Otho was slain in the camp； and presently appeared one Julius Atticus；
a man of some distinction in the guards； running up with his drawn
sword； crying out that he had slain Caesar's enemy； and pressing
through the crowd that stood in his way； he presented himself before
Galba with his bloody weapon； who； looking on him； demanded； 〃Who gave
you your orders？〃 And on his answering that it had been his duty and
the obligation of the oath he had taken the people applauded； giving
loud acclamations； and Galba got into his chair and was carried out to
sacrifice to Jupiter； and so to show himself publicly。 But coming into
the forum； there met him there； like a turn of wind； the opposite
story； that Otho had made himself master of the camp。 And as usual
in a crowd of such a size； some called to him to return back； others
to move forwards； some encouraged him to be bold and fear nothing；
others bade him to be cautious and distrust。 And thus whilst his chair
was tossed to and fro； as it were on the waves； often tottering； there
appeared first horse； and straightway heavy…armed foot coming
through Paulus's court； and all with one accord crying out； 〃Down with
this private man。〃 Upon this； the crowd of people set off running； not
to fly and disperse； but to possess themselves of the colonnades and
elevated places of the forum； as it might be to get places to see a
spectacle。 And as soon as Atillius Vergilio knocked down one of
Galba's statues； this was taken as the declaration of war； and they
sent a discharge of darts upon Galba's litter； and missing their
aim； came up and attacked him nearer hand with their naked swords。
No man resisted or offered to stand up in his defence； save one
only； a centurion； Sempronius Densus； the single man among so many
thousands that the sun beheld that day act worthily of the Roman
empire； who； though he had never received any favour from Galba； yet
out of bravery and allegiance endeavoured to defend the litter。 First；
lifting up his switch of vine； with which the centurions correct the
soldiers when disorderly； he called aloud to the aggressors；
charging them not to touch their emperor。 And when they came upon
him hand…to…hand； he drew his sword； and made a defence for a long
time； until at last he was cut under the knees and brought to the
ground。
Galba's chair was upset at the spot called the Lacus Curtius；
where they ran up and struck at him as he lay in his corselet。 He；
however； offered his throat； bidding them 〃Strike； if it be for the
Romans' good。〃 He received several wounds on his legs and arms； and at
last was struck in the throat； as most say； by one Camurius； a soldier
of the fifteenth legion。 Some name Terentius； others Lecanius； and
there are others that say it was Fabius Fabulus； who it is reported
cut off the head and carried it away in the skirt of his coat； the
baldness making it a difficult thing to take hold of。 But those that
were with him would not allow him to keep it covered up； but bade
him let every one see the brave deed he had done； so that after a
while he stuck upon the lance the head of the aged man that had been
their grave and temperate ruler； their supreme priest and consul； and；
tossing it up in the air； ran like a bacchanal； twirling and
flourishing with it； while the blood ran down the spear。 But when they
brought the head to Otho； 〃Fellow…soldiers；〃 he cried out； 〃this is
nothing； unless you show me Piso's too；〃 which was presented him not
long after。 The young man； retreating upon a wound received； was
pursued by one Murcus； and slain at the temple of Vesta。 Titus
Vinius was also despatched； avowing himself to have been privy to
the conspiracy against Galba by calling out that they were killing him
contrary to Otho's pleasure。 However； they cut off his head； and
Laco's too； and brought them to Otho； requesting a boon。
And as Archilochus says…
〃When six or seven lie breathless on the ground；
'Twas I； 'twas I； say thousands； gave the wound。〃
Thus many that had no share in the murder wetted their hands and
swords in blood； and came and showed them to Otho； presenting
memorials suing for a gratuity。 Not less than one hundred and twenty
were identified afterwards from their written petitions； all of whom
Vitellius sought out and put to death。 There came also into the camp
Marius Celsus； and was accused by many voices of encouraging the
soldiers to assist Galba； and was demanded to death by the
multitude。 Otho had no desire for this； yet； fearing an absolute
denial； he professed that he did not wish to take him off so soon；
having many matters yet to learn from him； and so committed him safe
to the custody of those he most confided in。
Forthwith a senate was convened； and as if they were not the same
men； or had other gods to swear by； they took that oath in Otho's name
which he himself had taken in Galba's and had broken； and withal
conferred on him the titles of Caesar and Augustus； whilst the dead
carcasses of the slain lay yet in their consular robes in the
market…place。 As for their heads； when they could make no other use of
them； Vinius's they sold to his daughter for two thousand five hundred
drachmas； Piso's was begged by his wife； Verania； Galba's they gave to
Patrobius's servants； who when they had it； after all sorts of abuse
and indignities； tumbled it into the place where those that suffer
death by the emperor's orders are usually cast； called Sessorium。
Galba's body was conveyed away by Priscus Helvidius by Otho's
permission； and buried in the night by Argius； his freedman。
Thus you have the history of Galba； a person inferior to few Romans；
either for birth or riches； rather exceeding all of his time in both；
having lived in great honour and reputation in the reigns of five
emperors； insomuch that he overthrew Nero rather by his fame and
repute in the world than by actual force and power。 Of all the others
that joined in Nero's deposition； some were by general consent
regarded as unworthy； others had only themselves to vote them
deserving of the empire。 To him the title was offered； and by him it
was accepted； and simply lending his name to Vindex's attempt； he
gave to what had been called rebellion before； the name of a civil
war； by the presence of one that was accounted fit to govern。 And
therefore； as he considered that he had not so much sought the
position as the position had sought him； he proposed to command those
whom Nymphidius and Tigellinus had wheedled into obedience no
otherwise than Scipio formerly and Fabricius and Camillus had
commanded the Romans of their times。 But being now overcome with age；
he was indeed among the troops and legions an upright ruler upon the
antique model； but for the rest； giving himself up to Vinius； Laco；
and his freedmen； who make their gain of all things； no otherwise than
Nero had done to his insatiate favourites； he left none behind him
to wish him still in power； though many to compassionate his death。
THE END