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capital； some moved by fear； many by a spirit of adulation； others；
and by degrees all； that they might not be left behind while the
rest were going。 From the dregs of the people there thronged buffoons；
players； and charioteers； known to Vitellius from their infamous
compliance with his vices； for in such disgraceful friendships he felt
a strange pleasure。 And now not only were the colonies and towns
exhausted by having to furnish supplies； but the very cultivator of
the soil and his lands； on which the harvests were now ripe； were
plundered like an enemy's territory。
There were many sanguinary encounters between the soldiers； for ever
since the mutiny which broke out at Ticinum there had lingered a
spirit of dissension between the legions and the auxiliary troops；
though they could unite whenever they had to fight with the rustic
population。 The most terrible massacre took place at the 7th milestone
from Rome。 Vitellius was distributing to each soldier provisions ready
dressed on the same abundant scale as the gladiators' rations； and the
populace had poured forth； and spread themselves throughout the entire
camp。 Some with the frolicsome humour of slaves robbed the careless
soldiers by slily cutting their belts； and then asked them whether
they were armed。 Unused to insult； the spirit of the soldiers resented
the jest。 Sword in hand they fell upon the unarmed people。 Among the
slain was the father of a soldier； who was with his son。 He was
afterwards recognised； and his murder becoming generally known； they
spared the innocent crowd。 Yet there was a panic at Rome； as the
soldiers pressed on in all directions。 It was to the forum that they
chiefly directed their steps； anxious to behold the spot where Galba
had fallen。 Nor were the men themselves a less frightful spectacle；
bristling as they were with the skins of wild beasts； and armed with
huge lances； while in their strangeness to the place they were
embarrassed by the crowds of people； or tumbling down in the
slippery streets or from the shock of some casual encounter； they fell
to quarrelling； and then had recourse to blows and the use of their
swords。 Besides； the tribunes and prefects were hurrying to and fro
with formidable bodies of armed men。
Vitellius himself； mounted on a splendid charger； with military
cloak and sword； advanced from the Mulvian bridge； driving the
Senate and people before him； but deterred by the advice of his
friends from marching into Rome as if it were a captured city； he
assumed a civil garb； and proceeded with his army in orderly array。
The eagles of four legions were borne in front； and an equal number of
colours from other legions on either side； then came the standards
of twelve auxiliary squadrons； and the cavalry behind the ranks of the
infantry。 Next came thirty…four auxiliary cohorts； distinguished
according to the names or various equipments of the nations。 Before
each eagle were the prefects of the camp； the tribunes； and the
centurions of highest rank； in white robes； and the other officers
by the side of their respective companies； glittering with arms and
decorations。 The ornaments and chains of the soldiers presented a
brilliant appearance。 It was a glorious sight； and the army was worthy
of a better Emperor than Vitellius。 Thus he entered the capital； and
he there embraced his mother and honoured her with the title of
Augusta。
The next day； as if he were addressing the Senate and people of
another State； he pronounced a high panegyric on himself； extolling
his own energy and moderation； though his enormities were known to the
very persons who were present and to the whole of Italy； his
progress through which had been disgraced by sloth and profligacy。 Yet
the mob； who had no patriotic anxieties； and who； without
distinguishing between truth and falsehood； had learnt the lesson of
habitual flattery； applauded him with shouts and acclamations； and；
reluctant as he was to assume the name of Augustus； extorted from
him a compliance as idle as his previous refusal。
The country； ready to find a meaning in every circumstance； regarded
it as an omen of gloomy import that Vitellius； on obtaining the office
of supreme Pontiff； should have issued a proclamation concerning the
public religious ceremonial on the 18th of July； a day which from
old times the disasters of Cremera and Allia had marked as unlucky。
Thus utterly regardless of all law human and divine； with freedmen and
friends as reckless as himself； he lived as if he were among a set
of drunkards。 Still at the consular elections he was present in
company with the candidates like an ordinary citizen； and by shewing
himself as a spectator in the theatre； as a partisan in the circus； he
courted every breath of applause from the lowest rabble。 Agreeable and
popular as this conduct would have been； had it been prompted by noble
qualities； it was looked upon as undignified and contemptible from the
remembrance of his past life。 He habitually appeared in the Senate
even when unimportant matters were under discussion； and it once
happened that Priscus Helvidius； the praetor elect； had spoken against
his wishes。 Though at the moment provoked； he only called on the
tribunes of the people to support his insulted authority； and then；
when his friends； who feared his resentment was deeper than it
appeared； sought to appease him； he replied that it was nothing
strange that two senators in a Commonwealth should disagree： he had
himself been in the habit of opposing Thrasea。 Most of them laughed at
the effrontery of such a comparison； though some were pleased at the
very circumstance of his having selected； not one of the most
influential men of the time； but Thrasea； as his model of true glory。
He had advanced to the command of the Praetorian Guard Publius
Sabinus； a prefect of the cohort； and Julius Priscus； then only a
centurion。 It was through the influence of Caecina and Valens that
they respectively rose to power。 Though always at variance； these
two men left no authority to Vitellius。 The functions of Empire were
discharged by Caecina and Valens。 They had long before been led to
suspect each other by animosities scarcely concealed amid the cares of
the campaign and the camp； and aggravated by unprincipled friends
and a state of society calculated to produce such feuds。 In their
struggles for popularity； in their long retinues； and in the vast
crowds at their levees； they vied with each other and challenged
comparison； while the favour of Vitellius inclined first to one； and
then to the other。 There can never be complete confidence in a power
which is excessive。 Vitellius himself； who was ever varying between
sudden irritation and unseasonable fondness； they at once despised and
feared。 Still this had not made them less keen to seize on palaces and
gardens and all the wealth of the Empire； while a sad and needy throng
of nobles； whom with their children Galba had restored to their
country； received no relief from the compassion of the Emperor。 By
an edict which gratified the leading men of the State； while it
approved itself even to the populace； Vitellius gave back to the
returned exiles their rights over their freedmen； although servile
ingenuity sought in every way to neutralise the boon； concealing money
in quarters which either obscurity or rank rendered secure。 Some
freedmen had made their way into the palace of the Emperor； and thus
became more powerful even than their patrons。
Meanwhile the soldiers； as their numbers overflowed the crowded
camp； dispersed throughout the porticoes； the temples； and the whole
capital； did not know their own headquarters； kept no watch； and
ceased to brace themselves by toil。 Amidst the allurements of the city
and all shameful excesses； they wasted their strength in idleness； and
their energies in riot。 At last； reckless even of health； a large
portion of them quartered themselves in the notoriously pestilential
neighbourhood of the Vatican； hence ensued a great mortality in the
ranks。 The Tiber was close at hand； and their extreme eagerness for
the water and their impatience of the heat weakened the
constitutions of the Germans and Gauls； always liable to disease。 To
make matters worse； the organisation of the service was deranged by
unprincipled intrigue and favour。 Sixteen Praetorian and four city
cohorts were being raised； each to consist of a thousand men。 In
this levy Valens ventured to do more than his rival on the pretence of
his having rescued Caecina himself from peril。 Doubtless his arrival
had restored the fortunes of the party； and his victory had reversed
the unfavourable rumours occasioned by hi