WHen vainglorious Tarquine Tarquin banished . the last of the Romaine kings for the shamefull rape of Lucrece committed by one of his sonnes , was banished from Rome & Consuls succeeded , which as the name declares , had charge of prouiding for the common safetie & securitie , the Romaines changed gold for brasse , and loathing one king suffered manie tyrants , scourging their follie with their fall , and curing a festred sore with a poisoned plaister : for what could be more vniust , or more contrarie to the free estate of a citie , then to subiect the whole common weale to the rule of manie potentates , and to exclude the people from all right and interest in publique affaires ? What could be more absurd then the Senators onely to bestow the Consulship , the soueraigntie in warres , the supremacie in superstitious offices , according to their fancie and affection , to call Senates at their pleasure , to conuocate assemblies when it seemed best for their owne profite , and to haue power of life and death vpon the bodies of their fellow citizens , & the people to liue like their slaues , being barred and restrained from marrying with the daughter of anie Senatour , as if that pray had bene too high for so low a wing , and being held in such disdaine and disreputation that common fellowship and mutuall societie was denied them , which was indeede not to liue like free men in a citie , but like villaines and bondmen in a wainscot prison , and like sillie birds in a golden cage : but when after long experience they had found , that winter succeeded sommer , & that the withered welfare of their citie could not be reuiued without some fortunate spring : to the intent that moderation might be induced , and that the meaner sort might beare some stroke with the mightier , that the people might enioy the sweete of the citie as well as the fathers , they procured a new office entituled the Tribuneship , whereby they might protect themselues as with a shield against the arrogant endeuors and outragious decrees of the Senatours , and then the fellowship of mariage was brought in with the Senate , which before was prohibited the people , as if they had bene stained with some contagious iandise , or infected with some dangerous leprosie , and their suffrage was then made necessarie to the election of officers , which before was as rare in that common-weale as a white skin in Aethiopia . The people hauing thus erected their power , did by degrees more and more enhaunce it , till by many alterations it was turned from an Aristocracie , from the rule of them that were manie and mightie , to a plaine and visible Democracie or estate popular , administred by the voyces of the multitude and magistrates , and by the vnited consent of the whole corporation . Now when the people had by continuall incrochments assumed and seased into their handes the giuing and bestowing of the greater offices , as the Consulship , that strong tower of the Senatous authoritie , and besides that the Dictatorship , the Censorship , the warlike Empire , the priestly dignitie , and many other most excellent honors , which before did solely belong to the Peeres of Rome , and now there wanted nothing to make their power equall , but onely that Plebiscites , that is , decrees made by the people , should binde the greater powers , as well as the people themselues , from which at that time the whole companie of the Nobles were exempted . Therefore to make them generall , and of like force against all , they wrested from the fathers after much businesse , the law Hortensia , by which it was enacted that in euery important matter the people should be equally interested with the Senate , and that the lawes so made and ratified by them , should stretch as well to the Senators , as to the people themselues . After that the common-weale was brought to this good and temperate constitution , many profitable lawes were established , many victories followed , many cities bowed vnto them , manie monarchies sued for their fauour , manie tyrants feared their puissance , & manie countreys dreaded their inuasion . Then there flourished in Rome most admirable examples of abstinencie , modestie , iustice , fortitude , and which was the seale of their securitie , an vniuersall vnitie and agreement . Then the same of their Curij , their Coruncani , their Fabritij , their Metelli , their Fabij , their Marcelli , their Scipioes , their Pauli , their Lepidi , did ring in the world , whose great magnanimitie & wisedome in the tumult of warres , together with their singular temperance , and loyaltie in the calme of peace , is to be wondred at of all , and of all to be reuerenced . But when either the Senate or people did passe the lists and limits of aequall regiment , the ancient and vertuous orders of the citie were immediatly troden vnder foote , and their good and laudable customes were encountred and put to flight by dissolute and vnbridled enormities : then the Asiaticall triumphs did incorporate into the citie a womanish wantonnesse , then proude ambition mounted her plume of disdaine vppon the top of the Capitolle , then their excessiue pride and iouissance for their victories had against Pyrrhus , for their conquest of Carthage , for the ouerthrow of Philip , Perseus , Antiochus , mightie kings , for the winning of Spaine , Sicilie , Sardinia , Illyria , Macedonia and Greece , being as yet fresh in their memories , were as bellowes to puffe vp their swelling humours . Then there succeeded a dismall discord , which beginning when the estate was at the highest , did not end or expire , till it fell to the lowest ebbe , sticking fast in the sands of a grieuous desolation . If a man will retrospectiuely measure the space of former times , & the whole compasse of yeares , wherein the fortunes of the Romanes were by God his hand turned about , he shall finde that all the weight of their affaires , before the incohation of the Empire of Augustus , may be dispersed into sixe ages ; wherof the first containing the number of fiftie yeares , was spent in the making of a towne ; for that gorgeous seate which nowe we call Rome , was then but a plot of Rome built . ground , to which houses were wanting , but afterward a great multitude of Latine & Tuscane shepheards , together with Phrygians & Arcadians , flowing to that place , as to a temple reuerenced by pilgrims and trauellers , the common-weale was compacted of these seuerall people , as a bodie of diuerse elements . Romulus the founder of their citie & empire , did delight wholly in mountaines , riuers , woods , marishes and wastes , playing perhaps the espiall , to discouer and find out in what place it were best to erect a citie , and how to conuey things necessarie vnto it , and how to adorne it with continual increment and addition of demeisnes ; to such imaginations the fields and places desolate were most accordant , and to his sauage societie this practise of life was most acceptable .

