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the national superstition； than to any sufficient means of enduring
extremities left to the besieged。 As we have mentioned above；
Vespasian himself had three legions inured to war。 Mucianus had four
under his command in his peaceful province。 Emulation； however； and
the glory won by the neighbouring army had banished all tendency to
sloth； and unbroken rest and exemption from the hardships of war had
given them a vigour equivalent to the hardihood which the others had
gained by their perils and their toils。 Each had auxiliary forces of
infantry and cavalry； each had fleets and tributary kings； and each；
though their renown was of a different kind； had a celebrated name。
Vespasian was an energetic soldier； he could march at the head of
his army； choose the place for his camp； and bring by night and day
his skill； or； if the occasion required； his personal courage to
oppose the foe。 His food was such as chance offered； his dress and
appearance hardly distinguished him from the common soldier； in short；
but for his avarice； he was equal to the generals of old。 Mucianus； on
the contrary； was eminent for his magnificence； for his wealth； and
for a greatness that transcended in all respects the condition of a
subject； readier of speech than the other； he thoroughly understood
the arrangement and direction of civil business。 It would have been
a rare combination of princely qualities； if； with their respective
faults removed； their virtues only could have been united in one
man。 Mucianus was governor of Syria； Vespasian of Judaea。 In the
administration of these neighbouring provinces jealousy had produced
discord between them； but on Nero's fall they had dropped their
animosities and associated their counsels。 At first they
communicated through friends； till Titus； who was the great bond of
union between them； by representing their common interests had
terminated their mischievous feud。 He was indeed a man formed both
by nature and by education to attract even such a character as that of
Mucianus。 The tribunes； the centurions； and the common soldiers；
were brought over to the cause by appeals to their energy or their
love of license； to their virtues or to their vices； according to
their different dispositions。
Long before the arrival of Titus； both armies had taken the oath
of allegiance to Otho。 The news had come； as is usual； with great
speed； while there was much to delay the gigantic undertaking of a
civil war； for which the East after a long period of repose was then
for the first time preparing。 In former times the mightiest civil
conflicts had been begun in Gaul or Italy with the resources of the
West。 Pompey； Brutus； Cassius； and Antony； all of whom had been
followed across the sea by civil war； had met with a disastrous end；
and the Emperors had been oftener heard of than seen in Syria and
Judaea。 There had been no mutiny among the legions； nothing indeed but
some demonstrations against the Parthians； attended with various
success。 In the last civil war； though other provinces had been
disturbed； peace had been here unshaken。 Then had followed a loyal
adherence to Galba。 But when it became notorious that Otho and
Vitellius； opposed in impious strife； were ready to make a spoil of
the Empire； the thought that others would engross the rewards of
power； while they would have nothing left for themselves but a
compulsory submission； made the soldiers murmur and take a survey of
their own strength。 There were close at hand seven legions； there were
Syria and Judaea； with a vast number of auxiliaries。 Then； without any
interval of separation； there was Egypt and its two legions； and on
the other side Cappadocia； Pontus； and all the garrisons along the
frontier of Armenia。 There was Asia Minor； there were the other
provinces； not without a military population； and well furnished
with money。 There were all the islands of the Mediterranean。 And there
was the sea itself； which during the interval of preparation for war
would be both a convenience and a protection。
The ardour of the troops was not unknown to their generals； but it
was judged advisable to wait for the issue of the struggle which
others were carrying on。 The conquerors and the conquered； it was
said； never unite with a genuine good faith。 It matters not whether
fortune make Otho or Vitellius to be the victor。 Even great generals
grow insolent in prosperity； these men are quarrelsome； indolent；
and profligate； and their own faults will make war fatal to the one；
and success to the other。 They therefore postponed the war until a
more fitting opportunity； and though Vespasian and Mucianus had but
lately resolved on concerted action； the others had done so long
before。 The worthiest among them were moved by patriotism； many were
wrought upon by the attractions of plunder； some by their private
embarrassments。 And so； good and bad； from different motives； but with
equal zeal； were all eager for war。
About this time Achaia and Asia Minor were terrified by a false
report that Nero was at hand。 Various rumours were current about his
death； and so there were many who pretended and believed that he was
still alive。 The adventures and enterprises of the other pretenders
I shall relate in the regular course of my work。 The pretender in this
case was a slave from Pontus； or； according to some accounts； a
freedman from Italy； a skilful harp…player and singer；
accomplishments； which； added to a resemblance in the face； gave a
very deceptive plausibility to his pretensions。 After attaching to
himself some deserters； needy vagrants whom he bribed with great
offers； he put to sea。 Driven by stress of weather to the island of
Cythnus； he induced certain soldiers； who were on their way from the
East； to join him； and ordered others； who refused； to be executed。 He
also robbed the traders and armed all the most able bodied of the
slaves。 The centurion Sisenna； who was the bearer of the clasped right
hands； the usual emblems of friendship； from the armies of Syria to
the Praetorians； was assailed by him with various artifices； till he
left the island secretly； and； fearing actual violence； made his
escape with all haste。 Thence the alarm spread far and wide； and
many roused themselves at the well…known name； eager for change； and
detesting the present state of things。 The report was daily gaining
credit when an accident put an end to it。
Galba had entrusted the government of Galatia and Pamphylia to
Calpurnius Asprenas。 Two triremes from the fleet of Misenum were given
him to pursue the adventurer： with these he reached the island of
Cythnus。 Persons were found to summon the captains in the name of
Nero。 The pretender himself； assuming a studied appearance of
sorrow； and appealing to