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undermined by luxury； a luxury that transgressed our ancient
discipline and the customs of our ancestors； in whose days the power
of Rome found a surer foundation in valour than in wealth。
Vitellius then directed his course to Cremona； and after
witnessing the spectacle exhibited by Caecina； he conceived a desire
to visit the plains of Bedriacum and to survey the scene of the recent
victory。 It was a hideous and terrible sight。 Not forty days had
passed since the battle； and there lay mangled corpses； severed limbs；
the putrefying forms of men and horses； the soil was saturated with
gore； and； what with levelled trees and crops； horrible was the
desolation。 Not less revolting was that portion of the road which
the people of Cremona had strewed with laurel leaves and roses； and on
which they had raised altars； and sacrificed victims as if to greet
some barbarous despot； festivities in which they delighted for the
moment； but which were afterwards to work their ruin。 Valens and
Caecina were present； and pointed out the various localities of the
field of battle； shewing how from one point the columns of the legions
had rushed to the attack； how from another the cavalry had charged；
how from a third the auxiliary troops had turned the flank of the
enemy。 The tribunes and prefects extolled their individual
achievements； and mixed together fictions； facts； and exaggerations。
The common soldiers also turned aside from the line of march with
joyful shouts； and recognized the various scenes of conflict； and
gazed with wonder on the piles of weapons and the heaps of slain。 Some
indeed there were whom all this moved to thoughts of the mutability of
fortune； to pity； and to tears。 Vitellius did not turn away his
eyes； did not shudder to behold the unburied corpses of so many
thousands of his countrymen； nay； in his exultation； in his
ignorance of the doom which was so close upon himself； he actually
instituted a religious ceremony in honour of the tutelary gods of
the place。
A show of gladiators was then given by Fabius Valens at Bononia；
with all the arrangements introduced from the capital。 The nearer
the Emperor approached to Rome； the greater was the license of his
march； accompanied as it was by players and herds of eunuchs； in
fact by all that had characterised the court of Nero。 Indeed；
Vitellius used to make a display of his admiration for Nero； and had
constantly followed him when he sang； not from the compulsion to which
the noblest had to yield； but because he was the slave and chattel
of profligacy and gluttony。 To leave some months of office open for
Valens and Caecina； the consulates of others were abridged； that of
Martius Macer was ignored on the ground of his having been one of
Otho's generals。 Valerius Maximus； who had been nominated consul by
Galba； had his dignity deferred for no offence； but because he was a
man of gentle temper； and could submit tamely to an affront。
Pedanius Costa was passed over。 The Emperor disliked him because he
had risen against Nero； and roused Verginius to revolt。 Other reasons；
however； were alleged。 Finally； after the servile fashion of the time；
thanks were voted to Vitellius。
A deception； which was started with considerable vigour； lasted
for a few； and but a few days。 There had suddenly sprung up a man； who
gave out that he was Scribonianus Camerinus； that； dreading the
times of Nero； he had concealed himself in Histria； where the old
family of the Crassi still had dependants； estates； and a popular
name。 He admitted into the secret of his imposture all the most
worthless of his followers； and the credulous populace and some of the
soldiers； either from not knowing the truth； or impatient for
revolution； began eagerly to rally round him。 When he was brought
before Vitellius； and asked who he was； as his account of himself
could not be trusted；； and his master recognised him as a runaway
slave； by name Geta； he was executed as slaves usually are。
It would almost pass belief； were I to tell to what a degree the
insolence and sloth of Vitellius grew upon him when messengers from
Syria and Judaea brought the news that the provinces of the East had
sworn allegiance to him。 Though as yet all information was but vague
and uncertain； Vespasian was the subject of much talk and rumour；
and at the mention of his name Vitellius often roused himself。 But
now； both the Emperor and the army； as if they had no rival to fear；
indulging in cruelty； lust； and rapine； plunged into all the licence
of foreign manners。
Vespasian； on the other hand； was taking a general survey of the
chances of a campaign and of his resources both immediate and
remote。 The soldiers were so entirely devoted to him； that as he
dictated the oath of allegiance and prayed for all prosperity to
Vitellius； they listened to him in silence。 Mucianus had no dislike to
Vespasian； and was strongly inclined towards Titus。 Already had
Alexander； the governor of Egypt； declared his adhesion。 The third
legion； as it had passed over from Syria to Moesia； Vespasian
counted upon as devoted to himself； and it was hoped that the other
legions of Illyricum would follow its example。 In fact the whole
army had been kindled into indignation by the insolence of the
soldiers who came among them from Vitellius。 Savage in appearance； and
speaking a rude dialect； they ridiculed everybody else as their
inferiors。 But in such gigantic preparations for war there is
usually delay。 Vespasian was at one moment high in hope； and at
another disposed to reflect on the chances of failure。 What a day
would that be when he should expose himself with his sixty years
upon him； and the two young men； his sons； to the perils of war！ In
private enterprises men may advance or recede； and presume more or
less upon fortune as they may choose； whereas they who aim at empire
have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall。
The strength of the army of Germany； with which as a military man he
was well acquainted； was continually before his eyes。 He reflected
that his own legions were wholly without experience of a civil war；
that those of Vitellius had been victorious； and that among the
conquered there was more dissatisfaction than real strength。 Civil
strife had shaken the fidelity of the Roman soldiery； and danger was
to be apprehended from individuals。 What would be the use of
infantry and cavalry； should one or two men seek the prize with
which the enemy would be ready to reward a prompt act of treason？ It
was thus that Scribonianus had fallen in the days of Claudius； and his
murderer； Volaginius； had been raised from the ranks to the highest
military command。 It was easier to move the hearts of the multitude
than to avoid the single assassin。
Though staggered by these apprehensions； he was confirmed in his
purpose by others among the legates and among his own friends； and
particularly by Mucianus； who； after many conversations with him in
private； now publicly addressed him in the following terms： 〃All who
enter upon schemes involving great interests； should consider
whether what they are attempting be for the advantage of the State；
for their own credit； easy of accomplishment； or at any rate free from
serious difficulty。 They must also weigh the circumstances of their
adviser； must see whether he will follow up his advice by
imperilling himself； and must know who； should fortune prosper the
undertaking； is to have the highest honours。 I invite you；
Vespasian； to a dignity which will be as beneficial to the State； as
it will be honourable to yourself。 Under heaven this dignity lies
within your reach。 And do not dread what may present the semblance
of flattery。 To be chosen successor to Vitellius would be more of an
insult than a compliment。 It is not against the vigorous intellect
of the Divine Augustus； it is not against the profound subtlety of the
aged Tiberius； it is not even against the house of Caius； Claudius； or
Nero； established by a long possession of the Empire； that we are
rising in revolt。 You have already yielded to the prestige even of
Galba's family。 To persist in inaction； and to leave the State to
degradation and ruin； would look like indolence and cowardice； even
supposing that servitude were as safe for you as it would be infamous。
The time has gone by and passed away when you might have endured the
suspicion of having coveted Imperial power。 That power is now your
only refuge。 Have you forgotten how Corbulo was murdered？ His
origin； I grant； was more illustrious than ours； yet in nobility of
birth Nero surpassed Vitellius。 The man who is afraid sees distinction
enough in any one who