them their expected largess； but these troops made a pretence of a
more particular concern； that Virginius Rufus was cast off
dishonourably； and that the bad who had fought with them were well
rewarded； while those who had refused to take part with Vindex were
punished； and Galba's thanks seemed all to be for him； to whose memory
he had done honour after his death with public solemnities as though
he had been made emperor by his means only。 Whilst these discourses
passed openly throughout the army； on the first day of the first month
of the year； the Calends； as they call it； of January； Flaccus
summoning them to take the usual anniversary oath of fealty to the
emperor； they overturned and pulled down Galba's statues； and having
sworn in the name of the senate and people of Rome； departed。 But
the officers now feared anarchy and confusion； as much as rebellion；
and one of them came forward and said： 〃What will become of us； my
fellow…soldiers； if we neither set up another general； nor retain
the present one？ This will be not so much to desert from Galba as to
decline all subjection and command。 It is useless to try and
maintain Flaccus Hordeonius； who is but a mere shadow and image of
Galba。 But Vitellius； commander of the other Germany； is but one day's
march distant； whose father was censor and thrice consul； and in a
manner co…emperor with Claudius Caesar； and he himself has the best
proof to show of his bounty and largeness of mind； in the poverty with
which some reproach him。 Him let us make choice of； that all may see
we know how to choose an emperor better than either Spaniards or
Lusitanians。〃 Which motion whilst some assented to； and others
gainsaid； a certain standard…bearer slipped out and carried the news
to Vitellius； who was entertaining much company by night。 This
taking air； soon passed through the troops； and Fabius Valens； who
commanded one legion； riding up next day with a large body of horse；
saluted Vitellius emperor。 He had hitherto seemed to decline it；
professing a dread he had to undertake the weight of the government；
but on this day； being fortified； they say； by wine and a plentiful
noon…day repast； he began to yield； and submitted to take on him the
title of Germanicus they gave him； but desired to be excused as to
that of Caesar。 And immediately the army under Flaccus also； putting
away their fine and popular oaths in the name of the senate； swore
obedience to Vitellius as emperor； to observe whatever he commanded。
Thus Vitellius was publicly proclaimed emperor in Germany； which
news coming to Galba's ear； he no longer deferred his adoption； yet
knowing that some of his friends were using their interest for
Dolabella； and the greatest number of them for Otho； neither of whom
he approved of； on a sudden； without any one's privity； he sent for
Piso； the son of Crassus and Scribonia； whom Nero slew； a young man in
general of excellent disposition for virtue； but his most eminent
qualities those of steadiness and austere gravity。 And so he set out
to go to the camp to declare him Caesar and successor to the empire。
But at his very first going forth many signs appeared in the
heavens； and when he began to make a speech to the soldiers； partly
extempore； and partly reading it； the frequent claps of thunder and
flashes of lightning； and the violent storm of rain that burst on both
the camp and the city； were plain discoveries that the divine powers
did not look with favour or satisfaction on this act of adoption
that would come to no good result。 The soldiers； also； showed symptoms
of hidden discontent； and wore sullen looks； no distribution of
money being even now made to them。 However； those that were present
and observed Piso's countenance and voice could not but feel
admiration to see him so little overcome by so great a favour； of
the magnitude of which at the same time he seemed not at all
insensible。 Otho's aspect； on the other hand； did not fail to let many
marks appear of his bitterness and anger at his disappointment；
since to have been the first man thought of for it； and to have come
to the very point of being chosen； and now to be put by； was in his
feelings a sign of the displeasure and ill…will of Galba towards
him。 This filled him with fears and apprehensions； and sent him home
with a mind full of various passions； whilst he dreaded Piso； hated
Galba； and was full of wrath and indignation against Vinius。 And the
Chaldeans and soothsayers about him would not permit him to lay
aside his hopes or quit his design； chiefly Ptolemaeus； insisting much
