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In this conjuncture it happened that tidings of the deaths of
Fonteius Capito and Clodius Macer reached the capital。 Macer was
executed in Africa； where he was undoubtedly fomenting sedition； by
Trebonius Garutianus the procurator； who acted on Galba's authority；
Capito fell in Germany； while he was making similar attempts； by the
hands of Cornelius Aquinus and Fabius Valens； legates of legions；
who did not wait for an order。 There were however some who believed
that Capito； though foully stained with avarice and profligacy； had
yet abstained from all thought of revolution； that this was a
treacherous accusation invented by the commanders themselves； who
had urged him to take up arms； when they found themselves unable to
prevail； and that Galba had approved of the deed； either from weakness
of character； or to avoid investigation into the circumstances of acts
which could not be altered。 Both executions； however； were
unfavourably regarded； indeed； when a ruler once becomes unpopular；
all his acts； be they good or bad； tell against him。 The freedmen in
their excessive power were now putting up everything for sale； the
slaves caught with greedy hands at immediate gain； and； reflecting
on their master's age； hastened to be rich。 The new court had the same
abuses as the old； abuses as grievous as ever； but not so readily
excused。 Even the age of Galba caused ridicule and disgust among those
whose associations were with the youth of Nero； and who were
accustomed； as is the fashion of the vulgar； to value their emperors
by the beauty and grace of their persons。
Such； as far as one can speak of so vast a multitude； was the
state of feeling at Rome。 Among the provinces； Spain was under the
government of Cluvius Rufus； an eloquent man； who had all the
accomplishments of civil life； but who was without experience in
war。 Gaul； besides remembering Vindex； was bound to Galba by the
recently conceded privileges of citizenship； and by the diminution
of its future tribute。 Those Gallic states； however； which were
nearest to the armies of Germany； had not been treated with the same
respect； and had even in some cases been deprived of their
territory； and these were reckoning the gains of others and their
own losses with equal indignation。 The armies of Germany were at
once alarmed and angry； a most dangerous temper when allied with
such strength； while elated by their recent victory； they feared
because they might seem to have supported an unsuccessful party。
They had been slow to revolt from Nero； and Verginius had not
immediately declared for Galba； it was doubtful whether he had himself
wished to be emperor； but all agreed that the empire had been
offered to him by the soldiery。 Again； the execution of Capito was a
subject of indignation； even with those who could not complain of
its injustice。 They had no leader； for Verginius had been withdrawn on
the pretext of his friendship with the Emperor。 That he was not sent
back； and that he was even impeached； they regarded as an accusation
against themselves。
The army of Upper Germany despised their legate； Hordeonius Flaccus；
who； disabled by age and lameness； had no strength of character and no
authority； even when the soldiery were quiet； he could not control
them； much more in their fits of frenzy were they irritated by the
very feebleness of his restraint。 The legions of Lower Germany had
long been without any general of consular rank； until； by the
appointment of Galba； Aulus Vitellius took the command。 He was son
of that Vitellius who was censor and three times consul； this was
thought sufficient recommendation。 In the army of Britain there was no
angry feeling； indeed no troops behaved more blamelessly throughout
all the troubles of these civil wars； either because they were far
away and separated by the ocean from the rest of the empire； or
because continual warfare had taught them to concentrate their
hatred on the enemy。 Illyricum too was quiet； though the legions drawn
from that province by Nero had； while lingering in Italy； sent
deputations to Verginius。 But separated as these armies were by long
distances； a thing of all others the most favourable for keeping
troops to their duty； they could neither communicate their vices；
nor combine their strength。
In the East there was as yet no movement。 Syria and its four legions
were under the command of Licinius Mucianus； a man whose good and
bad fortune were equally famous。 In his youth he had cultivated with
many intrigues the friendship of the great。 His resources soon failed；
and his position became precarious； and as he also suspected that
Claudius had taken some offence； he withdrew into a retired part of
Asia； and was as like an exile； as he was afterwards like an
emperor。 He was a compound of dissipation and energy； of arrogance and
courtesy； of good and bad qualities。 His self…indulgence was
excessive； when he had leisure； yet whenever he had served； he had
shown great qualities。 In his public capacity he might be praised； his
private life was in bad repute。 Yet over subjects； friends； and
colleagues； he exercised the influence of many fascinations。 He was
a man who would find it easier to transfer the imperial power to
another； than to hold it for himself。 Flavius Vespasian； a general
of Nero's appointment； was carrying on the war in Judaea with three
legions； and he had no wish or feeling adverse to Galba。 He had in
fact sent his son Titus to acknowledge his authority and bespeak his
favour； as in its proper place I shall relate。 As for the hidden
decrees of fate； the omens and the oracles that marked out Vespasian
and his sons for imperial power； we believed in them only after his
success。
Ever since the time of the Divine Augustus Roman Knights have
ruled Egypt as kings； and the forces by which it has to be kept in
subjection。 It has been thought expedient thus to keep under home
control a province so difficult of access； so productive of corn； ever
distracted； excitable； and restless through the superstition and
licentiousness of its inhabitants； knowing nothing of laws； and unused
to civil rule。 Its governor was at this time Tiberius Alexander； a
native of the country。 Africa and its legions； now that Clodius
Macer was dead； were disposed to be content with any emperor； after
having experienced the rule of a smaller tyrant。 The two divisions
of Mauritania； Rhaetia； Noricum and Thrace and the other provinces
governed by procurators； as they were near this or that army； were
driven by the presence of such powerful neighbours into friendship
or hostility。 The unarmed provinces with Italy at their head were
exposed to any kind of slavery； and were ready to become the prize
of victory。 Such was the state of the Roman world； when Servius Galba；
consul for the second time； with T。 Vinius for his colleague；
entered upon a year； which was to be the last of their lives； and
which well nigh brought the commonwealth to an end。
A few days after the 1st of January； there arrived from Belgica
despatches of Pompeius Propinquus； the Procurator； to this effect；
that the legions of Upper Germany had broken through the obligation of
their military oath； and were demanding another emperor； but
conceded the power of choice to the Senate and people of Rome； in
the hope that a more lenient view might be taken of their revolt。
These tidings hastened the plans of Galba； who had been long
debating the subject of adoption with himself and with his intimate
friends。 There was indeed no more frequent subject of conversation
during these months； at first because men had liberty and
inclination to talk of such matters； afterwards because the feebleness
of Galba was notorious。 Few had any discrimination or patriotism； many
had foolish hopes for themselves； and spread interested reports； in
which they named this or that person to whom they might be related
as friend or dependant。 They were also moved by hatred of T。 Vinius；
who grew daily more powerful； and in the same proportion more
unpopular。 The very easiness of Galba's temper stimulated the greedy
cupidity which great advancement had excited in his friends； because
with one so weak and so credulous wrong might be done with less risk
and greater gain。
The real power of the Empire was divided between T。 Vinius； the
consul； and Cornelius Laco； prefect of the Praetorian Guard。 Icelus； a
freedman of Galba； was in equal favour； he had been presented with the
rings of knighthood； and bore the Equestrian name of Martianus。
These men； being at variance； and in smaller matters pursuing their
own aims； were divided in the affair of choosing a successor； into t