rown into an uproar on the
mere mention of its name. The nobles indeed sought to temporize, and
to prevail by patience and address; sometimes calling out the army,
sometimes opposing another tribune to the one who was promoting the law,
and sometimes coming to a compromise by sending a colony into the lands
which were to be divided; as was done in the case of the territory of
Antium, whither, on a dispute concerning the law having arisen, settlers
were sent from Rome, and the land made over to them. In speaking of
which colony Titus Livius makes the notable remark, that hardly any
one in Rome could be got to take part in it, so much readier were the
commons to indulge in covetous schemes at home, than to realize them by
leaving it.

The ill humour engendered by this contest continued to prevail until the
Romans began to carry their arms into the remoter parts of Italy and
to countries beyond its shores; after which it seemed for a time to
slumber--and this, because the lands held by the enemies of Rome, out of
sight of her citizens and too remote to be conveniently cultivated, came
to be less desired. Whereupon the Romans grew less eager to punish their
enemies by dividing their lands, and were content, when they deprived
any city of its territory, to send colonists to occupy it. For causes
such as these, the measure remained in abeyance down to the time of the
Gracchi; but being by them revived, finally overthrew the liberty of
Rome. For as it found the power of its adversaries doubled, such a flame
of hatred was kindled between commons and senate, that, regardless of
all civil restraints, they resorted to arms and bloodshed. And as the
public magistrates were powerless to provide a remedy, each of the two
factions having no longer any hopes from them, resolved to do what it
could for itself, and to set up a chief for its own protection. On
reaching this stage of tumult and disorder, the commons lent their
influence to Marius, making him four times consul; whose authority,
lasting thus long, and with very brief intervals, became so firmly
rooted that he was able to make himself consul other three times.
Against this scourge, the nobles, lacking other defence, set themselves
to favour Sylla, and placing him at the head of their faction, entered
on the civil wars; wherein, after much blood had been spilt, and after
many changes of fortune, they got the better of their adversaries. But
afterwards, in the time of Caesar an