When Galba was deliberating on the
choice of a successor, Vinius proposed Otho.
choice of a successor, Vinius proposed Otho.
Plutarch - Lives - v7
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? GALBA.
though Nymphidius had sent him rich vessels, and
other furniture suitable to a great prince, which he
had taken out of Nero's palace, he made use of none
of it; every thing was served up in dishes of his
own. This was a circumstance that did him honor, for
it showed him a man of superior sentiments, and in-
tirely above vanity. Titus Vinius, however, soon
endeavored to convince him that these superior senti-
ments, this modesty and simplicity of manners, be-
trayed an ambition for popular applause, which real
greatness of mind disdains; by which argument he
prevailed with him to use Nero's riches, and show all
the imperial magnificence at his entertainments. Thus
the old man made it appear that in time he would be
intirely governed by Vinius.
No man had a greater passion for money than Vi-
nius; nor was any man more an admirer of women.
While he was yet very young, and making his first
campaign under Calvisius Sabinus, he brought the
wife of his general one night into the camp in a sol-
dier's habit, and remained with her in that part of it
which the Romans call the Principia: for this, Cains
Caesar put him in prison; but. he was released on the
death of that prince. Afterwards, happening to sup
with Claudius Caesar, he stole a silver cup. The em-
peror being informed of it, invited him the following
evening, but ordered the attendants to serve him with
nothing but earthen vessels. This moderation of the
emperor seemed to show that the theft was deserving
only of ridicule, and not serious resentment: but what
he did afterwards, when he had Galba and his revenues
at command, served partly as the cause, and partly
as the pretence, for many events of the most tragical
kind.
Nymphidius, on the return of Gelliauus, whom he
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? 300
PLUTARCH.
had sent as a spy on Galba, was informed that Corne-
lius Laco was appointed to the command of the guards
and of the palace, and that all the power would be in
the hands of Vinius. This distressed him exceedingly,
as he had no opportunity to attend the emperor, or
speak to him in private; for his intentions were sus-
pected, and all were on their guard. In this perplexity,
he assembled the officers of the pretorian cohorts, and
told them, that ' Galba was indeed an old man of mild
and moderate sentiments; but that, instead of using
his own judgment, he was intirely directed by Vinius
and Laco, who made a bad use of their power. It is
our business therefore,' continued he, ' before they
insensibly establish themselves, and become sole mas-
ters, as Tigellinus was, to send ambassadors to the
emperor in the name of all the troops, and represent
to him, that if he removes those two counsellors from
his person, he will find a much more agreeable recep-
tion amongst the Romans. ' Nymphidius perceiving
that his officers did not approve the proposal, but
thought it absurd and preposterous to dictate the choice
of friends to an emperor of his age, as they might have
done to a boy who now first tasted power, he adopted
another scheme. In hopes of intimidating Galba, he
pretended sometimes in his letters that there were
discontents, and dangers of an insurrection in Rome;
sometimes, that Clodius Macer had laid an embargo in
Africa on the corn-ships. One while he said the Ger-
man legions were in motion, and another while that
there was the same rebellious disposition amongst those
in Syria and Judea. But as Galba did not give much
attention or credit to his advices, he resolved to usurp
the imperial title himself before he arrived; though
Clodius Celsus, the Antiochian, a sensible man, and
one of his best friends, did all in his power to dis-
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? GALBA.
301
suade him; and told him plainly, he did not believe
there was one family in Rome that would give him the
title of Caesar. Many others however made a jest of
Galba; and Mithridates of Pontus, in particular, mak-
ing merry with his bald head and wrinkled face, said,
'The Romans think him something extraordinary
while he is at a distance, but as soon as he arrives, they
will consider it a disgrace to the times to have ever
called him Caesar. '
It was resolved therefore that Nymphidius should be
conducted to the camp at midnight, and proclaimed
emperor. But Antonius Honoratus, the first tribune,
assembled in the evening the troops under his com-
mand, and blamed both himself and'them for changing
so often in so short a time, not in pursuance of the dic-
tates of reason, or for making a better choice, but be-
cause some demon pushed them on from one treason to
another. 'The crimes of Nero, indeed,' said he, 'may
justify our first measures: but has Galba murdered
his own mother, or his wife? or has he made you
ashamed of your emperor by appearing as a fiddler or
an actor on a stage? Yet not even these things brought
us to abandon Nero; but Nymphidius first persuaded
us that he had abandoned us, and had fled into Egypt.
Shall we then sacrifice Galba after Nero; and when
we have destroyed the relation of Livia, as well as the
son of Agrippina, set the son of Nymphidia on the
imperial throne? Or rather, after having taken ven-
geance on a detestable tyrant in Nero, shall we not
show ourselves good and faithful guards to Galba? '
On this speech of the tribune, all his men acceded
to the proposal. They applied also to their fellow-
soldiers, and prevailed on most of them to return to
their allegiance. At the same time a loud shout was
heard in the camp; and Nymphidius either believing
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PLUTARCH.
