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birth Nero surpassed Vitellius。 The man who is afraid sees distinction
enough in any one whom he fears。 That an Emperor can be created by the
army； Vitellius is himself a proof； who； though he had seen no service
and had no military reputation； was raised to the throne by the
unpopularity of Galba。 Otho； who was overcome； not indeed by skilful
generalship； or by a powerful enemy； but by his own premature despair；
this man has made into a great and deservedly regretted Emperor； and
all the while he is disbanding his legions； disarming his auxiliaries；
and sowing every day fresh seeds of civil war。 All the energy and high
spirit which once belonged to his army is wasted in the revelry of
taverns and in aping the debaucheries of their chief。 You have from
Judaea； Syria； and Egypt； nine fresh legions； unexhausted by battle；
uncorrupted by dissension； you have a soldiery hardened by habits of
warfare and victorious over foreign foes； you have strong fleets；
auxiliaries both horse and foot； kings most faithful to your cause；
and an experience in which you excel all other men。
〃For myself I will claim nothing more than not to be reckoned
inferior to Valens and Caecina。 But do not spurn Mucianus as an
associate； because you do not find in him a rival。 I count myself
better than Vitellius； I count you better than myself。 Your house is
ennobled by the glories of a triumph； it has two youthful scions；
one of whom is already equal to the cares of Empire； and in the
earliest years of his military career won renown with these very
armies of Germany。 It would be ridiculous in me not to waive my claims
to Empire in favour of the man whose son I should adopt； were I myself
Emperor。 Between us； however； there will not be an equal
distribution of the fruits of success or failure。 If we are
victorious。 I shall have whatever honour you think fit to bestow on
me； the danger and the peril we shall share alike； nay； I would rather
have you； as is the better policy； direct your armies； and leave to me
the conduct of the war and the hazards of battle。 At this very
moment a stricter discipline prevails among the conquered than among
the conquerors。 The conquered are fired to valour by anger； by hatred；
by the desire of vengeance； while the conquerors are losing their
energy in pride and insolence。 War will of itself discover and lay
open the hidden and rankling wounds of the victorious party。 And；
indeed； your vigilance； economy； and wisdom； do not inspire me with
greater confidence of success than do the indolence； ignorance； and
cruelty of Vitellius。 Once at war； we have a better cause than we
can have in peace； for those who deliberate on revolt have revolted
already。〃
After this speech from Mucianus； the other officers crowded round
Vespasian with fresh confidence； encouraging him； and reminding him of
the responses of prophets and the movements of the heavenly bodies。
Nor was Vespasian proof against this superstition； for afterwards；
when master of the world； he openly retained one Seleucus； an
astrologer； to direct his counsels； and to foretell the future。 Old
omens now recurred to his thoughts。 A cypress tree of remarkable
height on his estate had suddenly fallen； and rising again the
following day on the very same spot； had flourished with majestic
beauty and even broader shade。 This； as the Haruspices agreed； was
an omen of brilliant success； and the highest distinction seemed
prophesied to Vespasian in early youth。 At first； however； the honours
of a triumph； his consulate； and the glory of his victories in Judaea；
appeared to have justified the truth of the omen。 When he had won
these distinctions； he began to believe that it portended the Imperial
power。 Between Judaea and Syria is Mount Carmel； this is the name both
of the mountain and the Deity。 They have no image of the god nor any
temple； the tradition of antiquity recognises only an altar and its
sacred association。 While Vespasian was there offering sacrifice and
pondering his secret hopes； Basilides the priest； after repeated
inspections of the entrails； said to him； 〃Whatever be your
purposes； Vespasian； whether you think of building a house； of
enlarging your estate； or augmenting the number of your slaves；
there is given you a vast habitation； boundless territory； a multitude
of men。〃 These obscure intimations popular rumour had at once caught
up； and now began to interpret。 Nothing was more talked about by the
common people。 In Vespasian's presence the topic was more frequently
discussed； because to the aspirant himself men have more to say。
With purposes no longer doubtful they parted； Mucianus for
Antioch； Vespasian for Caesarea。 These cities are the capitals of
Syria and Judaea respectively。 The initiative in transferring the
Empire to Vespasian was taken at Alexandria under the prompt direction
of Tiberius Alexander； who on the 1st of July made the legions swear
allegiance to him。 That day was ever after celebrated as the first
of his reign； though the army of Judaea on July 3rd took the oath to
Vespasian in person with such eager alacrity that they would not
wait for the return of his son Titus； who was then on his way back
from Syria； acting as the medium between Mucianus and his father for
the communication of their plans。 All this was done by the impulsive
action of the soldiers without the preliminary of a formal harangue or
any concentration of the legions。
While they were seeking a suitable time and place； and for that
which in such an affair is the great difficulty； the first man to
speak； while hope； fear； the chances of success or of disaster； were
present to their minds； one day； on Vespasian quitting his chamber；
a few soldiers who stood near； in the usual form in which they would
salute their legate； suddenly saluted him as Emperor。 Then all the
rest hurried up； called him Caesar and Augustus； and heaped on him all
the titles of Imperial rank。 Their minds had passed from
apprehension to confidence of success。 In Vespasian there appeared
no sign of elation or arrogance； or of any change arising from his
changed fortunes。 As soon as he had dispelled the mist with which so
astonishing a vicissitude had clouded his vision； he addressed the
troops in a soldier…like style； and listened to the joyful
intelligence that came pouring in from all quarters。 This was the very
opportunity for which Mucianus had been waiting。 He now at once
administered to the eager soldiers the oath of allegiance to
Vespasian。 Then he entered the theatre at Antioch； where it is
customary for the citizens to hold their public deliberations； and
as they crowded together with profuse expressions of flattery； he
addressed them。 He could speak Greek with considerable grace； and in
all that he did and said he had the art of displaying himself to
advantage。 Nothing excited the provincials and the army so much as the
assertion of Mucianus that Vitellius had determined to remove the
legions of Germany to Syria； to an easy and lucrative service； while
the armies of Syria were to have given them in exchange the
encampments of Germany with their inclement climate and their
harassing toils。 On the one hand； the provincials from long use felt a
pleasure in the companionship of the soldiers； with whom many of
them were connected by friendship or relationship； on the other； the
soldiers from the long duration of their service loved the
well…known and familiar camp as a home。
Before the 15th of July the whole of Syria had adopted the same
alliance。 There joined him； each with his entire kingdom； Sohemus； who
had no contemptible army； and Antiochus； who possessed vast
ancestral wealth； and was the richest of all the subject…kings。 Before
long Agrippa； who had been summoned from the capital by secret
despatches from his friends； while as yet Vitellius knew nothing；
was crossing the sea with all speed。 Queen Berenice too； who was
then in the prime of youth and beauty； and who had charmed even the
old Vespasian by the splendour of her presents； promoted his cause
with equal zeal。 All the provinces washed by the sea； as far as Asia
and Achaia； and the whole expanse of country inland towards Pontus and
Armenia； took the oath of allegiance。 The legates； however； of these
provinces were without troops； Cappadocia as yet having had no legions
assigned to it。 A council was held at Berytus to deliberate on the
general conduct of the war。 Thither came Mucianus with the legates and
tribunes and all the most distinguished centurions and soldiers； and
thither also the picked troops of the army of Judaea。 Such a vast
assemblage of cavalry and infantry； and the pomp of the kings that