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Vitellianists； taking their stand on the garden…walls； kept off the
assailants with stones and javelins till late in the day； when they
were taken in the rear by the cavalry； which had then forced an
entrance by the Colline Gate。 In the Campus Martius also the hostile
armies met； the Flavianists with all the prestige of fortune and
repeated victory； the Vitellianists rushing on in sheer despair。
Though defeated； they rallied again in the city。
The populace stood by and watched the combatants； and； as though
it had been a mimic conflict； encouraged first one party and then
the other by their shouts and plaudits。 Whenever either side gave way；
they cried out that those who concealed themselves in the shops； or
took refuge in any private house； should be dragged out and butchered；
and they secured the larger share of the booty； for； while the
soldiers were busy with bloodshed and massacre； the spoils fell to the
crowd。 It was a terrible and hideous sight that presented itself
throughout the city。 Here raged battle and death； there the bath and
the tavern were crowded。 In one spot were pools of blood and heaps
of corpses； and close by prostitutes and men of character as infamous；
there were all the debaucheries of luxurious peace； all the horrors of
a city most cruelly sacked； till one was ready to believe the
Country to be mad at once with rage and lust。 It was not indeed the
first time that armed troops had fought within the city； they had done
so twice when Sulla； once when Cinna triumphed。 The bloodshed then had
not been less； but now there was an unnatural recklessness； and
men's pleasures were not interrupted even for a moment。 As if it
were a new delight added to their holidays； they exulted in and
enjoyed the scene； indifferent to parties； and rejoicing over the
sufferings of the Commonwealth。
The most arduous struggle was the storming of the camp； which the
bravest of the enemy still held as a last hope。 It was； therefore；
with peculiar energy that the conquerors； among whom the veteran
cohorts were especially forward； brought to bear upon it at once all
the appliances which have been discovered in reducing the strongest
cities； the testudo； the catapult； the earth…work； and the
firebrand。 They repeatedly shouted 〃that all the toil and danger
they had endured in so many conflicts would be crowned by this
achievement。 The capital has been restored to the Senate and people of
Rome； and their temples to the Gods； but the soldier's peculiar
distinction is in the camp； this is his country； and this his home；
unless this be recovered forthwith； the night must be passed under
arms。〃 On the other hand the Vitellianists； though unequal in
numbers and doomed to defeat； could yet disturb the victory； delay the
conclusion of peace； and pollute both hearth and altar with blood； and
they clung to these last consolations of the vanquished。 Many；
desperately wounded； breathed their last on the towers and ramparts。
When the gates were torn down； the survivors threw themselves in a
body on the conquerors； and fell to a man； with their wounds in
front and their faces turned towards the foe； so anxious were they
even in their last hours to die with honour。 When the city had been
taken； Vitellius caused himself to be carried in a litter through
the back of the palace to the Aventine； to his wife's dwelling；
intending； if by any concealment he could escape for that day； to make
his way to his brother's cohorts at Tarracina。 Then； with
characteristic weakness； and following the instincts of fear； which；
dreading everything； shrinks most from what is immediately before
it； he retraced his steps to the desolate and forsaken palace；
whence even the meanest slaves had fled； or where they avoided his
presence。 The solitude and silence of the place scared him； he tried
the closed doors； he shuddered in the empty chambers； till； wearied
out with his miserable wanderings； he concealed himself in an unseemly
hiding…place； from which he was dragged out by the tribune Julius
Placidus。 His hands were bound behind his back； and he was led along
with tattered robes； a revolting spectacle； amidst the invectives of
many； the tears of none。 The degradation of his end had extinguished
all pity。 One of the German soldiers met the party； and aimed a deadly
blow at Vitellius； perhaps in anger； perhaps wishing to release him
the sooner from insult。 Possibly the blow was meant for the tribune。
He struck off that officer's ear； and was immediately dispatched。
Vitellius； compelled by threatening swords； first to raise his
face and offer it to insulting blows； then to behold his own statues
falling round him； and more than once to look at the Rostra and the
spot where Galba was slain； was then driven along till they reached
the Gemoniae； the place where the corpse of Flavius Sabinus had
lain。 One speech was heard from him shewing a spirit not utterly
degraded； when to the insults of a tribune he answered； 〃Yet I was
your Emperor。〃 Then he fell under a shower of blows； and the mob
reviled the dead man with the same heartlessness with which they had
flattered him when he was alive。
Luceria was his native place。 He had nearly completed his 57th year。
His consulate； his priesthood； his high reputation； his place among
the first men of the State； he owed； not to any energy of his own； but
to the renown of his father。 The throne was offered him by men who did
not know him。 Seldom have the affections of the army attached
themselves to any man who sought to gain them by his virtues as firmly
as they did to him from the indolence of his character。 Yet he had a
certain frankness and generosity； qualities indeed which turn to a
man's ruin； unless tempered with discretion。 Believing that friendship
may be retained by munificent gifts rather than by consistency of
character； he deserved more of it than he secured。 Doubtless it was
good for the State that Vitellius should be overthrown； but they who
betrayed Vitellius to Vespasian cannot make a merit of their
treachery； since they had themselves revolted from Galba。 The day
was now fast drawing to a close； and the Senate could not be convened；
owing to the panic of the magistrates and Senators； who had stolen out
of the city； or were concealing themselves in the houses of
dependants。 When nothing more was to be feared from the enemy；
Domitian came forward to meet the leaders of the party； he was
universally saluted by the title of Caesar； and the troops； in great
numbers； armed as they were； conducted him to his father's house。
BOOK IV； January … November； A。D。 70
WHEN Vitellius was dead； the war had indeed come to an end； but
peace had yet to begin。 Sword in hand； throughout the capital； the
conquerors hunted down the conquered with merciless hatred。 The
streets were choked with carnage； the squares and temples reeked
with blood； for men were massacred everywhere as chance threw them
in the way。 Soon； as their license increased； they began to search for
and drag forth hidden foes。 Whenever they saw a man tall and young
they cut him down； making no distinction between soldiers and
civilians。 But the ferocity； which in the first impulse of hatred
could be gratified only by blood； soon passed into the greed of
gain。 They let nothing be kept secret； nothing be closed；
Vitellianists； they pretended； might be thus concealed。 Here was the
first step to breaking open private houses； here； if resistance were
made； a pretext for slaughter。 The most needy of the populace and
the most worthless of the slaves did not fail to come forward and
betray their wealthy masters； others were denounced by friends。
Everywhere were lamentations； and wailings； and all the miseries of
a captured city； till the license of the Vitellianist and
Othonianist soldiery； once so odious； was remembered with regret。
The leaders of the party； so energetic in kindling civil strife；
were incapable of checking the abuse of victory。 In stirring up tumult
and strife the worst men can do the most； but peace and quiet cannot
be established without virtue。
Domitian had entered into possession of the title and residence of
Caesar； but not yet applying himself to business； was playing the part
of a son of the throne with debauchery and intrigue。 The office of
prefect of the Praetorian Guard was held by Arrius Varus； but the
supreme power was in the hands of Primus Antonius； who carried off
money and slaves from the establishment of the Emperor； as if they
were the spoils of Cremona。 The other generals； whose moderation or
insignificance had shut them out from distinction in the war； had
accordingly no share in its