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the information of Sagitta； or； perhaps； from natural modesty； would
not make his appearance in public； or trust himself to the zeal of the
populace。 On questioning the centurion； and finding that he had sought
a pretext for accusing and murdering him； he ordered the man to be
executed； moved； not so much by any hope of saving his life； as by
indignation against the assassin； for this fellow had been one of
the murderers of Macer； and was now come to slay the proconsul with
hands already stained with the blood of the legate。 He then severely
blamed the people of Carthage in an edict which betrayed his
anxiety； and ceased to discharge even the usual duties of his
office； shutting himself up in his palace； to guard against any casual
occurrence that might lead to a new outbreak。
But when the agitation of the people； the execution of the
centurion； and other news； true or false； exaggerated as usual by
report； came to the ears of Festus； he sent some cavalry to put Piso
to death。 They rode over at full speed； and broke into the dwelling of
the proconsul in the dim light of early dawn； with their swords
drawn in their hands。 Many of them were unacquainted with the person
of Piso； for the legate had selected some Moorish and Carthaginian
auxiliaries to perpetrate the deed。 Near the proconsul's chamber
they chanced to meet a slave； and asked him who he was； and where Piso
was to be found？ The slave with a noble untruth replied； 〃I am he；〃
and was immediately cut down。 Soon after Piso was killed； for there
was on the spot one who recognized him； Baebius Massa； one of the
procurators of Africa； a name even then fatal to the good； and
destined often to reappear among the causes of the sufferings which he
had ere long to endure。 From Adrumetum； where he had stayed to watch
the result； Festus went to the legion； and gave orders that
Cetronius Pisanus； prefect of the camp； should be put in irons。 He did
this out of private pique； but he called the man an accomplice of
Piso。 Some few centurions and soldiers he punished； others he
rewarded； neither the one nor the other deservedly； but he wished
men to believe that he had extinguished a war。 He then put an end to a
quarrel between the Censes and the Leptitani； which； originating in
robberies of corn and cattle by two rustic populations； had grown from
this insignificant beginning till it was carried on in pitched
battles。 The people of Ceea； who were inferior in numbers； had
summoned to their aid the Garamantes； a wild race incessantly occupied
in robbing their neighbours。 This had brought the Leptitani to
extremities； their territories had been ravaged far and wide； and they
were trembling within their walls； when the Garamantes were put to
flight by the arrival of the auxiliary infantry and cavalry； and the
whole of the booty was recaptured； with the exception of some which
the plunderers； in their wanderings through inaccessible hamlets；
had sold to more distant tribes。
Vespasian had heard of the victory of Cremona； and had received
favourable tidings from all quarters； and he was now informed of the
fall of Vitellius by many persons of every rank； who； with a good
fortune equal to their courage； risked the perils of the wintry sea。
Envoys had come from king Vologesus to offer him 40；000 Parthian
cavalry。 It was a matter of pride and joy to him to be courted with
such splendid offers of help from the allies； and not to want them。 He
thanked Vologesus； and recommended him to send ambassadors to the
Senate； and to learn for himself that peace had been restored。 While
his thoughts were fixed on Italy and on the state of the Capital； he
heard an unfavourable account of Domitian； which represented him as
overstepping the limits of his age and the privileges of a son。 He
therefore entrusted Titus with the main strength of the army to
complete what had yet to be done in the Jewish war。
It was said that Titus before his departure had a long interview
with his father； in which he implored him not to let himself be easily
excited by the reports of slanderers； but to shew an impartial and
forgiving temper towards his son。 〃Legions and fleets；〃 he reminded
him； 〃are not such sure bulwarks of Imperial power as a numerous
family。 As for friends； time； altered fortunes； perhaps their passions
or their errors； may weaken； may change； may even destroy； their
affection。 A man's own race can never be dissociated from him； least
of all with Princes； whose prosperity is shared by others； while their
reverses touch but their nearest kin。 Even between brothers there
can be no lasting affection； except the father sets the example。〃
Vespasian； delighted with the brotherly affection of Titus rather than
reconciled to Domitian； bade his son be of good cheer； and
aggrandise the State by war and deeds of arms。 He would himself
provide for the interests of peace； and for the welfare of his family。
He then had some of the swiftest vessels laden with corn； and
committed them to the perils of the still stormy sea。 Rome indeed
was in the very critical position of not having more than ten days'
consumption in the granaries； when the supplies from Vespasian
arrived。
The work of rebuilding the Capitol was assigned by him to Lucius
Vestinius； a man of the Equestrian order； who； however； for high
character and reputation ranked among the nobles。 The soothsayers whom
he assembled directed that the remains of the old shrine should be
removed to the marshes； and the new temple raised on the original
site。 The Gods； they said； forbade the old form to be changed。 On
the 21st of June； beneath a cloudless sky； the entire space devoted to
the sacred enclosure was encompassed with chaplets and garlands。
Soldiers； who bore auspicious names； entered the precincts with sacred
boughs。 Then the vestal virgins； with a troop of boys and girls； whose
fathers and mothers were still living； sprinkled the whole space
with water drawn from the fountains and rivers。 After this；
Helvidius Priscus； the praetor； first purified the spot with the usual
sacrifice of a sow； a sheep； and a bull； and duly placed the
entrails on turf； then； in terms dictated by Publius Aelianus； the
high…priest； besought Jupiter； Juno； Minerva； and the tutelary deities
of the place； to prosper the undertaking； and to lend their divine
help to raise the abodes which the piety of men had founded for
them。 He then touched the wreaths； which were wound round the
foundation stone and entwined with the ropes； while at the same moment
all the other magistrates of the State； the Priests； the Senators； the
Knights； and a number of the citizens； with zeal and joy uniting their
efforts； dragged the huge stone along。 Contributions of gold and
silver and virgin ores； never smelted in the furnace； but still in
their natural state； were showered on the foundations。 The soothsayers
had previously directed that no stone or gold which had been
intended for any other purpose should profane the work。 Additional
height was given to the structure； this was the only variation which
religion would permit； and the one feature which had been thought
wanting in the splendour of the old temple。
Meanwhile the tidings of the death of Vitellius； spreading through
Gaul and Germany； had caused a second war。 Civilis had thrown aside
all disguise； and was now openly assailing the Roman power； while
the legions of Vitellius preferred even a foreign yoke to the rule
of Vespasian。 Gaul had gathered fresh courage from the belief that the
fortunes of our armies had been everywhere disastrous； for a report
was rife that our winter camps in Moesia and Pannonia were hemmed in
by the Sarmatians and Dacians。 Rumours equally false were circulated
respecting Britain。 Above all； the conflagration of the Capitol had
made them believe that the end of the Roman Empire was at hand。 The
Gauls； they remembered； had captured the city in former days； but；
as the abode of Jupiter was uninjured； the Empire had survived；
whereas now the Druids declared； with the prophetic utterances of an
idle superstition； that this fatal conflagration was a sign of the
anger of heaven； and portended universal empire for the Transalpine
nations。 A rumour had also gone forth that the chiefs of Gaul； whom
Otho had sent against Vitellius； had； before their departure； bound
themselves by a compact not to fall the cause of freedom； should the
power of Rome be broken by a continuous succession of civil wars and
internal calamities。
Before the murder of Flaccus Hordeonius nothing had come out by
which any conspiracy could be discovered。 After his death；
messengers passed to and fro between Civilis and Classic