for the morrow, was well content to enjoy the present.  It is believed that he squandered nine hundred million sesterces[443] in these brief months.  Truly it shows Rome’s greatness and misfortune, that she endured Otho and Vitellius both in the same year, and suffered humiliation of every kind at the hands of men like Vinius and Fabius,[444] Icelus and Asiaticus, until at last they gave way to Mucianus and Marcellus—­a change of men but not of manners.

The first news of rebellion which reached Vitellius came from 96 Aponius Saturninus,[445] who, before himself going over to Vespasian’s side, wrote to announce the desertion of the Third legion.  But a sudden crisis makes a man nervous:  Aponius did not tell the whole story.  So the emperor’s flattering friends began to explain it all away:  what was the defection of a single legion, while the loyalty of the other armies remained unshaken?  Vitellius himself used the same language to the soldiers.  He accused the men, who had been recently discharged from the Guards,[446] of spreading false rumours, and kept assuring them there was no fear of civil war.  All mention of Vespasian was suppressed, and soldiers were sent round the city to frighten people into silence, which, of course, did more than anything else to make them talk.

Vitellius, nevertheless, sent for reinforcements from Germany, 97 Britain, and the Spanish provinces, though with a lack of urgency which was intended to conceal his straits.  The provinces and their governors showed the same want of enthusiasm.  Hordeonius Flaccus,[447] who had suspicions of the Batavi, was distracted with a war of his own,[448] while Vettius Bolanus[449] never had Britain under complete control:  nor was the loyally of either beyond doubt.  The Spanish provinces, where there was at the time no consular governor,[450] were equally slow.  The three officers in command of the legions held an equal authority, and if Vitellius’ cause had prospered, would have each outbid the other for his favour:  but they all shared the resolve to leave his misfortunes alone.  In Africa the legion and auxiliaries enlisted by Clodius Macer, and subsequently disbanded by Galba,[451] took service again at Vitellius’ orders, and at the same time all the young men of the province eagerly enlisted.  Vitellius had been an honest and popular pro-consul in Africa, while Vespasian had been distrusted and disliked.  The provincials took this as an earnest of their reigns; but experience proved them wrong.

The military legate Valerius Festus[452] at first loyally seconded 98 the enthusiasm of the province.  After a while he began to waver.  In his official letters and edicts he still acknowledged Vitellius, while in secret communication with Vespasian and ready to support whichever party proved successful.  In Raetia and the Gallic provinces some centurions and men carrying letters and edicts from Vespasian were taken prisoners and sent to Vitellius, who had