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even in their hiding places。 Thousands were put to the sword；
thousands more were sold into slavery。 Every place having been
completely destroyed； the army was marching in regular order on
Aventicum； the capital town； when a deputation was sent to surrender
the city。 This surrender was accepted。 Julius Alpinus； one of the
principal men； was executed by Caecina； as having been the promoter of
the war。 All the rest he left to the mercy or severity of Vitellius。
It is hard to say whether the envoys from Helvetia found the Emperor
or his army less merciful。 〃Exterminate the race；〃 was the cry of
the soldiers as they brandished their weapons； or shook their fists in
the faces of the envoys。 Even Vitellius himself did not refrain from
threatening words and gestures； till at length Claudius Cossus； one of
the Helvetian envoys； a man of well…known eloquence； but who then
concealed the art of the orator under an assumption of alarm； and
was therefore more effective； soothed the rage of the soldiers； who；
like all multitudes； were liable to sudden impulses； and were now as
inclined to pity as they had been extravagant in fury。 Bursting into
tears and praying with increasing earnestness for a milder sentence；
they procured pardon and protection for the state。
Caecina while halting for a few days in the Helvetian territory；
till he could learn the decision of Vitellius； and at the same time
making preparations for the passage of the Alps； received from Italy
the good news； that Silius' Horse； which was quartered in the
neighbourhood of Padus； had sworn allegiance to Vitellius。 They had
served under him when he was Proconsul in Africa； from which place
Nero had soon afterwards brought them； intending to send them on
before himself into Egypt； but had recalled them in consequence of the
rebellion of Vindex。 They were still in Italy； and now； at the
instigation of their decurions； who knew nothing of Otho； but were
bound to Vitellius； and who magnified the strength of the advancing
legions and the fame of the German army； they joined the
Vitellianists； and by way of a present to their new Prince they
secured for him the strongest towns of the country north of the Padus；
Mediolanum； Novaria； Eporedia； and Vercellae。 This Caecina had
learnt from themselves。 Aware that the widest part of Italy could
not be held by such a force as a single squadron of cavalry； he sent
on in advance the auxiliary infantry from Gaul； Lusitania； and
Rhaetia； with the veteran troops from Germany； and Petra's Horse；
while he made a brief halt to consider whether he should pass over the
Rhaetian range into Noricum； to attack Petronius； the procurator；
who had collected some auxiliaries； and broken down the bridges over
the rivers； and was thought to be faithful to Otho。 Fearing however
that he might lose the infantry and cavalry which he had sent on in
advance； and at the same time reflecting that more honour was to be
gained by holding possession of Italy； and that； wherever the decisive
conflict might take place； Noricum would be included among the other
prizes of victory； he marched the reserves and the heavy infantry
through the Penine passes while the Alps were still covered with the
snows of winter。
Meanwhile Otho； to the surprise of all； was not sinking down into
luxury and sloth。 He deferred his pleasures； concealed his profligacy；
and moulded his whole life to suit the dignity of empire。 Men
dreaded all the more virtues so false； and vices so certain to return。
Marius Celsus； consul elect； whom he had rescued from the fury of
the soldiers by pretending to imprison him； he now ordered to be
summoned to the Capitol。 He sought to acquire a reputation for
clemency by sparing a distinguished man opposed to his own party。
Celsus pleaded guilty to the charge of faithful adherence to Galba；
and even made a merit of such an example of fidelity。 Otho did not
treat him as a man to be pardoned； and； unwilling to blend with the
grace of reconciliation the memory of past hostility； at once admitted
him to his intimate friendship； and soon afterwards appointed him to
be one of his generals。 By some fatality； as it seemed； Celsus
maintained also to Otho a fidelity as irreproachable as it was
unfortunate。 The escape of Celsus gratified the leading men in the
State； was generally praised by the people； and did not displease even
the soldiers； who could not but admire the virtue which provoked their
anger。
Then followed as great a burst of joy； though from a less worthy
cause； when the destruction of Tigellinus was achieved。 Sophonius
Tigellinus； a man of obscure birth； steeped in infamy from his
boyhood； and shamelessly profligate in his old age； finding vice to be
his quickest road to such offices as the command of the watch and of
the Praetorian Guard； and to other distinctions due to merit； went
on to practise cruelty； rapacity； and all the crimes of maturer years。
He perverted Nero to every kind of atrocity； he even ventured on
some acts without the Emperor's knowledge； and ended by deserting
and betraying him。 Hence there was no criminal； whose doom was from
opposite motives more importunately demanded； as well by those who
hated Nero； as by those who regretted him。 During the reign of Galba
Tigellinus had been screened by the influence of Vinius； who alleged
that he had saved his daughter。 And doubtless he had preserved her
life； not indeed out of mercy； when he had murdered so many； but to
secure for himself a refuge for the future。 For all the greatest
villains； distrusting the present； and dreading change； look for
private friendship to shelter them from public detestation； caring not
to be free from guilt； but only to ensure their turn in impunity。 This
enraged the people more than ever； the recent unpopularity of Vinius
being superadded to their old hatred against Tigellinus。 They rushed
from every part of the city into the palace and forum； and bursting
into the circus and theatre； where the mob enjoy a special license；
broke out into seditious clamours。 At length Tigellinus； having
received at the springs of Sinuessa a message that his last hour was
come； amid the embraces and caresses of his mistresses and other
unseemly delays； cut his throat with a razor； and aggravated the
disgrace of an infamous life by a tardy and ignominious death。
About the same time a demand was made for the execution of Galvia
Crispinilla。 Various artifices on the part of the Emperor； who
incurred much obloquy by his duplicity； rescued her from the danger。
She had instructed Nero in profligacy； had passed over into Africa；
that she might urge Macer into rebellion； and had openly attempted
to bring a famine upon Rome。 Yet she afterwards gained universal
popularity on the strength of her alliance with a man of consular
rank； and lived unharmed through the reigns of Galba； Otho； and
Vitellius。 Soon she became powerful as a rich and childless woman；
circumstances which have as great weight in good as in evil times。
Meanwhile frequent letters； disfigured by unmanly flatteries； were
addressed by Otho to Vitellius； with offers of wealth and favour and
any retreat he might select for a life of prodigal indulgence。
Vitellius made similar overtures。 Their tone was at first pacific； and
both exhibited a foolish and undignified hypocrisy。 Then they seemed
to quarrel； charging each other with debaucheries and the grossest
crimes； and both spoke truth。 Otho； having recalled the envoys whom
Galba had sent； dispatched others； nominally from the Senate； to
both the armies of Germany； to the Italian legion； and to the troops
quartered at Lugdunum。 The envoys remained with Vitellius too
readily to let it be supposed that they were detained。 Some
Praetorians； whom Otho had attached to the embassy； ostensibly as a
mark of distinction； were sent back before they could mix with the
legions。 Letters were also addressed by Fabius Valens in the name of
the German army to the Praetorian and city cohorts； extolling the
strength of his party； and offering terms of peace。 Valens even
reproached them with having transferred the Imperial power to Otho；
though it had so long before been entrusted to Vitellius。
Thus they were assailed by promises as well as by threats； were told
that they were not strong enough for war； but would lose nothing by
peace。 Yet all this did not shake the loyalty of the Praetorians。
Nevertheless secret emissaries were dispatched by Otho to Germany； and
by Vitellius to Rome。 Both failed in their object。 Those of
Vitellius escaped without injury； unnoticed in the vast multitude；
knowing none； and themselves unknown。 Those of Otho were betrayed by
t