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own aims； were divided in the affair of choosing a successor； into two
opposing factions。 T。 Vinius was for Marcus Otho； Laco and Icelus
agreed； not indeed in supporting any particular individual； but in
striving for some one else。 Galba indeed was aware of the friendship
between Vinius and Otho； the gossip of those who allow nothing to pass
in silence had named them as father…in…law and son…in…law； for
Vinius had a widowed daughter； and Otho was unmarried。 I believe
that he had also at heart some care for the commonwealth； in vain；
he would think； rescued from Nero； if it was to be left with Otho。 For
Otho's had been a neglected boyhood and a riotous youth； and he had
made himself agreeable to Nero by emulating his profligacy。 For this
reason the Emperor had entrusted to him； as being the confidant of his
amours； Poppaea Sabina； the imperial favourite； until he could rid
himself of his wife Octavia。 Soon suspecting him with regard to this
same Poppaea； he sent him out of the way to the province of Lusitania；
ostensibly to be its governor。 Otho ruled the province with
mildness； and； as he was the first to join Galba's party； was not
without energy； and； while the war lasted； was the most conspicuous of
the Emperor's followers； he was led to cherish more and more
passionately every day those hopes of adoption which he had
entertained from the first。 Many of the soldiers favoured him； and the
court was biassed in his favour； because he resembled Nero。
When Galba heard of the mutiny in Germany； though nothing was as yet
known about Vitellius； he felt anxious as to the direction which the
violence of the legions might take； while he could not trust even
the soldiery of the capital。 He therefore resorted to what he supposed
to be the only remedy； and held a council for the election of an
emperor。 To this he summoned； besides Vinius and Laco； Marius
Celsus； consul elect； and Ducennius Geminus； prefect of the city。
Having first said a few words about his advanced years； he ordered
Piso Licinianus to be summoned。 It is uncertain whether he acted on
his own free choice； or； as believed by some； under the influence of
Laco； who through Rubellius Plautus had cultivated the friendship of
Piso。 But； cunningly enough； it was as a stranger that Laco
supported him； and the high character of Piso gave weight to his
advice。 Piso； who was the son of M。 Crassus and Scribonia； and thus of
noble descent on both sides； was in look and manner a man of the old
type。 Rightly judged； he seemed a stern man； morose to those who
estimated him less favourably。 This point in his character pleased his
adopted father in proportion as it raised the anxious suspicions of
others。
We are told that Galba； taking hold of Piso's hand； spoke to this
effect： 〃If I were a private man； and were now adopting you by the Act
of the Curiae before the Pontiffs； as our custom is； it would be a
high honour to me to introduce into my family a descendant of Cn。
Pompeius and M。 Crassus； it would be a distinction to you to add to
the nobility of your race the honours of the Sulpician and Lutatian
houses。 As it is； I； who have been called to the throne by the
unanimous consent of gods and men； am moved by your splendid
endowments and by my own patriotism to offer to you； a man of peace；
that power； for which our ancestors fought； and which I myself
obtained by war。 I am following the precedent of the Divine
Augustus； who placed on an eminence next to his own； first his
nephew Marcellus； then his son…in…law Agrippa； afterwards his
grandsons； and finally Tiberius Nero； his stepson。 But Augustus looked
for a successor in his own family； I look for one in the state； not
because I have no relatives or companions of my campaigns； but because
it was not by any private favour that I myself received the imperial
power。 Let the principle of my choice be shown not only by my
connections which I have set aside for you； but by your own。 You
have a brother； noble as yourself； and older； who would be well worthy
of this dignity； were you not worthier。 Your age is such as to be
now free from the passions of youth； and such your life that in the
past you have nothing to excuse。 Hitherto； you have only borne
adversity； prosperity tries the heart with keener temptations； for
hardships may be endured； whereas we are spoiled by success。 You
indeed will cling with the same constancy to honor； freedom；
friendship； the best possessions of the human spirit； but others
will seek to weaken them with their servility。 You will be fiercely
assailed by adulation； by flattery； that worst poison of the true
heart； and by the selfish interests of individuals。 You and I speak
together to…day with perfect frankness； but others will be more
ready to address us as emperors than as men。 For to urge his duty upon
a prince is indeed a hard matter； to flatter him； whatever his
character； is a mere routine gone through without any heart。
〃Could the vast frame of this empire have stood and preserved its
balance without a directing spirit； I was not unworthy of inaugurating
a republic。 As it is； we have been long reduced to a position； in
which my age confer no greater boon on the Roman people than a good
successor； your youth no greater than a good emperor。 Under
Tuberous； Chairs； and Claudius； we were； so to speak； the
inheritance of a single family。 The choice which begins with us will
be a substitute for freedom。 Now that the family of the Julii and
the Claudii has come to an end； adoption will discover the worthiest
successor。 To be begotten and born of a princely race is a mere
accident； and is only valued as such。 In adoption there is nothing
that need bias the judgment； and if you wish to make a choice； an
unanimous opinion points out the man。 Let Nero be ever before your
eyes； swollen with the pride of a long line of Caesars； it was not
Vindex with his unarmed province； it was not myself with my single
legion； that shook his yoke from our necks。 It was his own profligacy；
his own brutality； and that； though there had been before no precedent
of an emperor condemned by his own people。 We； who have been called to
power by the issues of war； and by the deliberate judgment of
others； shall incur unpopularity； however illustrious our character。
Do not however be alarmed； if； after a movement which has shaken the
world； two legions are not yet quiet。 I did not myself succeed to a
throne without anxiety； and when men shall hear of your adoption I
shall no longer be thought old； and this is the only objection which
is now made against me。 Nero will always be regretted by the
thoroughly depraved； it is for you and me to take care； that he be not
regretted also by the good。 To prolong such advice； suits not this
occasion； and all my purpose is fulfilled if I have made a good choice
in you。 The most practical and the shortest method of distinguishing
between good and bad measures； is to think what you yourself would
or would not like under another emperor。 It is not here； as it is
among nations despotically ruled； that there is a distinct governing
family； while all the rest are slaves。 You have to reign over men
who cannot bear either absolute slavery or absolute freedom。〃 This；
with more to the same effect； was said by Galba； he spoke to Piso as
if he were creating an emperor； the others addressed him as if he were
an emperor already。
It is said of Piso that he betrayed no discomposure or excessive
joy； either to the gaze to which he was immediately subjected； or
afterwards when all eyes were turned upon him。 His language to the
Emperor； his father； was reverential； his language about himself was
modest。 He shewed no change in look or manner； he seemed like one
who had the power rather than the wish to rule。 It was next
discussed whether the adoption should be publicly pronounced in
front of the Rostra； in the Senate； or in the camp。 It was thought
best to go to the camp。 This would be a compliment to the soldiery；
and their favour； base as it was to purchase it by bribery or
intrigue； was not to be despised if it could be obtained by honourable
means。 Meanwhile the expectant people had surrounded the palace；
impatient to learn the great secret； and those who sought to stifle
the ill…concealed rumour did but spread it the more。
The 10th of January was a gloomy； stormy day； unusually disturbed by
thunder； lightning； and all bad omens from heaven。 Though this had
from ancient time been made a reason for dissolving an assembly； it
did not deter Galba from proceeding to the camp； either because he
despised such things as being mere matters of chance； or because the
decrees of fate； thoug