scura; nullum ob crimen, sed vetusto nomine et propinquitate Galbæ monstratus." Multos e magistratibus, magnam consularium partem, Otho, non participes aut ministros bello, sed comitum specie, secum expedire jubet: in queis et L. Vitellium, eodem quo ceteros cultu, nec ut Imperatoris fratrem, nec ut hostis. Igitur motæ Urbis curæ: nullus ordo metu aut periculo vacuus: primores senatus ætate invalidi et longa pace desides: segnis et oblita bellorum nobilitas; ignarus militiæ eques; quanto magis occultare et abdere pavorem nitebantur, manifestius pavidi. Nec deerant e contrario, qui ambitione stolida, conspicua arma, insignes equos, quidam luxuriosos apparatus conviviorum et inritamenta libidinum, ut instrumenta belli, mercarentur. Sapientibus quietis et reipublicæ cura; levissimus quisque, et futuri improvidus, spe vana tumens: multi adflicta fide in pace, ac turbatis rebus alacres, et per incerta tutissimi.

89. Sed vulgus, et magnitudine nimia communium curarum expers populus, sentire paulatim belli mala, conversa in militum usum omni pecunia, intentis alimentorum pretiis; quæ, motu Vindicis, haud perinde plebem attriverant, secura tum Urbe et provinciali bello, quod inter legiones Galliasque velut externum fuit: nam, ex quo divus Augustus res Cæsarum composuit, procul, et in unius' solicitudinem aut decus, populus Romanus bellaverat. Sub Tiberio et Caio, tantum pacis adversa pertimuere Scriboniani contra Claudium incepta simul audita et coercita: Nero nuntiis magis et rumoribus quam armis depulsus. Tum legiones classesque, et quod raro alias, prætorianus urbanusque miles in aciem deducti: Oriens Occidensque et quidquid utrimque virium est a tergo: si ducibus aliis bellatum foret, longo bello materia. Fuere, qui proficiscenti Othoni moras, religionemque nondum conditorum ancilium,' adferrent.

a

no, in Terra di Lavoro. A coin of this city was first given to the public by Pellerin, Recueil de Médailles de Peuples et de Villes, vol. i, p. 39. On one side is a head wearing a helmet; on the other, a cock: AQVINO. "Monstratus] And consequently suspected not only by Otho, but even by Galba, and afterwards by Vitellius.

Nec ut hostis] As below an em

peror's brother, so beyond an enemy's brother.

y Mota U. c.] By this military array.

2 Unius] The emperor.

a A tergo] In the rear of Otho was the east; in the rear of Vitellius was the west.

Nond. cond. anc.] Numa, the founder of religious ceremonies, had

Aspernatus est omnem cunctationem, ut Neroni quoque exitiosam et Cæcina, jam Alpes transgressus, exstimulabat.

90. Pridie Idus Martias, commendata patribus republica, reliquias Neronianarum sectionum, nondum in fiscum conversas, revocatis ab exilio concessit: justissimum donum et in speciem magnificum, sed, festinata jampridem exactione, usu sterile. Mox vocata concione, majestatem Urbis et consensum populi ac senatus' pro se attollens, adversum Vitellianas partes modeste disseruit: inscitiam, potius legionum, quam audaciam,' increpans, nulla Vitellii mentione: sive ipsius ea moderatio, seu scriptor orationis, sibi metuens, contumeliis in Vitellium abstinuit: quando, ut in consiliis militiæ Suetonio Paullino et Mario Celso, ita in rebus urbanis Galerii Trachali ingenio Othonem uti credebatur: et erant, qui génus ipsum orandi noscerent, crebro fori usu celebre, et ad implendas aures latum et sonans. Clamor vocesque vulgi, ex more adulandi, nimiæ et falsæ quasi dictatorem Cæsarem, aut Imperatorem Augustum prosequerentur, ita studiis votisque certabant: nec metu aut amore, sed ex libidine servitii, ut in familiis, privata cuique stimulatio et vile jam decus publicum. Profectus Otho, quietem Urbis curasque imperii Salvio Titiano fratri permisit.

given out, that, as long as Rome preserved the ancilia which fell from the gods, it would be invincible. Hence the honor paid the ancilia. Every year, in the beginning of the month of March, in which the festival of Mars was celebrated, the ancilia, which all the rest of the year were kept in his temple, were removed: for Numa had ordered the Salii cœlestia arma, quæ ancilia appellantur, ferre, ac per Urbem ire canentes carmina cum tripudiis solemnique saltatu.' Liv. i, 20. Thirty days were dedicated to these ceremonies, as we learn from Polyb. Excerpt. Legat. c. 23. See also Suetonius, as quoted in the next chapter.

