While[424] Vespasian and his generals were showing such activity 87 in the provinces, Vitellius grew more contemptible and indolent every day.  Halting at every town or country house that offered any attractions, he made his way to Rome with a heavy marching column of sixty thousand troops, demoralized by loose discipline, and an even greater number of menials as well as those camp-followers who are more troublesome than any slaves.  Besides these he had the vast retinue of his generals and friends, which not even the strictest discipline could have kept under control.  This mob was further encumbered by senators and knights, who came from Rome to meet him, some from fear, some from servility; and gradually all the others followed, so as not to be left behind by themselves.  There flocked in, too, a crowd of low-bred buffoons, actors and chariot-drivers, who had gained Vitellius’ acquaintance by various dishonest services.  He delighted in such discreditable connexions.  To furnish supplies for this host not only were the colonies and country towns laid under contribution, but the farmers as well.  The crops were just ripe and the fields were ravaged like an enemy’s country.

Many murderous affrays took place among the soldiers, for after 88 the mutiny at Ticinum[425] there were ceaseless quarrels between the legions and the auxiliaries.  They only united to harry the villagers.  The worst bloodshed took place at the seventh milestone from Rome.  Here Vitellius had ready-cooked food served to each of the soldiers, as is done with gladiators in training, and the common people flocked out from Rome and wandered all over the camp.  Some of these visitors indulged in a cockney practical joke,[426] and stole some of the soldiers’ swords, quietly cutting their belts while their attention was diverted.  Then they kept asking them, ’Have you got your sword on?’ The troops were not used to being laughed at, and refused to tolerate it.  They charged the defenceless crowd.  Amongst others the father of one of the soldiers was killed while in his son’s company.  When it was discovered who he was, and the news spread, they shed no more innocent blood.  Still there was some panic in the city as the first soldiers arrived and began to roam the streets.  They mostly made for the Forum, anxious to see the spot where Galba had fallen.[427] They themselves were a sufficiently alarming sight with their rough skin coats and long pikes.  Unused to towns, they failed to pick their way in the crowd; or they would slip on the greasy streets, or collide with some one and tumble down, whereupon they took to abuse and before long to violence.  Their officers, too, terrified the city by sweeping along the streets with their bands of armed men.