ships from going any farther, The haven
also of Alexandria is not entered by the mariners without difficulty,
even in times of peace; for the passage inward is narrow, and full of
rocks that lie under the water, which oblige the mariners to turn from
a straight direction: its left side is blocked up by works made by men's
hands on both sides; on its right side lies the island called Pharus,
which is situated just before the entrance, and supports a very great
tower, that affords the sight of a fire to such as sail within three
hundred furlongs of it, that ships may cast anchor a great way off in
the night time, by reason of the difficulty of sailing nearer. About
this island are built very great piers, the handiwork of men, against
which, when the sea dashes itself, and its waves are broken against
those boundaries, the navigation becomes very troublesome, and the
entrance through so narrow a passage is rendered dangerous; yet is the
haven itself, when you are got into it, a very safe one, and of thirty
furlongs in largeness; into which is brought what the country wants in
order to its happiness, as also what abundance the country affords more
than it wants itself is hence distributed into all the habitable earth.
6. Justly, therefore, did Vespasian desire to obtain that government,
in order to corroborate his attempts upon the whole empire; so he
immediately sent to Tiberius Alexander, who was then governor of Egypt
and of Alexandria, and informed him what the army had put upon him,
and how he, being forced to accept of the burden of the government, was
desirous to have him for his confederate and supporter. Now as soon as
ever Alexander had read this letter, he readily obliged the legions
and the multitude to take the oath of fidelity to Vespasian, both which
willingly complied with him, as already acquainted with the courage
of the man, from that his conduct in their neighborhood. Accordingly
Vespasian, looking upon himself as already intrusted with the
government, got all things ready for his journey [to Rome]. Now fame
carried this news abroad more suddenly than one could have thought, that
he was emperor over the east, upon which every city kept festivals, and
celebrated sacrifices and oblations for such good news; the legions
also that were in Mysia and Pannonia, who had been in commotion a little
before, on account of this insolent attempt of Vitellius, were very
glad to take the oath of fidelity to Vespasian, upo