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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 that there might be no room for intrigue or private
animosities。 Nothing has happened why customs of long standing
should fall into disuse； or why the honour due to the Emperor should
be turned into an insult to any man。 All Senators are competent to pay
their homage。 What we have rather to avoid is this； that a mind
unsettled by the novelty of power； and which will keenly watch the
very looks and language of all； should be irritated by the obstinacy
of certain persons。 I do not forget the times in which I have been
born； or the form of government which our fathers and grandfathers
established。 I may regard with admiration an earlier period； but I
acquiesce in the present； and； while I pray for good Emperors； I can
endure whomsoever we may have。 It was not through my speech any more
than it was through the judgment of the Senate that Thrasea fell。
The savage temper of Nero amused itself under these forms； and I found
the friendship of such a Prince as harassing as others found their
exile。 Finally； Helvidius may rival the Catos and the Bruti of old
in constancy and courage； I am but one of the Senate which bows to the
same yoke。 Besides； I would advise Priscus not to climb higher than
the throne； or to impose his counsels on Vespasian； an old man； who
has won the honours of a triumph； and has two sons grown to manhood。
For as the worst Emperors love an unlimited despotism； so the
noblest like some check on liberty。〃 These speeches； which were
delivered with much vehemence on both sides； were heard with much
diversity of feeling。 That party prevailed which preferred that the
envoys should be taken by lot； as even the neutral section in the
Senate exerted themselves to retain the old practice； while the more
conspicuous members inclined to the same view； dreading jealousy；
should the choice fall on themselves。
Another struggle ensued。 The praetors of the Treasury （the
Treasury was at this time managed by praetors） complained of the
poverty of the State； and demanded a retrenchment of expenditure。
The Consul elect； considering how great was the evil and how difficult
the remedy； was for reserving the matter for the Emperor。 Helvidius
gave it as his opinion that measures should be taken at the discretion
of the Senate。 When the Consuls came to take the votes； Vulcatius
Tertullinus； tribune of the people； put his veto on any resolution
being adopted in so important a matter in the absence of the
Emperor。 Helvidius had moved that the Capitol should be restored at
the public expense； and that Vespasian should give his aid。 All the
more moderate of the Senators let this opinion pass in silence； and in
time forgot it； but there were some who remembered it。
Musonius Rufus then made a violent attack on Publius Celer； accusing
him of having brought about the destruction of Barea Soranus by
perjury。 By this impeachment all the hatreds of the days of the
informers seemed to be revived； but the accused person was so
worthless and so guilty that he could not be protected。 For indeed the
memory of Soranus was held in reverence； Celer had been a professor of
philosophy； and had then given evidence against Barea； thus
betraying and profaning the friendship of which he claimed to be a
teacher。 The next day was fixed for the trial。 But it was not of
Musonius or Publius； it was of Priscus； of Marcellus； and his
brother informers； that men were thinking； now that their hearts
were once roused to vengeance。
While things were in this state； while there was division in the
Senate； resentment among the conquered； no real authority in the
conquerors； and in the country at large no laws and no Emperor；
Mucianus entered the capital； and at once drew all power into his
own hands。 The influence of Primus Antonius and Varus Arrius was
destroyed； for the irritation of Mucianus against them； though not
revealed in his looks； was but ill…concealed； and the country； keen to
discover such dislikes； had changed its tone and transferred its
homage。 He alone was canvassed and courted； and he； surrounding
himself with armed men； and bargaining for palaces and gardens； ceased
not； what with his magnificence； his proud bearing； and his guards； to
grasp at the power； while he waived the titles of Empire。 The murder
of Calpurnius Galerianus caused the utmost consternation。 He was a son
of Caius Piso； and had done nothing； but a noble name and his own
youthful beauty made him the theme of common talk； and while the
country was still unquiet and delighted in novel topics； there were
persons who associated him with idle rumours of Imperial honours。 By
order of Mucianus he was surrounded with a guard of soldiers。 Lest his
execution in the capital should excite too much notice； they conducted
him to the fortieth milestone from Rome on the Appian Road； and
there put him to death by opening his veins。 Julius Priscus； who had
been prefect of the Praetorian Guard under Vitellius； killed himself
rather out of shame than by compulsion。 Alfenius Varus survived the
disgrace of his cowardice。 Asiaticus； who was only a freedman；
expiated by the death of a slave his evil exercise of power。
At this time the country was hearing with anything but sorrow
rumours that daily gained strength of disasters in Germany。 Men
began to speak of slaughtered armies； of captured encampments； of Gaul
in revolt； as if such things were not calamities。 Beginning at an
earlier period I will discuss the causes in which this war had its
origin； and the extent of the movements which it kindled among
independent and allied nations。
The Batavians； while they dwelt on the other side of the Rhine；
formed a part of the tribe of the Chatti。 Driven out by a domestic
revolution； they took possession of an uninhabited district on the
extremity of the coast of Gaul； and also of a neighbouring island；
surrounded by the ocean in front； and by the river Rhine in the rear
and on either side。 Not weakened by the power of Rome or by alliance
with a people stronger than themselves； they furnished to the Empire
nothing but men and arms。 They had had a long training in the German
wars； and they had gained further renown in Britain； to which
country their cohorts had been transferred； commanded； according to
ancient custom； by the noblest men in the nation。 They had also at
home a select body of cavalry； who practised with special devotion the
art of swimming； so that they could stem the stream of the Rhine
with their arms and horses； without breaking the order of their
squadrons。
Julius Paullus and Claudius Civilis； scions of the royal family；
ranked very high above the rest of their nation。 Paullus was
executed by Fonteius Capito on a false charge of rebellion。 Civilis
was put in chains and sent to Nero； and； though acquitted by Galba；
again stood in peril of his life in the time of Vitellius； when the
army clamoured for his execution。 Here were causes of deep offence；
hence arose hopes built on our disasters。 Civilis； however； was
naturally politic to a degree rarely found among barbarians。 He was
wont to represent himself as Sertorius or Hannibal； on the strength of
a similar disfigurement of his countenance。 To avoid the opposition
which he would encounter as a public enemy； were he openly to revolt
from Rome； he affected a friendship for Vespasian and a zealous
attachment to his party； and indeed a letter had been despatched to
him by Primus Antonius； in which he was directed to divert the
reinforcements which Vitellius had called up； and to keep the
legions where they were by the feint of an outbreak in Germany。 The
same policy was suggested by Hordeonius in person； he had a bias
towards Vespasian； and feared for the Empire； the utter ruin of
which would be very near； were a fresh war with so many thousands of
armed men to burst upon Italy。
Civilis； who was resolved on rebellion； and intended； while
concealing his ulterior designs； to reveal his other plans as occasion
presented itself； set about the work of revolution in this way。 By
command of Vitellius all the Batavian youth was then being summoned to
the conscription； a thing naturally vexatious； and which the officials
made yet more burdensome by their rapacity and profligacy； while
they selected aged and infirm persons； whom they might discharge for a
consideration； and mere striplings； but of distinguished beauty （and
many attained even in boyhood to a noble stature）； whom they dragged
off for infamous purposes。 This caused indignation； and the
ringleaders of the concerted rebell