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insignificance had shut them out from distinction in the war； had
accordingly no share in its prizes。 The country； terror…stricken and
ready to acquiesce in servitude； urgently demanded that Lucius
Vitellius with his cohorts should be intercepted on his way from
Tarracina； and that the last sparks of war should be trodden out。
The cavalry were sent on to Aricia； the main body of the legions
halted on this side of Bovillae。 Without hesitation Vitellius
surrendered himself and his cohorts to the discretion of the
conqueror； and the soldiers threw down their ill…starred arms in
rage quite as much as in alarm。 The long train of prisoners； closely
guarded by armed men； passed through the capital。 Not one of them wore
the look of a suppliant； sullen and savage； they were unmoved by the
shouts and jests of the insulting rabble。 A few； who ventured to break
away； were overpowered by the force that hemmed them in； the rest were
thrown into prison。 Not one of them uttered an unworthy word； even
in disaster the honour of the soldier was preserved。 After this Lucius
Vitellius was executed。 Equally vicious with his brother； he had yet
shewn greater vigilance during that brother's reign； and may be
said； not so much to have shared his elevation； as to have been
dragged down by his fall。
About the same time Lucilius Bassus was sent with some light cavalry
to establish order in Campania； where the towns were still
disturbed； but by mutual animosities rather than by any spirit of
opposition to the new Emperor。 The sight of the soldiery restored
quiet； and the smaller colonies escaped unpunished。 At Capua； however；
the third legion was stationed to pass the winter； and the noble
families suffered severely。 Tarracina； on the other hand； received
no relief； so much more inclined are we to requite an injury than an
obligation。 Gratitude is a burden； while there seems to be a profit in
revenge。 They were consoled by seeing the slave of Verginius Capito；
whom I have mentioned as the betrayer of Tarracina； gibbeted in the
very rings of knighthood； the gift of Vitellius； which they had seen
him wear。 At Rome the Senate； delighted and full of confident hope；
decreed to Vespasian all the honours customarily bestowed on the
Emperors。 And indeed the civil war； which； beginning in Gaul and
Spain； and afterwards drawing into the struggle first Germany and then
Illyricum； had traversed Aegypt； Judaea； and Syria； every province；
and every army； this war； now that the whole earth was； as it were；
purged from guilt； seemed to have reached its close。 Their alacrity
was increased by a letter from Vespasian； written during the
continuance of the war。 Such indeed was its character at first
sight； the writer； however； expressed himself as an Emperor；
speaking modestly about himself； in admirable language about the
State。 There was no want of deference on the part of the Senate。 On
the Emperor and his son Titus the consulship was bestowed by decree；
on Domitian the office of praetor with consular authority。
Mucianus had also forwarded to the Senate certain letters which
furnished matter for talk。 It was said； 〃Why； if he is a private
citizen； does he speak like a public man？ In a few days' time he might
have said the very same words in his place as a Senator。 And even
the invective against Vitellius comes too late； and is ungenerous；
while certainly it is arrogance to the State and an insult to the
Emperor to boast that he had the Imperial power in his hands； and made
a present of it to Vespasian。〃 Their dislike； however； was
concealed； their adulation was open enough。 In most flattering
language they voted a triumph to Mucianus； a triumph for a civil
war； though the expedition against the Sarmatae was the pretext。 On
Antonius Primus were bestowed the insignia of consular rank； on Arrius
Varus and Cornelius Fuscus praetorian honours。 Then they remembered
the Gods。 It was determined that the Capitol should be restored。 All
these motions Valerius Asiaticus； consul elect； proposed。 Most of
the Senators signified their assent by their looks； or by raising
the hand； but a few； who either held a distinguished rank； or had a
practised talent for flattery； declared their acquiescence in
studied speeches。 When it came to the turn of Helvidius Priscus；
praetor elect； to vote； he delivered an opinion； full of respect
indeed to a worthy Emperor； and yet wholly free from insincerity；
and he was strongly supported by the sympathies of the Senate。 To
Priscus indeed this day was in an especial manner the beginning of a
great quarrel and a great renown。
As I have again happened to mention a man of whom I shall often have
to speak； the subject seems to demand that I should give a brief
account of his life and pursuits； and of his fortunes。 Helvidius
Priscus was a native of the town of Carecina in Italy； and was the son
of one Cluvius； who had been a centurion of the first rank。 In early
youth he devoted his distinguished talents to the loftiest pursuits；
not wishing； as do many； to cloak under an imposing name a life of
indolence； but to be able to enter upon public life with a spirit
fortified against the chances of fortune。 He followed those teachers
of philosophy who hold nothing to be good but what is honourable；
nothing evil but what is base； and who refuse to count either among
things good or evil； power； rank； or indeed any thing not belonging to
the mind。 While still holding the quaestorship； he was selected by
Paetus Thrasea to be his son…in…law； and from the example of his
father…in…law imbibed with peculiar eagerness a love of liberty。 As
a citizen and as a Senator； as a husband； as a son…in…law； as a
friend； and in all the relations of life； he was ever the same；
despising wealth； steadily tenacious of right； and undaunted by
danger。
There were some who thought him too eager for fame； and indeed the
desire of glory is the last infirmity cast off even by the wise。 The
fall of his father…in…law drove him into exile； but he returned when
Galba mounted the throne； and proceeded to impeach Marcellus Eprius；
who had been the informer against Thrasea。 This retribution； as great
as it was just； had divided the Senate into two parties； for； if
Marcellus fell； a whole army of fellow culprits was struck down。 At
first there was a fierce struggle； as is proved by the great
speeches delivered by both men。 But afterwards； as the feelings of
Galba were doubtful； and many Senators interceded； Priscus dropped the
charge； amidst comments varying with the tempers of men； some praising
his moderation； and others deploring a lack of courage。 On the day；
however； that the Senate was voting about the Imperial dignities of
Vespasian； it had been resolved that envoys should be sent to the
new Emperor。 Hence arose a sharp altercation between Helvidius and
Eprius。 Priscus proposed that they should be chosen by name by the
magistrates on oath； Marcellus demanded the ballot； and this had
been the opinion expressed by the Consul elect。
It was the dread of personal humiliation that made Marcellus so
earnest； for he feared that； if others were chosen； he should
himself appear slighted。 From an angry conversation they passed by
degrees to long and bitter speeches。 Helvidius asked； 〃Why should
Marcellus be so afraid of the judgment of the magistrates？ He has
wealth and eloquence； which might make him superior to many； were he
not oppressed by the consciousness of guilt。 The chances of the ballot
do not discriminate men's characters； the voting and the judgment of
the Senate were devised to reach the lives and reputations of
individuals。 It concerns the interests of the Commonwealth； it
concerns the honour due to Vespasian； that he should be met by those
whom the Senate counts to be peculiarly blameless； and who may fill
the Emperor's ear with honourable counsels。 Vespasian was the friend
of Thrasea； Soranus； and Sextius； and the accusers of these men；
though it may not be expedient to punish them； ought not to be paraded
before him。 By this selection on the part of the Senate the Emperor
will； so to speak； be advised whom he should mark with approval； and
from whom he should shrink。 There can be no more effectual
instrument of good government than good friends。 Let Marcellus be
satisfied with having urged Nero to destroy so many innocent
victims； let him enjoy the wages of his crimes and his impunity； but
let him leave Vespasian to worthier advisers。〃
Marcellus declared； 〃It is not my opinion that is assailed； the
Consul elect has made a motion in accordance with old precedents；
which directed the use of the ballot in the appointment of envoys；
in order th