to save his fellow citizens from bloodshed.  In this, at any rate, all would agree, that before Vespasian became emperor the reputation of his house rested on Sabinus.  It is said that Mucianus was delighted to hear of his murder, and many people maintained that it served the interests of peace by putting an end to the jealousy of two rivals, one of whom was the emperor’s brother, while the other posed as his partner in the empire.[206]

When the people further demanded the execution of the consul, Vitellius withstood them.  He had forgiven Atticus, and felt that he owed him a favour, for, when asked who had set fire to the Capitol, Atticus had taken the blame on himself, by which avowal—­or was it a well-timed falsehood?—­he had fixed all the guilt and odium on himself and exonerated the Vitellian party.

FOOTNOTES: 

    [172] On the Palatine.

    [173] See i. 8.

    [174] A friend of Vitellius and the author of the historical
          epic on the second Punic War.

    [175] This apparently means that, if Vitellius were spared,
          pity for his position would inspire his supporters to make
          further trouble.

    [176] See ii. 59.

    [177] Two good points, but both untrue.

    [178] This too is probably hyperbole, but Vespasian may have
          owed his command in Germany to the influence of Vitellius’
          father.

    [179] See i. 52, note 99.

    [180] See ii. 64, 89.

    [181] See ii. 60.

    [182] i.e. the way back from the Forum to the Palace.

    [183] Including the city garrison and police.

    [184] In chap. 78 we find three cohorts of Guards still
          faithful to Vitellius, and, as it appears from ii. 93, 94 that
          men from the legions of Germany had been enlisted in the
          Guards, the term Germanicae cohortes seems to refer to these
          three cohorts, in which perhaps the majority were men from the
          German army.

    [185] Said to be on the Quirinal.

    [186] Either the whole hill, or, if the expression is exact,
          the south-west summit.

    [187] This seems to have led her later into the paths of
          conspiracy, for she is said to have been banished by Domitian
          for her friendship with Arulenus Rusticus.

    [188] Prominentem seems to mean the one that projected
          towards them.

    [189] The space lying between the two peaks of the Capitoline.

    [190] A technical term for the beams of the pediment.

    [191] ‘Lars Porsenna of Clusium,’ 507 B.C.

    [192] ‘Burning the Capitol’ was a proverb of utter iniquity.

    [193] In the war between Sulla and Marius, 83 B.C.