1Already, in another part of the world, fortune was laying the beginnings and causes of a reign which, with varying lot, was happy or dreadful for the state, and prosperous or ruinous for the emperors themselves. 1Titus Vespasianus, sent by his father from Judaea while Galba was still unharmed, gave as the reason for his journey his duty towards the emperor and the fact that he was of an age ripe for seeking office, but the common people, eager to invent, had spread it about that he had been summoned to be adopted. 1The material for this talk was the emperor's old age and childlessness, and the lack of restraint of the citizens, who would keep naming many until one was chosen.
1The rumour was increased by the character of Titus himself, equal to any fortune however great, the beauty of his face joined with a certain majesty, Vespasian's successes, prophetic oracles, and, since minds were inclined to believe, even chance events taken as omens. 1When at Corinth, a city of Achaia, he received sure news of Galba's death, and there were men who affirmed that Vitellius had taken up arms and that there was war, anxious in mind he called in a few of his friends and surveyed everything on both sides: if he went on to Rome, he would get no thanks for a courtesy undertaken in honour of another, and he would be a hostage for Vitellius or Otho; if he turned back, the offence to the victor would be certain, but while victory was still uncertain, and if his father joined the party, the son would be excused.
1But if Vespasian took over the state, those who were planning war must forget offences.