II. CAICS SEMPRONIUS GRACCIRTS, who was nine years younger than his brother, was possessed. of Lunch greater natural powe'rs, and of more -comprehensive views. His brother's death, which occurred while lie was serving in Spain under Scipio Africanus, deterred him for some years. from entering into public life; and the nobles seeing his great abilities, and fearing his influence with the people, endeavored to keep him as long as possible on foreign service in Sardinia and elsewhere. But at length he unexpectedly returned to Rome, being urged by his brother's shade, as was said, to enter on his great mission. Goaded by the persecution and groundless accusations of his enemies, he stood for the tribuneship, and was elected in 123 B.C. After bringing forward some measures to take vengeance on his brother's murderers, he set himself to carry out the agrarian law, which, though not repealed. had by the machinations of the nobles been kept in abeyance. The two great aims of his legislation—viz., to improve the condition of the poor, and to curtail the power of the senate and nobles—were now prosecuted with the utmost vigor, and with unflinching steadiness of purpose. To develop the resources of Italy, and at the same time to employ the poor, be made new roads throughout all parts of the country, repaired old ones, and erected milestones. By his zeal, and by his unwearied industry in personally carrying out his own measures, even to superintending the execution of the public works, and by his affability and kindly good nature, he gained the esteem and approbation of all men with whom he came in contact. With the equitcs and the pborer classes, lie was in special favor. But
lie at length fell, as his brother had done, by the intrigues of the nobles. One of his colleagues, 31. Livius Drusus, was bribed by the opposite faction, and soon succeeded in undermining the influence of Cants by far surpassing him in time liberality of his public measures. and by his benefits to the commons. Gracchus having stood for the tribuneship a third time, was rejected. Ultimately, by a series of moves, the history of which is too long for our space, violence was employed against Caius and his party— a fearful struggle took place in the streets of Rome, in which 3,000 men are said to have perished. Many others were imprisoned, and afterwards executed. Caius held aloof from the fight, but was at length compelled to seek safety in flight. He escaped to the grove of the furies with a single slave, who first slew his master, and then himself. The people saw, when too late, the folly of which they bad been guilty in abandoning their best friend in the hour .of need, and endeavored to atone for their crime liy erecting . statues to the brothers GracChus, by declaring-sacred the spots where their blood had been shed, and by offering sacrifices to them as to tleities. Gains left a son, whose after fate is unknown.