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Meanwhile a slave belonging to Verginius Capito deserted to L。
Vitellius； and having engaged； on being furnished with a force； to put
him in possession of the unoccupied citadel； proceeded at a late
hour of the night to place some light…armed cohorts on the summit of a
range of hills which commanded the enemy's position。 From this place
the troops descended to what was more a massacre than a conflict。 Many
whom they slew were unarmed or in the act of arming themselves； some
were just awaking from sleep； amid the confusion of darkness and
panic； the braying of trumpets； and the shouts of the foe。 A few of
the gladiators resisted； and fell not altogether unavenged。 The rest
made a rush for the ships； where everything was involved in a
general panic； the troops being mingled with country people； whom
the Vitellianists slaughtered indiscriminately。 Six Liburnian ships
with Apollinaris； prefect of the fleet； escaped in the first
confusion。 The rest were either seized upon the beach； or were swamped
by the weight of the crowds that rushed on board。 Julianus was brought
before L。 Vitellius； and； after being ignominiously scourged； was
put to death in his presence。 Some persons accused Triaria； the wife
of L。 Vitellius； of having armed herself with a soldier's sword； and
of having behaved with arrogance and cruelty amid the horrors and
massacres of the storm of Tarracina。 Lucius himself sent to his
brother a laurelled dispatch with an account of his success； and asked
whether he wished him at once to return to Rome； or to complete the
subjugation of Campania。 This circumstance was advantageous to the
State as well as to the cause of Vespasian。 Had the army fresh from
victory； and with all the pride of success added to its natural
obstinacy； marched upon Rome； a conflict of no slight magnitude； and
involving the destruction of the capital； must have ensued。 Lucius
Vitellius； infamous as he was； had yet some energy； but it was not
through his virtues； as is the case with the good； but through his
vices； that he； like the worst of villains； was formidable。
While these successes were being achieved on the side of
Vitellius； the army of Vespasian had left Narnia； and was passing
the holiday of the Saturnalia in idleness at Ocriculum。 The reason
alleged for so injurious a delay was that they might wait for
Mucianus。 Some persons indeed there were who assailed Antonius with
insinuations； that he lingered with treacherous intent； after
receiving private letters from Vitellius； which conveyed to him the
offer of the consulship and of the Emperor's daughter in marriage with
a vast dowry； as the price of treason。 Others asserted that this was
all a fiction； invented to please Mucianus。 Some again alleged that
the policy agreed upon by all the generals was to threaten rather than
actually to attack the capital； as Vitellius' strongest cohorts had
revolted from him； and it seemed likely that； deprived of all support；
he would abdicate the throne； but that the whole plan was ruined by
the impatience and subsequent cowardice of Sabinus； who； after
rashly taking up arms； had not been able to defend against three
cohorts the great stronghold of the Capitol； which might have defied
even the mightiest armies。 One cannot； however； easily fix upon one
man the blame which belongs to all。 Mucianus did in fact delay the
conquerors by ambiguously…worded dispatches； Antonius； by a perverse
acquiescence； or by an attempt to throw the odium upon another； laid
himself open to blame； the other generals； by imagining that the war
was over； contrived a distinction for its closing scene。 Even Petilius
Cerialis； though he had been sent on with a thousand cavalry by
crossroads through the Sabine district so as to enter Rome by the
Via Salaria； had not been sufficiently prompt in his movements； when
the report of the siege of the Capitol put all alike on the alert。
Antonius marched by the Via Flaminia； and arrived at Saxa Rubra；
when the night was far spent； too late to give any help。 There he
received nothing but gloomy intelligence； that Sabinus was dead；
that the Capitol had been burnt to the ground； that Rome was in
consternation； and also that the populace and the slaves were arming
themselves for Vitellius。 And Petilius Cerialis had been defeated in a
cavalry skirmish。 While he was hurrying on without caution； as against
a vanquished enemy； the Vitellianists； who had disposed some
infantry among their cavalry； met him。 The conflict took place not far
from the city among buildings； gardens； and winding lanes； which
were well known to the Vitellianists； but disconcerting to their
opponents； to whom they were strange。 Nor indeed were all the
cavalry one in heart； for there were with them some who had lately
capitulated at Narnia； and who were anxiously watching the fortunes of
the rival parties。 Tullius Flavianus； commanding a squadron； was taken
prisoner； the rest fled in disgraceful confusion； but the victors
did not continue the pursuit beyond Fidenae。
By this success the zeal of the people was increased。 The mob of the
city armed itself。 Some few had military shields； the greater part
seized such arms as came to hand； and loudly demanded the signal of
battle。 Vitellius expressed his thanks to them； and bade them sally
forth to defend the capital。 Then the Senate was called together；
and envoys were selected to meet the armies and urge them in the
name of the Commonwealth to union and peace。 The reception of these
envoys was not everywhere the same。 Those who fell in with Petilius
Cerialis were exposed to extreme peril； for the troops disdained all
offers of peace。 The praetor Arulenus Rusticus was wounded。 This
deed seemed all the more atrocious； when； over and above the insult
offered to the dignity of the envoy and praetor； men considered the
private worth of the man。 His companions were dispersed； and the
lictor that stood next to him； venturing to push aside the crowd；
was killed。 Had they not been protected by an escort provided by the
general； the dignity of the ambassador； respected even by foreign
nations； would have been profaned with fatal violence by the madness
of Roman citizens before the very walls of their Country。 The envoys
who met Antonious were more favourably received； not because the
troops were of quieter temper； but because the general had more
authority。
One Musonius Rufus； a man of equestrian rank； strongly attached to
the pursuit of philosophy and to the tenets of the Stoics； had
joined the envoys。 He mingled with the troops； and； enlarging on the
blessings of peace and the perils of war； began to admonish the
armed crowd。 Many thought it ridiculous； more thought it tiresome；
some were ready to throw him down and trample him under foot； had he
not yielded to the warnings of the more orderly and the threats of
others； and ceased to display his ill…timed wisdom。 The Vestal virgins
also presented themselves with a letter from Vitellius to Antonius。 He
asked for one day of truce before the final struggle； and said； that
if they would permit some delay to intervene； everything might be more
easily arranged。 The sacred virgins were sent back with honour； but
the answer returned to Vitellius was； that all ordinary intercourse of
war had been broken off by the murder of Sabinus and the conflagration
of the Capitol。
Antonius； however； summoned the legions to an assembly； and
endeavoured to calm them； proposing that they should encamp near the
Mulvian bridge； and enter the capital on the following day。 His reason
for delay was the fear that the soldiers； once exasperated by
conflict； would respect neither the people nor the Senate； nor even
the shrines and temples of the Gods。 They； however； looked with
dislike on all procrastination as inimical to victory。 At the same
time the colours that glittered among the hills； though followed by an
unwarlike population； presented the appearance of a hostile array。
They advanced in three divisions； one column straight from where
they had halted along the Via Flaminia； another along the bank of
the Tiber； a third moved on the Colline Gate by the Via Salaria。 The
mob was routed by a charge of the cavalry。 Then the Vitellianist
troops； themselves also drawn up in three columns of defence； met
the foe。 Numerous engagements with various issue took place before the
walls； but they generally ended in favour of the Flavianists； who
had the advantage of more skilful generalship。 Only that division
suffered which had wound its way along narrow and slippery roads to
the left quarter of the city as far as the gardens of Sallust。 The
Vitellianists； taking their stand on the garden