Vespasian had already broken the back of the Jewish war.[212] Only the siege of Jerusalem remained.  That this proved a difficult and laborious task was due rather to the high situation of the town and the stubborn superstition of its inhabitants than to any adequate provision enabling them to endure the hardships of the siege.  Vespasian had, as we have already stated,[213] three legions well tried in war.  Four others were under Mucianus’ command.[213] Although these had never seen war, yet their envy of the neighbouring army’s fame had banished sloth.  Indeed, as the former were hardened by work and danger, so the latter owed their ardour to their unbroken inaction, and their shame at having no share in the war.[214] Both generals had, besides auxiliary infantry and cavalry, foreign fleets[215] and allied princes,[216] and a fame that rested on widely differing claims.  Vespasian was an indefatigable campaigner.  He 5 headed the column, chose the camping-ground, never ceasing by night or day to use strategy, and, if need be, the sword to thwart the enemy.  He eat what he could get, and dressed almost like a common soldier.  Indeed, save for his avarice, he matched the generals of old days.  Mucianus, on the other hand, was distinguished by his wealth and luxury, and his general superiority to the standards of a private person.  He was the better speaker, and a skilful administrator and statesman.  Their combined qualities would have made a fine emperor, if one could have blended their virtues and omitted their vices.  Governing as they did the neighbouring provinces of Judaea and Syria, jealousy at first led to quarrels.  However, on the death of Nero, they forgot their dislike and joined hands.  It was their friends who first brought them together, and subsequently Titus became the chief bond of union and for the common good suppressed their ignoble jealousy.  Both by nature and training he had charm to fascinate even such a man as Mucianus.  The tribunes and centurions and the common soldiers were attracted, each according to his character, either by Titus’ meritorious industry or by his gay indulgence in pleasure.

Before the arrival of Titus both armies had sworn allegiance to 6 Otho.  News travels fast in such cases, but civil war is a slow and serious undertaking, and the East, after its long repose, was now for the first time beginning to arm for it.  In earlier times all the fiercest civil wars broke out in Italy or Cisalpine Gaul among the forces of the West.  Pompey, Cassius, Brutus, and Antony all courted disaster by carrying the war oversea.  Syria and Judaea often heard of Caesars, but seldom saw one.  There were no mutinies among the soldiers.  They merely made demonstrations against Parthia with varying success.  Even in the last civil war[217] the peace of these provinces had been untroubled by the general confusion.  Later they were loyal to Galba.  But when they heard that Otho and Vitellius were engaged in a wicked contest for the possession