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machines and missiles。 They threw lighted brands on a projecting
colonnade； and following the track of the fire would have burst
through the half…burnt gates of the Capitol； had not Sabinus；
tearing down on all sides the statues； the glories of former
generations； formed them into a barricade across the opening。 They
then assailed the opposite approaches to the Capitol； near the grove
of the Asylum； and where the Tarpeian rock is mounted by a hundred
steps。 Both these attacks were unexpected； the closer and fiercer of
the two threatened the Asylum。 The assailants could not be checked
as they mounted the continuous line of buildings； which； as was
natural in a time of profound peace； had grown up to such a height
as to be on a level with the soil of the Capitol。 A doubt arises at
this point； whether it was the assailants who threw lighted brands
on to the roofs； or whether； as the more general account has it； the
besieged thus sought to repel the assailants； who were now making
vigorous progress。 From them the fire passed to the colonnades
adjoining the temples； the eagles supporting the pediment； which
were of old timber； caught the flames。 And so the Capitol； with its
gates shut； neither defended by friends； nor spoiled by a foe； was
burnt to the ground。
This was the most deplorable and disgraceful event that had happened
to the Commonwealth of Rome since the foundation of the city； for now；
assailed by no foreign enemy； with Heaven ready to be propitious；
had our vices only allowed； the seat of Jupiter Supremely Good and
Great； founded by our ancestors with solemn auspices to be the
pledge of Empire； the seat； which neither Porsenna； when the city
was surrendered； nor the Gauls； when it was captured； had been able to
violate； was destroyed by the madness of our Emperors。 Once before
indeed during civil war the Capitol had been consumed by fire； but
then only through the crime of individuals； now it was openly
besieged； and openly set on fire。 And what were the motives of this
conflict？ what the compensation for so great a disaster？ was it for
our country we were fighting？ King Tarquinius Priscus had vowed its
erection in his war with the Sabines； and had laid the foundations
on a scale which suited the hopes of future greatness rather than what
the yet moderate resources of Rome could achieve。 After him； Servius
Tullius； heartily assisted by the allies； and Tarquinius Superbus；
employing the spoils of war from the conquered Suessa Pometia；
raised the superstructure。 But the glory of its completion was
reserved for the days of liberty。 After the expulsion of the Kings；
Horatius Pulvillus； in his second consulate； dedicated it； a
building so magnificent； that the vast wealth afterwards acquired by
the people of Rome served to embellish rather than increase it。 It was
rebuilt on the same site； when； after an interval of 415 years； it was
burnt to the ground in the consulate of Lucius Scipio and Caius
Norbanus。 Sulla； after his final triumph； undertook the charge of
restoring it； but did not live to dedicate it； the one thing denied to
his uniform good fortune。 The name of Lutatius Catulus； the dedicator；
remained among all the vast erections of the Emperors； down to the
days of Vitellius。 This was the building that was now on fire。
The catastrophe； however； caused more panic among the besieged
than among the besiegers。 In fact； the troops of Vitellius lacked
neither skill nor courage in the midst of peril。 Opposed to them
were soldiers without self…possession； and a spiritless and； so to
speak； infatuated commander； who had not the use of his tongue or
his ears； who would not be guided by other men's counsels； and could
not carry out his own； who； hurried to and fro by the shouts of the
enemy； forbade what he had just ordered； and ordered what he had
just forbidden。 Then； as usually happens when everything is lost；
all gave orders； and no one obeyed。 At last； they threw away their
arms； and began to look about for ways of escape and means of
concealment。 The Vitellianists burst in； carrying everywhere with
indiscriminate ferocity the firebrand and the sword。 A few of the
military men； among whom the most conspicuous were Cornelius
Martialis； Aemilius Pacensis； Casperius Niger； and Didius Sceva；
ventured to resist； and were cut down。 Flavius Sabinus； who was
unarmed； and who did not attempt to fly； was surrounded； and with
him the consul Quinctius Atticus； marked out by his clinging to the
shadow of office； and by his folly in having scattered among the
people edicts highly eulogistic of Vespasian and insulting to
Vitellius。 The rest escaped by various chances； some disguised as
slaves； others concealed by the fidelity of dependants； and hiding
among the baggage。 Some caught the watchword by which the
Vitellianists recognised each other； and； themselves challenging
others and giving it when challenged； found in their audacity an
effectual disguise。
When the enemy first burst in； Domitian concealed himself in the
house of a servant of the temple。 At the ingenious suggestion of a
freedman； he assumed a linen vestment； and passing unnoticed among a
crowd of acolytes； found a refuge with Cornelius Primus； one of his
father's dependants； in a house near the Velabrum。 When his father
mounted the throne； he pulled down the chamber of the
temple…servant； and built a small chapel； dedicated to Jupiter the
Preserver； with an altar on which his own adventures were
represented in marble。 Afterwards； on his own accession to the
Imperial power； he consecrated a vast temple to Jupiter the
Guardian； with an effigy of himself in the arms of the god。 Sabinus
and Atticus were loaded with chains； and conducted to Vitellius； who
received them with anything but anger in his words and looks； amidst
the murmurs of those who demanded the privilege of slaying them and
their pay for the work they had done。 Those who were standing near
began the clamour； and the degraded rabble cried out for the execution
of Sabinus； and mingled threats with their flatteries。 Vitellius；
who was standing before the steps of the palace； and was preparing
to intercede； was induced to desist。 The body of Sabinus； pierced
and mutilated and with the head severed from it； was dragged to the
Gemoniae。
Such was the end of a man in no wise contemptible。 In five and
thirty campaigns he had served the State； and had gained distinction
both at home and abroad。 His blamelessness and integrity no one
could question。 He was somewhat boastful； this was the only fault of
which rumour accused him in the seven years during which he had
governed Moesia； and the twelve during which he was prefect of the
city。 In the closing scene of his life some have seen pusillanimity；
many a moderate temper； sparing of the blood of his countrymen。 One
thing is allowed by all； that； before the accession of Vespasian；
the distinction of the family was centred in Sabinus。 I have heard
that his death gratified Mucianus； and many indeed asserted that the
interests of peace were promoted by the removal of the rivalry between
these two men； one of whom felt himself to be the brother of the
Emperor； while the other thought himself his colleague。 Vitellius
resisted the demands of the people for the execution of the Consul； he
was now pacified； and wished； it would seem； to recompense Atticus；
who； when asked who had set fire to the Capitol； had confessed his own
guilt； and by this confession； which may indeed have been an opportune
falsehood； was thought to have taken upon himself the odium of the
crime； and to have acquitted the Vitellianist party。
Meanwhile Lucius Vitellius； who was encamped near Feronia； was
threatening Tarracina with destruction。 There were shut up in the
place a few gladiators and seamen； who dared not leave the walls and
risk an engagement in the plain。 I have mentioned before that Julianus
was in command of the gladiators； Apollinaris of the seamen； two men
whose profligacy and indolence made them resemble gladiators rather
than generals。 They kept no watch； they did not strengthen the weak
points of the fortifications； but； making each pleasant spot ring with
the noise of their daily and nightly dissipation； they dispersed their
soldiers on errands which were to minister to their luxury； and
never spoke of war； except at their banquets。 Apinius Tiro had quitted
the place a few days before； and was now； by the harsh exaction of
presents and contributions from the towns； adding to the
unpopularity rather than to the resources of his party。
Meanwhile a slave belonging to Verginius Capito deserted to L。
Vitellius； and having engaged； on being fur