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Flavius Sabinus signified through him their submission to the
conqueror。
Hostilities had ceased everywhere； but a considerable number of
the Senate； who had accompanied Otho from Rome； and had been
afterwards left at Mutina； encountered the utmost peril。 News of the
defeat was brought to this place。 The soldiers； however； rejected it
as a false report； and judging the Senate to be hostile to Otho；
watched their language； and put an unfavourable construction on
their looks and manner。 Proceeding at last to abuse and insults；
they sought a pretext for beginning a massacre； while a different
anxiety also weighed upon the Senators； who； knowing that the party of
Vitellius was in the ascendant； feared that they might seem to have
been tardy in welcoming the conqueror。 Thus they met in great alarm
and distracted by a twofold apprehension； no one was ready with any
advice of his own； but looked for safety in sharing any mistake with
many others。 The anxieties of the terrified assembly were aggravated
when the Senate of Mutina made them an offer of arms and money； and；
with an ill…timed compliment； styled them 〃Conscript Fathers。〃
There then ensued a notable quarrel； Licinius Caecina inveighing
against Marcellus Eprius； for using ambiguous language。 The rest
indeed did not express their opinions； but the name of Marcellus；
exposed as it was to odium from the hateful recollection of his career
as an informer； had roused in Caecina； who was an unknown man； and had
lately been made a Senator； the hope of distinguishing himself by
making great enemies。 The moderation of wiser men put an end to the
dispute。 They all returned to Bononia； intending there to deliberate
again； and also expecting further news in the meantime。 At Bononia
they posted men on the different roads to make enquiries of every
newcomer； one of Otho's freedmen； on being questioned as to the
cause of his departure； replied that he was entrusted with his
master's last commands； Otho was still alive； he said； when he left
him； but his only thoughts were for posterity； and he had torn himself
from all the fascinations of life。 They were struck with admiration；
and were ashamed to put any more questions； and then the hearts of all
turned to Vitellius。
Lucius Vitellius； the brother of the Emperor； was present at their
deliberations； and was preparing to receive their flatteries； when
of a sudden Coenus； a freedman of Nero； threw them all into
consternation by an outrageous falsehood。 He asserted that； by the
arrival of the 14th legion； joined to the forces from Brixellum； the
victorious army had been routed and the fortunes of the party changed。
The object of this fabrication was that the passports of Otho； which
were beginning to be disregarded； might through more favourable news
recover their validity。 Coenus was conveyed with rapidity to the
capital； but a few days after suffered the penalty of his crime by the
order of Vitellius。 The peril of the Senators was increased by the
soldiers of Otho's army believing that the intelligence thus brought
was authentic。 Their alarm was heightened by the fact that their
departure from Mutina and their desertion of the party had the
appearance of a public resolution。 They did not meet again for general
deliberation； but every man consulted his own safety； till letters
arrived from Fabius Valens which removed their fear。 Besides； the very
glory of Otho's death made the news travel more quickly。
At Rome； however； there was no alarm； the games of Ceres were
attended as usual。 When trustworthy messengers brought into the
theatre the news that Otho was dead； and that all the troops in the
capital had taken the oath to Vitellius under the direction of Flavius
Sabinus； prefect of the city； the spectators greeted the name of
Vitellius with applause。 The people carried round the temples images
of Galba； ornamented with laurel leaves and flowers； and piled
chaplets in the form of a sepulchral mound near the lake of Curtius；
on the very spot which had been stained with the blood of the dying
man。 In the Senate all the customary honours； which had been devised
during the long reigns of other Emperors； were forthwith decreed。
Public acknowledgments and thanks were also given to the armies of
Germany； and envoys were sent charged with congratulations。 There
was read a letter from Fabius Valens to the consuls； which was written
in a not unbecoming style； but they liked better the modesty of
Caecina in not writing at all。
Italy； however； was prostrated under sufferings heavier and more
terrible than the evils of war。 The soldiers of Vitellius； dispersed
through the municipal towns and colonies； were robbing and
plundering and polluting every place with violence and lust。
Everything； lawful or unlawful； they were ready to seize or to sell；
sparing nothing； sacred or profane。 Some persons under the soldiers'
garb murdered their private enemies。 The soldiers themselves； who knew
the country well； marked out rich estates and wealthy owners for
plunder； or for death in case of resistance； their commanders were
in their power and dared not check them。 Caecina indeed was not so
rapacious as he was fond of popularity； Valens was so notorious for
his dishonest gains and peculations that he was disposed to conceal
the crimes of others。 The resources of Italy had long been impaired；
and the presence of so vast a force of infantry and cavalry； with
the outrages； the losses； and the wrongs they inflicted； was more than
it could well endure。
Meanwhile Vitellius； as yet unaware of his victory； was bringing
up the remaining strength of the army of Germany just as if the
campaign had yet to be fought。 A few of the old soldiers were left
in the winter quarters； and the conscription throughout Gaul was
hastily proceeded with； in order that the muster rolls of the
legions which remained behind might be filled up。 The defence of the
bank of the Rhine was entrusted to Hordeonius Flaccus。 Vitellius
himself added to his own army 8000 men of the British conscription。 He
had proceeded a few days' march； when he received intelligence of
the victory at Bedriacum； and of the termination of the war through
Otho's death。 He called an assembly； and heaped praises on the
valour of the soldiers。 When the army demanded that he should confer
equestrian rank on Asiaticus his freedman； he checked the
disgraceful flattery。 Then； with his characteristic fickleness； in the
privacy of a banquet he granted the very distinction which he had
publicly refused； and honoured with the ring of Knighthood this same
Asiaticus； a slave of infamous character； ever seeking power by
unprincipled intrigues。
About the same time news came to Vitellius that the procurator
Albinus had fallen；