De VespasianOy qui claudum et cecum curasse

The Divine Appointment of Vespasian

The chapter recounts the miraculous signs and divine portents that signaled the rise of Vespasian to the imperial throne.

It is written. As some writers have held, the finger of God stirred up Vespasian—the destroyer of Judea and father of Titus, that most pious destroyer of Jerusalem—with miraculous signs to execute vengeance upon the nations. For while he was not yet emperor, a man from the common people who had lost his sight, and another who was crippled in his leg, approached him together as he sat before the tribunal, begging for help with their health; they did this because it had been shown to them in a dream that their eyes would be restored if he looked upon them, and that the crippled leg would be strengthened if he would deign to touch it with his foot. Though reluctant, he attempted both—or rather, the Lord did—at the urging of his friends, and the result did not fail. His reign, as well as the deaths of Vitellius and Otho, who had succeeded the vile Nero, were also foretold by many signs in the heavens, and in part by astonishing ones.