<TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:py="http://codespeak.net/lxml/objectify/pytype" py:pytype="TREE"><text xml:lang="eng"><body><div xml:lang="eng" type="translation" n="urn:cts:latinLit:phi1348.abo019.perseus-eng2"><div type="textpart" n="15" subtype="chapter"><p>In the eighth month of his reign, the troops both in <placeName key="tgn,7016746">Moesia</placeName> and <placeName key="tgn,4008442">Pannonia</placeName>
					revolted from him; as did likewise, of the armies beyond sea, those in
						<placeName key="tgn,7001407">Judaea</placeName> and <placeName key="tgn,1000140">Syria</placeName>, some of which swore allegiance to
					Vespasian as emperor in his own presence, and others in his absence. In order,
					therefore, to secure the favour and affection of the people, Vitellius lavished
					on all around whatever he had it in his power to bestow, both publicly and
					privately, in the most extravagant manner. He also levied soldiers in the city,
					and promised all who enlisted as volunteers, not only their discharge after the
					victory was gained, but all the rewards due to veterans who had served their
					full time in the wars. The enemy now pressing forward both by sea and land, on
					one hand he opposed against them his brother with a fleet, the new levies, and a
					body of gladiators, and in another quarter the troops and generals who were
					engaged at Bedriacum. But being beaten or betrayed in every direction, he agreed
					with Flavius Sabinus, Vespasian's brother, to abdicate, on condition of having
					his life spared, and a hundred millions of sesterces granted him; and he
					immediately, upon the palace-steps, publicly declared to a large body of
					soldiers there assembled, " that he resigned the government, which he had
					accepted reluctantly;" but they all remonstrating against it, he deferred the
					conclusion of the treaty. Next day, early in the morning, he came down to the
					forum in a very mean habit, and with many tears repeated the declaration from a
					writing which he held in his hand; but the soldiers and people again
					interposing, and encouraging him not to give way, but to rely on their zealous
					support, he recovered his courage, and forced Sabinus, with the rest of the
					Flavian party, who now thought themselves secure, to retreat into the Capitol,
					where he destroyed them all by setting fire to the temple of <placeName key="tgn,1125260">Jupiter</placeName>, whilst he beheld the contest and the
					fire from Tiberius's house,<note anchored="true">Suetonius does not supply any
						account of the part added by Tiberius to the palace of the Casars on the
							<placeName key="tgn,3000935">Palatine</placeName>, although, as it will
						be recollected, he has mentioned or described the works of Augustus,
						Caligula, and Nero. The banquetting-room here mentioned would easily command
						a view of the Capitol, across the narrow intervening valley. Flavius
						Sabinus, Vespasian's brother, was prefect of the city. </note> where he was
					feasting. Not long after, repenting of what he had done, and throwing the blame
					of it upon others, he called a meeting, and swore "that nothing was dearer to
					him than the public peace;" which oath he also obliged the rest to take. Then
					drawing a dagger from his side, he presented it first to the consul, and, upon
					his refusing it, to the magistrates, and then to every one of the senators; but
					none of them being willing to accept it, he went away, as if he meant to lay it
					up in the temple of Concord; but some crying out to him, "You are Concord," he
					came back again, and said that he would not only keep his weapon, but for the
					future use the cognomen of Concord.</p></div></div></body></text></TEI>