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Julius Priscus and Alfenius Varus； with fourteen of the Praetorian
cohorts and the entire force of cavalry； to occupy the Apennines。 A
legion of troops drafted from the fleet followed。 So many thousand
troops； comprising the picked men and horses of the army； had they
been under the direction of a different general； would have been quite
equal even to aggressive operations。 The rest of the Praetorian
cohorts were entrusted to Lucius Vitellius； brother of the Emperor；
for the defence of the capital。 Vitellius； while he abated nothing
of his habitual indulgence； with a precipitancy prompted by alarm；
anticipated the elections； at which he appointed consuls for several
years。 With a profuse liberality； he granted treaties to allies； and
the rights of Latin citizenship to foreigners； some he relieved by the
remission of tribute； others by exemptions； in a word； utterly
careless of the future； he mutilated the resources of the Empire。
But the mob was attracted by the magnificence of his bounties。 The
most foolish bought these favours with money； the wise held that to be
invalid； which could neither be given nor received without ruin to the
State。 Yielding at length to the importunity of the army； which had
taken up its position at Mevania； and accompanied by a numerous
train of senators； into which many were brought by ambition and more
by fear； he entered the camp； undecided in purpose and at the mercy of
faithless counsels。
While he was haranguing his troops （marvellous to relate） such a
multitude of ill…omened birds flew over him； as to obscure with a dark
cloud the light of day。 There occurred another terrible presage。 A
bull escaped from the altar； scattered the preparations for sacrifice；
and was finally slain far from the spot where the victims are
usually struck down。 But the most portentous spectacle of all was
Vitellius himself； ignorant of military matters and without
forethought in his plans； even asking others about the order of march；
about the business of reconnoitring； and the discretion to be used
in pushing on or protracting the campaign； betraying in his
countenance and gait his alarm at every fresh piece of intelligence；
and finally drinking to intoxication。 At last； weary of the camp；
and having received tidings of the defection of the fleet at
Misenum； he returned to Rome； trembling at every new disaster； but
reckless of the final result。 For though it was open to him to have
crossed the Apennines with an army in unimpaired vigour； and to have
attacked in the field an enemy suffering from cold and scant supplies；
yet； by dividing his forces； he abandoned to destruction or
captivity troops of the keenest courage and faithful to the last；
against the judgment of the most experienced among the centurions；
who； had they been consulted； would have told him the truth。 They were
all kept at a distance by the intimate friends of Vitellius； for the
Emperor's ears were so formed； that all profitable counsels were
offensive to him； and that he would hear nothing but what would please
and ruin。
The fleet at Misenum； so much can be done in times of civil
discord by the daring of even a single man； was drawn into revolt by
Claudius Faventinus； a centurion cashiered by Galba； who forged
letters in the name of Vespasian offering a reward for treachery。
The fleet was under the command of Claudius Apollinaris； a man neither
firm in his loyalty； nor energetic in his treason。 Apinius Tiro； who
had filled the office of praetor； and who then happened to be at
Minturnae； offered to head the revolt。 By these men the colonies and
municipal towns were drawn into the movement； and as Puteoli was
particularly zealous for Vespasian； while Capua on the other hand
remained loyal to Vitellius； they introduced their municipal
jealousy into the civil war。 Claudius Julianus； who had lately
exercised an indulgent rule over the fleet at Misenum； was selected by
Vitellius to soothe the irritation of the soldiery。 He was supported
by a city cohort and a troop of gladiators whose chief officer he was。
As soon as the two camps were pitched； Julianus； without much
hesitation； went over to the side of Vespasian； and they then occupied
Tarracina； which was protected by its fortifications and position
rather than by any ability of theirs。
Vitellius； when informed of these events； left a portion of his army
at Narnia under the command of the prefect of the Praetorian Guard；
and deputed his brother Lucius with six cohorts of infantry and 500
cavalry to encounter the danger that now threatened him on the side of
Campania。 Sick at heart； he found relief in the zeal of the soldiers
and in the shouts with which the people clamoured for arms； while he
gave the delusive name of an army and of Roman legions to a cowardly
mob； that would not venture on any thing beyond words。 At the instance
of his freedmen （for his friends were the less faithful the more
distinguished their rank） he ordered the tribes to be convoked； and to
those who gave in their names administered the oath of service。 As the
numbers were excessive； he divided the business of enrolment between
the consuls。 He required the Senators to furnish a prescribed number
of slaves and a certain weight of silver。 The Roman Knights offered
their services and money； and even the freedmen voluntarily sought the
privilege of doing the same。 This pretence of loyalty； dictated at
first by fear； passed into enthusiasm； and many expressed
compassion； not so much for Vitellius； as for the fallen condition
of the Imperial power。 Vitellius himself failed not to draw out
their sympathies by his pitiable looks； his voice； and his tears； he
was liberal in his promises and even extravagant； as men in their
alarm naturally are。 He even expressed a wish to be saluted as Caesar；
a title which he had formerly rejected。 But now he had a superstitious
feeling about the name； and it is a fact that in the moment of
terror the counsels of the wise and the voice of the rabble are
listened to with equal respect。 But as all movements that originate in
thoughtless impulse； however vigorous in their beginnings； become
feeble after a time； the throng of Senators and Knights gradually
melted away； dispersing at first tardily and during the absence of the
Emperor； but before long with a contemptuous indifference to his
presence； till； ashamed of the failure of his efforts； Vitellius
waived his claims to services which were not offered。
As the occupation of Mevania； and the apparent revival of the war
with new vigour； had struck terror into Italy； so now did the timorous
retreat of Vitellius give an unequivocal bias in favour of the
Flavianists。 The Samnites； the Peligni； and the Marsi； roused
themselves； jealous at having been anticipated by Campania； and； as
men who serve a new master； were energetic in all the duties of war。
The army； however； was much distressed by bad weather in its passage
over the Apennines； and since they could hardly struggle through the
snow； though their march was unmolested； they perceived what danger
they would have had to encounter； had not Vitellius been made to
turn back by that good fortune； which； not less often than the
wisdom of their counsels； helped the Flavianist generals。 Here they
fell in with Petilius Cerialis； who had escaped the sentries of
Vitellius by a rustic disguise and by his knowledge of the country。
There was a near relationship between Cerialis and Vespasian； and he
was not without reputation as a soldier。 He was therefore admitted
to rank among the generals。 It has been said by many that the means of
escape were likewise open to Flavius Sabinus and to Domitian； and
indeed messengers； dispatched by Antonius； contrived under various
disguises to make their way to them； offering them a place of refuge
and a protecting force。 Sabinus pleaded his ill health； unsuited to
toil and adventure。 Domitian did not want the courage； but he feared
that the guards whom Vitellius had set over him； though they offered
to accompany him in his flight； had treacherous designs。 And Vitellius
himself； out of a regard for his own connexions； did not meditate
any cruelty against Domitian。
The Flavianist generals on their arrival at Carsulae took a few days
for repose； while the eagles and standards of the legions were
coming up。 Carsulae appeared a good position for an encampment； for it
commanded an extensive prospect； provisions could be safely brought
up； and there were in its rear several very wealthy towns。 They also
calculated on interviews with the Vitellianists； who were only ten
miles distant； and on the chances of defection。 The soldiers were
dissatisfied