Prid. I. M.] The 14th of March. d Neron. sect.] The confiscations of property. Of the 'sectores,' see A. xiii,

23.

• Exactione] In this age of avarice the directors of the imperial revenue

Tac.

II.

had long ago made use of the purchasemoney of the confiscated property: and therefore this liberality, though very just, was more magnificent in appearance, than intrinsically useful.

Ut in fum.] This is well explained by Huet: Servos dixisses, cujusmodi solent esse in familiis, non plebem ingenuam.' So Saville also explained this passage.

Prof. Otho] He went on the 24th of March, as appears from Suet. Oth. 8. Expeditionem autem impigre, atque etiam præpropere inchoavit: nulla ne religionum quidem cura, sed et motis necdum conditis ancilibus, quod antiquitus infaustum haberetur: et die, quo cultores Deum matris lamentari et plangere incipiunt.' This day, which was called the day of blood, was the ix. Kal. Apr. See Trebellius Pollio in Claud. iv.

2 A

CHAP. 1. Titus, sent by his father Vespasian to congratulate Galba, hears of that emperor's death, and stops at Corinth; he resolves to return to Syria, and sails to Rhodes and Cyprus; at the last place he visits the temple of the Paphian Venus; some account of the goddess, and the rites of worship; he lands in Syria-5. Character of Vespasian and of Mucianus; they lay aside their mutual animosities, and act in concert; the legions of the east resolved to have a share in the making of emperors-8. A counterfeit Nero detected and seized-10. From trivial matters great discord at Rome; Vibius Crispus accuses Annius Faustus, an informer, and procures bis condemnation, though bated himself for the same practices-11. An account of Otho's forces 12. His fleets command the sea extending to the maritime Alps; the city of Intemelium sacked and plundered by the Othonians; the exemplary courage of a mother in the protection of her son-14. Otho's fleet infests the coast of Narbon Gaul; an engagement with the Vitellians in that quarter, in which the Othonians had the advantage 16, Pacarius, the governor of Corsica, favors the cause of Vitellius, and is murdered-17. Cæcina, with the Vitellian forces, enters Italy and besieges Placentia; Spurinna, one of Otho's officers, defends the place; Cæcina raises the siege, and retires with his army to Cremona; a battle at that place, and the Othonians prove victorious; Valens enters Italy; Cæcina resolves to strike a blow before the arrival of that general, he lays a snare for the Othonians, but is defeated by Suetonius Paulinus at a place called Castorum; king Epiphanes, on Otho's side, is wounded—27. Valens arrives at Ticinum; a violent sedition, occasioned by the Batavians; Valens joins the army under Cæcina-31 Comparison of Otho and Vitellius; Otho holds a council to deliberate on the plan of the wa wat some are for delay, others for an immediate action; tho is for a decisive blow, and by advice retires to Brisellum.34. Cecina and Valens wait for the motions of the enemy; a bridge thrown over the Bo to zl amuse Otho's forces, who are worsted in a skirmish 37 A report that both armies were inclined to peace shown to be highly improbable-39. Titianus, 1 Otho's brother, and Proculus, the præfect of the prætorian bands, entrusted t with the chief command; they encamp within four miles of Bedriacum ;` Otho, by despatches from Brixellum, hurries them on to an engagement 41. The battle of Bedriacum; the Othonians defeated, and on the next day lay down their arms; the Vitellians enter the camp, and both armies embrace with tears of joy-45. Otho is weary of civil war, and, though the soldiers are still devoted to his cause, resolves to prevent farther effusion of

blood; he falls on his own sword; his funeral immediately performed; some of the men slay themselves near the funeral pile-50. Otho's origin and character-51. A mutiny among his soldiers; Verginius in danger from their fury-52. A great part of the senate, who had followed Otho, involved 26 in danger-55. Tranquillity prevails at Rome; the games in honor of Ceres celebrated according to custom; Otho's death made known in the theatre; the people declare for Vitellius with shouts of applause-56. Italy ravaged by the Vitellians-57. Vitellius advances towards Italy, and hears of the victory gained by his officers; the two Mauritanias declare in his favor; Albinus their governor cut off by the emissaries of Cluvius Rufus, who had passed over from Spain into Africa-60. Vitellius orders the bravest of Otho's centurions to be put to death; the wild attempt of Maricus in Gaul; in a fit of enthusiasm he calls himself a god; he is taken and put to death62. The gluttony of Vitellius; Italy exhausted to supply his voracious appetite; in his des to Rome he declines for the present the name of Augustus, rejects that of Cæsar; the judicial astrologers

> banished out of Italy; laws for restraining the Roman knights from apOpearing on the stage, or in the games of the circus-63. Dolabella put to death

by Vitellius;

