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                 THE COMPARISON OF TIBERIUS AND CAIUS GRACCHUS
                            WITH AGIS AND CLEOMENES

                                  by Plutarch

                           translated by John Dryden



  HAVING given an account severally of these persons; it remains
only that we should take a view of them in comparison with one
another。
  As for the Gracchi; the greatest detractors and their worst
enemies could not but allow that they had a genius to virtue beyond
all other Romans; which was improved also by a generous education。
Agis and Cleomenes may be supposed to have had stronger natural gifts;
since; though they wanted all the advantages of good education; and
were bred up in those very customs; manners; and habits of living
which had for a long time corrupted others; yet they were public
examples of temperance and frugality。 Besides; the Gracchi;
happening to live when Rome had her greatest repute for honour and
virtuous actions; might justly have been ashamed; if they had not also
left to the next generation the noble inheritance of the virtues of
their ancestors。 Whereas the other two had parents of different
morals; and though they found their country in a sinking condition;
and debauched; yet that did not quench their forward zeal to what
was just and honourable。
  The integrity of the two Romans; and their superiority to money; was
chiefly remarkable in this: that in office and the administration of
public affairs; they kept themselves from the imputation of unjust
gain; whereas Agis might justly be offended if he had only that mean
commendation given him; that he took nothing wrongfully from any
man; seeing he distributed his own fortunes which; in ready money
only; amounted to the value of six hundred talents; amongst his
fellow…citizens。 Extortion would have appeared a crime of a strange
nature to him; who esteemed it a piece of covetousness to possess;
though never so justly gotten; greater riches than his neighbours。
  Their political actions; also; and the state revolutions they
attempted; were very different in magnitude。 The chief things in
general that the two Romans commonly aimed at; were the settlement
of cities and mending of highways; and; in particular; the boldest
design which Tiberius is famed for; was the recovery of the public
lands; and Caius gained his greatest reputation by the addition; for
the exercise of judiciary powers; of three hundred of the order of
knights to the same number of senators。 Whereas the alteration which
Agis and Cleomenes made was in a quite different kind。 They did not
set about removing partial evils and curing petty incidents of
disease; which would have been (as Plato says) like cutting off one of
the Hydra's heads; the very means to increase the number; but they
instituted a thorough reformation; such as would free the country from
all its grievances; or rather; to speak more truly; they reversed that
former change which had been the cause of all their calamities; and so
restored their city to its ancient state。
  However; this must be confessed in the behalf of the Gracchi; that
their undertakings were always opposed by men of the greatest
influence。 On the other side; those things which were first
attempted by Agis; and afterwards consummated by Cleomenes; were
supported by the great and glorious precedent of those ancient laws
concerning frugality and levelling which they had themselves
received upon the authority of Lycurgus; and he had instituted on that
of Apollo。 It is also further observable; that from the actions of the
Gracchi; Rome received no additions to her former greatness;
whereas; under the conduct of Cleomenes; Greece presently saw Sparta
exert her sovereign power over all Peloponnesus; and contest the
supreme command with the most powerful princes of the time; success in
which would have freed Greece from Illyrian and Gaulish violence;
and placed her once again under the orderly rule of the sons of
Hercules。
  From the circumstances of their deaths; also; we may infer some
difference in the quality of their courage。 The Gracchi; fighting with
their fellow…citizens; were both slain as they endeavoured to make;
their escape; Agis willingly submitted to his fate; rather than any
citizen should be in danger of his life。 Cleomenes; being shamefully
and unjustly treated; made an effort toward revenge; but failing of
that; generously fell by his own hand。
  On the other side it must be said; that Agis never did a great
action worthy a commander; being prevented by an untimely death。 And
as for those heroic actions of Cleomenes; we may justly compare with
them that of Tiberius; when he was the first who attempted to scale
the walls of Carthage; which was no mean exploit。 We may add the peace
which he concluded with the Numantines; by which he saved the lives of
twenty thousand Romans; who otherwise had certainly been cut off。
And Caius; not only at home; but in war in Sardinia; displayed
distinguished courage。 So that their early actions were no small
argument that afterwards they might have rivalled the best of the
Roman commanders; if they had not died so young。
  In civil life; Agis showed a lack of determination; he let himself
be baffled by the craft of Agesilaus; disappointed the expectations of
the citizens as to the division of the lands; and generally left all
the designs; which he had deliberately formed and publicly
announced; unperformed and unfulfilled through a young man's want of
resolution。 Cleomenes; on the other hand; proceeded to effect the
revolution with only too much boldness and violence; and unjustly slew
the Ephors whom he might; by superiority in arms; have gained over
to his party; or else might easily have banished; as he did several
others of the city。 For to use the knife; unless in the extremest
necessity; is neither good surgery nor wise policy; but in both
cases mere unskillfulness; and in the latter; unjust as well as
unfeeling。 Of the Gracchi; neither the one nor the other was the first
to shed the blood of his fellow…citizens; and Caius is reported to
have avoided all manner of resistance; even when his life was aimed
at; showing himself always valiant against a foreign enemy; but wholly
inactive in a sedition。 This was the reason that he went from his
own house unarmed; and withdrew when the battle began; and in all
respects showed himself anxious rather not to do any harm to others;
than not to suffer any himself。 Even the very flight of the Gracchi
must not be looked upon as an argument of their mean spirit; but an
honourable retreat from endangering of others。 For if they had stayed;
they must either have yielded to those who assailed them; or else have
fought them in their own defence。
  The greatest crime that can be laid to Tiberius's charge was the
deposing of his fellow tribune; and seeking afterwards a second
tribuneship for himself。 As for the death of Antyllius; it is
falsely and unjustly attributed to Caius; for he was slain unknown
to him; and much to his grief。 On the contrary; Cleomenes (not to
mention the murder of the Ephors) set all the slaves at liberty; and
governed by himself alone in reality; having a partner only for
show; having made choice of his brother Euclidas; who was one of the
same family。 He prevailed upon Archidamus; who was the right heir to
the kingdom of the other line; to venture to return home from Messene;
but after his being slain; by not doing anything to revenge his death;
confirmed the suspicion that he was privy to it himself。 Lycurgus;
whose example he professed to imitate; after he had voluntarily
settled his kingdom upon Charillus; his brother's son; fearing lest;
if the youth should chance to die by accident; he might be suspected
for it; travelled a long time; and would not return again to Sparta
until Charillus had a son; and an heir to his kingdom。 But we have
indeed no other Grecian who is worthy to be compared with Lycurgus;
and it is clear enough that in the public measures of Cleomenes
various acts of considerable audacity and lawlessness may be found。
  Those; therefore; who incline to blame their characters may observe;
that the two Grecians were disturbers even from their youth; lovers of
contest; and aspirants to despotic power; that Tiberius and Caius by
nature had an excessive desire after glory and honours。 Beyond this;
their enemies could find nothing to bring against them; but as soon as
the contention began with their adversaries; their heat and passions
would so far prevail beyond their natural temper; that by them; as
by ill winds; they were driven afterwards to all their rash
undertakings。 What could be more just and honourable than their
first design; had not the power and the faction of the rich; by
endeavouring to abrogate that law; engaged them both in those fatal
quarrels; the one; for his own preservation; the other; to revenge his
brother's death; who was murdered without any law or justice?
  From the account; therefore; which has been given; you yourself
may perceive the difference; which if it were to be pronounced of
every one singly; I should affirm Tiberius to have excelled them all
in virtue; that young Agis had been guilty of the fewest misdeeds; and
that in action and boldness Caius came far short of Cleomenes。




                              THE END

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