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the danger of another made him tremble for himself； and； lest he might
seem to have helped the accused； he precipitated his fall。
Upon this； Vitellius； who； besides fearing Dolabella； hated him；
because he had married Petronia； his former wife； summoned him by
letter； and at the same time gave orders that； without passing along
the much frequented thoroughfare of the Flaminian road； he should turn
aside to Interamna； and there be put to death。 This seemed too tedious
to the executioner； who in a road…side tavern struck down his
prisoner； and cut his throat。 The act brought great odium upon the new
reign； and was noted as the first indication of its character。
Triaria's recklessness was rendered more intolerable by an immediate
contrast with the exemplary virtue of Galeria； the Emperor's wife； who
took no part in these horrors； and with Sextilia； the mother of the
two Vitellii； a woman equally blameless； and of the old type of
character。 She indeed is said to have exclaimed on receiving the first
letter from her son； 〃I am the mother； not of Germanicus； but of
Vitellius。〃 And in after days no seductions of fortune； no flattery
from the State； could move her to exultation； it was only the
misfortunes of her family that she felt。
M。 Cluvius Rufus； who had left his government in Spain； came up with
Vitellius after his departure from Lugdunum。 He wore a look of joy and
congratulation； but he was anxious at heart； for he knew that he was
the object of accusations。 Hilarius； the Emperor's freedman； had
indeed brought this charge against him； that on hearing of the contest
for the throne between Vitellius and Otho； he had made an attempt to
secure power for himself； and to obtain possession of Spain； and
that with this view he had not headed his passports with the name of
any Emperor。 Some extracts from the speeches of Rufus he represented
as insulting to Vitellius； and intended to win popularity for himself。
So strong； however； was the influence of Cluvius； that Vitellius
actually ordered the freedman to be punished。 Cluvius was attached
to the Emperor's retinue； Spain however was not taken from him； he
still governed the province though not resident； as L。 Arruntius had
done before him； whom Tiberius Caesar detained at home； because he
feared him； it was not from any apprehension that Vitellius kept
Cluvius with him。 The same compliment was not paid to Trebellius
Maximus。 He had fled from Britain because of the exasperation of the
soldiery。 Vettius Bolanus； who was then accompanying the Emperor；
was sent to succeed him。
Vitellius was troubled by the spirit of the vanquished legions；
which was anything but broken。 Scattered through all parts of Italy；
and mingled with the conquerors； they spoke the language of enemies。
The soldiers of the 14th legion were peculiarly furious。 They said
that they had not been vanquished； that at the battle of Bedriacum
only the veterans had been beaten； and that the strength of the legion
had been absent。 It was resolved that these troops should be sent back
to Britain； from which province Nero had summoned them； and that the
Batavian cohorts should in the meantime be quartered with them；
because there was an old feud between them and the 14th。 In the
presence of such animosities between these armed masses； harmony did
not last long。 At Augusta of the Taurini it happened that a Batavian
soldier fiercely charged some artisan with having cheated him； and
that a soldier of the legion took the part of his host。 Each man's
comrades gathered round him； from words they came to blows； and a
fierce battle would have broken out； had not two Praetorian cohorts
taken the side of the 14th； and given confidence to them； while they
intimidated the Batavians。 Vitellius then ordered that these latter
troops should be attached to his own force； in consideration of
their loyalty； and that the legion should pass over the Graian Alps；
and then take that line of road； by which they would avoid passing
Vienna； for the inhabitants of that place were also suspected。 On
the night of the departure of the legion； a part of the Colonia
Taurina was destroyed by the fires which were left in every direction。
This loss； like many of the evils of war； was forgotten in the greater
disasters which happened to other cities。 When the 14th had made the
descent on the other side of the Alps； the most mutinous among them
were for carrying the standards to Vienna。 They were checked； however；
by the united efforts of the better disposed； and the legion was
transported into Britain。
Vitellius found his next cause of apprehension in the Praetorian
cohorts。 They were first divided； and then ordered； though with the
gratifying compliment of an honourable discharge； to give up their
arms to their tribunes。 But as the arms Vespasian gathered strength；
they returned to their old service； and constituted the mainstay of
the Flavianist party。 The first legion from the fleet was sent into
Spain； that in the peaceful repose of that province their excitement
might subside； the 7th and 11th were sent back to their winter
quarters； the； 13th were ordered to erect amphitheatres； for both
Caecina at Cremona； and Valens at Bononia； were preparing to exhibit
shows of gladiators。 Vitellius indeed was never so intent on the cares
of Empire as to forget his pleasures。
Though he had thus quietly divided the conquered party； there
arose a disturbance among the conquerors。 It began in sport； but the
number of those who fell aggravated the horrors of the war。
Vitellius had sat down to a banquet at Ticinum； and had invited
Verginius to be his guest。 The legates and tribunes always follow
the character of the Emperor； and either imitate his strictness； or
indulge in early conviviality。 And the soldiers in like manner are
either diligent or lax in their duty。 About Vitellius all was disorder
and drunkenness； more like a nocturnal feast and revel than a properly
disciplined camp。 Thus it happened that two soldiers； one of whom
belonged to the 5th legion； while the other was one of the Gallic
auxiliaries； challenged each other in sport to a wrestling match。
The legionary was thrown； and the Gaul taunted him。 The soldiers who
had assembled to witness the contest took different sides； till the
legionaries made a sudden and murderous attack on the auxiliary
troops； and destroyed two cohorts。 The first disturbance was checked
only by a second。 A cloud of dust and the glitter of arms were seen at
a distance。 A sudden cry was raised that the 14th legion had
retraced its steps； and was advancing to the attack。 It was in fact
the rearguard of the army； and their recognition removed the cause
of alarm。 Meanwhile a slave of Verginius happened to come in their
way。 He was charged with having designed the assassination of
Vitellius。 The soldiers rushed to the scene of the banquet； and loudly
demanded the death of Verginius。 Even Vitellius； tremblingly alive
as he was to all suspicions； had no doubt of his innocence。 Yet he
could hardly check the troops when they clamoured for the death of a
man of consular rank； formerly their own general。 Indeed there was
no one who was more frequently the object of all kinds of outbreaks
than Verginius； the man still was admired； still retained his high
reputation； but they hated him with the hatred of those who are
despised。
The next day Vitellius； after giving audience to the envoys from the
Senate whom he had ordered to wait for him there； proceeded to the
camp； and actually bestowed high praise on the loyalty of the
soldiers。 The auxiliary troops loudly complained that such complete
impunity； such privileged arrogance； was accorded to the legions。
The Batavian cohorts were sent back to Germany； lest they should
venture on further violence。 Destiny was thus simultaneously preparing
the occasions of civil and of foreign war。 The Gallic auxiliaries were
sent back to their respective states； a vast body of men； which in the
very earliest stage of the revolt had been employed to make an idle
show of strength。 Besides this； in order to eke out the Imperial
resources； which had been impaired by a series of bounties； directions
were given that the battalions of the legions and the auxiliary forces
should be reduced； all recruiting being forbidden。 Discharges were
offered without distinction。 This measure was disastrous to the State；
and distasteful to the soldier； who found that the same duty was
distributed among a smaller number； and that his toils and risks
came round in a more frequent succession。 Their vigour too was
undermined by luxury； a luxury that transgressed our ancient
discipline and the customs