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perhaps； Vespasian may show a more lofty spirit； Vespasian； who was
a dependant of Vitellius； when Vitellius was the colleague of
Claudius。 If you would act as becomes the censorship； the
thrice…repeated consulate of your father； and all the honours of
your illustrious house； let despair at any rate arm you to
courageous action。 The troops are still firm； and among the people
there is abundant zeal。 Lastly； nothing can happen to us more terrible
than that upon which we are voluntarily rushing。 If we are
conquered； we must die； we must die； if we capitulate。 All that
concerns us is this； shall we draw our last breath amidst scorn and
insult； or in a valiant struggle？〃
The ears of Vitellius were deaf to manly counsels。 His whole soul
was overwhelmed by a tender anxiety； lest by an obstinate resistance
he might leave the conqueror less mercifully disposed to his wife
and children。 He had also a mother old and feeble； but she； expiring a
few days before； escaped by her opportune death the ruin of her house；
having gained from the Imperial dignity of her son nothing but
sorrow and a good name。 On the 18th of December； after hearing of
the defection of the legion and the auxiliary infantry which had
surrendered at Narnia； he left the palace； clad in mourning robes； and
surrounded by his weeping household。 With him went his little son；
carried in a litter； as though in a funeral procession。 The
greetings of the people were flattering； but ill…suited to the time；
the soldiers preserved an ominous silence。
There could hardly be a man so careless of human interests as not to
be affected by this spectacle。 There was the Roman Emperor； lord but a
few days before of the whole human race； leaving the seat of his
power； and passing through the midst of his people and his capital； to
abdicate his throne。 Men had never before seen or heard of such an
event。 Caesar； the Dictator； had fallen by sudden violence； Caligula
by secret treason。 The shades of night and the obscurity of a rural
hiding…place had veiled the flight of Nero。 Piso and Galba had； it
might be said； fallen in battle。 In an assembly of his own people； and
in the midst of his own soldiers； with the very women of his family
looking on； Vitellius stood and spoke a few words suitable to the
sad conjuncture。 〃He gave way；〃 he said； 〃for the sake of peace； for
the sake of his country； let them only remember him； and think with
compassion of his brother； of his wife； of his young and innocent
children。〃 At the same time he held out his son； commending him
first to individual bystanders； then to the whole assembly。 At last；
unable to speak for weeping； he unfastened the dagger from his side；
and offered it to the Consul； Caecilius Simplex； who was standing by
him； as if to indicate that he surrendered the power of life and death
over the citizens。 The Consul rejecting it； and those who were
standing by in the assembly shouting remontrance； he departed； as if
with the intention of laying aside the emblems of Imperial power in
the Temple of Concord； and of betaking himself to his brother's house。
Louder shouts here met him from the crowd； which hindered him from
entering a private house； and invited him to return to the palace。
Every other route was closed； and the only one open was one which
led into the Via Sacra。 Then in utter perplexity he returned to the
palace。 The rumour that he had renounced the Imperial dignity had
preceded him thither； and Flavius Sabinus had sent written orders to
the tribunes of the cohorts to keep their soldiers under restraint。
Then； as if the whole State had passed into the hands of
Vespasian； the leading men of the Senate； many of the Equestrian
order； with all the city soldiery and the watch； thronged the dwelling
of Sabinus。 Intelligence was there brought to him of the enthusiasm of
the populace and of the threatening attitude of the German cohorts。 He
had now gone too far to be able to retreat； and every one； fearing for
himself； should the Vitellianists come upon them while they were
scattered and comparatively weak； urged him； in spite of his
reluctance； to hostilities。 As usually happens； however； in such
cases； all gave the advice； but few shared the risk。 The armed retinue
which was escorting Sabinus was met； as it was coming down by the Lake
Fundanus； by some of the most determined of the Vitellianists。 From
this unforeseen collision resulted an encounter slight indeed； but
terminating favourably for the Vitellianists。 In the hurry of the
moment Sabinus adopted the safest course open to him； and occupied the
Capitol with a miscellaneous body of soldiery； and some Senators and
Knights。 It is not easy to give the names of these persons； since
after the triumph of Vespasian many pretended to have rendered this
service to his party。 There were even women who braved the dangers
of the siege； the most conspicuous among them being Verulana Gratilla；
who was taken thither； not by the love of children or kindred； but
by the fascination of war。 The Vitellianists kept but a careless watch
over the besieged； and thus at the dead of night Sabinus was able to
bring into the Capitol his own children and Domitian his brother's
son； and to send by an unguarded route a messenger to the generals
of the Flavianist party； with information that they were besieged； and
that； unless succour arrived； they must be reduced to distress。 The
night passed so quietly that he might have quitted the place without
loss； for； brave as were the soldiers of Vitellius in encountering
danger； they were far from attentive to the laborious duties of
watching。 Besides this； the sudden fall of a winter storm baffled both
sight and hearing。
At dawn of day； before either side commenced hostilities； Sabinus
sent Cornelius Martialis； a centurion of the first rank； to Vitellius；
with instructions to complain of the infraction of the stipulated
terms。 〃There has evidently；〃 he said； 〃been a mere show and
pretence of abdicating the Empire； with the view of deceiving a number
of distinguished men。 If not； why； when leaving the Rostra； had he
gone to the house of his brother； looking as it did over the Forum；
and certain to provoke the gaze of the multitude； rather than to the
Aventine； and the family house of his wife？ This would have befitted a
private individual anxious to shun all appearance of Imperial power。
But on the contrary； Vitellius retraced his steps to the palace； the
very stronghold of Empire； thence issued a band of armed men。 One of
the most frequented parts of the city was strewed with the corpses
of innocent persons。 The Capitol itself had not been spared。 〃I；〃 said
Sabinus； 〃was only a civilian and a member of the Senate； while the
rivalry of Vitellius and Vespasian was being settled by conflicts
between legions； by the capture of cities； by the capitulation of
cohorts； with Spain； Germany； and Britain in revolt； the brother of
Vespasian still remained firm to his allegiance； till actually invited
to discuss terms of agreement。 Peace and harmony bring advantage to
the conquered； but only credit to the conqueror。 If you repent of your
compact； it is not against me； whom you treacherously deceived； that
you must draw the sword； nor is it against the son of Vespasian； who
is yet of tender age。 What would be gained by the slaughter of one old
man and one stripling？ You should go and meet the legions； and fight
there for Empire； everything else will follow the issue of that
struggle。〃 To these representations the embarrassed Vitellius answered
a few words in his own exculpation； throwing all the blame upon the
soldiers； with whose excessive zeal his moderation was； he said；
unable to cope。 He advised Martialis to depart unobserved through a
concealed part of the palace； lest he should be killed by the
soldiers； as the negotiator of this abhorred convention。 Vitellius had
not now the power either to command or to forbid。 He was no longer
Emperor； he was merely the cause of war。
Martialis had hardly returned to the Capitol； when the infuriated
soldiery arrived； without any leader； every man acting on his own
impulse。 They hurried at quick march past the Forum and the temples
which hang over it； and advanced their line up the opposite hill as
far as the outer gates of the Capitol。 There were formerly certain
colonnades on the right side of the slope as one went up； the
defenders； issuing forth on the roof of these buildings； showered
tiles and stones on the Vitellianists。 The assailants were not armed
with anything but swords； and it seemed too tedious to send for
machines and missiles。 They threw lighted brands on a projecting
colonnade； and follo