command of the strongest legions； by whom he was many repeated times
saluted emperor and pressed to take the title upon him； declared
that he neither would assume that honour himself； nor see it given
to any other than whom the senate should elect。
These things at first did not a little disturb Galba； but when
presently Virginius and Vindex were in a manner forced by their
armies； having got the reins； as it were； out of their hands； to a
great encounter and battle； in which Vindex； having seen twenty
thousand of the Gauls destroyed； died by his own hand； and when the
report straight spread abroad； that all desired Virginius； after
this great victory； to take the empire upon him； or else they would
return to Nero again； Galba； in great alarm at this； wrote to
Virginius； exhorting him to join with him for the preservation of
the empire and the liberty of the Romans； and so retiring with his
friends into Clunia； a town in Spain； he passed away his time；
rather repenting his former rashness； and wishing for his wonted
ease and privacy； than setting about what was fit to be done。
It was now summer； when on a sudden； a little before dusk； comes a
freedman Icelus by name； having arrived in seven days from Rome； and
being informed where Galba was reposing himself in private； he went
straight on； and pushing by the servants of the chamber； opened the
door and entered the room； and told him； that Nero being yet alive but
not appearing； first the army； and then the people and senate；
declared Galba emperor； not long after； it was reported that Nero
was dead； 〃but I；〃 said he； 〃not giving credit to common fame； went
myself to the body and saw him lying dead； and only then set out to
bring you word。〃 This news at once made Galba great again； and a crowd
of people came hastening to the door； all very confident of the
truth of his tidings； though the speed of the man was almost
incredible。 Two days after came Titus Vinius with sundry others from
the camp； who gave an account in detail of the orders of the senate；
and for this service was considerably advanced。 On the freedman； Galba
conferred the honour of the gold ring； and Icelus； as he had been
before； now taking the name of Marcianus； held the first place of
the freedmen。
But at Rome； Nymphidius Sabinus； not gently； and little by little；
but at once； and without exception； engrossed all power to himself；
Galba； being an old man （seventy…three years of age）； would
scarcely； he thought； live long enough to be carried in a litter to
Rome； and the troops in the city were from old time attached to him；
and now bound by the vastness of the promised gift； for which they
regarded him as their benefactor； and Galba as their debtor。 Thus
presuming on his interest； he straightway commanded Tigellinus； who
was in joint commission with himself； to lay down his sword； and
giving entertainments； he invited the former consuls and commanders；
making use of Galba's name for the invitation； but at the same time
prepared many in the camp to propose that a request should be sent
to Galba that he should appoint Nymphidius sole prefect for life
without a colleague。 And the modes which the senate took to show him
honour and increase his power； styling him their benefactor； and
attending daily at his gates； and giving him the compliment of heading
with his own name and confirming all their acts； carried him on to a
yet greater degree of arrogance； so that in a short time he became
an object； not only of dislike； but of terror； to those that sought
his favour。 When the consuls themselves had despatched their
couriers with the decrees of the senate to the emperor； together
with the sealed diplomas； which the authorities in all the towns where
horses or carriages are changed look at； and on that certificate
hasten the courtiers forward with all their means； he was highly
displeased that his seal had not been used； and none of his soldiers
employed on the errand。 Nay； he even deliberated what course to take
with the consuls themselves； but upon their submission and apology
he was at last pacified。 To gratify the people； he did not interfere
with their beating to death any that fell into their hands of Nero's
party。 Amongst others； Spiclus； the gladiator； was killed in the forum
by being thrown under Nero's statues； which they dragged about the
place over his body。 Aponius； one of those who had been concerned in
accusations； they knocked to the ground； and drove carts loaded with
stones over him。 And many others they tore in pieces； some of them
no way guilty； insomuch that Mauriscus； a person of great account
and character； told the senate that he feared； in a short time； they
might wish for Nero again。
Nymphidius； now advancing towards the consummation of his hopes； did
not refuse to let it be said that he was the son of Caius Caesar；
Tiberius's successor； who； it is told； was well acquainted with his
mother in his early youth； a woman indeed handsome enough； the
offspring of Callistus； one of Caesar's freedmen； and a certain
sempstress。 But it is plain that Caius's familiarity with his mother
was of too late date to give him any pretensions； and it was suspected
he might； if he pleased； claim a father in Martianus； the gladiator；
whom his mother； Nymphidia； took a passion for； being a famous man
in his way； whom also he much more resembled。 However； though he
certainly owned Nymphidia for his mother； he ascribed meantime the
downfall of Nero to himself alone； and thought he was not sufficiently
rewarded with the honours and riches he enjoyed （nay； though to all
was added the company of Sporus； whom he immediately sent for while
Nero's body was yet burning on the pile； and treated as his consort
with the name of Poppaea）； but he must also aspire to the empire。
And at Rome he had friends who took measures for him secretly； as well
as some women and some members of the senate also； who worked
underhand to assist him。 And into Spain he despatched one of his
friends； named Gellianus； to view the posture of affairs。
But all things succeeded well with Galba after Nero's death； only
Virginius Rufus； still standing doubtful； gave him some anxiety；
lest he should listen to the suggestions of some who encouraged him to
take the government upon him； having； at present； besides the
command of a large and warlike army； the new honours of the defeat
of Vindex and the subjugation of one considerable part of the Roman
empire； namely； the entire Gaul； which had seemed shaking about upon
the verge of open revolt。 Nor had any man indeed a greater name and
reputation than Virginius； who had taken a part of so much consequence
in the deliverance of the empire at once from a cruel tyranny and a
Gallic war。 But he； standing to his first resolves； reserved to the
senate the power of electing an emperor。 Yet when it was now
manifest that Nero was dead； the soldiers pressed him hard to it；
and one of the tribunes； entering his tent with his drawn sword；
bade him either take the government or that。 But after Fabius
Valens； having the command of one legion； had first sworn fealty to
Galba； and letters from Rome came with tidings of the resolves of
the senate； at last with much ado he persuaded the army to declare
Galba emperor。 And when Flaccus Hordeonius came by Galba's
commission as Galba successor； he handed over to him his forces； and
went himself to meet Galba on his way； and having met him turned
back to attend him； in all which no apparent displeasure nor yet
honour was shown him。 Galba's feelings of respect for him prevented
the former； the latter was checked by the envy of his friends； and
particularly of Titus Vinius； who； acting in the desire of hindering
Virginius's promotion； unwittingly aided his happy genius in
rescuing him from those hazards and hardships which other commanders
were involved in； and securing him the safe enjoyment of a quiet
life and peaceable old age。
Near Narbo； a city in Gaul； the deputation of the senate met
Galba； and after they had delivered their compliments； begged him to
make what haste he could to appear to the people that impatiently
expected him。 He discoursed with them courteously and unassumingly；
and in his entertainment； though Nymphidius had sent him royal
furniture and attendance of Nero's； he put all aside； and made use
of nothing but his own； for which he was well spoken of； as one who
had a great mind； and was superior to little vanities。 But in a
short time； Vinius； by declaring to him that these noble； unpompous；
citizen…like ways were a mere affectation of popularity and a petty
bashfulness at assuming his proper greatness； induced him to make
use of Nero's supplies； and in his entertainments not to be afraid
of a regal sumptuosity。 And in more than one way the old man let it
gradually appear that he had put himself under Vinius's disposal。
Vinius was a person of an excessive covetousness； and not quite free
from blame in respect to women。 For being a young man； newly entered
into the service under Calvisius Sabinus； upon his first campaign；
he brought his commander's wife； a licentious woman； in a soldier's
dress； by night into the camp； and was