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109 AD
HISTORIES
by P。 Cornelius Tacitus
translated by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb
BOOK I； January … March； A。D。 69
I BEGIN my work with the time when Servius Galba was consul for
the second time with Titus Vinius for his colleague。 Of the former
period； the 820 years dating from the founding of the city； many
authors have treated； and while they had to record the transactions of
the Roman people； they wrote with equal eloquence and freedom。 After
the conflict at Actium； and when it became essential to peace； that
all power should be centered in one man； these great intellects passed
away。 Then too the truthfulness of history was impaired in many
ways； at first； through men's ignorance of public affairs； which
were now wholly strange to them； then； through their passion for
flattery； or； on the other hand； their hatred of their masters。 And so
between the enmity of the one and the servility of the other；
neither had any regard for posterity。 But while we instinctively
shrink from a writer's adulation； we lend a ready ear to detraction
and spite； because flattery involves the shameful imputation of
servility； whereas malignity wears the false appearance of honesty。
I myself knew nothing of Galba； of Otho； or of Vitellius； either
from benefits or from injuries。 I would not deny that my elevation was
begun by Vespasian； augmented by Titus； and still further advanced
by Domitian； but those who profess inviolable truthfulness must
speak of all without partiality and without hatred。 I have reserved as
an employment for my old age； should my life be long enough； a subject
at once more fruitful and less anxious in the reign of the Divine
Nerva and the empire of Trajan； enjoying the rare happiness of
times； when we may think what we please； and express what we think。
I am entering on the history of a period rich in disasters；
frightful in its wars； torn by civil strife； and even in peace full of
horrors。 Four emperors perished by the sword。 There were three civil
wars； there were more with foreign enemies； there were often wars that
had both characters at once。 There was success in the East； and
disaster in the West。 There were disturbances in Illyricum； Gaul
wavered in its allegiance； Britain was thoroughly subdued and
immediately abandoned； the tribes of the Suevi and the Sarmatae rose
in concert against us； the Dacians had the glory of inflicting as well
as suffering defeat； the armies of Parthia were all but set in
motion by the cheat of a counterfeit Nero。 Now too Italy was
prostrated by disasters either entirely novel； or that recurred only
after a long succession of ages； cities in Campania's richest plains
were swallowed up and overwhelmed； Rome was wasted by
conflagrations； its oldest temples consumed； and the Capitol itself
fired by the hands of citizens。 Sacred rites were profaned； there
was profligacy in the highest ranks； the sea was crowded with
exiles； and its rocks polluted with bloody deeds。 In the capital there
were yet worse horrors。 Nobility； wealth； the refusal or the
acceptance of office； were grounds for accusation； and virtue
ensured destruction。 The rewards of the informers were no less
odious than their crimes； for while some seized on consulships and
priestly offices； as their share of the spoil； others on
procuratorships； and posts of more confidential authority； they robbed
and ruined in every direction amid universal hatred and terror。 Slaves
were bribed to turn against their masters； and freedmen to betray
their patrons； and those who had not an enemy were destroyed by
friends。
Yet the age was not so barren in noble qualities； as not also to
exhibit examples of virtue。 Mothers accompanied the flight of their
sons； wives followed their husbands into exile； there were brave
kinsmen and faithful sons in law； there were slaves whose fidelity
defied even torture； there were illustrious men driven to the last
necessity； and enduring it with fortitude； there were closing scenes
that equalled the famous deaths of antiquity。 Besides the manifold
vicissitudes of human affairs； there were prodigies in heaven and
earth； the warning voices of the thunder； and other intimations of the
future； auspicious or gloomy； doubtful or not to be mistaken。 Never
surely did more terrible calamities of the Roman People； or evidence
more conclusive； prove that the Gods take no thought for our
happiness； but only for our punishment。
I think it proper； however； before I commence my purposed work； to
pass under review the condition of the capital； the temper of the
armies； the attitude of the provinces； and the elements of weakness
and strength which existed throughout the whole empire； that so we may
become acquainted； not only with the vicissitudes and the issues of
events； which are often matters of chance； but also with their
relations and their causes。 Welcome as the death of Nero had been in
the first burst of joy； yet it had not only roused various emotions in
Rome； among the Senators； the people； or the soldiery of the
capital； it had also excited all the legions and their generals； for
now had been divulged that secret of the empire； that emperors could
be made elsewhere than at Rome。 The Senators enjoyed the first
exercise of freedom with the less restraint； because the Emperor was
new to power； and absent from the capital。 The leading men of the
Equestrian order sympathised most closely with the joy of the
Senators。 The respectable portion of the people； which was connected
with the great families； as well as the dependants and freedmen of
condemned and banished persons； were high in hope。 The degraded
populace； frequenters of the arena and the theatre； the most worthless
of the slaves； and those who having wasted their property were
supported by the infamous excesses of Nero； caught eagerly in their
dejection at every rumour。
The soldiery of the capital； who were imbued with the spirit of an
old allegiance to the Caesars； and who had been led to desert Nero
by intrigues and influences from without rather than by their own
feelings； were inclined for change； when they found that the
donative promised in Galba's name was withheld； and reflected that for
great services and great rewards there was not the same room in
peace as in war； and that the favour of an emperor created by the
legions must be already preoccupied。 They were further excited by
the treason of Nymphidius Sabinus； their prefect； who himself aimed at
the throne。 Nymphidius indeed perished in the attempt； but； though the
head of the mutiny was thus removed； there yet remained in many of the
soldiers the consciousness of guilt。 There were even men who talked in
angry terms of the feebleness and avarice of Galba。 The strictness
once so commended； and celebrated in the praises of the army； was
galling to troops who rebelled against the old discipline； and who had
been accustomed by fourteen years' service under Nero to love the
vices of their emperors； as much as they had once respected their
virtues。 To all this was added Galba's own expression； 〃I choose my
soldiers； I do not buy them；〃 noble words for the commonwealth； but
fraught with peril for himself。 His other acts were not after this
pattern。
Titus Vinius and Cornelius Laco； one the most worthless； the other
the most spiritless of mankind； were ruining the weak old Emperor； who
had to bear the odium of such crimes and the scorn felt for such
cowardice。 Galba's progress had been slow and blood…stained。 Cingonius
Varro； consul elect； and Petronius Turpilianus； a man of consular
rank； were put to death； the former as an accomplice of Nymphidius；
the latter as one of Nero's generals。 Both had perished without
hearing or defence； like innocent men。 His entry into the capital；
made after the slaughter of thousands of unarmed soldiers； was most
ill…omened； and was terrible even to the executioners。 As he brought
into the city his Spanish legion； while that which Nero had levied
from the fleet still remained； Rome was full of strange troops。
There were also many detachments from Germany； Britain； and Illyria；
selected by Nero； and sent on by him to the Caspian passes； for
service in the expedition which he was preparing against the Albani；
but afterwards recalled to crush the insurrection of Vindex。 Here
there were vast materials for a revolution； without indeed a decided
bias towards any one man； but ready to a daring hand。
In this conjuncture it happened that tidings of the deaths of
Fonteius C