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mounted on their horses； made for the city and the palace。
Otho was giving a crowded entertainment to the most distinguished
men and women of Rome。 In their alarm they doubted whether this was
a casual outbreak of the soldiers； or an act of treachery in the
Emperor； and whether to remain and be arrested was a more perilous
alternative than to disperse and fly。 At one time making a show of
courage； at another betrayed by their terror； they still watched the
countenance of Otho。 And； as it happened； so ready were all to
suspect； Otho felt as much alarm as he inspired。 Terrified no less
by the Senate's critical position than by his own； he had forthwith
despatched the prefects of the Praetorian Guard to allay the fury of
the soldiery； and he now ordered all to leave the banquet without
delay。 Then on all sides officers of state cast aside the insignia
of office； and shunned the retinues of their friends and domestics；
aged men and women wandered in the darkness of night about the various
streets of the city； few went to their homes； most sought the houses
of friends； or some obscure hiding…place in the dwelling of their
humblest dependents。
The rush of the soldiers was not even checked by the doors of the
palace。 They burst in upon the banquet with loud demands that Otho
should shew himself。 They wounded the tribune； Julius Martialis； and
the prefect； Vitellius Saturninus； who sought to stem the torrent。
On every they brandished their swords； and menaced the centurions
and tribunes at one moment； the whole Senate at another。 Their minds
were maddened by a blind panic； and； unable to single out any one
object for their fury； they sought for indiscriminate vengeance。 At
last Otho； regardless of his imperial dignity； stood up on a couch；
and by dint of prayers and tears contrived to restrain them。 Reluctant
and guilty； they returned to the camp。 The next day the houses were
closed as they might be in a captured city。 Few of the citizens
could be seen in the streets； the populace were dejected； the soldiers
walked with downcast looks； and seemed gloomy rather than penitent。
Licinius Proculus and Plotius Firmus； the prefects； addressed the
companies in the gentler or harsher terms that suited their respective
characters。 The end of these harangues was that 5000 sesterces were
paid to each soldier。 Then did Otho venture to enter the camp； the
tribunes and centurions surrounded him。 They had thrown aside the
insignia of their rank； and they demanded release from the toils and
perils of service。 The soldiers felt the reproach； returning to
their duty； they even demanded the execution of the ringleaders in the
riot。
Otho was aware how disturbed was the country； and how conflicting
the feelings of the soldiery； the most respectable of whom cried out
for some remedy for the existing licence； while the great mass
delighted in riot and in an empire resting on popularity； and could be
most easily urged to civil war by indulgence in tumult and rapine。
At the same time he reflected that power acquired by crime could not
be retained by a sudden assumption of the moderation and of the
dignity of former times； yet he was alarmed by the critical position
of the capital and by the perils of the Senate。 Finally； he
addressed the troops in these terms： 〃Comrades； I am not come that I
may move your hearts to love me； or that I may rouse your courage；
love and courage you have in superfluous abundance。 I am come to
pray you to put some restraint on your valour； some check on your
affection for me。 The origin of the late tumult is to be traced not to
rapacity or disaffection； feelings which have driven many armies
into civil strife； much less to any shrinking from； or fear of danger。
It was your excessive affection for me that roused you to act with
more zeal than discretion。 For even honourable motives of action；
unless directed by judgment； are followed by disastrous results。 We
are now starting for a campaign。 Does the nature of things； does the
rapid flight of opportunities； admit of all intelligence being
publicly announced； of every plan being discussed in the presence of
all？ It is as needful that the soldiers should be ignorant of some
things as that they should know others。 The general's authority； the
stern laws of discipline； require that in many matters even the
centurions and tribunes shall only receive orders。 If； whenever orders
are given； individuals may ask questions； obedience ceases； and all
command is at an end。 Will you in the field too snatch up your arms in
the dead of night？ Shall one or two worthless and drunken fellows； for
I cannot believe that more were carried away by the frenzy of the late
outbreak； imbrue their hands in the blood of centurions and
tribunes； and burst into the tent of their Emperor？
〃You indeed did this to serve me； but in the tumult； the darkness；
and the general confusion； an opportunity may well occur that may be
used against me。 If Vitellius and his satellites were allowed to
choose； what would be the temper and what the thoughts with which they
would curse us？ What would they wish for us but mutiny and strife；
that the private should not obey the centurion； nor the centurion
the tribune； that thus we should rush； horse and foot together； on our
own destruction？ Comrades； it is by obeying； not by questioning the
orders of commanders； that military power is kept together。 And that
army is the most courageous in the moment of peril； which is the
most orderly before the peril comes。 Keep you your arms and your
courage； leave it to me to plan； and to guide your valour。 A few
were in fault； two will be punished。 Let all the rest blot out the
remembrance of that night of infamy。 Never let any army hear those
cries against the Senate。 To clamour for the destruction of what is
the head of the Empire； and contains all that is distinguished in
the provinces； good God！ it is a thing which not even those Germans；
whom Vitellius at this very moment is rousing against us； would dare
to do。 Shall any sons of Italy； the true youth of Rome； cry out for
the massacre of an order； by whose splendid distinctions we throw into
the shade the mean and obscure faction of Vitellius？ Vitellius is
the master of a few tribes； and has some semblance of an army。 We have
the Senate。 The country is with us； with them； the country's
enemies。 What！ do you imagine that this fairest of cities is made up
of dwellings and edifices and piles of stones？ These dumb and
inanimate things may be indifferently destroyed and rebuilt。 The
eternal duration of empire； the peace of nations； my safety and yours；
rest on the security of the Senate。 This order which was instituted
under due auspices by the Father and Founder of the city； and which
has lasted without interruption and without decay from the Kings
down to the Emperors； we will bequeath to our descendants； as we
have inherited it from our ancestors。 For you give the state its
Senators； and the Senate gives it its Princes。〃
This speech； which was meant to touch and to calm the feelings of
the soldiers； and the moderate amount of severity exercised （for
Otho had ordered two and no more to be punished）； met with a
grateful acceptance； and for the moment reduced to order men who could
not be coerced。 Yet tranquillity was not restored to the capital；
there was still the din of arms and all the sights of war； and the
soldiers； though they made no concerted disturbance； had dispersed
themselves in disguise about private houses； and exercised a malignant
surveillance over all whom exalted rank； or distinction of any kind；
exposed to injurious reports。 Many too believed that some of the
soldiers of Vitellius had come to the capital to learn the feelings of
the different parties。 Hence everything was rife with suspicion； and
even the privacy of the family was hardly exempt from fear。 It was
however in public that most alarm was felt； with every piece of
intelligence that rumour brought； men changed their looks and spirits；
anxious not to appear discouraged by unfavourable omens； or too little
delighted by success。 When the Senate was summoned to the Chamber；
it was hard for them to maintain in all things a safe moderation。
Silence might seem contumacious； and frankness might provoke
suspicion； and Otho； who had lately been a subject； and had used the
same language； was familiar with flattery。 Accordingly； they discussed
various motions on which they had put many constructions。 Vitellius
they called a public enemy and a traitor to his country； the more
prudent contenting themselves with hackneyed terms of abuse； though
some threw out reproaches founded in truth； yet o