defeated by the Sequanians. Julius Sabinus, the Lingonian chief, escapes, and lives in subterraneous caves for nine years afterwards. The memorable constancy of his wife, Eponina. LXVIII. At Rome the empire thought to be in danger. Mucianus and Domitian prepare to set out for Gaul. The Gauls call a general assembly of the states. They prefer peace to the dangers of war. LXX. Civilis and Tutor differ in their opinions about the conduct of the war. Classicus agrees with Tutor, and they resolve to hazard a battle. LXXI. Petilius Cerealis arrives at Magontiacum. He gains a complete victory over the Treverians at Rigo- dulum, on the banks of the Moselle. Valentinus, the Tre- verian chief, taken prisoner. LXXII. The legions that had revolted return to their duty, and are received into the Roman camp. LXXIII. Cerealis receives the Treverians and Lingones under his protection. LXXV. Cerealis gives battle to Civilis and Classicus: the beginning of the conflict doubtful, but the issue favourable to the Romans. LXXIX. The Agrippinians desert the cause of the Germans. LXXX. Mucianus orders the son of Vitellius to be put to death. Antonius Primus, resenting the behaviour of Mucianus, proceeds to Vespasian, but is not well received. LXXXI. Miracles performed by Vespasian at Alexandria. He visits the temple of Serapis. LXXXIII. An account of the origin, and superstitious worship paid by the Egyp- tians to that god. LXXXV. Near the foot of the Alps Valentinus is brought a prisoner before Mucianus and Domitian. He is condemned to die. The firmness with which he meets his fate. LXXXVI. Domitian arrives at Lyons. He attempts to prevail on Cerealis to resign the command of the army in Germany. His dissimulation, and pretended love of studious retirement, the better to hide These transactions passed partly during the civil war between THE HISTORY OF TACITUS. BOOK IV. IV. A. U. C. 69. I. THOUGH the war, by the death of Vitellius, BOOK was completely ended, peace was by no means established. The victorious troops, with minds envenomed, fierce and unrelenting, continued prowling about the streets of Rome in quest of the Vitellians. Every part of the city presented a scene of carnage; the forum and the temples were dyed with blood, and all who fell in the way of the conquerors were put to the sword without distinction. From the streets and public places, the soldiers rushed into private houses, and, in their fury, dragged forth the unhappy victims. Whoever was grown up to manhood, citizen or soldier, was butchered on the spot. The fury of the men was at length glutted with blood, and the love of plunder succeeded. Nothing was suffered to remain concealed, nothing unviolated. Under colour of detecting the partisans of Vi IV. A. U. C. 822. A. D. 69. BOOK tellius, they broke open every secret recess in quest of booty. Houses were pillaged, and all who attempted to resist died by the edge of the sword. The vile and indigent joined in the fray; slaves discovered the wealth of their masters; and numbers suffered by the treachery of their friends. The groans of despair were heard in every quarter, and Rome was filled with all the horrors of a city taken by storm. In comparison with the present barbarity, the people regretted the licentiousness of the Othonian and Vitellian soldiers. The leading chiefs, who had succeeded so well in kindling the flame of war, had now no authority to check the insolence of victory. In the hour of tumult and public distraction, the bold and desperate take the lead; peace and good order are the work of virtue and ability. II. Domitian fixed his residence in the imperial palace, enjoying the name of Cæsar, but without aspiring to a share in the cares of government. Riot and debauchery gave the first impression of the emperor's son. The command of the prætorian bands was assigned to Arrius Varus, while the supreme authority rested with Antonius, who, in haste to enrich himself, seized the treasure and the slaves of the prince, as if they were the spoils of Cremona. The other officers, who, through their own moderation or want of spirit, were undistinguished during the war, remained in obscurity, unnoticed and unrewarded. The people, still in consternation, and ready to crouch in servitude, expressed their wishes that Lucius Vitellius, then advancing with IV. A. U. C. 822. A. D. 69. the cohorts from Tarracina, might be intercepted BOOK on his march, in order, by that blow, to end the war. The cavalry was sent forward to Aricia (a), and the legions took their station at Bovillæ (b). But Lucius Vitellius was no longer disposed to maintain the conflict. He and his cohorts surrendered at discretion. The soldiers, abandoning an unfortunate cause, laid down their arms with indignation rather than fear. They entered the city of Rome in a long dismal procession, guarded on each side by a file of troops under arms. In their looks no sign of repentance, no dejected passion; they retained an air of ferocity, and heard the taunts of the vulgar with sullen contempt, A few broke from their ranks to repress the insolence of the populace, but were overpowered by numbers. The rest were secured in prison. Not a word escaped from any of them unworthy of their warlike character. They were unfortunate, but still respected for their valour. Lucius Vitellius was put to death. In vice and profligacy he was equal to his brother; in vigour and industry his superior; by the splendour of success no way benefited; in the day of adversity, a sharer in the general ruin. III. Campania was still in agitation. The disturbances in that country were not so much occasioned by a spirit of opposition to the new prince, as by the internal dissensions of the municipal cities, all at variance among themselves. To compose those differences, and restore public tranquillity, Lucilius Bassus (a) was dispatched with a party of lightVOL. V. B IV. 822. A. D. 69. BOOK armed cavalry. On the first appearance of a military A. U. C. force, a perfect calm succeeded. The cities of inferior note were treated with indulgence; but the third legion was stationed in winter quarters at Capua, in order to bridle the principal families, who, by consequence, felt the weight of oppression. To the sufferers at Tarracina no relief was extended; so true it is, that men are more willing to retaliate an injury than to requite an obligation (6): obligation implies a debt, which is a painful sensation; by a stroke of revenge something is thought to be gained. The people of Tarracina saw the slave of Verginius Capito, who, as already mentioned, betrayed them to the enemy, hanging on a gibbet, with the rings on his fingers which he received from Vitellius as the reward of his perfidy. That act of justice was all that was done to assuage the sorrows of a city in distress. At Rome, in the mean time, the senate, conceiving hopes of the new establishment, decreed to Vespasian all the honours which custom had hitherto granted to the reigning prince. The flame of war, which first broke out in Spain and Gaul, and, after spreading into Germany and Illyricum, blazed out in Egypt, Judæa, and Syria, involving the several provinces and armies of the empire, seemed at length, by a severe lustration, to have expiated the crimes of mankind. The joy, occasioned by that pleasing prospect, was heightened by letters from Vespasian, though, by the contents, it did not appear that he knew the issue of the war. As if that event had not yet reached his ear, he wrote in the |