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miles distant； and on the chances of defection。 The soldiers were
dissatisfied with this prospect； and wished for victory rather than
for peace。 They would not even await the arrival of their own legions；
whom they looked upon as sharers in the spoil rather than in the
dangers of the campaign。 Antonius summoned them to an assembly； and
explained to them that Vitellius had still forces； which would waver
in their loyalty if they had time to reflect； but would be fierce foes
if driven to despair。 〃The opening of a civil war must；〃 he said；
〃be left to chance； the final triumph is perfected by wise counsels
and skill。 The fleet of Misenum and the fairest portion of Campania
have already revolted； and out of the whole world Vitellius has
nothing left but the country between Tarracina and Narnia。 From our
victory at Cremona sufficient glory has accrued to us； and from the
destruction of that city only too much disgrace。 Let us not be eager
to capture rather than to preserve the capital。 Greater will be our
reward； far higher our reputation； if we secure without bloodshed
the safety of the Senate and of the people of Rome。〃 By this and
similar language their impatience was allayed。
Soon after； the legions arrived。 Alarmed by the report of this
increase to the army； the Vitellianist cohorts began to waver； no
one urged them to fight； many urged them to change sides； each more
eager than the other to hand over his company or troop； a present to
the conqueror； and a source of future advantage to himself。 From these
men it was ascertained that Interamna； situated in the adjoining
plain； was occupied by a garrison of 400 cavalry。 Varus was at once
dispatched with a lightly equipped force； and cut to pieces a few
who attempted to resist； the greater number threw down their arms； and
begged for quarter。 Some fled back into the camp； and spread panic
everywhere by exaggerated reports of the courage and strength of the
enemy； seeking thus to mitigate the disgrace of having lost the
position。 Among the Vitellianists treason went unpunished； all loyalty
was subverted by the rewards of desertion； and nothing was left but
emulation in perfidy。 There were numerous desertions among the
tribunes and centurions； the common soldiers remained obstinately
faithful to Vitellius； till Priscus and Alfenius； deserting the camp
and returning to Vitellius； relieved all from any shame they might
feel at being traitors。
About the same time Fabius Valens was put to death while in
confinement at Urbinum。 His head was displayed to the Vitellianist
cohort； that they might not cherish any further hope； for they
generally believed that Valens had made his way into Germany； and
was there bringing into the field veteran as well as newly levied
armies。 The bloody spectacle reduced them to despair； and it was
amazing how the army of Vespasian welcomed in their hearts the
destruction of Valens as the termination of the war。 Valens was a
native of Anagnia； and belonged to an Equestrian family； he was a
man of loose character； but of no small ability； who sought to gain by
profligacy a reputation for elegance。 In the theatricals performed
by young men during the reign of Nero； at first apparently from
compulsion； afterwards of his own free choice； he repeatedly acted
in the farces； with more cleverness than propriety。 While legate of
a legion； he first supported； then slandered； Verginius。 Fonteius
Capito he murdered； either after he had corrupted him； or because he
had failed to do so。 Though a traitor to Galba he was loyal to
Vitellius； and gained a lustre from the perfidy of others。
Finding all their hopes cut off； the troops of Vitellius；
intending to pass over to the side of the conqueror； but to do so with
honour； marched down with their standards and colours into the
plains beneath Narnia。 The army of Vespasian； prepared and equipped as
if for action； was drawn up in dense array on both sides of the
road。 The Vitellianists were received between the two columns； when
they were thus surrounded； Antonius addressed them kindly。 One
division was ordered to remain at Narnia； another at Interamna； with
them were left some of the victorious legions； which would not be
formidable to them if they remained quiet； but were strong enough to
crush all turbulence。 At the same time Primus and Varus did not
neglect to forward continual messages to Vitellius； offering him
personal safety； the enjoyment of wealth； and a quiet retreat in
Campania； provided he would lay down his arms and surrender himself
and his children to Vespasian。 Mucianus also wrote to him to the
same effect； and Vitellius was often disposed to trust these
overtures； and even discussed the number of his household and the
choice of a residence on the coast。 Such a lethargy had come over
his spirit； that； had not others remembered he had been an Emperor； he
would have himself forgotten it。
The leading men in the State had secret conferences with Flavius
Sabinus； prefect of the city； urging him to secure a share in the
credit of the victory。 〃You have；〃 they said； 〃a force of your own
in the city cohorts； the cohorts of the watch will not fail you； and
there are also our own slaves； there is the prestige of the party；
there is the fact that to the victorious everything is easy。 You
should not yield the glory of the war to Antonius and Varus。 Vitellius
has but a few cohorts； and they are alarmed by gloomy tidings from
every quarter。 The feelings of the people are easily swayed； and； if
you put yourself at their head； there will soon be the same flatteries
ready for Vespasian。 Vitellius even in prosperity was unequal to his
position； and he is proportionately unnerved by disaster。 The merit of
having finished the war will belong to him who may have possessed
himself of the capital。 It would well become Sabinus to keep the
Empire for his brother； and Vespasian equally well； to count his other
adherents inferior to Sabinus。〃
Old and infirm as he was； it was with anything but eagerness that he
listened to these suggestions。 Some indeed assailed him with dark
insinuations； implying that from motives of envy and rivalry he was
seeking to retard the elevation of his brother。 It was true； that
while both were in a private station； Flavius Sabinus； who was the
elder； was the superior of Vespasian in influence and in wealth。 He
was believed indeed to have sustained the failing credit of his
brother； while taking a mortgage of his house and lands； and hence；
though the outward appearance of harmony was preserved； some secret
grudge was feared。 It is more charitable to suppose that the mild
temper of the man shrank from bloodshed and slaughter； and that for
this reason he had held frequent conferences with Vitellius to discuss
the question of peace and the cessation of hostilities upon certain
conditions。 After many private interviews； they finally； so report
said； ratified an agreement in the temple of Apollo。 The words of
their conversation had two witnesses in Cluvius Rufus and Silius
Italicus。 Their looks were noted by the more distant spectators； the
expression of Vitellius was abject and mean； that of Sabinus not
triumphant； but rather akin to pity。
Could Vitellius have swayed the feelings of his partisans as
easily as he had himself yielded； the army of Vespasian might have
entered the capital without bloodshed。 But the more loyal his
adherents； the more did they protest against peace and negotiation。
They pointed out the danger and disgrace of a submission in which
the caprice of the conqueror would be their sole guarantee。 〃And
Vespasian；〃 they said； 〃is not so arrogant as to tolerate such a
subject as Vitellius。 Even the vanquished would not endure it。 Their
pity would be dangerous to him。 You certainly are an old man； and have
had enough both of prosperity and of adversity； but think what a name；
what a position； you will leave to your son Germanicus。 Now indeed
they promise you wealth； and a large establishment； and a luxurious
retreat in Campania； but when Vespasian has once seized the throne；
neither he； nor his friends； nor even his armies； will feel themselves
secure till all rivalry has been extinguished。 Fabius Valens；
captive as he was； and reserved against the chance of disaster； was
yet too formidable to them； and certainly Primus； Fuscus； and
Mucianus； who exhibits the temper of his party； will not be allowed
power over Vitellius except to put him to death。 Caesar did not
leave Pompey； Augustus did not leave Antony in safety； though；
perhaps； Vespasian may show a more lofty spirit； Vespasian； who was
a dependant of Vitellius； when Vitellius was the colleague o