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Princes of its line。 Titus Vespasian had been sent from Judaea by
his father while Galba still lived； and alleged as a reason for his
journey the homage due to the Emperor； and his age； which now
qualified him to compete for office。 But the vulgar； ever eager to
invent； had spread the report that he was sent for to be adopted。
The advanced years and childless condition of the Emperor furnished
matter for such gossip； and the country never can refrain from
naming many persons until one be chosen。 The report gained the more
credit from the genius of Titus himself； equal as it was to the most
exalted fortune； from the mingled beauty and majesty of his
countenance； from the prosperous fortunes of Vespasian； from the
prophetic responses of oracles； and even from accidental occurrences
which； in the general disposition to belief； were accepted as omens。
At Corinth； the capital of Achaia； he received positive information of
the death of Galba； and found men who spoke confidently of the
revolt of Vitellius and of the fact of war。 In the anxiety of his
mind； he sent a few of his friends； and carefully surveyed his
position from both points of view。 He considered that if he should
proceed to Rome； he should get no thanks for a civility intended for
another； while his person would be a hostage in the hands either of
Vitellius or of Otho； that should he turn back； the conqueror would
certainly be offended； but with the issue of the struggle still
doubtful； and the father joining the party； the son would be
excused； on the other hand； if Vespasian should assume the direction
of the state； men who had to think of war would have to forget such
causes of offence。
These and like thoughts made him waver between hope and fear； but
hope triumphed。 Some supposed that he retraced his steps for love of
Queen Berenice； nor was his young heart averse to her charms； but this
affection occasioned no hindrance to action。 He passed； it is true；
a youth enlivened by pleasure； and practised more self…restraint in
his own than in his father's reign。 So； after coasting Achaia and
Asia； leaving the land on his left； he made for the islands of
Rhodes and Cyprus； and then by a bolder course for Syria。 Here he
conceived a desire to visit and inspect the temple of the Paphian
Venus； place of celebrity both among natives and foreigners。 It will
not be a tedious digression to record briefly the origin of the
worship； the ceremonial of the temple； and the form under which the
goddess is adored； a form found in no other place。
The founder of the temple； according to old tradition； was king
Aerias； though some represent this as the name of the goddess herself。
Later accounts tell us that the temple was consecrated by Cinyras； and
that the goddess herself after her birth from the sea was wafted to
this spot； but that the wisdom and craft of the diviners was a foreign
importation introduced by Tamiras of Cilicia； and that it was agreed
that the descendants of both families should preside over the worship。
Afterwards； that the royal family might not be without some
superiority over the foreign stock； the strangers relinquished the
craft which they had themselves introduced。 The priest of the line
of Cinyras is alone consulted。 The victims are such as each worshipper
has vowed； but males are selected； the surest prognostics are seen
in the entrails of kids。 It is forbidden to pour blood on the altar；
the place of sacrifice is served only with prayers and pure flame； and
though it stands in the open air； it is never wet with rain。 The image
of the goddess does not bear the human shape； it is a rounded mass
rising like a cone from a broad base to a small circumference。 The
meaning of this is doubtful。
Titus； after surveying the treasures； the royal presents； and the
other objects which the antiquarian tendencies of the Greek
arbitrarily connect with some uncertain past； first consulted the
oracle about his voyage。 Receiving an answer that the way was open and
the sea propitious； he then； after sacrificing a number of victims；
asked some questions in ambiguous phrase concerning himself。 Sostratus
（that was the name of the priest） seeing that the entrails presented
an uniformly favourable appearance； and that the goddess signified her
favour to some great enterprise； returned at the moment a brief and
ordinary answer； but afterwards soliciting a private interview；
disclosed the future。 His spirits raised； Titus rejoined his father；
and was received as a mighty pledge of success by the wavering minds
of the provincials and the troops。 Vespasian had all but completed the
Jewish war； and only the siege of Jerusalem now remained； an
operation； the difficulty and arduousness of which was due； rather
to the character of its mountain citadel and the perverse obstinacy of
the national superstition； than to any sufficient means of enduring
extremities left to the besieged。 As we have mentioned above；
Vespasian himself had three legions inured to war。 Mucianus had four
under his command in his peaceful province。 Emulation； however； and
the glory won by the neighbouring army had banished all tendency to
sloth； and unbroken rest and exemption from the hardships of war had
given them a vigour equivalent to the hardihood which the others had
gained by their perils and their toils。 Each had auxiliary forces of
infantry and cavalry； each had fleets and tributary kings； and each；
though their renown was of a different kind； had a celebrated name。
Vespasian was an energetic soldier； he could march at the head of
his army； choose the place for his camp； and bring by night and day
his skill； or； if the occasion required； his personal courage to
oppose the foe。 His food was such as chance offered； his dress and
appearance hardly distinguished him from the common soldier； in short；
but for his avarice； he was equal to the generals of old。 Mucianus； on
the contrary； was eminent for his magnificence； for his wealth； and
for a greatness that transcended in all respects the condition of a
subject； readier of speech than the other； he thoroughly understood
the arrangement and direction of civil business。 It would have been
a rare combination of princely qualities； if； with their respective
faults removed； their virtues only could have been united in one
man。 Mucianus was governor of Syria； Vespasian of Judaea。 In the
administration of these neighbouring provinces jealousy had produced
discord between them； but on Nero's fall they had dropped their
animosities and associated their counsels。 At first they
communicated through friends； till Titus； who was the great bond of
union between them； by representing their common interests had
terminated their mischievous feud。 He was indeed a man formed both
by nature and by education to attract even such a character as that of
Mucianus。 The tribunes； the centurions； and the common soldiers；
were brought over to the cause by appeals to their energy or their
love of license； to their virtues or to their vices； according to
their different dispositions。
Long before the arrival of Titus； both armies had taken the oath
of allegiance to Otho。 The news had come； as is usual； with great
speed； while there was much to delay the gigantic undertaking of a
civil war； for which the East after a long period of repose was then
for the first time preparing。 In former times the mightiest civil
conflicts had been begun in Gaul or Italy with the resources of the
West。 Pompey； Brutus； Cassius； and Antony； all of whom had been
followed across the sea by civil war； had met with a disastrous end；
and the Emperors had been oftener heard of than seen in Syria and
Judaea。 There had been no mutiny among the legions； nothing indeed but
some demonstrations against the Parthians； attended with various
success。 In the last civil war； though other provinces had been
disturbed； peace had been here unshaken。 Then had followed a loyal
adherence to Galba。 But when it became notorious that Otho and
Vitellius； opposed in impious strife； were ready to make a spoil of
the Empire； the thought that others would engross the rewards of
power； while they would have nothing left for themselves but a
compulsory submission； made the soldiers murmur and take a survey of
their own strength。 There were close at hand seven legions； there were
Syria and Judaea； with a vast number of auxiliaries。 Then； without any
interval of separation； there was Egypt and its two legions； and on
the other side Cappadocia； Pontus； and all the garrisons along the
frontier of Armenia。 There was Asia Minor； there were the other
provinces； not without a military population； and well furnished
wi