76about this same time lucius vitellius,207 who had pitched his camp at the temple of feronia,208 made every effort to destroy tarracina, where he had shut up the gladiators and sailors, who would not venture to leave the shelter of the walls or to face death in the open. the gladiators were commanded, as we have already seen,209 by julianus, and the sailors by88 apollinaris, men whose dissolute inefficiency better suited gladiators than general officers. they set no watch, and made no attempt to repair the weak places in the walls. day and night they idled loosely; the soldiers were dispatched in all directions to find them luxuries; that beautiful coast rang with their revelry; and they only spoke of war in their cups. a few days earlier, apinius tiro210 had started on his mission, and, by rigorously requisitioning gifts of money in all the country towns, was winning more unpopularity than assistance for the cause.
77in the meantime, one of vergilius capito's slaves deserted to lucius vitellius, and promised that, if he were provided with men, he would put the abandoned castle into their hands. accordingly, at dead of night he established a few lightly armed cohorts on the top of the hills which overlooked the enemy. thence the soldiers came charging down more to butchery than battle. they cut down their victims standing helpless and unarmed or hunting for their weapons, or perhaps newly startled from their sleep—all in a bewildering confusion of darkness, panic, bugle-calls, and savage cries. a few of the gladiators resisted and sold their lives dearly. the rest rushed to the ships; and there the same panic and confusion reigned, for the villagers were all mixed up with the troops, and the vitellians slaughtered them too, without distinction. just as the 89first uproar began, six liburnian cruisers slipped away with the admiral apollinaris on board. the rest were either captured on the beach or overweighted and sunk by the crowds that clambered over them. julianus was taken to lucius vitellius, who had him flogged till he bled and then killed before his eyes. some writers have accused lucius vitellius' wife, triaria,211 of putting on a soldier's sword, and with insolent cruelty showing herself among the horrors of the captured town. lucius himself sent a laurel-wreath to his brother in token of his success, and inquired whether he wished him to return at once or to continue reducing campania. this delay saved not only vespasian's party but rome as well. had he marched on the city while his men were fresh from their victory, with the flush of success added to their natural intrepidity, there would have been a tremendous struggle, which must have involved the city's destruction. lucius vitellius, too, for all his evil repute, was a man of action. good men owe their power to their virtues; but he was one of that worst sort whose vices are their only virtue.
