按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
despised such things as being mere matters of chance； or because the
decrees of fate； though they be foreshewn； are not escaped。 Addressing
a crowded assembly of the soldiers he announced； with imperial
brevity； that he adopted Piso； following the precedent of the Divine
Augustus； and the military custom by which a soldier chooses his
comrade。 Fearing that to conceal the mutiny would be to make them
think it greater than it really was； he spontaneously declared that
the 4th and 18th legions； led by a few factious persons； had been
insubordinate； but had not gone beyond certain words and cries； and
that they would soon return to their duty。 To this speech he added
no word of flattery； no hint of a bribe。 Yet the tribunes； the
centurions； and such of the soldiers as stood near； made an
encouraging response。 A gloomy silence prevailed among the rest； who
seemed to think that they had lost by war that right to a donative
which they had made good even in peace。 It is certain that their
feelings might have been conciliated by the very smallest liberality
on the part of the parsimonious old man。 He was ruined by his
old…fashioned inflexibility； and by an excessive sternness which we
are no longer able to endure。
Then followed Galba's speech in the Senate； which was as plain and
brief as his speech to the soldiery。 Piso delivered a graceful oration
and was supported by the feeling of the Senate。 Many who wished him
well； spoke with enthusiasm； those who had opposed him； in moderate
terms； the majority met him with an officious homage； having aims of
their own and no thought for the state。 Piso neither said nor did
anything else in public in the following four days which intervened
between his adoption and his death。 As tidings of the mutiny in
Germany were arriving with daily increasing frequency； while the
country was ready to receive and to credit all intelligence that had
an unfavourable character； the Senate came to a resolution to send
deputies to the German armies。 It was privately discussed whether Piso
should go with them to give them a more imposing appearance； they；
it was said； would bring with them the authority of the Senate； he the
majesty of the Caesar。 It was thought expedient to send with them
Cornelius Laco； prefect of the Praetorian Guard； but he thwarted the
design。 In nominating； excusing； and changing the deputies； the Senate
having entrusted the selection to Galba； the Emperor shewed a
disgraceful want of firmness； yielding to individuals； who made
interest to stay or to go； as their fears or their hopes prompted。
Next came the question of money。 On a general inquiry it seemed
the fairest course to demand restitution from those who had caused the
public poverty。 Nero had squandered in presents two thousand two
hundred million sesterces。 It was ordered that each recipient should
be sued； but should be permitted to retain a tenth part of the bounty。
They had however barely a tenth part left； having wasted the
property of others in the same extravagances in which they had
squandered their own； till the most rapacious and profligate among
them had neither capital nor land remaining； nothing in fact but the
appliances of their vices。 Thirty Roman Knights were appointed to
conduct the process of recovery； a novel office； and made burdensome
by the number and intriguing practices of those with whom it had to
deal。 Everywhere were sales and brokers； and Rome was in an uproar
with auctions。 Yet great was the joy to think that the men whom Nero
had enriched would be as poor as those whom he had robbed。 About
this time were cashiered two tribunes of the Praetorian Guard；
Antonius Taurus and Antonius Naso； an officer of the City cohorts；
Aemilius Pacensis； and one of the watch； Julius Fronto。 This led to no
amendment with the rest； but only started the apprehension； that a
crafty and timid policy was getting rid of individuals； while all were
suspected。
Otho； meanwhile； who had nothing to hope while the State was
tranquil； and whose whole plans depended on revolution； was being
roused to action by a combination of many motives； by a luxury that
would have embarrassed even an emperor； by a poverty that a subject
could hardly endure； by his rage against Galba； by his envy of Piso。
He even pretended to fear to make himself keener in desire。 〃I was；
said he； 〃too formidable to Nero； and I must not look for another
Lusitania； another honourable exile。 Rulers always suspect and hate
the man who has been named for the succession。 This has injured me
with the aged Emperor； and will injure me yet more with a young man
whose temper； naturally savage； has been rendered ferocious by
prolonged exile。 How easy to put Otho to death！ I must therefore do
and dare now while Galba's authority is still unsettled； and before
that of Piso is consolidated。 Periods of transition suit great
attempts； and delay is useless where inaction is more hurtful than
temerity。 Death； which nature ordains for all alike； yet admits of the
distinction of being either forgotten； or remembered with honour by
posterity； and； if the same lot awaits the innocent and the guilty；
the man of spirit will at least deserve his fate。〃
The soul of Otho was not effeminate like his person。 His
confidential freedmen and slaves； who enjoyed a license unknown in
private families； brought the debaucheries of Nero's court； its
intrigues； its easy marriages； and the other indulgences of despotic
power； before a mind passionately fond of such things； dwelt upon them
as his if he dared to seize them； and reproached the inaction that
would leave them to others。 The astrologers also urged him to
action； predicting from their observation of the heavens
revolutions； and a year of glory for Otho。 This is a class of men；
whom the powerful cannot trust； and who deceive the aspiring； a
class which will always be proscribed in this country； and yet
always retained。 Many of these men were attached to the secret
councils of Poppaea and were the vilest tools in the employ of the
imperial household。 One of them； Ptolemaeus； had attended Otho in
Spain； and had there foretold that his patron would survive Nero。
Gaining credit by the result； and arguing from his own conjectures and
from the common talk of those who compared Galba's age with Otho's
youth； he had persuaded the latter that he would be called to the
throne。 Otho however received the prediction as the words of wisdom
and the intimation of destiny； with that inclination so natural to the
human mind readily to believe in the mysterious。
Nor did Ptolemaeus fail to play his part； he now even prompted to
crime； to which from such wishes it is easy to pass。 Whether indeed
these thoughts of crime were suddenly conceived； is doubtful。 Otho had
long been courting the affections of the soldiery； either in the
hope of succeeding to the throne； or in preparation for some desperate
act。 On the march； on parade； and in their quarters； he would
address all the oldest soldiers by name； and in allusion to the
progresses of Nero would call them his messmates。 Some he would
recognise； he would inquire after others； and would help them with his
money and interest。 He would often intersperse his conversation with
complaints and insinuations against Galba and anything else that might
excite the vulgar mind。 Laborious marches； a scanty commissariat；
and the rigour of military discipline； were especially distasteful；
when men； accustomed to sail to the lakes of Campania and the cities
of Greece； had painfully to struggle under the weight of their arms
over the Pyrenees； the Alps； and vast distances of road。
The minds of the soldiery were already on fire； when Maevius Pudens；
a near relative of Tigellinus； added； so to speak； fuel to the flames。
In his endeavour to win over all who were particularly weak in
character； or who wanted money and were ready to plunge into
revolution； he gradually went so far as to distribute； whenever
Galba dined with Otho； one hundred sesterces to each soldier of the
cohort on duty； under pretext of treating them。 This； which we may
almost call a public bounty； Otho followed up by presents more
privately bestowed on individuals； nay he bribed with such spirit；
that； finding there was a dispute between Cocceius Proculus； a soldier
of the bodyguard； and one of his neighbours； about some part of
their boundaries； he purchased with his own money the neighbour's
entire estate； and made a present of it to the soldier。 He took
advantage of the lazy indifference of the Prefect； who overlooked
alike notorious facts and secret practices。
He then entrusted the conduct of his meditated treason to O