按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rivalry of Vitellius and Vespasian was being settled by conflicts
between legions； by the capture of cities； by the capitulation of
cohorts； with Spain； Germany； and Britain in revolt； the brother of
Vespasian still remained firm to his allegiance； till actually invited
to discuss terms of agreement。 Peace and harmony bring advantage to
the conquered； but only credit to the conqueror。 If you repent of your
compact； it is not against me； whom you treacherously deceived； that
you must draw the sword； nor is it against the son of Vespasian； who
is yet of tender age。 What would be gained by the slaughter of one old
man and one stripling？ You should go and meet the legions； and fight
there for Empire； everything else will follow the issue of that
struggle。〃 To these representations the embarrassed Vitellius answered
a few words in his own exculpation； throwing all the blame upon the
soldiers； with whose excessive zeal his moderation was； he said；
unable to cope。 He advised Martialis to depart unobserved through a
concealed part of the palace； lest he should be killed by the
soldiers； as the negotiator of this abhorred convention。 Vitellius had
not now the power either to command or to forbid。 He was no longer
Emperor； he was merely the cause of war。
Martialis had hardly returned to the Capitol； when the infuriated
soldiery arrived； without any leader； every man acting on his own
impulse。 They hurried at quick march past the Forum and the temples
which hang over it； and advanced their line up the opposite hill as
far as the outer gates of the Capitol。 There were formerly certain
colonnades on the right side of the slope as one went up； the
defenders； issuing forth on the roof of these buildings； showered
tiles and stones on the Vitellianists。 The assailants were not armed
with anything but swords； and it seemed too tedious to send for
machines and missiles。 They threw lighted brands on a projecting
colonnade； and following the track of the fire would have burst
through the half…burnt gates of the Capitol； had not Sabinus；
tearing down on all sides the statues； the glories of former
generations； formed them into a barricade across the opening。 They
then assailed the opposite approaches to the Capitol； near the grove
of the Asylum； and where the Tarpeian rock is mounted by a hundred
steps。 Both these attacks were unexpected； the closer and fiercer of
the two threatened the Asylum。 The assailants could not be checked
as they mounted the continuous line of buildings； which； as was
natural in a time of profound peace； had grown up to such a height
as to be on a level with the soil of the Capitol。 A doubt arises at
this point； whether it was the assailants who threw lighted brands
on to the roofs； or whether； as the more general account has it； the
besieged thus sought to repel the assailants； who were now making
vigorous progress。 From them the fire passed to the colonnades
adjoining the temples； the eagles supporting the pediment； which
were of old timber； caught the flames。 And so the Capitol； with its
gates shut； neither defended by friends； nor spoiled by a foe； was
burnt to the ground。
This was the most deplorable and disgraceful event that had happened
to the Commonwealth of Rome since the foundation of the city； for now；
assailed by no foreign enemy； with Heaven ready to be propitious；
had our vices only allowed； the seat of Jupiter Supremely Good and
Great； founded by our ancestors with solemn auspices to be the
pledge of Empire； the seat； which neither Porsenna； when the city
was surrendered； nor the Gauls； when it was captured； had been able to
violate； was destroyed by the madness of our Emperors。 Once before
indeed during civil war the Capitol had been consumed by fire； but
then only through the crime of individuals； now it was openly
besieged； and openly set on fire。 And what were the motives of this
conflict？ what the compensation for so great a disaster？ was it for
our country we were fighting？ King Tarquinius Priscus had vowed its
erection in his war with the Sabines； and had laid the foundations
on a scale which suited the hopes of future greatness rather than what
the yet moderate resources of Rome could achieve。 After him； Servius
Tullius； heartily assisted by the allies； and Tarquinius Superbus；
employing the spoils of war from the conquered Suessa Pometia；
raised the superstructure。 But the glory of its completion was
reserved for the days of liberty。 After the expulsion of the Kings；
Horatius Pulvillus； in his second consulate； dedicated it； a
building so magnificent； that the vast wealth afterwards acquired by
the people of Rome served to embellish rather than increase it。 It was
rebuilt on the same site； when； after an interval of 415 years； it was
burnt to the ground in the consulate of Lucius Scipio and Caius
Norbanus。 Sulla； after his final triumph； undertook the charge of
restoring it； but did not live to dedicate it； the one thing denied to
his uniform good fortune。 The name of Lutatius Catulus； the dedicator；
remained among all the vast erections of the Emperors； down to the
days of Vitellius。 This was the building that was now on fire。
The catastrophe； however； caused more panic among the besieged
than among the besiegers。 In fact； the troops of Vitellius lacked
neither skill nor courage in the midst of peril。 Opposed to them
were soldiers without self…possession； and a spiritless and； so to
speak； infatuated commander； who had not the use of his tongue or
his ears； who would not be guided by other men's counsels； and could
not carry out his own； who； hurried to and fro by the shouts of the
enemy； forbade what he had just ordered； and ordered what he had
just forbidden。 Then； as usually happens when everything is lost；
all gave orders； and no one obeyed。 At last； they threw away their
arms； and began to look about for ways of escape and means of
concealment。 The Vitellianists burst in； carrying everywhere with
indiscriminate ferocity the firebrand and the sword。 A few of the
military men； among whom the most conspicuous were Cornelius
Martialis； Aemilius Pacensis； Casperius Niger； and Didius Sceva；
ventured to resist； and were cut down。 Flavius Sabinus； who was
unarmed； and who did not attempt to fly； was surrounded； and with
him the consul Quinctius Atticus； marked out by his clinging to the
shadow of office； and by his folly in having scattered among the
people edicts highly eulogistic of Vespasian and insulting to
Vitellius。 The rest escaped by various chances； some disguised as
slaves； others concealed by the fidelity of dependants； and hiding
among the baggage。 Some caught the watchword by which the
Vitellianists recognised each other； and； themselves challenging
others and giving it when challeng