on a prediction he had made； that Nero should not murder Otho； but
he himself should die first； and Otho succeed as emperor； for the
first proving true； he thought he could not distrust the rest。 But
none perhaps stimulated him more than those that professed privately
to pity his hard fate and compassionate him for being thus
ungratefully dealt with by Galba； especially Nymphidius's and
Tigellinus's creatures； who； being now cast off and reduced to low
estate； were eager to put themselves upon him； exclaiming at the
indignity he had suffered； and provoking him to revenge himself。
Amongst these were Viturius and Barbius； the one an optio； the other
a tesserarius （these are men who have the duties of messengers and
scouts）； with whom Onomastus； one of Otho's freedmen； went to the
camp； to tamper with the army； and brought over some with money；
others with fair promises； which was no hard matter； they being
already corrupted； and only wanting a fair pretence。 It had been
otherwise more than the work of four days （which elapsed between the
adoption and murder）； so completely to infect them as to cause a
general revolt。 On the sixth day ensuing； the eighteenth； as the
Romans call it； before the Calends of February； the murder was done。
On that day； in the morning； Galba sacrificed in the Palatium in the
presence of his friends； when Umbricius； the priest； taking up the
entrails； and speaking not ambiguously； but in plain words； said
that there were signs of great troubles ensuing； and dangerous
snares laid for the life of the emperor。 Thus Otho had even been
discovered by the finger of the god； being there just behind Galba；
bearing all that was said； and seeing what was pointed out to them
by Umbricius。 His countenance changed to every colour in his fear； and
he was betraying no small discomposure； when Onomastus； his
freedman； came up and acquainted him that the master builders had
come； and were waiting for him at home。 Now that was the signal for
Otho to meet the soldiers。 Pretending then that he had purchased an
old house； and was going to show the defects to those that had sold it
to him； he departed； and passing through what is called Tiberius's
house； he went on into the forum； near the spot where a golden
pillar stands； at which all the several roads through Italy terminate。
Here； it is related； no more than twenty…three received and
saluted him emperor； so that； although he was not in mind as in body
enervated with soft living and effeminacy； being in his nature bold
and fearless enough in danger； nevertheless； he was afraid to go on。
But the soldiers that were present would not suffer him to recede； but
came with their swords drawn around his chair； commanding the
bearers to take him up； whom he hastened on； saying several times over
to himself； 〃I am a lost man。〃 Several persons overheard the words；
who stood by wondering； rather than alarmed； because of the small
number that attempted such an enterprise。 But as they marched on
through the forum； about as many more met him； and here and there
three or four at a time joined in。 Thus returning towards the camp；
with their bare swords in their hands； they saluted him as Caesar；
whereupon Martialis； the tribune in charge of the watch； who was； they
say； noways privy to it； but was simply surprised at the
unexpectedness of the thing； and afraid to refuse； permitted him
entrance。 And after this； no man made any resistance； for they that
knew nothing of the design； being purposely encompassed by the
conspirators； as they were straggling here and there； first
submitted for fear； and afterwards were persuaded into compliance。
Tidings came immediately to Galba in the Palatium； whilst the
priests were still present and the sacrifices at hand； so that persons
who were most entirely incredulous about such things； and most
positive in their neglect of them； were astonished； and began to
marvel at the divine event。 A multitude of all sorts of people now
began to run together out of the forum； Vinius and Laco and some of
Galba's freedmen drew their swords and placed themselves beside him；
Piso went forth and addressed himself to the guards on duty in the
court； and Marius Celsus； a brave man； was despatched to the
Illyrian legion； stationed in what is called the Vipsanian chamber； to
secure them。
Galba now consulting whether he should go out； Vinius dissuaded him；
but Celsus and Laco encouraged him by all means to do so； and
sharply reprimanded Vinius。 But on a sudden a rumour came hot that
Otho was slain in the camp； and presently appeared one Julius Atticus；
a man of some d