By virtue of this fearful vehemence of temperament he became the foremost orator that Rome ever had; without it, we should probably have been able to reckon him among the first statesmen of all times.

Among the few remains of his recorded orations several are, even in their present condition, of heart-stirring power;( 7) and we can well understand how those who heard or even merely read them were carried away by the impetuous torrent of his words.

Yet, great master as he was of speech, he was himself not unfrequently mastered by anger, so that the utterance of the brilliant speaker became confused or faltering.

It was the true image of his political acting and suffering.

In the nature of Gaius there was no vein, such as his brother had, of that somewhat sentimental but very short-sighted and confused good-nature, which would have desired to change the mind of a political opponent by entreaties and tears; with full assurance he entered on the career of revolution and strove to reach the goal of vengeance.