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 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； stead