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alike notorious facts and secret practices。
He then entrusted the conduct of his meditated treason to Onomastus；
one of his freedmen； who brought over to his views Barbius Proculus；
officer of the watchword to the bodyguard； and Veturius； a deputy
centurion in the same force。 Having assured himself by various
conversations with these men that they were cunning and bold； he
loaded them with presents and promises； and furnished them with
money with which to tempt the cupidity of others。 Thus two soldiers
from the ranks undertook to transfer the Empire of Rome； and
actually transferred it。 Only a few were admitted to be accomplices in
the plot； but they worked by various devices on the wavering minds
of the remainder； on the more distinguished soldiers； by hinting
that the favours of Nymphidius had subjected them to suspicion； on the
vulgar herd； by the anger and despair with which the repeated
postponement of the donative had inspired them。 Some were fired by
their recollections of Nero and their longing regrets for their old
license。 All felt a common alarm at the idea of having to serve
elsewhere。
The contagion spread to the legions and the auxiliary troops；
already excited by the news of the wavering loyalty of the army of
Germany。 So ripe were the disaffected for mutiny and so close the
secrecy preserved by the loyal； that they would actually have seized
Otho on the 14th of January； as he was returning from dinner； had they
not been deterred by the risks of darkness； the inconvenient
dispersion of the troops over the whole city； and the difficulty of
concerted action among a half…intoxicated crowd。 It was no care for
the state； which they deliberately meditated polluting with the
blood of their Emperor； it was a fear lest in the darkness of night
any one who presented himself to the soldiers of the Pannonian or
German army might be fixed on instead of Otho； whom few of them
knew。 Many symptoms of the approaching outburst were repressed by
those who were in the secret。 Some hints； which had reached Galba's
ears； were turned into ridicule by Laco the prefect； who knew
nothing of the temper of the soldiery； and who； inimical to all
measures； however excellent； which he did not originate； obstinately
thwarted men wiser than himself。
On the 15th of January； as Galba was sacrificing in front of the
temple of Apollo； the Haruspex Umbricius announced to him that the
entrails had a sinister aspect； that treachery threatened him； that he
had an enemy at home。 Otho heard； for he had taken his place close by；
and interpreted it by contraries in a favourable sense； as promising
success to his designs。 Not long after his freedman Onomastus informed
him that the architect and the contractors were waiting for him。 It
had been arranged thus to indicate that the soldiers were
assembling； and that the preparations of the conspiracy were complete。
To those who inquired the reason of his departure； Otho pretended that
he was purchasing certain farm…buildings； which from their age he
suspected to be unsound； and which had therefore to be first surveyed。
Leaning on his freedman's arm； he proceeded through the palace of
Tiberius to the Velabrum； and thence to the golden milestone near
the temple of Saturn。 There three and twenty soldiers of the
body…guard saluted him as Emperor； and； while he trembled at their
scanty number； put him hastily into a chair； drew their swords； and
hurried him onwards。 About as many more soldiers joined them on
their way； some because they were in the plot； many from mere
surprise； some shouted and brandished their swords； others proceeded
in silence； intending to let the issue determine their sentiments。
Julius Martialis was the tribune on guard in the camp。 Appalled by
the enormity and suddenness of the crime； or perhaps fearing that
the troops were very extensively corrupted and that it would be
destruction to oppose them； he made many suspect him of complicity。
The rest of the tribunes and centurions preferred immediate safety
to danger and duty。 Such was the temper of men's minds； that； while
there were few to venture on so atrocious a treason； many wished it
done； and all were ready to acquiesce。
Meanwhile the unconscious Galba； busy with his sacrifice； was
importuning the gods of an empire that was now another's。 A rumour
reached him； that some senator unknown was being hurried into the
camp； before long it was affirmed that this senator was Otho。 At the
same time came messengers from all parts of the city； where they had
chanced to meet the procession； some exaggerating the danger； some；
who could not even then forget to flatter； representing it as less
than the reality。 On deliberation it was determined to sound the
feeling of the cohort on guard in the palace； but not through Galba in
person； whose authority was to be kept unimpaired to meet greater
emergencies。 They were accordingly collected before the steps of the
palace； and Piso addressed them as follows：… 〃Comrades； this is the
sixth day since I became a Caesar by adoption； not knowing what was to
happen； whether this title was to be desired； or dreaded。 It rests
with you to determine what will be the result to my family and to
the state。 It is not that I dread on my own account the gloomier
issue； for I have known adversity； and I am learning at this very
moment that prosperity is fully as dangerous。 It is the lot of my
father； of the Senate； of the Empire itself； that I deplore； if we
have either to fall this day； or to do what is equally abhorrent to
the good； to put others to death。 In the late troubles we had this
consolation； a capital unstained by bloodshed； and power transferred
without strife。 It was thought that by my adoption provision was
made against the possibility of war； even after Galba's death。
〃I will lay no claim to nobleness； or moderation； for indeed； to
count up virtues in comparing oneself with Otho is needless。 The
vices； of which alone he boasts； overthrew the Empire； even when he
was but the Emperor's friend。 Shall he earn that Empire now by his
manner and his gait； or by those womanish adornments？ They are
deceived； on whom luxury imposes by its false show of liberality； he
will know how to squander； he will not know how to give。 Already he is
thinking of debaucheries； of revels； of tribes of mistresses。 These
things he holds to be the prizes of princely power； things； in which
the wanton enjoyment will be for him alone； the shame and the disgrace
for all。 Never yet has any one exercised for good ends the power
obtained by crime。 The unanimous will of mankind gave to Galba the
title of Caesar； and you consented when he gave it to me。 Were the
Senate； the Country； the People； but empty names； yet； comrades； it is
your interest that the most worthless of men should not create an
Emperor。 We have occasionally heard of legions mutinying against their
generals； but your loyalty； your character； stand unimpeached up to
this time。 Even with Nero； it was he that deserted you； not you that
deserted him。 Shall less than thirty runaways and deserters whom no
one would allow to choose a tribune or centurion for themselves；
assign the Empire at their pleasure？ Do you tolerate the precedent？ Do
you by your inaction make the crime your own？ This lawless spirit will
pass into the provinces； and though we shall suffer from this treason；
you will suffer from the wars that will follow。 Again； no more is
offered you for murdering your Prince； than you will have if you
shun such guilt。 We shall give you a donative for your loyalty； as
surely as others can give it for your treason。〃
The soldiers of the body…guard dispersed； but the rest of the
cohort； who shewed no disrespect to the speaker； displayed their
standards； acting； as often happens in a disturbance； on mere
impulse and without any settled plan； rather than； as was afterwards
believed； with treachery and an intention to deceive。 Celsus Marius
was sent to the picked troops from the army of Illyricum； then
encamped in the Portico of Vipsanius。 Instructions were also given
to Amulius Serenus and Quintius Sabinus； centurions of the first rank；
to bring up the German soldiers from the Hall of Liberty。 No
confidence was placed in the legion levied from the fleet； which had
been enraged by the massacre of their comrades； whom Galba had
slaughtered immediately on his entry into the capital。 Meanwhile
Cetrius Severus； Subrius Dexter； and Pompeius Longinus； all three
military tribunes； proceeded to the Praetorian camp； in the hope
that a sedition； which was but just commencing； and not yet fully
matured； might be swayed by better counsels。 Two of these