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in the winter quarters； and the conscription throughout Gaul was
hastily proceeded with； in order that the muster rolls of the
legions which remained behind might be filled up。 The defence of the
bank of the Rhine was entrusted to Hordeonius Flaccus。 Vitellius
himself added to his own army 8000 men of the British conscription。 He
had proceeded a few days' march； when he received intelligence of
the victory at Bedriacum； and of the termination of the war through
Otho's death。 He called an assembly； and heaped praises on the
valour of the soldiers。 When the army demanded that he should confer
equestrian rank on Asiaticus his freedman； he checked the
disgraceful flattery。 Then； with his characteristic fickleness； in the
privacy of a banquet he granted the very distinction which he had
publicly refused； and honoured with the ring of Knighthood this same
Asiaticus； a slave of infamous character； ever seeking power by
unprincipled intrigues。
About the same time news came to Vitellius that the procurator
Albinus had fallen； and that both the provinces of Mauritania had
declared for him。 Lucceius Albinus； whom Nero had appointed to the
government of Mauritania Caesariensis； to which Galba had subsequently
added the charge of the province of Tingitana； had the disposal of
no contemptible force。 He had with him 19 cohorts of infantry； 5
squadrons of cavalry； and a vast number of Moors； a force trained to
war by robbery and plunder。 When Galba had fallen； he was strongly
disposed in favour of Otho。 He even looked beyond Africa and
threatened Spain； which is separated from it only by a narrow
strait。 This alarmed Cluvius Rufus； who ordered the 10th legion to
approach the coast； as if he intended to send them across。 Some of the
centurions were sent on before to gain for Vitellius the good…will
of the Moors。 This was no difficult task； as the fame of the German
army was great in the provinces。 Besides this； a report was circulated
that Albinus； scorning the title of procurator； was assuming the
insignia of royalty and the name of Juba。
The tide of feeling turned； and Asinius Pollio； one of the stanchest
friends of Albinus； prefect of one of the squadrons of cavalry； with
Festus and Scipio； prefects of two infantry cohorts； were killed。
Albinus himself； who was sailing from the province Tingitana to
Mauritania Caesariensis； was murdered as he reached the shore。 His
wife threw herself in the way of the murderers and was killed with
him。 Vitellius made no inquiries into what was going on。 He
dismissed matters of even the greatest importance with brief
hearing； and was quite unequal to any serious business。 He directed
the army to proceed by land； but sailed himself down the river Arar。
His progress had nothing of imperial state about it； but was marked by
the poverty of his former condition； till Junius Blaesus； governor
of Gallia Lugdunensis； a man of noble birth； whose munificence was
equal to his wealth； furnished him with suitable attendance； and
escorted him with a splendid retinue； a service which was of itself
displeasing； though Vitellius masked his dislike under servile
compliments。 At Lugdunum the generals of the two parties； the
conquerors and the conquered； were waiting for him。 Valens and Caecina
he put by his own chair of state； after celebrating their praises
before a general assembly。 He then ordered the whole army to come
and greet his infant son； he brought him out； wrapped in a military
cloak； and holding him in his arms； gave him the title of Germanicus
and surrounded him with all the insignia of the imperial rank。 It
was an extravagant distinction for a day of prosperity； but it
served as a consolation in adversity。
Then the bravest centurions among the Othonianists were put to
death。 This； more than anything else； alienated from Vitellius the
armies of Illyricum。 At the same time the other legions； influenced by
the contagion of example； and by their dislike of the German troops；
were meditating war。 Vitellius detained Suetonius Paullinus and
Licinus Proculus in all the wretchedness of an odious imprisonment；
when they were heard； they resorted to a defence； necessary rather
than honourable。 They actually claimed the merit of having been
traitors； attributing to their own dishonest counsels the long march
before the battle； the fatigue of Otho's troops； the entanglement of
the line with the baggage…wagons； and many circumstances which were
really accidental。 Vitellius gave them credit for perfidy； and
acquitted them of the crime of loyalty。 Salvius Titianus； the
brother of Otho； was never in any peril； for his brotherly affection
and his apathetic character screened him from danger。 Marius Celsus
had his consulship confirmed to him。 It was commonly believed；
however； and was afterwards made a matter of accusation in the
Senate against Caecilius Simplex； that he had sought to purchase
this honour； and with it the destruction of Celsus。 Vitellius refused；
and afterwards bestowed on Simplex a consulship that had not to be
bought with crime or with money。 Trachalus was protected against his
accusers by Galeria the wife of Vitellius。
Amid the adventures of these illustrious men； one is ashamed to
relate how a certain Mariccus； a Boian of the lowest origin；
pretending to divine inspiration； ventured to thrust himself into
fortune's game； and to challenge the arms of Rome。 Calling himself the
champion of Gaul； and a God （for he had assumed this title）； he had
now collected 8000 men； and was taking possession of the
neighbouring villages of the Aedui； when that most formidable state
attacked him with a picked force of its native youth； to which
Vitellius attached some cohorts； and dispersed the crowd of
fanatics。 Mariccus was captured in the engagement； and was soon
after exposed to wild beasts； but not having been torn by them was
believed by the senseless multitude to be invulnerable； till he was
put to death in the presence of Vitellius。
No further severities were exercised on the persons of the
opposite faction； or with property in any case； the wills of those who
had fallen fighting for Otho were held to be valid； and with those who
died intestate； the law was carried out。 Assuredly； could Vitellius
have bridled his luxurious tastes； no one need have dreaded his
rapacity。 He had a scandalous and insatiable passion for feasts； the
provocatives of gluttony were conveyed to him from the capital and
from Italy； till the roads from both seas resounded with traffic；
the leading men of the various states were ruined by having to furnish
his entertainments； and the states themselves reduced to beggary；
the soldiers fast degenerated from their old activity and valour；
through habitual indulgence and contempt of their leader。 He sent on
before him to the capital an edict； by which he postponed his
acceptance of the title of Augustus and refused that of Caesar； though
he relinquished nothing of his actual power。 The astrologers were
banished from Italy。 The Roman Knights were forbidden； under severe
penalties； to degrade themselves by appearing in public
entertainments； or in the arena。 Former Emperors had encouraged the
practice by bribes； or more frequently enforced it by compulsion；
and many of the towns and colonies had vied with each other in
attracting by large pay the most profligate of the youth。
Vitellius； however； when his brother joined him； and when those
who are skilled in the arts of despotism began to creep into his
confidence； grew more arrogant and cruel。 He ordered the execution
of Dolabella； whose banishment by Otho to the Colonia Aquinas I have
before mentioned。 Dolabella； on hearing of the death of Otho； had
entered the capital。 Plancius Varus； who had filled the office of
praetor； and had been one of Dolabella's intimate friends； founded
on this a charge； which he laid before Flavius Sabinus； prefect of the
city； implying that Dolabella had escaped from custody； and had
offered to put himself at the head of the vanquished party； and he
also alleged that the cohort stationed at Ostia had been tampered
with。 Of these grave accusations he brought no proof whatever； and
then repenting； sought； when the crime had been consummated； a
pardon which could be of no avail。 Flavius Sabinus hesitating to act
in a matter of such importance； Triaria； the wife of Lucius Vitellius；
with unfeminine ferocity； warned him not to seek a reputation for
clemency by imperilling the Emperor。 Sabinus was naturally of a mild
disposition； but under the pressure of fear was easily swayed； here；
the danger of another made him tremble for himself； and； lest he might
seem to have helped the accu