The second age which chalengeth other fiftie yeares , did ingender in them working spirits and loftie cogitations , which eneagred and inflamed their mindes , against the confiners & borderers : then it first began to beare the countenance and shape of a kingdome , which was after enlarged to the shore of the Midland and Adriaticke seas , which they rather vsed as bridges to other nations , then as bounders to their owne .

The third age whose steps were an hundred and fiftie yeares , was the crowne and consummation of their kingdome , in which whatsoeuer was done was done by them for the pompe , glorie and magnificence of that estate : as yet the Romane pride was in her blade , and in the tendernesse of her minoritie , this threefold age was spent vnder seuen kings , differing by fatall prouidence in the disposition of their nature , as the frame and condition of that common-weale did especially require : for who was euer more fierce and ardent then Romulus ? Such a one they needed to inuade Romulus eagrest in sight . the kingdomes of others . Who more religious then Numa ? Such the time did aske , Numa religious . that the furie of the people might be mitigated by the feare of God : Wherefore was Tullus that artificiall champion giuen vnto Tullus an artificiall Captaine . them ? That he might sharpen their valour by his wit . Wherefore Aucus the great builder ? Aucus a great builder That he might extend their citie with colonies , ioyne it together with bridges , enuiron it with walles . The ornaments ; ensignes and Tarquinius his ornaments braueries of Tarquinius , did with rayes of dignitie illustrate and decore that estate . Seruius Seruius taxeth the Romanes by polles . taxing them by polles , brought to passe that the Romane common weale might know her riches . And the importune domination of proud Tarquine did verie much profite , for Proud Tarquine occasioner of libertie . the people afflicted by iniuries , did force a passage to their libertie .

The fourth age was as it were the youth of the Romane monarchie , when the flower of their prowesse being greene , and the bloud of their mindes blossoming in their faces and armes , the shepheardly sauagenesse did as yet breathe foorth the reliques of an vndaunted stomacke . Then flourished these Romane hazards , and miracles Cocles , Sceuola , Cloaetia , which chronicles do therefore witnesse , that posteritie may wonder . Then were the Tuscanes repulsed and the Latines and Volscians daily and deadly enemies , vanquished by the triumphant husbandman L. Quintius Cincinnatus , The speedie war of Cincinnatus . which war he ended within fifteene dayes , as if he had made hast to returne to his tillage . Then were ouercome the Vientines , the Faliscians , and the Fidenates : then the Galles a couragious nation , vsing their bodies for armour , in all respects so terrible , that they might seeme to be borne for the death of men , and destruction of cities , were vtterly vanquished : then were ouercome the Sabines and Samnites wasting and dispoiling The praise of Campania . the fields of Campania , being the goodliest plot , the Diamond-sparke and the hony-spot of all Italie : there is no land more temperate for aire , for it hath a double spring-tide : no soile more fertile , and therfore it is called the combat of Bacchus & Ceres , no region more hospitable in regard of the sea , here be the noble hauens Caieta , Misenus , & the healthfull bathes Lucrine and Auerne , the resting places of the sea . Here the mountaines clad with vines Gaurus , Falernus , Massitus , and the firie hill Vesurius : here the famous citie Capua third sister to Rome and Carthage doth imperiously stand . They begirt Samnium with warre and bloud on all sides , till they had ruinated her verie ruines , and reuilled in her bowels , and twelue seuerall nations of Tuscana waging hote and furious battell against them , in such sort and terrible maner , as if darts had bene throwne at the Romans from the coulds , were likewise suppressed . In this age happened the Tarentine warre , in which Pyrrhus fighting against the Romans . the armie of Pyrrhus continually slaying was continually slaine , and reuenge did liue in the death of the Romanes : so that Pyrrhus did thinke him selfe to be borne vnder Hercules his starre , who hauing cut off the seuen heads of Hydra , seuen other did spring vp . But from this Captaine the Romanes plucked such spoiles , that neuer fairer were caried in triumph . For before this day nothing passed in triumph , but the heards of the Volscian cattell , and the flocks of the Sabine sheepe , the broken wagons of the Gaules , & the crushed harnesse of the Samnites : but in this triumph , if you respect the prisoners , they were Molossians , Thessalians , Macedonians , Brutians , Apulians , Lucans : if you regard the pompe , it was gold , purple , curious pictures , tablets , and the delights of Tarentum . Next to this was the victorie of the Pisani and Salentini : this age shewed her force the space of two hundred and fiftie yeares .

