The tide of feeling turned, and
Asinius Pollio, one of
the stanchest friends of Albinus, prefect of one of the
squadrons of cavalry, with Festus and Scipio, prefects of two infantry
cohorts, were killed. Albinus himself, who was sailing from the province Tingitana to
Mauritania
Cæsariensis, was murdered as he reached the shore. His wife threw
herself in the way of the murderers and was killed with him. Vitellius made
no inquiries into what was going on. He dismissed matters of even the
greatest importance with brief hearing, and was quite unequal to any serious
business. He directed the army to proceed by land, but sailed himself down
the river
Arar. His progress had nothing of imperial
state about it, but was marked by the poverty of his former condition, till
Junius Blæsus, governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, a man of noble birth,
whose munificence was equal to his wealth, furnished him with suitable
attendance, and escorted him with a splendid retinue; a service which was of
itself displeasing, though Vitellius masked his dislike under servile
compliments. At Lugdunum the generals of the two
parties, the conquerors and the conquered, were waiting for him. Valens and
Cæcina he put by his own chair of state, after celebrating their
praises before a general assembly. He then ordered the whole army to come
and greet his infant son; he brought him out, wrapped in a military cloak,
and holding him in his arms, gave him the title of Germanicus, and
surrounded him with all the insignia of the imperial rank. It was an
extravagant distinction for a day of prosperity, but it served as a
consolation in adversity.
