On the 1st of January, at a
meeting of the Senate, convoked for the purpose by Julius Frontinus,
praetor of the city, votes of thanks were passed to the legates, to the
armies, and to the allied kings. The office of praetor was taken away from
Tettius Julianus, as having deserted his legion when it passed over to the
party of Vespasian, with a view to its being transferred to Plotius
Griphus. Equestrian rank was conferred on Hormus. Then, on the resignation
of Frontinus, Caesar Domitian assumed the office of praetor of the city.
His name was put at the head of despatches and edicts, but the real
authority was in the hands of Mucianus, with this exception, that Domitian
ventured on several acts of power, at the instigation of his friends, or
at his own caprice. But Mucianus found his principal cause of apprehension
in Primus Antonius and Varus Arrius, who, in the freshness of their fame,
while distinguished by great achievements and by the attachment of the
soldiery, were also supported by the people, because in no case had they
extended their severities beyond the battle-field. It was also reported
that Antonius had urged Scribonianus Crassus, whom an illustrious descent
added to the honours of his brother made a conspicuous person, to assume
the supreme power; and it was understood that a number of accomplices
would not have failed to support him, had not the proposal been rejected
by Scribonianus, who was a man not easily to be tempted even by a
certainty, and was proportionately apprehensive of risk. Mucianus, seeing
that Antonius could not be openly crushed, heaped many praises upon him in
the Senate, and loaded him with promises in secret, holding out as a prize
the government of Eastern Spain, then vacant in consequence of the
departure of Cluvius Rufus. At the same time he lavished on his friends
tribuneships and prefectures; and then, when he had filled the vain heart
of the man with hope and ambition, he destroyed his power by sending into
winter quarters the 7th legion, whose affection for Antonius was
particularly vehement. The 3rd legion, old troops of Varus Arrius, were
sent back to Syria. Part of the army was on its way to Germany. Thus all
elements of disturbance being removed, the usual appearance of the
capital, the laws, and the jurisdiction of the magistrates, were once more
restored.
Domitian, on the day of his taking his seat in the Senate, made a brief
and measured speech in reference to the absence of his father and brother,
and to his own youth. He was graceful in his bearing, and, his real
character being yet unknown, the frequent blush on his countenance passed
for modesty. On his proposing the restoration of the Imperial honours of
Galba, Curtius Montanus moved that respect should also be paid to the
memory of Piso. The Senate passed both motions, but that which referred to
Piso was not carried out. Certain commissioners were then appointed by
lot, who were to see to the restitution of property plundered during the
war, to examine and restore to their place the brazen tables of the laws,
which had fallen down through age, to free the Calendar from the additions
with which the adulatory spirit of the time had disfigured it, and to put
a check on the public expenditure. The office of praetor was restored to
Tettius Julianus, as soon as it was known that he had fled for refuge to
Vespasian. Griphus still retained his rank. It was then determined that
the cause of Musonius Rufus against Publius Celer should be again brought
on. Publius was condemned, and thus expiation was made to the shade of
Soranus. The day thus marked by an example of public justice was not
barren of distinction to individuals. Musonius was thought to have
fulfilled the righteous duty of an accuser, but men spoke very differently
of Demetrius, a disciple of the Cynical school of philosophy, who pleaded
the cause of a notorious criminal by appeals to corrupt influences rather
than by fair argument. Publius himself, in his peril, had neither spirit
nor power of speech left. The signal for vengeance on the informers having
been thus given, Junius Mauricus asked Caesar to give the Senate access to
the Imperial registers, from which they might learn what impeachments the
several informers had proposed. Caesar answered, that in a matter of such
importance the Emperor must be consulted.
The Senate, led by its principal members, then framed a form of oath,
which was eagerly taken by all the magistrates and by the other Senators
in the order in which they voted. They called the Gods to witness, that
nothing had been done by their instrumentality to prejudice the safety of
any person, and that they had gained no distinction or advantage by the
ruin of Roman citizens. Great was the alarm, and various the devices for
altering the words of the oath, among those who felt the consciousness of
guilt. The Senate appreciated the scruple, but denounced the perjury. This
public censure, as it might be called, fell with especial severity on
three men, Sariolenus Vocula, Nonnius Attianus, and Cestius Severus, all
of them infamous for having practised the trade of the informer in the
days of Nero. Sariolenus indeed laboured under an imputation of recent
date. It was said that he had attempted the same practices during the
reign of Vitellius. The Senators did not desist from threatening gestures,
till he quitted the chamber; then passing to Paccius Africanus, they
assailed him in the same way. It was he, they said, who had singled out as
victims for Nero the brothers Scribonius, renowned for their mutual
affection and for their wealth. Africanus dared not confess his guilt, and
could not deny it; but he himself turned on Vibius Crispus, who was
pressing him with questions, and complicating a charge which he could not
rebut, shifted the blame from himself by associating another with his
guilt. |