Then followed the fifth age , in which the bodie of the common-weale grew to great strength , the ioints and sinewes being by mature soliditie setled in firme estate . Therefore the conquering nation hauing now attained to the verie manhood of manlinesse , and displayed her standerd round about the sides of Italie , to the skirts of the sea , pawsed a litle , as a great scalefire , which consuming all the woods and groues in the way that it goeth , is abrupted and put out of course by a floud comming betweene . But soone after seeing a rich pray on the other side of the sea , supposing it to be a peece of gold pulled from her masse , they did so vehemently desire the same , that because it could not be ioyned vnto their dominion by bridges for the interruption of the sea , therefore they resolued to ioyne it by sword and battell : and so was Sicilia subdued by the Romanes , which was the cause and originall of the first Carthaginian warre , which the warres of the Ligurians , Insubrians and Illyrians did follow : and after the second Carthaginian The beginning of the second Carthaginian war . warre , so dangerous and bloudie to the Romanes , that if a man compare the losse of both nations , they which did conquer , were more like to persons conquered . For it grieued that noble brood , and valiant people of Carthage to be abridged of the sea , depriued of the Ilands , to pay tribute , and to vndergo not onely the bridle , but the yoke : to this age must be ascribed the circuit of one hundred yeares , which may be termed the golden age of the Romanes , & the first age in which they shewing their streamers on each side of the Ocean , did transport their warres into all nations of the world , in whose yeares the Romanes were honest , religious , iust , sincere , vertuous , and dutifull .

The sixt age containing 120. yeares was troublesome and vgly , bloudie & detestable , vices growing with their Empire . For with the wars valiantly fought against Iugurtha , & Mithridates , against the Carthaginians , Cimbrians , Parthians , Galles & Germanes , by which the Romane glorie ascended and pierced the skie , the ciuill slaughters of the Gracchi , and of Drusus , of Marius , Sylla and others were mingled and enterlarded : how mournefull a spectacle was it , that they fought the same time with fellowes in league , with fellowes in the citie , with bondmen , with fencers , all the Senate afterward contending and being in hurliburly with it selfe ? These times receiued of the other ages an exquisite common weale , as it were a curious picture , which after mildring and decaying by age , they did not only neglect to renew , with the same colours , but they also forgot to preserue the outwarde forme and lineaments thereof , for what remained of the auncient maners , which were both vnused and vnknowne : for by their recent vices they lost the common-weale in fact , and in name retained it . How lamentable was the face of things at that instant ? when euerie man confusedly being found in the field , in the streetes , in townes , in houses , in highwaies , in markets , in temples , in beds , sitting at the table or in the porch , was suddenly and sauagely murdered ? what howlings were there of them that died ? what teares of them that liued , and beheld this ? The cause of these miseries was too great prosperitie . What made the people so earnest to extort the lawes of fields and corne , but verie famine procured by riot on the one part , and couetousnesse on the other ? for such was the lauish mis-spending , & excessiue vianding of some , that it can hardly be defined , whether more did perish by the blade or by the banquet , and such againe was the couetousnesse , & greedie exacting of others , that none can iudicially decide , whether the Romanes were more endamaged by the enemie in time of warre , or by the vsurer in peaceable seasons . Hence grew the two ciuil broiles of the Gracchi , and that of Saturninus being the third , and that of Drusus being the fourth , who maintained the Senate against the Knights : and for the further abetting and auow of this quarell , he promised the freedome of the Citie to diuerse Italians animated to this attempt , so that in one Citie there was as much discord as in two seuerall The Italian warre . campes . This bred the Italian warre , because promise was not perfourmed . And Mithridates an enemy to the Romans . next ensued the warre of Mithridates , seeing the Romans on each side intangled with garboiles , which presently bred the enmitie betwixt Marius and Sylla , when Marius would haue deuested Sylla of his Generalship giuen The contention betwixt Marius and Sylla . him by the Senat for the oppugnation of Mithridates . These two gaue Mithridates encoragement , by leauing the ribbes of the comweale naked and open vnto him , Marius led an armie , ambition led Marius : ambition I say ingendred by riches , did raise contention