(which is the account that some give us) that the troops
were calling him in order to proclaim him emperor, or
else hastening to appease the insurrection, and fix such
as he found wavering, went with lights to the camp;
having in his hand a speech composed for him by Cin-
gonins Varro, which he had committed to memory, in
order to pronounce it to the army. But seeing the
gates shut, and a number of men in arms on the wall,
his confidence abated. However, advancing nearer, he
asked them, ' What they intended to do, and by whose
command they were under arms V They answered,
one and all, 'that they acknowleged no other em-
peror but Galba. ' Then pretending to enter into their
opinion, he applauded their fidelity, and ordered those
that accompanied him to follow his example. The
guard opening the gate, and suffering him to enter with
a few of his people, a javelin was thrown at him, which
Septimius, who went before, received on his shield.
But others, drawing their swords, he fled, and was
pursued into a soldier's hut, where they despatched
him. His body was dragged to the middle of the
camp, where they inclosed it with pales, and exposed
it to public view the next day.
Nymphidius being thus taken off, Galba was no
sooner informed of it, than he ordered such of his ac-
complices as had not already despatched themselves,
to be put to death. Amongst these was Cingonius, who
composed the oration, and Mithridates of Pontus. In
this the emperor did not proceed according to the
laws and customs of the Romans ; . nor was it indeed a
popular measure to inflict capital punishment On per-
sons of eminence, without any form of trial, though
they might deserve death: for the Romans, deceived,
as it usually happens, by the first reports, now ex-
pected another kind of government. But what afflicted
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? GALBA.
them most, was the order he sent for the execution of
Petronius Turpilianus, a man of consular dignity,
merely because he had been faithful to Nero. There
was some pretence for taking off Macer in Africa, by
means of Trebonianus, and Fonteius in Germany by
Valens, because they were in arms, and had forces that
he might be afraid of. But there was no reason why
Turpilianus, a defenceless old man, should not have a
hearing, at least under a prince who should have pre-
served in his actions the moderation he so much af-
fected. Such complaints there were against Galba on
this subject.
When he was about five-and-twenty furlongs from
the city, he found the way stopped by a disorderly
parcel of seamen, who gathered about him on all sides.
These were persons whom Nero had formed into a
legion, that they might act as soldiers. They now
met him on the road to have their establishment con-
firmed, and crowded the emperor so much, that he
could neither be seen nor heard by those who came to
wait on him; for they insisted, in a clamorous manner,
on having legionary colors and quarters assigned them.
Galba put them off to another time; but they consi-
dered that as a denial; and some of them even drew
their swords: on which he ordered the cavalry to fall
on them. They made no resistance, but fled with the
utmost precipitation, and many of them were killed in
their flight. It was considered as an inauspicious cir-
cumstance for Galba to enter the city amidst so much
blood and slaughter. And those who despised him
before as weak and inactive through age, now looked
on him as an object of fear and horror.
Besides, while he endeavored to reform the extra-
vagance and profusion with which money used to be
given away by Nero, he missed the mark of propriety.
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? PLUTARCH.
When Canus, a celebrated performer on the flute,
played to him one evening at court, after expressing
the highest satisfaction at the excellence of his music,
he ordered his purse to be brought, and taking out a
few pieces of gold, gave them to Canus, telling him, at
the same time, that this was a gratuity out of his own,
not the public money. As for the money which Nero
had given to persons that pleased him on the stage, or
in the palaestra, he insisted with great rigor that it
should be all returned, except a tenth part. And as
persons of such dissolute lives, who mind nothing but
a provision for the day, could produce very little, he
caused inquiry to be made for all who had bought any
thing of them, or received presents, and obliged them
to refund. This affair extending to great numbers of
people, and seeming to have no end, it reflected dis-
grace on Vinius, because he made the emperor sordid
and mean to others, while he pillaged the treasury
himself in the most insatiable manner, and took and
sold whatever he thought proper.
In short, as Hesiod says,
Spare not the full cask, nor, when shallow streams
Declare the bottom near, withdraw your hand.
So Vinius, seeing Galba old and infirm, drank freely of
the favors of fortune, as only beginning, and yet, at the
same time, drawing to an end.
But the aged emperor was greatly injured by Vinius,
not only through his neglect or misapplication of things
committed to his trust, but by his condemning or de-
feating the most salutary intentions of his master. This
was the case with respect to punishing Nero's ministers.
Some bad ones, it is true, were put to death, amongst
whom were Elius, Polycletus, Petinus, and Patrobius.
The people expressed their joy by loud plaudits when
these were led through the forum to the place of exe-
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? GALBA.
cution, and called it a glorious and holy procession.
