heart…burning； however； was as yet at Rome a thing undeclared； and a
certain respect for Galba's personal presence somewhat retarded
their motions； and took off their edge； and their having no obvious
occasion for beginning a revolution curbed and kept under； more or
less； their resentments。 But those forces that had been formerly under
Virginius； and now were under Flaccus in Germany； valuing themselves
much upon the battle they had fought with Vindex； and finding now no
advantage of it； grew very refractory and intractable towards their
officers； and Flaccus they wholly disregarded； being incapacitated
in body by unintermitted gout； and； besides； a man of little
experience in affairs。 So at one of their festivals； when it was
customary for the officers of the army to wish all health and
happiness to the emperor； the common soldiers began to murmur
loudly； and on their officers persisting in the ceremony； responded
with the words； 〃If he deserves it。〃
When some similar insolence was committed by the legions under
Vitellius； frequent letters with the information came to Galba from
his agents； and taking alarm at this； and fearing that he might be
despised not only for his old age； but also for want of issue； he
determined to adopt some young man of distinction； and declare him his
successor。 There was at this time in the city Marcus Otho； a person of
fair extraction； but from his childhood one of the few most debauched；
voluptuous； and luxurious livers in Rome。 And as Homer gives Paris
in several places the title of 〃fair Helen's love；〃 making a woman's
name the glory and addition to his； as if he had nothing else to
distinguish him； so Otho was renowned in Rome for nothing more than
his marriage with Poppaea； whom Nero had a passion for when she was
Crispinus's wife。 But being as yet respectful to his own wife； and
standing in awe of his mother； he engaged Otho underhand to solicit
her。 For Nero lived familiarly with Otho； whose prodigality won his
favour； and he was well pleased when he took the freedom to jest
upon him as mean and penurious。 Thus when Nero one day perfumed
himself with some rich essence and favoured Otho with a sprinkle of
it； he； entertaining Nero next day； ordered gold and silver pipes to
disperse the like on a sudden freely； like water； throughout the room。
As to Poppaea； he was beforehand with Nero； and first seducing her
himself； then； with the hope of Nero's favour； he prevailed with her
to part with her husband； and brought her to his own house as his
wife； and was not content afterwards to have a share in her； but
grudged to have Nero for a claimant； Poppaea herself； they say；
being rather pleased than otherwise with this jealousy； she
sometimes excluded Nero； even when Otho was not present； either to
prevent his getting tired with her； or； as some say； not liking the
prospect of an imperial marriage； though willing enough to have the
emperor as her lover。 So that Otho ran the risk of his life； and
strange it was he escaped； when Nero； for this very marriage； killed
his wife and sister。 But he was beholden to Seneca's friendship； by
whose persuasions and entreaty Nero was prevailed with to despatch him
as praetor into Lusitania； on the shores of the Ocean； where he
behaved himself very agreeably and indulgently to those he had to
govern； well knowing this command was but to colour and disguise his
banishment。
When Galba revolted from Nero； Otho was the first governor of any of
the provinces that came over to him； bringing all the gold and
silver he possessed in the shape of cups and tables； to be coined into
money； and also what servants he had fitly qualified to wait upon a
prince。 In all other points； too； he was faithful to him； and gave him
sufficient proof that he was inferior to none in managing public
business。 And he so far ingratiated himself； that he rode in the
same carriage with him during the whole journey； several days
together。 And in this journey and familiar companionship he won over
Vinius also； both by his conversation and presents； but especially
by conceding to him the first place securing the second； by his
interest； for himself。 And he had the advantage of him in avoiding all
odium and jealousy； assisting all petitioners； without asking for
any reward； and appearing courteous and of easy access towards all
especially to the military men； for many of whom he obtained commands；
some immediately from the emperor； others by Vinius's means； and by
the assistance of the two favourite freedmen； Icelus and Asiaticus；
these being the men in chief power in the court。 As often as he
entertained Galba； he gave the cohort on duty； in addition to their
pay； a piece of gold for every man there； upon pretence of respect
to the emperor； while really he undermined him； and stole away his
popularity with the soldiers。
So Galba consulting about a successor； Vinius introduced Otho； yet
not even this gratis； but upon promise that he would marry his
daughter if Galba should make him his adopted son and successor to the
empire。 But Galba； in all his actions； showed clearly that he
preferred the public good before his own private interest； not
aiming so much to pleasure himself as to advantage the Romans by his
selection。 Indeed he does not seem to have been so much as inclined to
make choice of Otho had it been but to inherit his own private
fortune； knowing his extravagant and luxurious character； and that
he was already plunged in debt five thousand myriads deep。 So he
listened to Vinius； and made no reply； but mildly suspended his
determination。 Only he appointed himself consul； and Vinius his
colleague； and it was the general expectation that he would declare
his successor at the beginning of the new year。 And the soldiers
desired nothing more than that Otho should be the person。
But the forces in Germany broke out into their mutiny whilst he
was yet deliberating； and anticipated his design。 All the soldiers
in general felt much resentment against Galba for not having given
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 h