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prudent contenting themselves with hackneyed terms of abuse； though
some threw out reproaches founded in truth； yet only did so in the
midst of clamour； and when many voices were heard at once； drowning
their own speech in a tumult of words。
Prodigies which were now noised abroad from various sources
increased men's terror。 It was said that in the porch of the Capitol
the reins of the chariot； on which stood the goddess of Victory； had
dropped from her hand； that from the chapel of Juno there had rushed
forth a form greater than the form of man； that the statue of the
Divine Julius； which stands on the island in the Tiber； had turned
from the West to the East on a calm and tranquil day； that an ox had
spoken aloud in Etruria； that strange births of animals had taken
place； besides many other things； such as in barbarous ages are
observed even during seasons of peace； but are now heard of only in
times of terror。 But an alarm greater than all； because it connected
immediate loss with fears for the future； arose from a sudden
inundation of the Tiber。 The river became vastly swollen； broke down
the wooden bridge； was checked by the heap of ruins across the
current； and overflowed not only the low and level districts of the
capital； but also much that had been thought safe from such
casualties。 Many were swept away in the streets； many more were cut
off in their shops and chambers。 The want of employment and the
scarcity of provisions caused a famine among the populace。 The
poorer class of houses had their foundations sapped by the stagnant
waters； and fell when the river returned to its channel。 When men's
minds were no longer occupied by their fears； the fact； that while
Otho was preparing for his campaign； the Campus Martius and the Via
Flaminia； his route to the war； were obstructed by causes either
fortuitous or natural； was regarded as a prodigy and an omen of
impending disasters。
Otho； after publicly purifying the city and weighing various plans
for the campaign； determined to march upon Gallia Narbonensis； as
the passes of the Penine and Cottian Alps and all the other approaches
to Gaul were held by the armies of Vitellius。 His fleet was strong and
loyal to his cause； for he had enrolled in the ranks of the legion the
survivors of the slaughter at the Milvian bridge； whom the stern
policy of Galba had retained in custody； while to the rest he had held
out hopes of a more honourable service for the future。 To the fleet he
had added some city cohorts； and many of the Praetorians； the stay and
strength of his army； who might at once advise and watch the generals。
The command of the expedition was entrusted to Antonius Novellus and
Suedius Clemens； centurions of the first rank； and Aemilius
Pacensis； to whom Otho had restored the rank of tribune； taken from
him by Galba。 Oscus； a freedman； retained the charge of the fleet； and
went to watch the fidelity of men more honourable than himself。
Suetonius Paullinus； Marius Celsus； and Annius Gallus； were
appointed to command the infantry and cavalry。 The Emperor； however；
placed most confidence in Licinius Proculus； prefect of the Praetorian
Guard； an active officer at home； without experience in war； he
founded perpetual accusations on the high influence of Paullinus； on
the energy of Celsus； on the mature judgment of Gallus； in fact； on
each man's special excellence； a thing most easy to do； and thus the
unscrupulous and the cunning were preferred before the modest and
the good。
About this time Cornelius Dolabella was banished to the Colonia
Aquinas； but he was not kept in strict or secret custody； it was not
for any crime that he suffered； he was marked out for suspicion by his
ancient name and by his relationship to Galba。 Many of the officers of
state and a large proportion of the men of consular rank Otho
ordered to accompany him to the field； not indeed to share or serve in
the campaign； but to form a retinue。 Among them was Lucius
Vitellius； whom Otho treated as he treated the rest； and not as though
he were the brother either of an Emperor； or of an enemy。 This
roused the anxieties of the capital； no rank was free from
apprehension or peril。 The leading men of the Senate either suffered
from the infirmities of age； or were enervated by a prolonged peace；
the nobility were indolent and had forgotten how to fight； the
Equestrian order knew nothing of service； and the more they
endeavoured to hide and repress their alarm the more evident was their
terror。 On the other hand； there were some who with senseless
ostentation purchased splendid arms and magnificent horses； and some
who procured by way of equipments for the war the luxurious
furniture of the banquet and other incentives to profligacy。 The
wise looked to the interests of peace and of the Commonwealth； while
the giddy and those who were thoughtless of the future were inflated
with idle hopes。 Many whose credit had been shaken in the years of
peace regained their spirits amidst the confusions of the time； and
found their best safety in revolution。
The mob and the people generally； whose vast numbers cut them off
from all interest in the state； began by degrees to feel the evils
of war； now that all the currency had been diverted to the purposes of
the army； and the prices of provisions were raised。 These evils had
not equally distressed the common people during the insurrection of
Vindex； the capital was safe； and the war was in the provinces； and；
fought as it was between the legions and Gaul； it seemed but a foreign
campaign。 Indeed from the time that the Divine Augustus consolidated
the power of the Caesars； the wars of the Roman people had been in
remote places； and had caused anxiety or brought honour to but one
man。 Under Tiberius and Caius men dreaded for the Commonwealth only
the miseries of peace。 The rising of Scribonianus against Claudius was
crushed as soon as heard of。 Nero was driven from power by evil
tidings and rumours rather than by the sword。 Now the legions and
the fleets were brought into action； and with them a force used but on
few other occasions； the Praetorian and city soldiery。 In their rear
were the provinces of the East and of the West with all their
forces； had they fought under other generals there was all the
material for a protracted war。 Many suggested to Otho； as he was
setting out； a religious obstacle in the fact that the sacred
shields had not been restored to their place。 He spurned all delay； as
having been Nero's fatal mistake； and the fact that Caecina had now
crossed the Alps urged him to action。
On the 14th of March； after commending the State to the care of
the Senate； he presented to those who had been recalled from exile
what was left of the Neronian confiscations； or had not yet been
paid into the Imperial treasury； a most equitable and apparently
most splendid piece of liberality； but practically worthless； as the
property had been hastily realized long before。 Soon afterwards he
summoned an assembly； and enlarged on the dignity of the capital and
the unanimity of the Senate and people in his favour。 Of the party
of Vitellius he spoke with moderation； charging the legions with
ignorance rather than with crime； and making no mention of Vitellius
himself。 This moderation was either his own； or was due to the
writer of the speech； who； fearing for himself； abstained from
invectives against Vitellius。 For Otho was believed to avail himself
of the abilities of Galerius Trachalus in civil matters； just as he
employed those of Celsus and Paullinus in war。 There were some who
recognized the very style of speaking； which was well known from his
constant pleading at the bar； and which sought to fill the popular ear
with a copious and sonorous diction。 The acclamations and cries
which habitual flattery prompted in the people were at once
extravagant and false。 As if they were applauding a Dictator like
Caesar； or an Emperor like Augustus； they vied with each other in
their zeal and good wishes。 They acted not from fear or affection； but
from the mere love of servitude； as it might be in some private
household； each had his own motives； and the public honour now went
for nothing。 Otho set out； leaving the peace of the city and the cares
of empire in the charge of his brother Salvius Titianus。
BOOK II； March … August； A。D。 69
IN A distant part of the world fortune was now preparing the
origin and rise of a new dynasty； whose varied destinies brought
happiness or misery on the State； prosperity or destruction on the
Princes of its line。 Titus Vespasian had been sent from Judaea by
his father while Galba still l