rewards lavishly and, as men do when they are frightened,
beyond all limits. He had hitherto refused the
title of Caesar,[159] but he now expressed a wish for
it. He had a superstitious respect for the name,
and in moments of terror one listens as much to gossip
as to sound advice. However, while a rash and
ill-conceived undertaking may prosper at the outset,
in time it always begins to flag. Gradually the
senators and knights deserted him. At first they
hesitated and waited till his back was turned, but
soon they ceased to care and openly showed their disrespect.
At last Vitellius grew ashamed of the failure of his
efforts and excused them from the services which they
refused to render.
[145] This incident was probably
another historical
commonplace.
See the story from Plutarch (ii. 46, note 316),
which
is also told by Suetonius and Dio.
[146] The prefects of the
Guards (cp. ii. 92).
[147] At Misenum. (Leg.
II Adjutrix.) The Ravenna marines were
on
the Flavian side (see chap. 50).
[148] i.e. the rest of
the Guards (2), with the city garrison (4),
and
police (7) (cp. ii. 93).
[149] i.e. granting them
special privileges denied to other
communities
in the same province.
[150] A sort of ‘half-way
house to Roman citizenship’. Full
commercial
rights were included but not those of
intermarriage.
It was possible for individual citizens in a
Latin
town to obtain the full rights of a Roman.
[151] Bevagna.
[152] Dio makes them vultures
and the scene a sacrifice: they
scattered
the victims and nearly knocked Vitellius off his
pulpit.
[153] Described in the following
chapter.
[154] He had succeeded Bassus
(iii. 12).
[155] Near the mouth of the
Liris.
[156] Horace’s ‘Anxur
perched on gleaming rocks’. It lay near
the
Pontine marshes on the Appian way.
[157] Narni.
[158] Priscus and Varus (see
chap. 55).
[159] i. 62, ii. 62.
THE PASSAGE OF THE APENNINES
The occupation of Mevania[160] had terrified Italy
with the 59 prospect of a revival of the
war, but Vitellius’ cowardly retreat[161] sensibly
strengthened the popularity of the Flavian party.
The Samnites, Pelignians, and Marsians were now induced
to rise. They were jealous of Campania for stealing
a march on them, and the change of masters, as so
often happens, made them perform all their military
duties with the utmost alacrity. But in crossing
the Apennines Antonius’ army suffered severely
from the rough December weather. Though they
met with no opposition, they found it hard enough to
