按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had restored the fortunes of the party； and his victory had reversed
the unfavourable rumours occasioned by his tardy advance。 The entire
army too of Lower Germany was attached to him； this circumstance； it
is thought； first made the allegiance of Caecina waver。
Much however as Vitellius indulged his generals； his soldiers
enjoyed yet greater licence。 Every one chose his own service。
However unfit； he might； if he preferred it； be enrolled among the
soldiers of the capital。 Soldiers again of good character were
allowed； if they so wished； to remain with the legions； or in the
cavalry； and this was the choice of many who were worn out with
disease； or who shrank from the unhealthiness of the climate。 But
the main strength of the legions and cavalry was drafted from them；
while the old glory of the Praetorian camp was destroyed by these
20；000 men indiscriminately taken rather than chosen out of the
whole army。 While Vitellius was haranguing the troops； the men
called out for the execution of Asiaticus； and of Flavius and Rufinus；
the Gallic chieftains； because they had fought for Vindex。 He never
checked these cries； for to say nothing of the cowardice natural to
that feeble soul； he was aware that the distribution of a donative was
imminent； and； having no money； he lavished everything else on the
soldiers。 A contribution in the form of a tax was exacted from the
freedmen of former Emperors in proportion to the number of their
slaves。 Vitellius himself； thinking only how to squander； was building
a stable for his charioteers； was filling the circus with shows of
gladiators and wild beasts； and fooling away his money as if he had
the most abundant supplies。
Moreover Caecina and Valens celebrated the birthday of Vitellius
by exhibiting in every quarter of the city shows of gladiators on a
vast and hitherto unparalleled scale。 He pleased the most infamous
characters； but utterly disgusted all the respectable citizens； by
building altars in the Campus Martius； and performing funeral rites to
Nero。 Victims were slaughtered and burnt in the name of the State； the
pile was kindled by the Augustales； an order of the priesthood
dedicated by the Emperor Tiberius to the Julian family； just as
Romulus had dedicated one to king Tatius。 Within four months from
the victory of Bedriacum； Asiaticus； the Emperor's freedman； was
rivalling the Polycleti； the Patrobii； and all the old hateful
names。 No one sought promotion in that court by integrity or
diligence； the sole road to power was to glut the insatiable appetites
of Vitellius by prodigal entertainments； extravagance； and riot。 The
Emperor himself； thinking it enough to enjoy the present； and
without a thought for the future； is believed to have squandered
nine hundred million sesterces in a very few months。 Rome； as
miserable as she was great； afflicted in one year by an Otho and a
Vitellius； what with the Vinii； the Fabii； the Iceli； and the
Asiatici； passed through all vicissitudes of infamy； till there came
Mucianus and Marcellus； and different men rather than a different
morality。
The first revolt of which Vitellius received tidings was that of the
3rd legion； despatches having been sent by Aponius Saturninus before
he too attached himself to the party of Vespasian。 Aponius； however；
agitated by the unexpected occurrence； had not written all the
particulars； and flattering friends softened down its import。 〃It
was；〃 they said； 〃a mutiny of only a single legion； the loyalty of the
other armies was unshaken。〃 Vitellius in addressing the soldiers spoke
to the same effect。 He inveighed against the lately disbanded
Praetorians； and asserted that false rumours were circulated by
them； and that there was no fear of a civil war。 The name of Vespasian
he suppressed； and soldiers were dispersed through the city to check
the popular gossip。 This more than anything else kept these rumours
alive。
Nevertheless Vitellius summoned auxiliary troops from Germany；
Britain； and Spain； tardily； however； and with an attempt to conceal
his necessities。 The legates and the provinces were equally slow。
Hordeonius Flaccus； who was beginning to suspect the Batavians； feared
that he should have a war on his own hands； and Vettius Bolanus had in
Britain a province never very quiet； and both these officers were
wavering in their allegiance。 Spain too； which then was without a
governor of consular rank； showed no alacrity。 The legates of the
three legions； equal in authority； and ready； while Vitellius was
prosperous； to vie in obedience； stood aloof with one consent from his
falling fortunes。 In Africa； the legion； and the auxiliary infantry
levied by Clodius Macer and soon after disbanded by Galba； again
entered the service at the order of Vitellius； while all the rest of
the youth promptly gave in their names。 Vitellius had ruled that
province as proconsul with integrity and popularity； Vespasian's
government had been infamous and odious。 The allies formed conjectures
accordingly as to the manner in which each would reign； but the result
contradicted them。
At first Valerius Festus； the legate； loyally seconded the zeal of
the provincials。 Soon he began to waver； supporting Vitellius in his
public dispatches and edicts； Vespasian in his secret
correspondence； and intending to hold by the one or the other
according as they might succeed。 Some soldiers and centurions；
coming through Rhaetia and Gaul； were seized with letters and edicts
from Vespasian； and on being sent to Vitellius were put to death。
More； however； eluded discovery； escaping either through the
faithful protection of friends or by their own tact。 Thus the
preparations of Vitellius became known； while the plans of Vespasian
were for the most part kept secret。 At first the supineness of
Vitellius was in fault； afterwards the occupation of the Pannonian
Alps with troops stopped all intelligence。 And on the sea the
prevalent Etesian winds favoured an eastward voyage； but hindered
all return。
At length Vitellius； appalled by the irruption of the enemy and by
the menacing intelligence from every quarter； ordered Caecina and
Valens to take the field。 Caecina was sent on in advance； Valens；
who was just recovering from a severe illness； was delayed by
weakness。 Far different was the appearance of the German army as it
marched out of the capital。 All strength had departed from their
bodies； all energy from their spirits。 Slowly； and with thin ranks；
the column moved along； their weapons feebly grasped； their horses
spiritless。 The soldiers； impatient of the heat； the dust； and the
weather； in proportion as they were less capable of enduring toil；
were more ready for mutiny。 All this was aggravated by the old
vanity of Caecina； and by the indolence that had of late crept over
him； presuming on the excessive favour of fortune； he had abandoned
himself to luxury。 Perhaps he meditated perfidy； and it was part of
his policy to enervate the courage of the army。 Many believe that
his fidelity had been shaken by the suggestions of Flavius Sabinus；
who employed Rubrius Gallus as the bearer of communications intimating
that the conditions of desertion would be held binding by Vespasian。
At the same time he was reminded of his hatred and jealousy of
Fabius Valens。 Being inferior to his rival in influence with
Vitellius； he should seek to secure favour and power with the new
Emperor。
Caecina； having embraced Vitellius and received tokens of high
distinction； left him； and sent a detachment of cavalry to occupy
Cremona。 It was followed by the veteran troops of the 4th； 10th； and
16th legions； by the 5th and 22nd legions； and the rear was brought
up by the 21st （the Rapax） and the first Italian legion with the
veteran troops of three British legions； and a chosen body of
auxiliaries。 After the departure of Caecina； Valens sent a despatch to
the army which had been under his own command with directions that
it should wait for him on the road； such； he said； was his arrangement
with Caecina。 Caecina； however； being with the army in person； and
consequently having greater influence； pretended that this plan had
been changed； so that the gathering forces of the enemy might be met
with their whole strength。 Orders were therefore given to the
legions to advance with all speed upon Cremona； while a portion of the
force was to proceed to Hostilia。 Caecina himself turned aside to
Ravenna； on the pretext that he wished to address the fleet。 Soon；
however； he sought the retirement of Patavium； there to concert his
treachery。 Lucilius Bassus； who had been promoted by Vitellius from
the command of a squadron of cavalry