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necks； begged for parting kisses； and entreated that they might not be
deserted； or doomed in a common cause to suffer a different lot。
They invoked now Mucianus； now the absent Emperor； and； as a last
resource； heaven and the Gods； till Mucianus came forward； and calling
them 〃soldiers bound by the same oath and servants of the same
Emperor；〃 stopped the groundless panic。 And indeed the victorious army
seconded the tears of the vanquished with their approving shouts。 This
terminated the proceedings for that day。 But when Domitian harangued
them a few days afterwards； they received him with increased
confidence。 The land that was offered them they contemptuously
rejected； and begged for regular service and pay。 Theirs were
prayers indeed； but such as it was impossible to reject。 They were
therefore received into the Praetorian camp。 Then such as had
reached the prescribed age； or had served the proper number of
campaigns； received an honourable discharge； others were dismissed for
misconduct； but this was done by degrees and in detail； always the
safest mode of reducing the united strength of a multitude。
It is a fact that； whether suggested by real poverty or by a wish to
give the appearance of it； a proposition passed the Senate to the
effect that a loan of sixty million sesterces from private persons
should be accepted。 Pompeius Silvanus was appointed to manage the
affair。 Before long； either the necessity ceased or the pretence was
dropped。 After this； on the motion of Domitian； the consulships
conferred by Vitellius were cancelled； and the honours of a censor's
funeral were paid to Sabinus； great lessons both of the mutability
of fortune； ever bringing together the highest honours and the
lowest humiliations。
About the same time the proconsul Lucius Piso was murdered。 I
shall make the account of this murder as exact as possible by first
reviewing a few earlier circumstances； which have a bearing on the
origin and motives of such deeds。 The legion and the auxiliaries
stationed in Africa to guard the frontiers of the Empire were under
the proconsul's authority during the reigns of the divine Augustus and
Tiberius。 But in course of time Caligula； prompted by his restless
temper and by his fear of Marcus Silanus； who then held Africa； took
away the legion from the proconsul； and handed it over to a legate
whom he sent for that purpose。 The patronage was equally divided
between the two officers。 A source of disagreement was thus studiously
sought in the continual clashing of their authority； and it was
further developed by an unprincipled rivalry。 The power of the legates
grew through their lengthened tenure of office； and； perhaps；
because an inferior feels greater interest in such a competition。
All the more distinguished of the proconsuls cared more for security
than for power。
At this time the legion in Africa was commanded by Valerius
Festus； a young man of extravagant habits and immoderate ambition； who
was now made uneasy by his relationship to Vitellius。 Whether this man
in their frequent interviews tempted Piso to revolt； or whether he
resisted such overtures； is not known for certain； for no one was
present at their confidential meetings； and； after Piso's death；
many were disposed to ingratiate themselves with the murderer。 There
is no doubt that the province and the troops entertained feelings of
hostility to Vespasian； and some of the Vitellianists； who had escaped
from the capital； incessantly represented to Piso that Gaul was
hesitating and Germany ready to revolt； that his own position was
perilous； and that for one who in peace must be suspected； war was the
safer course。 While this was going on； Claudius Sagitta； prefect of
Petra's Horse； making a very quick passage； reached Africa before
Papirius； the centurion despatched by Mucianus。 He declared that an
order to put Piso to death had been given to the centurion； and that
Galerianus； his cousin and son…in…law； had perished； that his only
hope of safety was in bold action； that in such action two paths
were open； he might defend himself on the spot； or he might sail for
Gaul and offer his services as general to the Vitellianist armies。
Piso was wholly unmoved by this statement。 The centurion despatched by
Mucianus； on landing in the port of Carthage； raised his voice； and
invoked in succession all blessings on the head of Piso； as if he were
Emperor； and bade the bystanders； who were astonished by this sudden
and strange proceeding； take up the same cry。 The credulous mob rushed
into the market…place； and demanded that Piso should shew himself。
They threw everything into an uproar with their clamorous shouts of
joy； careless of the truth； and only eager to flatter。 Piso； acting on
the information of Sagitta； or； perhaps； from natural modesty； would
not make his appearance in public； or trust himself to the zeal of the
populace。 On questioning the centurion； and finding that he had sought
a pretext for accusing and murdering him； he ordered the man to be
executed； moved； not so much by any hope of saving his life； as by
indignation against the assassin； for this fellow had been one of
the murderers of Macer； and was now come to slay the proconsul with
hands already stained with the blood of the legate。 He then severely
blamed the people of Carthage in an edict which betrayed his
anxiety； and ceased to discharge even the usual duties of his
office； shutting himself up in his palace； to guard against any casual
occurrence that might lead to a new outbreak。
But when the agitation of the people； the execution of the
centurion； and other news； true or false； exaggerated as usual by
report； came to the ears of Festus； he sent some cavalry to put Piso
to death。 They rode over at full speed； and broke into the dwelling of
the proconsul in the dim light of early dawn； with their swords
drawn in their hands。 Many of them were unacquainted with the person
of Piso； for the legate had selected some Moorish and Carthaginian
auxiliaries to perpetrate the deed。 Near the proconsul's chamber
they chanced to meet a slave； and asked him who he was； and where Piso
was to be found？ The slave with a noble untruth replied； 〃I am he；〃
and was immediately cut down。 Soon after Piso was killed； for there
was on the spot one who recognized him； Baebius Massa； one of the
procurators of Africa； a name even then fatal to the good； and
destined often to reappear among the causes of the sufferings which he
had ere long to endure。 From Adrumetum； where he had stayed to watch
the result； Festus went to the legion； and gave orders that
Cetronius Pisanus； prefect of the camp； should be put in irons。 He did
this out of private pique； but he called the man an accomplice of
Piso。 Some few cent