1Before Titus arrived, both armies had taken the oath to Otho, for news, as usually happens, travelled fast, while a civil war is a slow and heavy mass, and the East, quiet after long harmony, was then preparing one for the first time. 1For in the past the most powerful armed conflicts of citizens among themselves had begun in Italy or Gaul with the strength of the West; 1and for Pompey, Cassius, Brutus and Antony, all of whom civil war had followed across the sea, the outcome had not been fortunate; 1and in Syria and Judaea the Caesars had been heard of more often than seen. 1There had been no mutiny of the legions, only threats against the Parthians, with varying result; 1and in the last civil war, while others were in turmoil, peace there was unshaken, and after that loyalty towards Galba.
1Soon, when it was spread abroad that Otho and Vitellius were going to seize the Roman state with criminal arms, the soldiers began to murmur and to look round at their own strength, lest the rewards of empire should rest with others and with themselves only the necessity of servitude. 1There were seven legions at hand at once, and Syria and Judaea with huge auxiliary forces; 1next to them, adjoining, Egypt and two legions; on the other side Cappadocia and Pontus and all the camps stretched out to face the Armenians. 1Asia and the other provinces were not short of men and were rich in money. 1All the islands girt by the sea were theirs, and the sea itself was favourable and safe for preparing war meanwhile.