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provinces； not without a military population； and well furnished
with money。 There were all the islands of the Mediterranean。 And there
was the sea itself； which during the interval of preparation for war
would be both a convenience and a protection。
The ardour of the troops was not unknown to their generals； but it
was judged advisable to wait for the issue of the struggle which
others were carrying on。 The conquerors and the conquered； it was
said； never unite with a genuine good faith。 It matters not whether
fortune make Otho or Vitellius to be the victor。 Even great generals
grow insolent in prosperity； these men are quarrelsome； indolent；
and profligate； and their own faults will make war fatal to the one；
and success to the other。 They therefore postponed the war until a
more fitting opportunity； and though Vespasian and Mucianus had but
lately resolved on concerted action； the others had done so long
before。 The worthiest among them were moved by patriotism； many were
wrought upon by the attractions of plunder； some by their private
embarrassments。 And so； good and bad； from different motives； but with
equal zeal； were all eager for war。
About this time Achaia and Asia Minor were terrified by a false
report that Nero was at hand。 Various rumours were current about his
death； and so there were many who pretended and believed that he was
still alive。 The adventures and enterprises of the other pretenders
I shall relate in the regular course of my work。 The pretender in this
case was a slave from Pontus； or； according to some accounts； a
freedman from Italy； a skilful harp…player and singer；
accomplishments； which； added to a resemblance in the face； gave a
very deceptive plausibility to his pretensions。 After attaching to
himself some deserters； needy vagrants whom he bribed with great
offers； he put to sea。 Driven by stress of weather to the island of
Cythnus； he induced certain soldiers； who were on their way from the
East； to join him； and ordered others； who refused； to be executed。 He
also robbed the traders and armed all the most able bodied of the
slaves。 The centurion Sisenna； who was the bearer of the clasped right
hands； the usual emblems of friendship； from the armies of Syria to
the Praetorians； was assailed by him with various artifices； till he
left the island secretly； and； fearing actual violence； made his
escape with all haste。 Thence the alarm spread far and wide； and
many roused themselves at the well…known name； eager for change； and
detesting the present state of things。 The report was daily gaining
credit when an accident put an end to it。
Galba had entrusted the government of Galatia and Pamphylia to
Calpurnius Asprenas。 Two triremes from the fleet of Misenum were given
him to pursue the adventurer： with these he reached the island of
Cythnus。 Persons were found to summon the captains in the name of
Nero。 The pretender himself； assuming a studied appearance of
sorrow； and appealing to their fidelity as old soldiers of his own；
besought them to land him in Egypt or Syria。 The captains； perhaps
wavering； perhaps intending to deceive； declared that they must
address their soldiers； and that they would return when the minds of
all had been prepared。 Everything； however； was faithfully reported to
Asprenas； and at his bidding the ship was boarded and taken； and the
man； whoever he was； killed。 The body； in which the eyes； the hair；
and the savage countenance； were remarkable features； was conveyed
to Asia； and thence to Rome。
In a state that was distracted by strife； and that from frequent
changes in its rulers trembled on the verge between liberty and
licence； even little matters were attended with great excitement。
Vibius Crispus； whose wealth； power； and ability； made him rank
among men of distinction； rather than among men of worth； demanded
that Annius Faustus； of the Equestrian order； who in the days of
Nero had practised the trade of the informer； should be brought to
trial before the Senate。 The Senators indeed had recently； during
the reign of Galba； passed a resolution； that cognizance should be
taken of the cases of the informers。 This decree was variously carried
out； and； while retained as law； was powerless or effectual； according
as the person； who happened to be accused； was influential or
helpless。 Besides the terror of the law； Crispus had exerted his own
power to the utmost to destroy the man who had informed against his
brother。 He had prevailed upon a great part of the Senate to demand
that he should be consigned to destruction； undefended and unheard。
But； on the other hand； there were some with whom nothing helped the
accused person so much as the excessive power of the accuser。 They
gave it as their opinion； that time ought to be allowed； that the
charges ought to be specified； that； odious and guilty as the man
might be； he yet ought to be heard； as precedent required。 At first
they carried their point； and the trial was postponed for a few
days； but before long Faustus was condemned； but by no means with that
unanimity on the part of the people which his detestable character had
deserved。 Men remembered that Crispus had followed the same profession
with profit； nor was it the penalty but the prosecutor that they
disliked。
Meanwhile the campaign had opened favourably for Otho； at whose
bidding the armies of Dalmatia and Pannonia had begun to move。 These
comprised four legions； from each of which two thousand troops were
sent on in advance。 The 7th had been raised by Galba； the 11th；
13th； and 14th were veteran soldiers； the 14th having particularly
distinguished itself by quelling the revolt in Britain。 Nero had added
to their reputation by selecting them as his most effective troops。
This had made them long faithful to Nero； and kindled their zeal for
Otho。 But their self…confidence induced a tardiness of movement
proportionate to their strength and solidity。 The auxiliary infantry
and cavalry moved in advance of the main body of the legions。 The
capital itself contributed no contemptible force； namely five
Praetorian cohorts； some troops of cavalry； and the first legion；
and together with these； 2000 gladiators； a disreputable kind of
auxiliaries； but employed throughout the civil wars even by strict
disciplinarians。 Annius Gallus was put at the head of this force；
and was sent on with Vestricius Spurinna to occupy the banks of the
Padus； the original plan of the campaign having fallen to the
ground； now that Caecina； who they had hoped might have been kept
within the limits of Gaul； had crossed the Alps。 Otho himself was
accompanied by some picked men of the body…guard； with whom were the
rest of the Praetorian cohorts； the veteran troops from the Praetorian
camp； and a vast number of the levies raised from the fleet。 No
indolence or riot disgraced his march。 He wore a cuirass of iron；
and was to be seen in front of the standards； on foot； rough and
negligent in dress； and utterly unlike what common report had pictured
him。
Fortune seemed to smile on his efforts。 Through his fleets； which
commanded the sea； he held the greater part of Italy； even as far as
where the chain of the Maritime Alps begins。 The task of attempting
the passage of this chain； and of advancing into the Provincia
Narbonensis； he had entrusted to three generals； Suedius Clemens；
Antonius Novellus； and Aemilius Pacensis。 Pacensis； however； was put
in irons by his insubordinate troops； Antonius possessed no kind of
authority； and Clemens commanded only for popularity； and was as
reckless in transgressing the good order of military discipline as
he was eager to fight。 One would not have thought that it was Italy；
the fields； and the habitations of their native country； that they
were passing through。 They burnt； spoiled； and plundered； as if they
were among the lands of the foreigner and the cities of a hostile
people； and all with the more frightful effect as nowhere had there
been made any provision against the danger。 The fields were full of
rural wealth； the houses stood with open doors； and the owners； as
with their wives and children they came forth to meet the army；
found themselves surrounded； in the midst of the security of peace；
with all the horrors of war。 Marius Maturus was then governing as
procurator the province of the Maritime Alps。 Raising the
population； in which is no lack of able…bodied men； he resolved to
drive back the Othonianists from the borders of his province； but
the mountaineers were cut down and broken by the first charge； as
might be expected of men who had been hastily collected； who were
not familiar with camps or with regula