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courted every breath of applause from the lowest rabble。 Agreeable and
popular as this conduct would have been； had it been prompted by noble
qualities； it was looked upon as undignified and contemptible from the
remembrance of his past life。 He habitually appeared in the Senate
even when unimportant matters were under discussion； and it once
happened that Priscus Helvidius； the praetor elect； had spoken against
his wishes。 Though at the moment provoked； he only called on the
tribunes of the people to support his insulted authority； and then；
when his friends； who feared his resentment was deeper than it
appeared； sought to appease him； he replied that it was nothing
strange that two senators in a Commonwealth should disagree： he had
himself been in the habit of opposing Thrasea。 Most of them laughed at
the effrontery of such a comparison； though some were pleased at the
very circumstance of his having selected； not one of the most
influential men of the time； but Thrasea； as his model of true glory。
He had advanced to the command of the Praetorian Guard Publius
Sabinus； a prefect of the cohort； and Julius Priscus； then only a
centurion。 It was through the influence of Caecina and Valens that
they respectively rose to power。 Though always at variance； these
two men left no authority to Vitellius。 The functions of Empire were
discharged by Caecina and Valens。 They had long before been led to
suspect each other by animosities scarcely concealed amid the cares of
the campaign and the camp； and aggravated by unprincipled friends
and a state of society calculated to produce such feuds。 In their
struggles for popularity； in their long retinues； and in the vast
crowds at their levees； they vied with each other and challenged
comparison； while the favour of Vitellius inclined first to one； and
then to the other。 There can never be complete confidence in a power
which is excessive。 Vitellius himself； who was ever varying between
sudden irritation and unseasonable fondness； they at once despised and
feared。 Still this had not made them less keen to seize on palaces and
gardens and all the wealth of the Empire； while a sad and needy throng
of nobles； whom with their children Galba had restored to their
country； received no relief from the compassion of the Emperor。 By
an edict which gratified the leading men of the State； while it
approved itself even to the populace； Vitellius gave back to the
returned exiles their rights over their freedmen； although servile
ingenuity sought in every way to neutralise the boon； concealing money
in quarters which either obscurity or rank rendered secure。 Some
freedmen had made their way into the palace of the Emperor； and thus
became more powerful even than their patrons。
Meanwhile the soldiers； as their numbers overflowed the crowded
camp； dispersed throughout the porticoes； the temples； and the whole
capital； did not know their own headquarters； kept no watch； and
ceased to brace themselves by toil。 Amidst the allurements of the city
and all shameful excesses； they wasted their strength in idleness； and
their energies in riot。 At last； reckless even of health； a large
portion of them quartered themselves in the notoriously pestilential
neighbourhood of the Vatican； hence ensued a great mortality in the
ranks。 The Tiber was close at hand； and their extreme eagerness for
the water and their impatience of the heat weakened the
constitutions of the Germans and Gauls； always liable to disease。 To
make matters worse； the organisation of the service was deranged by
unprincipled intrigue and favour。 Sixteen Praetorian and four city
cohorts were being raised； each to consist of a thousand men。 In
this levy Valens ventured to do more than his rival on the pretence of
his having rescued Caecina himself from peril。 Doubtless his arrival
had restored the fortunes of the party； and his victory had reversed
the unfavourable rumours occasioned by his tardy advance。 The entire
army too of Lower Germany was attached to him； this circumstance； it
is thought； first made the allegiance of Caecina waver。
Much however as Vitellius indulged his generals； his soldiers
enjoyed yet greater licence。 Every one chose his own service。
However unfit； he might； if he preferred it； be enrolled among the
soldiers of the capital。 Soldiers again of good character were
allowed； if they so wished； to remain with the legions； or in the
cavalry； and this was the choice of many who were worn out with
disease； or who shrank from the unhealthiness of the climate。 But
the main strength of the legions and cavalry was drafted from them；
while the old glory of the Praetorian camp was destroyed by these
20；000 men indiscriminately taken rather than chosen out of the
whole army。 While Vitellius was haranguing the troops； the men
called out for the execution of Asiaticus； and of Flavius and Rufinus；
the Gallic chieftains； because they had fought for Vindex。 He never
checked these cries； for to say nothing of the cowardice natural to
that feeble soul； he was aware that the distribution of a donative was
imminent； and； having no money； he lavished everything else on the
soldiers。 A contribution in the form of a tax was exacted from the
freedmen of former Emperors in proportion to the number of their
slaves。 Vitellius himself； thinking only how to squander； was building
a stable for his charioteers； was filling the circus with shows of
gladiators and wild beasts； and fooling away his money as if he had
the most abundant supplies。
Moreover Caecina and Valens celebrated the birthday of Vitellius
by exhibiting in every quarter of the city shows of gladiators on a
vast and hitherto unparalleled scale。 He pleased the most infamous
characters； but utterly disgusted all the respectable citizens； by
building altars in the Campus Martius； and performing funeral rites to
Nero。 Victims were slaughtered and burnt in the name of the State； the
pile was kindled by the Augustales； an order of the priesthood
dedicated by the Emperor Tiberius to the Julian family； just as
Romulus had dedicated one to king Tatius。 Within four months from
the victory of Bedriacum； Asiaticus； the Emperor's freedman； was
rivalling the Polycleti； the Patrobii； and all the old hateful
names。 No one sought promotion in that court by integrity or
diligence； the sole road to power was to glut the insatiable appetites
of Vitellius by prodigal entertainments； extravagance； and riot。 The
Emperor himself； thinking it enough to enjoy the present； and
without a thought for the future； is believed to have squandered
nine hundred million sesterces in a very few months。 Rome； as
miserable as she was great； afflicted in one year by an Otho and a
Vitellius； what with the Vinii； the Fabii； the Iceli； an