THE EBB-TIDE OF REVOLT

This success on the part of the Sequani checked the rising flood.  The Gallic communities gradually came to their senses and began to remember their obligations as allies.  In this movement the Remi[416] took the lead.  They circulated a notice throughout Gaul, summoning a meeting of delegates to consider whether liberty or peace was the preferable alternative.  At Rome, however, all these disasters were 68 exaggerated, and Mucianus began to feel anxious.  He had already appointed Annius Gallus and Petilius Cerialis to the chief command, and distinguished officers as they were, he was afraid the conduct of such a war might be too much for them.  Moreover, he could not leave Rome without government, but he was afraid of Domitian’s unbridled passions, while, as we have already seen,[417] he suspected Antonius Primus and Arrius Varus.  Varus, as commanding the Guards, still had the chief power and influence in his hands.  Mucianus accordingly displaced him, but, as a compensation, made him Director of the Corn-supply.  As he had also to placate Domitian, who was inclined to support Varus, he appointed to the command of the Guards Arrecinus Clemens, who was connected with Vespasian’s family[418] and very friendly with Domitian.  He also impressed it upon Domitian that Clemens’ father had filled this command with great distinction under Caligula:  that his name and his character would both find favour with the troops, and that, although he was a member of the senate,[419] he was quite able to fill both positions.  He then chose his staff, some as being the most eminent men in the country, others as recommended by private influence.

Thus both Domitian and Mucianus made ready to start, but with very different feelings.  Domitian was full of the sanguine haste of youth, while Mucianus kept devising delays to check this enthusiasm.  He was afraid that if Domitian once seized control of an army, his youthful self-assurance and his bad advisers would lead him into action prejudicial both to peace and war.  Three victorious legions, the Eighth, Eleventh, and Thirteenth;[420] the Twenty-first—­one of Vitellius’ legions—­and the Second, which had been newly enrolled, all started for the front, some by way of the Poenine and Cottian[421] Alps, others over the Graian Alps.[422] The Fourteenth was also summoned from Britain, and the Sixth and First from Spain.

The rumour that this force was on its way, combined with the present temper of the Gauls, inclined them to adopt a sober policy.  Their delegates now met in the territory of the Remi, where they found the representatives of the Treviri awaiting them.  One of these, Julius Valentinus, who was the keenest instigator of a hostile policy, delivered a set speech, in which he heaped spiteful aspersions on the Roman people, making all the charges which are usually brought against great empires.  He was a clever agitator, whose mad rhetoric made him popular with the crowd.