1With the armies and provinces thus divided, Vitellius certainly needed war to seize the fortune of the principate, while Otho discharged the duties of empire as if in deep peace, some in keeping with the dignity of the state, but most against propriety, hurrying them for present advantage. 1He himself was consul with his brother Titianus until the first of March; 1the following months he assigns to Verginius, as a kind of sop to the German army; 1with Verginius is joined Pompeius Vopiscus, on the pretext of an old friendship; 1most people interpreted this as a compliment paid to the Viennenses. 1The other consulships remained as Nero or Galba had appointed them, Caelius and Flavius Sabinus for July, Arrius Antoninus and Marius Celsus for September, whose offices not even Vitellius as victor interfered with.
1But Otho added pontificates and augurates as the crowning dignity for old men who had already held office, or consoled young noblemen lately returned from exile by restoring to them the priesthoods of their grandfathers and fathers. 1Senatorial rank was restored to Cadius Rufus, Pedius Blaesus and Saevinus P—. 1They had fallen on charges of extortion under Claudius and Nero: those who pardoned them chose, by a change of name, to make what had been greed appear as treason, a charge so hated at that time that even good laws were perishing.