betwixt them : from this the warre of Sertorius and Pompey had his originall , whereof the one was proscribed by Sylla , the other protected . For Pompey was accompted Syllaes minion or fauorite , whom he therefore called Magnus , that himselfe might seeme greater , being the Saint whom Pompey serued . Sylla was cruell in reuenging crueltie , and his medicine was worse then the maladie itselfe . This stirred the dissention of Lepidus The dissention of Lepidus and Catulus . and Catulus , whereof the one would haue ratified , the other reuersed , all the acts of Sylla . Then Catiline whom his lust occasioned by Catilines rebellion . Syllaes indulgence brought to beggerie , opposed himselfe to the Consuls . Then Pompey Pompeyes great dignity in Rome . entred the lists , as a follower of Sylla , who obtained excellent dignitie in these times , but ciuill , and such as the regular course of that common-weale did affoord , whose power & authoritie Caesar could not tollerate , because Caesar cannot brooke it . he could not match it : which notwithstanding he being ouercome and slaine , Caesar passed and transcended . But when this vsurper had bleached the floore of the Senate house with his owne bloud , who before had ouerflowed and deluged the whole world , with the crimson goare of most admirable men , the common-weale did seeme to haue rolled herselfe into the state of her pristinate libertie , and it had returned vnto the same , if either Pompey had not left sonnes , or Caesar had not made an heire , or , which was worse , if Antonius the thunder-dart of furie had not suruiued , being once colleague with Caesar in the Consulship , now successor of his vsurpation . But while Pompeys sonne striueth for the honor of the name , the sea ratleth with armour : whilest Octauius reuengeth the death of his adoptiue father , Thessalie is againe made the basis of tents and pauillions , and all Europe and Affricke groneth vnder the weight of iron , whilest Antonius in the habit of his mind diuerse and discoloured , doth either disdaine Octauius or doate vpon Cleopatra , whose beautie if he could haue exceeded by his chastitie , his shame should not haue blazed like a beacon at this day in the eyes of posteritie , but he had won the garland of conquest , not meriting more then triumph . The armie of Octauius hauing slaine Pompeis sonne , did in him slay enmity , and Cassius being ouercome by fight , Brutus by despaire , they did extirpate faction . Yet Antonius not chalenging part with anie , but principalitie ouer all , imagining that he wanted no kingly thing saue onely a kingdome , remained as a rocke or gulfe in the mouth of the hauen , whom he with some labor subdued . And , as in the yearely conuersion of the heauens , it commeth to passe , that the starres iogged together do murmure and threaten tempest , so with the alteration of the Romane state , before Octauius founded his Monarchie , the whole globe of the earth with ciuill and forraine warre , with fight on sea and land was terribly shaken . But the accidents and occurrences of these last hundred and twentie yeares , in the sequele of this historie shall be , if God fauour these lines , more particularly & distinctly reported . The first that made the The valor of the former Scipio . Romanes mightie was the former Scipio that scourged Affrica with continuall warres and vexations , and in the end subdued it : the first that made them wanton and effeminate , was the later Scipio , by whom Carthage was subuerted , The prowesse of the later Scipio . yet not by his fault , but by the casualty of the time . For when the riuall and enuious ielousie of the Carthaginian glory , was by his The Romans made 〈◊〉 by prosperity matchlesse victorie finally determined , the Romanes did sodainly degenerate , and with an hungrie gorge fed on the poisonfull baites of bitter sweete ambition , following wantons like wilde horses , and addicted to pleasure as their onely paragon , the auncient gouernement of the Citie was vtterly forsaken , the watchings of the campe were ended vpon beds of downe , their heauie armour was turned to light and fashionable attire , and the wonted businesse of the Citie was chaunged into idlenesse . Then did Scipio Nasica build porches in the Capitolle , then did Metellus threaten the heauens with haughtie buildings , them did Cn. Octauius erect a most sumptuous forefront , & then did the riot of the Commons imitate the magnificence of the nobles . In the middest of this delicate iolitie , when the Romanes were now in the ruffe of their pride , a grieuous and despitefull warre was raised in Spaine by Viriathus of Lusitania , a notable Viriathus an enemy to the Romanes . theefe & ringleader to a multitude of rogues , which hong a long time in suspence : but in the end when Viriathus was slaine , rather by the couine then courage of Seruilius Caepio , a greater danger ensued , namely the