The Comparison of Tiberius and Caius Gracchus with Agis and Cleomenes   

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.