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and avarice he considers that he has found the best resemblance to
himself。 You witnessed； comrades； how by a remarkable storm even the
Gods discountenanced that ill…starred adoption； and the feeling of the
Senate； of the people of Rome； is the same。 It is to your valour
that they look； in you these better counsels find all their support；
without you； noble as they may be； they are powerless。 It is not to
war or to danger that I invite you； the swords of all Roman soldiers
are with us。 At this moment Galba has but one half…armed cohort； which
is detaining； not defending him。 Let it once behold you； let it
receive my signal； and the only strife will be； who shall oblige me
most。 There is no room for delay in a business which can only be
approved when it is done。〃 He then ordered the armoury to be opened。
The soldiers immediately seized the arms without regard to rule or
military order； no distinction being observed between Praetorians
and legionaries； both of whom again indiscriminately assumed the
shields and helmets of the auxiliary troops。 No tribune or centurion
encouraged them； every man acted on his own impulse and guidance；
and the vilest found their chief incitement in the dejection of the
good。
Meanwhile； appalled by the roar of the increasing sedition and by
the shouts which reached the city； Piso had overtaken Galba； who in
the interval had quitted the palace； and was approaching the Forum。
Already Marius Celsus had brought back discouraging tidings。 And now
some advised that the Emperor should return to the palace； others that
he should make for the Capitol； many again that he should occupy the
Rostra； though most did but oppose the opinions of others； while； as
ever happens in these ill…starred counsels； plans for which the
opportunity had slipped away seemed the best。 It is said that Laco；
without Galba's knowledge； meditated the death of Vinius； either
hoping by this execution to appease the fury of the soldiers； or
believing him to be an accomplice of Otho； or； it may be； out of
mere hatred。 The time and the place however made him hesitate； he knew
that a massacre once begun is not easily checked。 His plan too was
disconcerted by a succession of alarming tidings； and the desertion of
immediate adherents。 So languid was now the zeal of those who had at
first been eager to display their fidelity and courage。
Galba was hurried to and fro with every movement of the surging
crowd； the halls and temples all around were thronged with
spectators of this mournful sight。 Not a voice was heard from the
people or even from the rabble。 Everywhere were terror…stricken
countenances； and ears turned to catch every sound。 It was a scene
neither of agitation nor of repose； but there reigned the silence of
profound alarm and profound indignation。 Otho however was told that
they were arming the mob。 He ordered his men to hurry on at full
speed； and to anticipate the danger。 Then did Roman soldiers rush
forward like men who had to drive a Vologeses or Pacorus from the
ancestral throne of the Arsacidae； not as though they were hastening
to murder their aged and defenceless Emperor。 In all the terror of
their arms； and at the full speed of their horses； they burst into the
Forum； thrusting aside the crowd and trampling on the Senate。
Neither the sight of the Capitol； nor the sanctity of the
overhanging temples； nor the thought of rulers past or future； could
deter them from committing a crime； which any one succeeding to
power must avenge。
When this armed array was seen to approach； the standard…bearer of
the cohort that escorted Galba （he is said to have been one Atilius
Vergilio） tore off and dashed upon the ground Galba's effigy。 At
this signal the feeling of all the troops declared itself plainly
for Otho。 The Forum was deserted by the flying populace。 Weapons
were pointed against all who hesitated。 Near the lake of Curtius；
Galba was thrown out of his litter and fell to the ground； through the
alarm of his bearers。 His last words have been variously reported
according as men hated or admired him。 Some have said that he asked in
a tone of entreaty what wrong he had done； and begged a few days for
the payment of the donative。 The more general account is； that he
voluntarily offered his neck to the murderers； and bade them haste and
strike； if it seemed to be for the good of the Commonwealth。 To
those who slew him mattered not what he said。 About the actual
murderer nothing is clearly known。 Some have recorded the name of
Terentius； an enrolled pensioner； others that of Lecanius； but it is
the current report that one Camurius； a soldier of the 15th legion；
completely severed his throat by treading his sword down upon it。
The rest of the soldiers foully mutilated his arms and legs； for his
breast was protected； and in their savage ferocity inflicted many
wounds even on the headless trunk。
They next fell on T。 Vinius； and in his case also it is not known
whether the fear of instant death choked his utterance； or whether
he cried out that Otho had not given orders to slay him。 Either he
invented this in his terror； or he thus confessed his share in the
conspiracy。 His life and character incline us rather to believe that
he was an accomplice in the crime which he certainly caused。 He fell
in front of the temple of the Divine Julius； and at the first blow；
which struck him on the back of the knee； immediately afterwards
Julius Carus； a legionary； ran him through the body。
A noble example of manhood was on that day witnessed by our age in
Sempronius Densus。 He was a centurion in a cohort of the Praetorian
Guard； and had been appointed by Galba to escort Piso。 Rushing； dagger
in hand； to meet the armed men； and upbraiding them with their
crime； he drew the attention of the murderers on himself by his
exclamations and gestures； and thus gave Piso； wounded as he was； an
opportunity of escape。 Piso made his way to the temple of Vesta； where
he was admitted by the compassion of one of the public slaves； who
concealed him in his chamber。 There； not indeed through the sanctity
of the place or its worship； but through the obscurity of his
hiding…place； he obtained a respite from instant destruction； till
there came； by Otho's direction and specially eager to slay him；
Sulpicius Florus； of the British auxiliary infantry； to whom Galba had
lately given the citizenship； and Statius Murcus； one of the
body…guard。 Piso was dragged out by these men and slaughtered in the
entrance of the temple。
There was； we are told； no death of which Otho heard with greater
joy； no head which he surveyed with so insatiable a gaze。 Perhaps it
was； that his mind was then for the first time relieved from all
anxiety； and so had leisure to rejoice； perhaps there was with Galba
something to recall departed majesty； with Vinius some thought of
old friendship； which troubled with mournful images even that ruthless
heart； Piso's death； as that of an enemy and a rival； he felt to be
a right and lawful subject of rejoicing。 The heads were fixed upon
poles and carried about among the standards of the cohorts； close to
the eagle of the legion； while those who had struck the blow； those
who had been present； those who whether truly or falsely boasted of
the act； as of some great and memorable achievement； vied in
displaying their bloodstained hands。 Vitellius afterwards found more
than 120 memorials from persons who claimed a reward for some
notable service on that day。 All these persons he ordered to be sought
out and slain； not to honour Galba； but to comply with the traditional
policy of rulers； who thus provide protection for the present and
vengeance for the future。
One would have thought it a different Senate； a different people。
All rushed to the camp； outran those who were close to them； and
struggled with those who were before； inveighed against Galba； praised
the wisdom of the soldiers； covered the hand of Otho with kisses；
the more insincere their demonstrations； the more they multiplied
them。 Nor did Otho repulse the advances of individuals； while he
checked the greed and ferocity of the soldiers by word and look。
They demanded that Marius Celsus； consul elect； Galba's faithful
friend to the very last moment； should be led to execution； loathing
his energy and integrity as if they were vices。 It was evident that
they were seeking to begin massacre and plunder； and the
proscription of all the most virtuous citizens； and Otho had not yet
sufficient authority to prevent crime； though he could command it。
He feigned anger； and ordered him to be loaded with chains；
declaring that he was to suffer more signal punishment；