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[63]
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.
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