THE WARS OF THE JEWS
OR
THE HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
Book VII: Chapter 4
HOW VESPASIAN WAS RECEIVED AT ROME;
AS ALSO HOW THE GERMANS REVOLTED FROM THE ROMANS, BUT
WERE SUBDUED. THAT THE SARMATIANS OVERRAN MYSIA, BUT
WERE COMPELLED TO RETIRE TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY AGAIN.
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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