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1. And now Titus Caesar, upon the news that was brought him
concerning his father, that his coming was much desired by all
the Italian cities, and that Rome especially received him with
great alacrity and splendor, betook himself to rejoicing and
pleasures to a great degree, as now freed from the solicitude he
had been under, after the most agreeable manner. For all men that
were in Italy showed their respects to him in their minds before
he came thither, as if he were already come, as esteeming the
very expectation they had of him to be his real presence, on
account of the great desires they had to see him, and because the
good-will they bore him was entirely free and unconstrained; for
it was, desirable thing to the senate, who well remembered the
calamities they had undergone in the late changes of their
governors, to receive a governor who was adorned with the gravity
of old age, and with the highest skill in the actions of war,
whose advancement would be, as they knew, for nothing else but
for the preservation of those that were to be governed. Moreover,
the people had been so harassed by their civil miseries, that
they were still more earnest for his coming immediately, as
supposing they should then be firmly delivered from their
calamities, and believed they should then recover their secure
tranquillity and prosperity; and for the soldiery, they had the
principal regard to him, for they were chiefly apprized of his
great exploits in war; and since they had experienced the want of
skill and want of courage in other commanders, they were very
desirous to be free from that great shame they had undergone by
their means, and heartily wished to receive such a prince as
might be a security and an ornament to them. And as this
good-will to Vespasian was universal, those that enjoyed any
remarkable dignities could not have patience enough to stay in
Rome, but made haste to meet him at a very great distance from
it; nay, indeed, none of the rest could endure the delay of
seeing him, but did all pour out of the city in such crowds, and
were so universally possessed with the opinion that it was
easier and better for them to go out than to stay there, that
this was the very first time that the city joyfully perceived
itself almost empty of its citizens; for those that staid within
were fewer than those that went out. But as soon as the news was
come that he was hard by, and those that had met him at first
related with what good humor he received every one that came to
him, then it was that the whole multitude that had remained in
the city, with their wives and children, came into the road, and
waited for him there; and for those whom he passed by, they made
all sorts of acclamations, on account of the joy they had to see
him, and the pleasantness of his countenance, and styled him
their Benefactor and Savior, and the only person who was worthy
to be ruler of the city of Rome. And now the city was like a
temple, full of garlands and sweet odors; nor was it easy for him
to come to the royal palace, for the multitude of the people that
stood about him, where yet at last he performed his sacrifices of
thanksgiving to his household gods for his safe return to the
city. The multitude did also betake themselves to feasting; which
feasts and drink-offerings they celebrated by their tribes, and
their families, and their neighborhoods, and still prayed God to
grant that Vespasian, his sons, and all their posterity, might
continue in the Roman government for a very long time, and that
his dominion might be preserved from all opposition. And this was
the manner in which Rome so joyfully received Vespasian, and
thence grew immediately into a state of great prosperity.
2. But before this time, and while Vespasian was about
Alexandria, and Titus was lying at the siege of Jerusalem, a
great multitude of the Germans were in commotion, and tended to
rebellion; and as the Gauls in their neighborhood joined with
them, they conspired together, and had thereby great hopes of
success, and that they should free themselves from the dominion
of the Romans. The motives that induced the Germans to this
attempt for a revolt, and for beginning the war, were these: In
the first place, the nature [of the people], which was destitute
of just reasonings, and ready to throw themselves rashly into
danger, upon small hopes; in the next place, the hatred they bore
to those that were their governors, while their nation had never
been conscious of subjection to any but to the Romans, and that
by compulsion only. Besides these motives, it was the opportunity
that now offered itself, which above all the rest prevailed with
them so to do; for when they saw the Roman government in a great
internal disorder, by the continual changes of its rulers, and
understood that every part of the habitable earth under them was
in an unsettled and tottering condition, they thought this was
the best opportunity that couldd afford itself for themselves to
make a sedition, when the state of the Romans was so ill.
Classicus also, and Vitellius, two of their commanders,
puffed them up with such hopes. These had for a long time been
openly desirous of such an innovation, and were induced by the
present opportunity to venture upon the declaration of their
sentiments; the multitude was also ready; and when these men told
them of what they intended to attempt, that news was gladly
received by them. So when a great part of the Germans
had agreed to rebel, and the rest were no better disposed,
Vespasian, as guided by Divine Providence, sent letters to
Petilius Cerealis, who had formerly had the command of Germany,
whereby he declared him to have the dignity of consul, and
commanded him to take upon him the government of Britain; so he
went whither he was ordered to go, and when he was informed of
the revolt of the Germans, he fell upon them as soon as they were
gotten together, and put his army in battle-array, and slew a
great number of them in the fight, and forced them to leave off
their madness, and to grow wiser; nay, had he not fallen thus
suddenly upon them on the place, it had not been long ere they
would however have been brought to punishment; for as soon as
ever the news of their revolt was come to Rome, and Caesar
Domitian was made acquainted with it, he made no delay, even at
that his age, when he was exceeding young, but undertook this
weighty affair. He had a courageous mind from his father, and had
made greater improvements than belonged to such an age:
accordingly he marched against the barbarians immediately;
whereupon their hearts failed them at the very rumor of his
approach, and they submitted themselves to him with fear, and
thought it a happy thing that they were brought under their old
yoke again without suffering any further mischiefs. When
therefore Domitian had settled all the affairs of Gaul in such
good order, that it would not be easily put into disorder any
more, he returned to Rome with honor and glory, as having
performed such exploits as were above his own age, but worthy of
so great a father.
3. At the very same time with the forementioned revolt of the
Germans did the bold attempt of the Scythians against the Romans
occur; for those Scythians who are called Sarmatians, being a
very numerous people, transported themselves over the Danube into
Mysia, without being perceived; after which, by their violence,
and entirely unexpected assault, they slew a great many of the
Romans that guarded the frontiers; and as the consular legate
Fonteius Agrippa came to meet them, and fought courageously
against them, he was slain by them. They then overran all the
region that had been subject to him, tearing and rending every
thing that fell in their way. But when Vespasian was informed of
what had happened, and how Mysia was laid waste, he sent away
Rubrius Gallus to punish these Sarmatians; by whose means many of
them perished in the battles he fought against them, and that
part which escaped fled with fear to their own country. So when
this general had put an end to the war, he provided for the
future security of the country also; for he placed more and more
numerous garrisons in the place, till he made it altogether
impossible for the barbarians to pass over the river any more.
And thus had this war in Mysia a sudden conclusion.
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