warre of the Numantines . The citie of Numantia did The Numantine warre . neuer affoord armour to any more , then ten thousand citizens at one battell ; but either through the fiercenesse of their nature , or the default of the Romane captaines , or the indulgence of fortune , they brought Pompey Pompey enforced to strange leagues by the Numantines . the first of the Pompeys that was Consull , a man of note & fame to most shameful leagues , & Mancinus Hostilius , to a detestable truce , which vpon a remorce of minde , and change of opinion , against the law of Armes , and to the great discredit of the Romanes , he afterward broke : but Pompey escaped vnpunished by fauour , Mancinus was punished by shame . The punishment of Mancinus for breaking truce . For he was caried and transported by the Romane Heraulds vnto the Numantines , his hands being manacled , and so was deliuered vp into the enemies power , whom they refused to receiue , saying that a publique breach of promise was not to be punished by the bloud of one man . This yeelding vp of Mancinus into the enemies hands , did cause in the citie a perillous and pernitious dissension . The parents of Ti. Gracchus . For Ti. Gracchus the sonne of the right noble man Ti. Gracchus , whose mother was the daughter of Scipio Affricanus , by whose meanes and authority that reprochful league was made , taking it grieuously that any thing which he did should be discountenanced , and fearing himselfe the danger either of the like punishment or of the like iudgement , being at that time Tribune of the people , in life innocent , The praise of Ti. Gracchus in wit pregnant , and in purpose guiltlesse : and furthermore adorned with so great vertues , as either nature could affoord , or industrie could perfect , or mans frailtie could containe . P. Mutius Scaeuola , and L. Calphurnius Gracchus swarueth from vertue . being Consuls fell from vertue to vice , and extreme villanie : and hauing promised vpon a dissolute fancie , that he would enfranchise and receiue into the Citie anie Italian whosoeuer , turned all things into a contrarie state , mingled vertues with vice , lawes with lust , and brought the common-weale into an headlong and hideous danger . Octauius his fellow in office , who stood against him for the A Treuirate first made in Rome . common good , he put from his place , & created a new state in Rome entitled a Treuirate or Triarchie , that is the rule of three men , who were called Treuiri , himself for one , his father in law Appius who had bin Consul for another The familie of Scipio Nasica . and C. Gracchus his brother for the third . At that time flourished P. Scipio Nasica , nephew to him , who was iudged of the Senate in his life time to be the best of the Romanes , sonne to that Scipio who purchased great praise for his good demeanor in the Censorship , nephew two degrees remoued to Cn. Scipio a man highly commended , vncle to Scipio Aemilianus whose commendation lieth in his name : this Scipio Nasica thogh he were nearly linked in kindred to Tiberius Gracchus , yet preferring his countrey before his kindred , thinking nothing priuately commodious Scipio Nasica opposeth himselfe to Gracchus . which was not publikly conuenient , standing in the higher part of the Capitolle , exhorted all the Romanes , which desired the safetie of the common-weale , to follow him , vpon which words the Nobles , the Senate , and the greater and better part of the Romane knights did runne suddenly vpon Gracchus , standing in the floore of the Capitolle with his adherents , and euen then conspiring with a frequent assemblie of new-come Italians , he thereupon flying and running downe the hil whereupon the Capitolle was founded , his head being crushed as he was running downe , with a fragment of one of the boordes which was in the Ti. Gracchus slaine . Senate house , did sodainly end his life , which he might haue enioyed with great honor and quietnesse .

This broile and haplesse dissention was the first conspiracy in which ciuil bloud was shed , and the first dispensation of drawing swordes within the walles : after that time right was oppressed by violence , and the mightier man was accompted the better , the quarels of citizens that were wont to be cured by compromise and agreement , were now decided by sword and bloudshed , and warres were not followed according to the goodnesse of the cause , but according to the greatnesse of the pray . But it was no maruell , though this small beginning had so great effect , and this odious faction so vnfortunate consequence , for examples do not pawse there where they begin , but being once receiued into a narrow strait , they make way to themselues , raunging and spreading themselues ouer the bodie of the world , and when men go once astray , they mind not how farre they go , thinking that nothing can procure dishonestie to them , which hath brought profite to others .

