Much however as Vitellius indulged his generals, his soldiers enjoyed yet
greater licence. Every one chose his own service. However unfit, he might,
if he preferred it, be enrolled among the soldiers of the capital. Soldiers
again of good character were allowed, if they so wished, to remain with the
legions, or in the cavalry; and this was the choice of many who were worn
out with disease, or who shrank from the unhealthiness of the climate. But
the main strength of the legions and cavalry was drafted from them, while
the old glory of the Prætorian camp was destroyed by these
20,000 men
indiscriminately taken rather than chosen out of the whole army. While
Vitellius was haranguing the troops, the men called out for the execution of
Asiaticus, and of Flavius and Rufinus, the Gallic chieftains, because they
had fought for Vindex. He never checked these cries: for to say nothing of
the cowardice natural to that feeble soul, he was aware that the
distribution of a donative was imminent, and, having no money, he lavished
every thing else on the soldiers. A contribution in the form of a tax was
exacted from the freedmen of former Emperors in proportion to the number of
their slaves. Vitellius himself, thinking only how to squander, was building
a stable for his charioteers, was filling the circus with shows of
gladiators and wild beasts, and fooling away his money as if he had the most
abundant supplies.