof by wager； declaring him to have deposed
a magistrate who by law was sacred and inviolable。 Loud
clamor ensued； and Tiberius； quitting the senate hastily；
called together the people； and summoning Annius to appear；
was proceeding to accuse him。 But Annius； being no great
speaker； nor of any repute compared to him； sheltered himself
in his own particular art； and desired that he might propose
one or two questions to Tiberius； before he entered upon the
chief argument。 This liberty being granted； and silence
proclaimed； Annius proposed his question。 〃If you；〃 said he；
〃had a design to disgrace and defame me； and I should apply
myself to one of your colleagues for redress； and he should
come forward to my assistance； would you for that reason fall
into a passion； and depose him？〃 Tiberius； they say； was so
much disconcerted at this question； that； though at other
times his assurance as well as his readiness of speech was
always remarkable； yet now he was silent and made no reply。
For the present he dismissed the assembly。 But beginning to
understand that the course he had taken with Octavius had
created offense even among the populace as well as the
nobility； because the dignity of the tribunes seemed to be
violated； which had always continued till that day sacred and
honorable； he made a speech to the people in justification of
himself； out of which it may not be improper to collect some
particulars； to give an impression of his force and
persuasiveness in speaking。 〃A tribune；〃 he said； 〃of the
people； is sacred indeed； and ought to be inviolable； because
in a manner consecrated to be the guardian and protector of
them； but if he degenerate so far as to oppress the people；
abridge their powers； and take away their liberty of voting；
he stands deprived by his own act of his honors and
immunities； by the neglect of the duty； for which the honor
was bestowed upon him。 Otherwise we should be under the
obligation to let a tribune do his pleasure； though he should
proceed to destroy the capitol or set fire to the arsenal。
He who should make these attempts； would be a bad tribune。
He who assails the power of the people； is no longer a
tribune at all。 Is it not inconceivable； that a tribune
should have power to imprison a consul； and the people have
no authority to degrade him when he uses that honor which he
received from them； to their detriment？ For the tribunes； as
well as the consuls； hold office by the people's votes。 The
kingly government； which comprehends all sorts of authority
in itself alone； is morever elevated by the greatest and most
religious solemnity imaginable into a condition of sanctity。
But the citizens； notwithstanding this； deposed Tarquin； when
he acted wrongfully； and for the crime of one single man； the
ancient government under which Rome was built； was abolished
forever。 What is there in all Rome so sacred and venerable
as the vestal virgins； to whose care alone the preservation
of the eternal fire is committed？ yet if one of these
transgress； she is buried alive； the sanctity which for the
gods' sakes is allowed them； is forfeited when they offend
against the gods。 So likewise a tribune retains not his
inviolability； which for the people's sake was accorded to
him； when he offends against the people； and attacks the
foundations of that authority from whence he derived his own。
We esteem him to be legally chosen tribune who is elected
only by the majority of votes； and is not therefore the same
person much more lawfully degraded； when by a general consent
of them all； they agree to depose him？ Nothing is so sacred
as religious offerings； yet the people were never prohibited
to make use of them； but suffered to remove and carry them
wherever they pleased； so likewise； as it were some sacred
present； they have lawful power to transfer the tribuneship
from one man's hands to another's。 Nor can that authority be
thought inviolable and irremovable which many of those who
have held it； have of their own act surrendered； and desired
to be discharged from。〃
These were the principal heads of Tiberius's apology。 But
his friends； apprehending the dangers which seemed to
threaten him； and the conspiracy that was gathering head
against him； were of opinion； that the safest way would be
for him to petition that he might be continued tribune for
the year ensuing。 Upon this consideration； he again
endeavored to secure the people's good…will with fresh laws；
making the years of serving in the war fewer than formerly；
granting liberty of appeal from the judges to the people； and
joining to the senators； who were judges at that time； an
equal number of citizens of the horsemen's degree；
endeavoring as much as in him lay to lessen the power of the
senate； rather from passion and partisanship than from any
rational regard to equity and the public good。 And when it
came to the question； whether these laws should be passed；
and they perceived that the opposite party were strongest；
the people as yet being not got together in a full body； they
bega