Whilest these things were done in Italie , Scipio Affricanus of the house of Aemilius , who destroyed Carthage , after many slaughters of his enemies in the Numantine warre , being nowe againe made Consull , was sent backe into Spaine , where his courage and Scipio is sent into Spaine . successe did match and aequall his valure and fortune in Affricke , and within a yeare and three moneths after his comming thither , he Scipio taketh Numantia . tooke Numantia , and caused euerie stone to be throwne to the ground , as a notable monument of a Romane victorie . There was neuer anie man of anie name or nation , that by the sacking of cities did more aeternise his house or enlarge his glorie : for hauing rooted vp Carthage , he deliuered the Romanes from feare , and hauing razed Numantia , he deliuered them from reproch . Being returned into the Citie within a short time , after two Consulships , two victories , and two notable triumphs , he was found dead in his bed , Scipio found dead in his bed . his iaw bone being dissolued and dislocated . There was no inquisition made afterward of the death of this inuincible Captaine : the bodie of Scipio was brought out into the streete Scipios body is brought out into the streetes . his head couered , by whose great labours and warlike exploits , Rome lifted vp her head ouer all the world , to the terrour and dismay of other cities and countreys . His death was , as the most say fatall , as some say conspired : his life doubtlesse was of that singularitie , that it was ouercome of no mans glorie , but onely his grandfathers .

After the death of Ti. Gracchus , the same C. Gracchus a rebell to the state . fury and rage of mind that possest him , entred as it were by a kind of transmutation into his brother C. Gracchus , a man as like to Tiberius in his vertues as in his errour , who when with great facilitie and ease of mind he might haue bene the Prince of the Citie and the ruler of the Senate , tooke the Tribuneship vpon him to raise tumults , to licence swords , and to reuiue discord , to no other intent or purpose but either to reuenge his brothers death , or purchase to himselfe a soueraigntie , and for the more hastie pursuing of his drift , he bestowed the freedome of the Citie vpon euery inhabitant of Italy : he interdicted and forbad by Tribunitial law , that no citizen should possesse more then fiue hundred akers of land , he erected new hauens , he filled the prouinces The seditious acts of C. Gracchus . with new colonies , he transferred the authoritie of iudgement from the Senate to the Nobles , he determined to distribute and deuide corne amongst the people : to be briefe , he left almost nothing vnaltered or vndisturbed . This man was slaine by the sharpe and hastie pursuite of L. Opimius Consull who was in armes against him , and Fuluius Flaccus was Ful. Flaccus a rebellious Senatour slaine . likewise slaine , one that had enioyed both the Consulship and the honor of Triumph , a man of a detestable meaning , whom C. Gracchus had denominated and designed to be one of the Treuiri in the place of Tiberius his brother , being his associate in all his enterprises , and defiled with the like dishonest intendment . Opimius caused proclamation to be Opimius his proclamation made , that whosoeuer could bring vnto him the head of Gracchus , should haue the weight of the head in gold . Flaccus inciting his soldiers on the hill Auentine , was there slaine , together with his eldest sonne . C. Gracchus committing himselfe to flight lest he might fall into the hands of them whom Opimius had sent to take him , putting his bare necke vnder the C Gracchus beheaded . naked sword of his seruant Euporus , was of him beheaded : and the same Euporus was suddenly a slaughter-man to himselfe . Thus the two Gracchi finished the course of their life , men that had a fortunate beginning , sinister proceedings , & a cursed ending , to whom if they had embraced quietnesse , the commonweale wold haue offered these honors , which by tumult and disquietnesse they sought , their mother Cornelia as yet liuing , a vertuous and Cornelia lamenteth her children . learned Ladie ; who hauing nurtured and trained them vp in the studie of learning and vertuous demeanour , did greatly bewaile , that her good endeuors had so bad successe , and that her two sonnes , whom nature praetended to be the solace of her age , were so sodainely and shamefully disgraced , that she could not see their bodies couered with earth , they being in most despitefull maner throwne into Tiber , whose mindes she had furnished and beautified with such excellent learning , so was her ioy ouercome and surprised with griefe , that she must either loath her children , or else lament for them , but howsoeuer , for euer lacke them .