L. Vitellius, and the amiable chahe furious temper of Triaria, the wife of

his mother Sextilia-65. Cluvius Rufus arrives from Spain, and is pardoned by Vitellius; the vanquished troops still retain their ferocity; a quarrel between the Batavians and the soldiers of the fourteenth legion-68. A violent sedition at Ticinum, while Vitellius carouses at a feast-70. Vitellius proceeds to Cremona, and views of the field of battle at Bedriacum, which was still covered with a dreadful carnage; he vies with the luxury of Nero, and marches to Bononia, still plunging into deeper debauchery as he draws nearer to Rome-72. A slave of the name of Geta assumes the name of Scribonianus; he is detected, and put to death by order of Vitellius-74. Deliberations held in the east by Vespasian and Mucianus; the speech of Mucianus on the occasion-77. Vespasian encouraged by the responses of oracles; his consultation on Mount Carmel-79. Vespasian is declared emperor, first in Egypt, and afterwards by the army in Syria-81. The kings Sohemus, Antiochus, and Agrippa, as also queen Berenice, enter into the league-82. Plan of the war; Vespasian holds Egypt in his possession; his son Titus carries on the war against the Jews; Mucianus sets out on his march towards Italy-85. The legions in Masia, Pannonia, and Dalmatia revolt to Vespasian, at the instigation of Antonius Primus and Cornelius Fuscas 87. Vitellius, at the head of a prodigious multitude, all debauched by luxury, enters the city of Rome-90. He makes a speech, in pompous terms celebrating his own praise; his conduct there-92. Cæcina and Valens carry on the administration; sloth, riot, and mortality among the soldiers; Vitellius in want of money, and yet prodigal beyond all measure; Asiaticus, his freedman, amasses enormous wealth95. The people distressed, and yet the birthday of Vitellius celebrated with pomp and profusion; the emperor performs the funeral obsequies of Nero; rumors of a revolt in the east ineffectually suppressed; Vitellius sends for succors into Spain, Germany, and Britain, but endeavors to disguise the necessity-99. Parties of the enemy advance into Italy; Cæcina and Valens ordered to take the field; Cæcina's treachery; he combines with Lucilius Bassus, the commander of the fleets at Ravenna and Misenum.

2

These transactions passed in a few months after the death of Galba, and Vinius bacia sit bola to his colleague in the consulship.

1. [A.U.C. 822. J.C. 69.] Struebat jam fortuna, in diversa parte terrarum, initia causasque imperio, quod varia sorte, lætum reipublicæ aut atrox, ipsis Principibus prosperum aut exitio fuit. Titus Vespasianus e Judæa, incolumi adhuc Galba, missus a patre, causam profectionis officium erga Principem et maturam petendis honoribus juventam' ferebat: sed vulgus fingendi avidum disperserat, 'accitum in adoptionem.' Materia sermonibus, senium et orbitas Principis et intemperantia civitatis, donec unus eligatur, multos destinandi. Augebat famam ipsius Titi ingenium, quantæcumque fortunæ capax, decor oris cum quadam majestate, prosperæ Vespasiani res, præsaga responsa, et, inclinatis ad credendum animis, loco ominum etiam fortuita. Ubi Corinthi, Achaiæ urbe, certos nuntios accepit de interitu Galbæ, et aderant, qui arma Vitellii bellumque adfirmarent; anxius animo, paucis amicorum adhibitis, cuncta utrimque perlustrat. Si pergeret in Urbem, nullam officii gratiam in alterius honorem suscepti; ac se Vitellio sive Othoni obsidem fore: sin rediret, offensam haud dubiam victoris: sed incerta adhuc victoria, et concedente in partes patre, filium excusatum: sin Vespasianus rempublicam susciperet, obliviscendum offensarum de bello 'agitantibus.'

2. His ac talibus inter spem metumque jactatum, spes vicit. Fuere, qui, accensum desiderio Berenices reginæ, vertisse iter' crederent: neque abhorrebat a Berenice juvenilis animus: sed gerendis rebus nullum ex eo impedimentum: lætam voluptatibus adolescentiam egit, suo quam patris imperio modestior. Igitur oram Achaiæ et Asiæ, ac læva maris prætervectus, Rhodum et Cyprum insulas,

spiceret, constantissime affirmasse, illum quidem nullo modo, ceterum Titum, qui tunc prope adstabat, utique imperaturum,' Suet, Tit. 2.

Fortuita] In this disposition of the public mind, even incidents, that were the mere result of chance, were turned into arguments in favor of his imperial dignity.

Beren. reg.] Berenice, sister of Agrippa II. wife of Herod the king of Chalcis.

Lava m.] The sea-coast of Asia was on Titus's left, as he returned to Syria.