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that a sedition； which was but just commencing； and not yet fully
matured； might be swayed by better counsels。 Two of these tribunes；
Subrius and Cetrius； the soldiers assailed with menaces； Longinus they
seized and disarmed； it was not his rank as an officer； but his
friendship with Galba； that bound him to that Prince； and roused a
stronger suspicion in the mutineers。 The legion levied from the
fleet joined the Praetorians without any hesitation。 The Illyrian
detachments drove Celsus away with a shower of javelins。 The German
veterans wavered long。 Their frames were still enfeebled by
sickness； and their minds were favourably disposed towards Galba； who；
finding them exhausted by their long return voyage from Alexandria；
whither they had been sent on by Nero； had supplied their wants with a
most unsparing attention。
The whole populace and the slaves with them were now crowding the
palace； clamouring with discordant shouts for the death of Otho and
the destruction of the conspirators； just as if they were demanding
some spectacle in the circus or amphitheatre。 They had not indeed
any discrimination or sincerity； for on that same day they would raise
with equal zeal a wholly different cry。 It was their traditional
custom to flatter any ruler with reckless applause and meaningless
zeal。 Meanwhile two suggestions were keeping Galba in doubt。 T。 Vinius
thought that he should remain within the palace； array the slaves
against the foe； secure the approaches； and not go out to the
enraged soldiers。 〃You should；〃 he said； 〃give the disaffected time to
repent； the loyal time to unite。 Crimes gain by hasty action； better
counsels by delay。 At all events； you will still have the same
facilities of going out； if need be； whereas； your retreat； should you
repent of having gone； will be in the power of another。〃
The rest were for speedy action； 〃before；〃 they said； 〃the yet
feeble treason of this handful of men can gather strength。 Otho
himself will be alarmed； Otho； who stole away to be introduced to a
few strangers； but who now； thanks to the hesitation and inaction in
which we waste our time； is learning how to play the Prince。 We must
not wait till； having arranged matters in the camp； he bursts into the
Forum； and under Galba's very eyes makes his way to the Capitol； while
our noble Emperor with his brave friends barricades the doors of his
palace。 We are to stand a siege forsooth； and truly we shall have an
admirable resource in the slaves； if the unanimous feeling of this
vast multitude； and that which can do so much； the first burst of
indignation； be suffered to subside。 Moreover that cannot be safe
which is not honourable。 If we must fall； let us go to meet the
danger。 This will bring more odium upon Otho； and will be more
becoming to ourselves。〃 Vinius opposing this advice； Laco assailed him
with threats； encouraged by Icelus； who persisted in his private
animosities to the public ruin。
Without further delay Galba sided with these more plausible
advisers。 Piso was sent on into the camp； as being a young man of
noble name； whose popularity was of recent date； and who was a
bitter enemy to T。 Vinius； that is； either he was so in reality； or
these angry partisans would have it so； and belief in hatred is but
too ready。 Piso had hardly gone forth when there came a rumour； at
first vague and wanting confirmation； that Otho had been slain in
the camp； soon； as happens with these great fictions； men asserted
that they had been present； and had seen the deed； and； between the
delight of some and the indifference of others； the report was
easily believed。 Many thought the rumour had been invented and
circulated by the Othonianists； who were now mingling with the
crowd； and who disseminated these false tidings of success to draw
Galba out of the palace。
Upon this not only did the people and the ignorant rabble break
out into applause and vehement expressions of zeal； but many of the
Knights and Senators； losing their caution as they laid aside their
fear； burst open the doors of the palace； rushed in； and displayed
themselves to Galba； complaining that their revenge had been
snatched from them。 The most arrant coward； the man； who； as the event
proved； would dare nothing in the moment of danger； was the most
voluble and fierce of speech。 No one knew anything； yet all were
confident in assertion； till at length Galba in the dearth of all true
intelligence； and overborne by the universal delusion； assumed his
cuirass； and as； from age and bodily weakness； he could not stand up
against the crowd that was still rushing in； he was elevated on a
chair。 He was met in the palace by Julius Atticus； a soldier of the
body…guard； who； displaying a bloody sword； cried 〃I have slain Otho。〃
〃Comrade；〃 replied Galba； 〃who gave the order？〃 So singularly resolute
was his spirit in curbing the license of the soldiery； threats did not
dismay him； nor flatteries seduce。
There was now no doubt about the feeling of all the troops in the
camp。 So great was their zeal； that； not content with surrounding Otho
with their persons in close array； they elevated him to the
pedestal； on which a short time before had stood the gilt statue of
Galba； and there； amid the standards； encircled him with their
colours。 Neither tribunes nor centurions could approach。 The common
soldiers even insisted that all the officers should be watched。
Everything was in an uproar with their tumultuous cries and their
appeals to each other； which were not； like those of a popular
assembly or a mob； the discordant expressions of an idle flattery；
on the contrary； as soon as they caught sight of any of the soldiers
who were flocking in； they seized him； gave him the military
embrace； placed him close to Otho； dictated to him the oath of
allegiance； commending sometimes the Emperor to his soldiers；
sometimes the soldiers to their Emperor。 Otho did not fail to play his
part； he stretched out his arms； and bowed to the crowd； and kissed
his hands； and altogether acted the slave； to make himself the master。
It was when the whole legion from the fleet had taken the oath to him；
that feeling confidence in his strength； and thinking that the men； on
whose individual feeling he had been working； should be roused by a
general appeal； he stood before the rampart of the camp； and spoke
as follows：
〃Comrades； I cannot say in what character I have presented myself to
you； I refuse to call myself a subject； now that you have named me
Prince； or Prince； while another reigns。 Your title also will be
equally uncertain； so long as it shall be a question； whether it is
the Emperor of the Roman people； or a public enemy； whom you have in
your camp。 Mark you； how in one breath they cry for my punishment
and for your execution。 So evident it is； that we can neither
perish； nor be saved； except together。 Perhaps； with his usual
clemency； Galba has already promised that we should die； like the man；
who； though no one demanded it； massacred so many thousands of
perfectly guiltless soldiers。 A shudder comes over my soul； whenever I
call to mind that ghastly entry； Galba's solitary victory； when；
before the eyes of the capital he gave orders to decimate the
prisoners； the suppliants； whom he had admitted to surrender。 These
were the auspices with which he entered the city。 What is the glory
that he has brought to the throne？ None but that he has murdered
Obultronius Sabinus and Cornelius Marcellus in Spain； Betuus Chilo
in Gaul； Fonteius Capito in Germany； Clodius Macer in Africa；
Cingonius on the high road； Turpilianus in the city； Nymphidius in the
camp。 What province； what camp in the world； but is stained with blood
and foul with crime； or； as he expresses it himself； purified and
chastened？ For what others call crimes he calls reforms； and； by
similar misnomers； he speaks of strictness instead of barbarity； of
economy instead of avarice； while the cruelties and affronts inflicted
upon you he calls discipline。 Seven months only have passed since Nero
fell； and already Icelus has seized more than the Polycleti； the
Vatinii； and the Elii amassed。 Vinius would not have gone so far
with his rapacity and lawlessness had he been Emperor himself； as it
is； he has lorded it over us as if we had been his own subjects； has
held us as cheap as if we had been another's。 That one house would
furnish the donative； which is never given you； but with which you are
daily upbraided。
〃Again； that we might have nothing to hope even from his
successor； Galba fetches out of exile the man in whose ill…humour
and avarice he considers that he has found the best resemblance to
himself