Hist. 2.1.1Struēbat iam fortūna in dīversā parte terrārum initia causāsque imperiō, quod variā sorte laetum reī pūblicae aut atrōx, ipsīs prīncipibus prosperum vel exitiō fuit.Already, 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. Hist. 2.1.1Titus Vespasiānus, ē Iūdaeā incolumī adhūc Galbā missus ā patre, causam profectiōnis officium ergā prīncipem et mātūram petendīs honōribus iuventam ferēbat, sed vulgus fingendī avidum disperserat accītum in adoptiōnem.Titus 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. Hist. 2.1.1Māteria sermōnibus senium et orbitās prīncipis et intemperantia cīvitātis, dōnec ūnus ēligātur, multōs dēstinandī.The 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.
Hist. 2.1.1Augēbat fāmam ipsīus Titī ingenium quantaecumque fortūnae capāx, decor ōris cum quādam maiestāte, prosperae Vespasiānī rēs, praesāga respōnsa, et inclīnātīs ad crēdendum animīs locō ōminum etiam fortuīta.The 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. Hist. 2.1.1Ubi Corinthī, Achāiae urbe, certōs nūntiōs accēpit dē interitū Galbae et aderant quī arma Vitelliī bellumque adfirmārent, ānxius animō paucīs amīcōrum adhibitīs cūncta utrimque perlūstrat: sī pergeret in urbem, nūllam officiī grātiam in alterīus honōrem susceptī, ac sē Vitelliō sīve Othōnī obsidem fore: sīn redīret, offēnsam haud dubiam victōris, set incertā adhūc victōriā et concēdente in partīs patre fīlium excūsātum.When 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.
Hist. 2.1.1Sīn Vespasiānus rem pūblicam susciperet, oblīvīscendum offēnsārum dē bellō agitantibus.But if Vespasian took over the state, those who were planning war must forget offences.