That terrible night which
threatened an explosion of crime was tranquillised by a mere accident.
Suddenly in a clear sky the moon's radiance seemed to die away. This the
soldiers in their ignorance of the cause regarded as an omen of their
condition, comparing the failure of her light to their own efforts, and
imagining that their attempts would end prosperously should her brightness
and splendour be restored to the goddess. And so they raised a din with
brazen instruments and the combined notes of trumpets and horns, with joy or
sorrow, as she brightened or grew dark. When clouds arose and obstructed
their sight, and it was thought she was buried in the gloom, with that
proneness to superstition which steals over minds once thoroughly cowed,
they lamented that this was a portent of neverending hardship, and that
heaven frowned on their deeds.
Drusus, thinking that he ought to avail
himself of this change in their temper and turn what chance had offered to a
wise account, ordered the tents to be visited. Clemens, the centurion was
summoned with all others who for their
SOLDIERS COWED BY
LUNAR ECLIPSE |
good qualities were liked by the common soldiers.
These men made their way among the patrols, sentries and guards of the
camp-gates, suggesting hope or holding out threats. "How long will you
besiege the emperor's son? What is to be the end of our strifes? Will
Percennius and Vibulenus give pay to the soldiers and land to those who have
earned their discharge? In a word, are they, instead of the Neros and the
Drusi, to control the empire of the Roman people? Why are we not rather
first in our repentance as we were last in the offence? Demands made in
common are granted slowly; a separate favour you may deserve and receive at
the same moment."
With minds affected by these words and growing mutually
suspicious, they divided off the new troops from the old, and one legion
from another. Then by degrees the instinct of obedience returned. They
quitted the gates and restored to their places the standards which at the
beginning of the mutiny they had grouped into one spot.