nd hooted him and his companions, there was a power and
a vigour among them which was altogether lacking at home. Under the
influence of excitement the populace there was capable of rising
and asserting themselves, but their general demeanour was that of
subservience to the wealthy and powerful.

The tyranny of the senate weighed on the people, the numerous secret
denunciations and arrests inspired each man with a mistrust of his
neighbour, for none could say that he was safe from the action of secret
enemies. The Romans, on the other hand, were no respecters of persons.
Every free citizen deemed himself the equal of the best; the plebeians
held their own against the patricians, and could always return one of
the consuls, generally selecting the man who had most distinguished
himself by his hostility to the patricians.

The tribunes, whose power in Rome was nearly equal to that of the
consuls, were almost always the representatives and champions of the
plebeians, and their power balanced that of the senate, which was
entirely in the interests of the aristocracy. Malchus was reflecting
over these things in the prison, when the door of his cell opened and
Sempronius, accompanied by two soldiers, entered. The former addressed
him in Greek.

"Follow me," he said. "You have been appointed by my father, the praetor
Caius, to be the domestic slave of the lady Flavia Gracchus, until such
time as the senate may determine upon your fate."

As Carthage also enslaved prisoners taken in war Malchus showed
no surprise, although he would have preferred labouring upon the
fortifications with his men to domestic slavery, however light the
latter might be. Without a comment, then, he rose and accompanied
Sempronius from his prison.

Domestic slavery in Rome was not as a whole a severe fate. The masters,
indeed, had the power of life and death over their slaves, they could
flog and ill use them as they chose; but as a rule they treated them
well and kindly.

The Romans were essentially a domestic people, kind to their wives, and
affectionate, although sometimes strict, with their children. The
slaves were treated as the other servants; and, indeed, with scarce an
exception, all servants were slaves. The rule was easy and the labour
by no means hard. Favourite slaves were raised to positions of trust and
confidence, they frequently amassed considerable sums of money, and were
often granted their freedom after faithful services.