Bedriacum. But being beaten or betrayed in every direction, he agreed
with Flavius Sabinus, Vespasian's brother, to abdicate, on condition of
having his life spared, and a hundred millions of sesterces granted him;
and he immediately, upon the palace-steps, publicly declared to a large
body of soldiers there assembled, "that he resigned the government, which
he had accepted reluctantly;" but they all remonstrating against it, he
deferred the conclusion of the treaty. Next day, early in the morning,
he came down to the Forum in a very mean habit, and with many tears
repeated the (438) declaration from a writing which he held in his hand;
but the soldiers and people again interposing, and encouraging him not to
give way, but to rely on their zealous support, he recovered his courage,
and forced Sabinus, with the rest of the Flavian party, who now thought
themselves secure, to retreat into the Capitol, where he destroyed them
all by setting fire to the temple of Jupiter, whilst he beheld the
contest and the fire from Tiberius's house [715], where he was feasting.
Not long after, repenting of what he had done, and throwing the blame of
it upon others, he called a meeting, and swore "that nothing was dearer
to him than the public peace;" which oath he also obliged the rest to
take. Then drawing a dagger from his side, he presented it first to the
consul, and, upon his refusing it, to the magistrates, and then to every
one of the senators; but none of them being willing to accept it, he went
away, as if he meant to lay it up in the temple of Concord; but some
crying out to him, "You are Concord," he came back again, and said that
he would not only keep his weapon, but for the future use the cognomen of
Concord.

XVI. He advised the senate to send deputies, accompanied by the Vestal
Virgins, to desire peace, or, at least, time for consultation. The day
after, while he was waiting for an answer, he received intelligence by a
scout, that the enemy was advancing. Immediately, therefore, throwing