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him； he tried the edge of each； and then put one under his head。 After
satisfying himself that his friends had set out； he passed a
tranquil night； and it is even said that he slept。 At dawn he fell
with his breast upon the steel。 Hearing a groan from the dying man；
his freedmen and slaves； and Plotius Firmus； prefect of the Praetorian
Guard； came in。 They found but one wound。 His funeral was hastily
performed。 He had made this the subject of earnest entreaties； anxious
that his head might not be cut off and subjected to indignities。 The
Praetorian cohorts carried his body with praises and tears； covering
his wound and his hands with kisses。 Some of the soldiers killed
themselves near the funeral pile； not moved by remorse or by fear； but
by the desire to emulate his glory； and by love of their Prince。
Afterwards this kind of death became a common practice among all ranks
at Bedriacum； at Placentia； and in the other camps。 Over Otho was
built a tomb unpretending and therefore likely to stand。
Thus Otho ended his life in the 37th year of his age。 He came from
the municipal town of Ferentinum。 His father was of consular； his
grandfather of praetorian rank。 His family on the mother's side was of
less distinction； but yet respectable。 What his boyhood and his
youth had been； we have already shewn。 By two daring acts； one most
atrocious； the other singularly noble； he earned in the eyes of
posterity about an equal share of infamy and of glory。 I should
think it unbecoming the dignity of the task which I have undertaken；
to collect fabulous marvels； and to amuse with fiction the tastes of
my readers； at the same time I would not venture to impugn the
credit of common report and tradition。 The natives of these parts
relate that on the day when the battle was being fought at
Bedriacum； a bird of unfamiliar appearance settled in a much
frequented grove near Regium Lepidum； and was not frightened or driven
away by the concourse of people； or by the multitude of birds that
flocked round it； until Otho killed himself； then it vanished。 When
they came to compute the time； it was found that the commencement
and the end of this strange occurrence tallied with the last scenes of
Otho's life。
At the funeral the mutinous spirit of the soldiers was kindled
afresh by their sorrow and regret； and there was no one to check them。
They turned to Verginius； and in threatening language； at one time
besought him to accept the Imperial dignity； at another； to act as
envoy to Caecina and Valens。 Verginius secretly departed by a back way
from his house； and thus managed to elude them when they burst in。
Rubrius Gallus was charged with the petition of the cohorts which
had been quartered at Brixellum。 An amnesty was immediately granted to
them； while at the same time the forces which had been commanded by
Flavius Sabinus signified through him their submission to the
conqueror。
Hostilities had ceased everywhere； but a considerable number of
the Senate； who had accompanied Otho from Rome； and had been
afterwards left at Mutina； encountered the utmost peril。 News of the
defeat was brought to this place。 The soldiers； however； rejected it
as a false report； and judging the Senate to be hostile to Otho；
watched their language； and put an unfavourable construction on
their looks and manner。 Proceeding at last to abuse and insults；
they sought a pretext for beginning a massacre； while a different
anxiety also weighed upon the Senators； who； knowing that the party of
Vitellius was in the ascendant； feared that they might seem to have
been tardy in welcoming the conqueror。 Thus they met in great alarm
and distracted by a twofold apprehension； no one was ready with any
advice of his own； but looked for safety in sharing any mistake with
many others。 The anxieties of the terrified assembly were aggravated
when the Senate of Mutina made them an offer of arms and money； and；
with an ill…timed compliment； styled them 〃Conscript Fathers。〃
There then ensued a notable quarrel； Licinius Caecina inveighing
against Marcellus Eprius； for using ambiguous language。 The rest
indeed did not express their opinions； but the name of Marcellus；
exposed as it was to odium from the hateful recollection of his career
as an informer； had roused in Caecina； who was an unknown man； and had
lately been made a Senator； the hope of distinguishing himself by
making great enemies。 The moderation of wiser men put an end to the
dispute。 They all returned to Bononia； intending there to deliberate
again； and also expecting further news in the meantime。 At Bononia
they posted men on the different roads to make enquiries of every
newcomer； one of Otho's freedmen； on being questioned as to the
cause of his departure； replied that he was entrusted with his
master's last commands； Otho was still alive； he said； when he left
him； but his only thoughts were for posterity； and he had torn himself
from all the fascinations of life。 They were struck with admiration；
and were ashamed to put any more questions； and then the hearts of all
turned to Vitellius。
Lucius Vitellius； the brother of the Emperor； was present at their
deliberations； and was preparing to receive their flatteries； when
of a sudden Coenus； a freedman of Nero； threw them all into
consternation by an outrageous falsehood。 He asserted that； by the
arrival of the 14th legion； joined to the forces from Brixellum； the
victorious army had been routed and the fortunes of the party changed。
The object of this fabrication was that the passports of Otho； which
were beginning to be disregarded； might through more favourable news
recover their validity。 Coenus was conveyed with rapidity to the
capital； but a few days after suffered the penalty of his crime by the
order of Vitellius。 The peril of the Senators was increased by the
soldiers of Otho's army believing that the intelligence thus brought
was authentic。 Their alarm was heightened by the fact that their
departure from Mutina and their desertion of the party had the
appearance of a public resolution。 They did not meet again for general
deliberation； but every man consulted his own safety； till letters
arrived from Fabius Valens which removed their fear。 Besides； the very
glory of Otho's death made the news travel more quickly。
At Rome； however； there was no alarm； the games of Ceres were
attended as usual。 When trustworthy messengers brought into the
theatre the news that Otho was dead； and that all the troops in the
capital had taken the oath to Vitellius under the direction of Flavius
Sabinus； prefect of the city； the spectators greeted the name of
Vitellius with applause。 The people carried round the temples images
of Galba； ornamented with laurel leaves and flowers； and piled
chaplets in the form of a sepulchral mound near the lake of Curtius；
on the very spot which had been stained with the blood of the dying
man。 In the Senate all the customary honours； which had been devised
during the long reigns of other Emperors； were forthwith decreed。
Public acknowledgments and thanks were also given to the armies of
Germany； and envoys were sent charged with congratulations。 There
was read a letter from Fabius Valens to the consuls； which was written
in a not unbecoming style； but they liked better the modesty of
Caecina in not writing at all。
Italy； however； was prostrated under sufferings heavier and more
terrible than the evils of war。 The soldiers of Vitellius； dispersed
through the municipal towns and colonies； were robbing and
plundering and polluting every place with violence and lust。
Everything； lawful or unlawful； they were ready to seize or to sell；
sparing nothing； sacred or profane。 Some persons under the soldiers'
garb murdered their private enemies。 The soldiers themselves； who knew
the country well； marked out rich estates and wealthy owners for
plunder； or for death in case of resistance； their commanders were
in their power and dared not check them。 Caecina indeed was not so
rapacious as he was fond of popularity； Valens was so notorious for
his dishonest gains and peculations that he was disposed to conceal
the crimes of others。 The resources of Italy had long been impaired；
and the presence of so vast a force of infantry and cavalry； with
the outrages； the losses； and the wrongs they inflicted； was more than
it could well endure。
Meanwhile Vitellius； as yet unaware of his victory； was bringing
up the remaining strength of the army of Germany just as if the
campaign had yet to be fought。 A few of the old soldiers were left
in the winter quarters； and the conscription throughout Gaul was
hastily proceeded with； in order that the mu