A deception, which was
started with considerable vigour, lasted for a few, and but a few days.
There had sud-
VITELLIUS' GROWING
INSOLENCE |
denly sprung up a man, who gave out that he was
Scribonianus Camerinus; that, dreading the times of Nero, he had concealed
himself in
Histria, where the old family of the
Crassi still had dependants, estates, and a popular name. He admitted into
the secret of his imposture all the most worthless of his followers; and the
credulous populace and some of the soldiers, either from not knowing the
truth, or impatient for revolution, began eagerly to rally round him. When
he was brought before Vitellius, and asked who he was, as his account of
himself could not be trusted, and his master recognised him as a runaway
slave, by name Geta, he was executed as slaves usually are.