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that the wrongs； the resentments； and the terrible necessities of
former times； should be forgotten； and Mucianus spoke at great
length in favour of the informers。 At the same time he admonished in
gentle terms and in a tone of entreaty those who were reviving
indictments； which they had before commenced and afterwards dropped。
The Senators； when they found themselves opposed； relinquished the
liberty which they had begun to exercise。 That it might not be thought
that the opinion of the Senate was disregarded； or that impunity was
accorded to all acts done in the days of Nero； Mucianus sent back to
their islands two men of Senatorial rank； Octavius Sagitta and
Antistius Sosianus； who had quitted their places of banishment。
Octavius had seduced one Pontia Postumia； and； on her refusing to
marry him； in the frenzy of passion had murdered her。 Sosianus by
his depravity had brought many to ruin。 Both had been condemned and
banished by a solemn decision of the Senate； and； though others were
permitted to return； were kept under the same penalty。 But this did
not mitigate the hatred felt against Mucianus。 Sosianus and Sagitta
were utterly insignificant； even if they did return； but men dreaded
the abilities of the informers； their wealth； and the power which they
exercised in many sinister ways。
A trial； conducted in the Senate according to ancient precedents；
brought into harmony for a time the feelings of its members。 Manlius
Patruitus； a Senator； laid a complaint； that he had been beaten by a
mob in the colony of Sena； and that by order of the magistrates；
that the wrong had not stopped here； but that lamentations and
wailings； in fact a representation of funeral obsequies； had been
enacted in his presence； accompanied with contemptuous and insulting
expressions levelled against the whole Senate。 The persons accused
were summoned to appear； and after the case had been investigated；
punishment was inflicted on those who were found guilty。 A
resolution of the Senate was also passed； recommending more orderly
behaviour to the people of Sena。 About the same time Antonius Flamma
was condemned under the law against extortion； at the suit of the
people of Cyrene； and was banished for cruel practices。
Amidst all this a mutiny in the army all but broke out。 The troops
who； having been disbanded by Vitellius； had flocked to support
Vespasian； asked leave to serve again in the Praetorian Guard； and the
soldiers who had been selected from the legions with the same prospect
now clamoured for their promised pay。 Even the Vitellianists could not
be got rid of without much bloodshed。 But the money required for
retaining in the service so vast a body of men was immensely large。
Mucianus entered the camp to examine more accurately the individual
claims。 The victorious army； wearing their proper decorations and
arms； he drew up with moderate intervals of space between the
divisions； then the Vitellianists； whose capitulation at Bovillae I
have already related； and the other troops of the party； who had
been collected from the capital and its neighbourhood； were brought
forth almost naked。 Mucianus ordered these men to be drawn up apart；
making the British； the German； and any other troops that there were
belonging to other armies； take up separate positions。 The very
first view of their situation paralyzed them。 They saw opposed to them
what seemed a hostile array； threatening them with javelin and
sword。 They saw themselves hemmed in； without arms； filthy and
squalid。 And when they began to be separated； some to be marched to
one spot； and some to another； a thrill of terror ran through them
all。 Among the troops from Germany the panic was particularly great；
for they believed that this separation marked them out for
slaughter。 They embraced their fellow soldiers； clung to their
necks； begged for parting kisses； and entreated that they might not be
deserted； or doomed in a common cause to suffer a different lot。
They invoked now Mucianus； now the absent Emperor； and； as a last
resource； heaven and the Gods； till Mucianus came forward； and calling
them 〃soldiers bound by the same oath and servants of the same
Emperor；〃 stopped the groundless panic。 And indeed the victorious army
seconded the tears of the vanquished with their approving shouts。 This
terminated the proceedings for that day。 But when Domitian harangued
them a few days afterwards； they received him with increased
confidence。 The land that was offered them they contemptuously
rejected； and begged for regular service and pay。 Theirs were
prayers indeed； but such as it was impossible to reject。 They were
therefore received into the Praetorian camp。 Then such as had
reached the prescribed age； or had served the proper number of
campaigns； received an honourable discharge； others were dismissed for
misconduct； but this was done by degrees and in detail； always the
safest mode of reducing the united strength of a multitude。
It is a fact that； whether suggested by real poverty or by a wish to
give the appearance of it； a proposition passed the Senate to the
effect that a loan of sixty million sesterces from private persons
should be accepted。 Pompeius Silvanus was appointed to manage the
affair。 Before long； either the necessity ceased or the pretence was
dropped。 After this； on the motion of Domitian； the consulships
conferred by Vitellius were cancelled； and the honours of a censor's
funeral were paid to Sabinus； great lessons both of the mutability
of fortune； ever bringing together the highest honours and the
lowest humiliations。
About the same time the proconsul Lucius Piso was murdered。 I
shall make the account of this murder as exact as possible by first
reviewing a few earlier circumstances； which have a bearing on the
origin and motives of such deeds。 The legion and the auxiliaries
stationed in Africa to guard the frontiers of the Empire were under
the proconsul's authority during the reigns of the divine Augustus and
Tiberius。 But in course of time Caligula； prompted by his restless
temper and by his fear of Marcus Silanus； who then held Africa； took
away the legion from the proconsul； and handed it over to a legate
whom he sent for that purpose。 The patronage was equally divided
between the two officers。 A source of disagreement was thus studiously
sought in the continual clashing of their authority； and it was
further developed by an unprincipled rivalry。 The power of the legates
grew through their lengthened tenure of office； and； perhaps；
because an inferior feels greater interest in such a competition。
All the more distinguished of the proconsuls cared more for security
than for power。
At this time the legion in Africa was commanded by Valerius
Festus； a young man of extravagant habits and immoderate ambition； who
was now made uneasy by his relationship to Vitellius。 Whether this man
in their frequent interviews tempted Piso to revolt； or whether he
resisted such overtures； is not known for certain； for no one was
present at their confidential meetings； and； after Piso's death；
many were disposed to ingratiate themselves with the murderer。 There
is no doubt that the province and the troops entertained feelings of
hostility to Vespasian； and some of the Vitellianists； who had escaped
from the capital； incessantly represented to Piso that Gaul was
hesitating and Germany ready to revolt； that his own position was
perilous； and that for one who in peace must be suspected； war was the
safer course。 While this was going on； Claudius Sagitta； prefect of
Petra's Horse； making a very quick passage； reached Africa before
Papirius； the centurion despatched by Mucianus。 He declared that an
order to put Piso to death had been given to the centurion； and that
Galerianus； his cousin and son…in…law； had perished； that his only
hope of safety was in bold action； that in such action two paths
were open； he might defend himself on the spot； or he might sail for
Gaul and offer his services as general to the Vitellianist armies。
Piso was wholly unmoved by this statement。 The centurion despatched by
Mucianus； on landing in the port of Carthage； raised his voice； and
invoked in succession all blessings on the head of Piso； as if he were
Emperor； and bade the bystanders； who were astonished by this sudden
and strange proceeding； take up the same cry。 The credulous mob rushed
into the market…place； and demanded that Piso should shew himself。
They threw everything into an uproar with their clamorous shouts of
joy； careless of the truth； and only eager to flatter。 Piso； acting on
the information of Sagitta； or； perhaps； from natural modesty； would
not make his