But both gods and men, they said, demanded the pu-
nishment of Tigellinus, who suggested the very worst
measures, and taught Nero all his tyranny. That
worthy minister however had secured himself by great
presents to Vinius, which were only earnests of still
greater. Turpilianus, though obnoxious only because
he had not betrayed or hated his master, on account of
his bad qualities, and though guilty of no remarkable
crime, was, notwithstanding, put to death; while the
man who had made Nero unfit to live, and, after he
had made him such, deserted and betrayed him, lived
and florished: a proof that there was nothing which
Yinius would not sell, and that no man had reason to
despair who had money: for there was no sight which
the people of Rome so passionately longed for, as that
of Tigellinus carried to execution; and in the theatre
and the circus they continually demanded it, till at last
the emperor checked them by an edict, importing, that
Tigellinus was in a deep consumption, which would de-
stroy him ere long, and that their sovereign intreated
them not to turn his government into a tyranny by
needless acts of severity.
The people were highly displeased; but the mis-
creants only laughed at them. Tigellinus offered sacri-
fice in acknowlegement to the gods for his recovery,
and provided a great entertainment; and Vinius rose
from the emperor's table, to go and carouse with Ti-
gellinus, accompanied by his daughter, who was a
widow. Tigellinus drank to her, and said, 'I will
make this cup worth two hundred and fifty thousand
drachmas to you. ' At the same time he ordered his
chief mistress to take off her own necklace and give it
her. This was said to be worth a hundred and fifty
thousand more.
PLUT. VoL. VII. V
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? 306
PLUTARCH.
From this time the most moderate of Galba's pro-
ceedings were misrepresented: for instance, his lenity
to the Gauls, who had conspired with Vindex, did not
escape censure: for it was believed that they had not
gained a remission of tribute and the freedom of Rome
from the emperor's indulgence, but that they purchased
them of Vinius. Hence the people had a general aver-
sion to Galba's administration. As for the soldiers,
though they did not receive what had been promised
them, they let it pass, hoping that, if they had not that
gratuity, they should certainly have as much as Nero
had given them. But when they began to murmur,
and their complaints were brought to Galba, he said,
what well became a great prince, ' That it was his cus-
tom to choose, not to buy his soldiers. ' This saying,
however, being reported to the troops, filled them with
the most deadly and irreconcileable hatred to Galba:
for it seemed to them that he not only wanted to de-
prive them of the gratuity himself, but to set a prece-
dent for future emperors.
The disaffection to the government that prevailed in
Rome was as yet kept secret in some measure, partly
because some remaining reverence for the presence of
the emperor prevented the flame of sedition from break-
ing out, and partly for want of an open occasion to at-
tempt a change. But the troops which served under
Virginhis, and were now commanded by Flaccus in
Germany, thinking they deserved great things for the
battle which they fought with Vindex, and finding that
they obtained nothing, began to behave in a very re-
fractory manner, and could not be appeased by their
officers. Their general himself they utterly despised,
as well on account of his inactivity (for he had the gout
in a violent manner), as his want of experience in mili-
tary affairs. One day, at some public games, when the
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? GALBA.
307
tribunes and centurions, according to custom, made
vows for the happiness of the emperor, the common
soldiers murmured; and when the officers repeated
their good wishes, they answered, ' if he is worthy. '
The legions that were under the command of Tigel-
linus behaved with equal insolence; of which Galba's
agents wrote him an account. He was now appre-
hensive that it was not only his age, but his want of
children, that brought him into contempt; and therefore
he formed a design to adopt some young man of noble
birth, and declare him his successor. Marcus Otho
was of a family by no means obscure ; but, at the same
time, he was more remarkable from his infancy for
luxury and love of pleasure than most of the Roman
youth. And, as Homer often calls Paris the husband
of the beauteous Helen, because he had nothing else to
distinguish him, so Otho was noted in Rome as the
husband of Poppaea. This was the lady whom Nero
fell in love with while she was wife to Crispinus; but
retaining as yet some respect for his own wife, and
some reverence for his mother, he privately employed
Otho to solicit her: for Otho's debauchery had recom-
mended him to Nero as a friend and companion, and
he had an agreeable way of rallying him on what he
called his avarice and sordid manner of living.
We are told, that one day when Nero was perfuming
himself with a very rich essence, he sprinkled a little
of it on Otho. Otho invited the emperor the day fol-
lowing, when suddenly gold and silver pipes opened
on all sides of the apartment, and poured out essences
for them in as much plenty as if it had been water. He
applied to Poppa? a according to Nero's desire, and first
seduced her for him, with the flattering idea of having
an emperor for her lover: after which he persuaded
her to leave her husband. But when he took her
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? PLUTARGH.
home as his own wife, he was not so happy in having
her, as miserable in the thought of her being loved by
another. And Poppaea is said not to have been dis-
pleased with this jealousy; for it seems she refused
to admit Nero when Otho was absent; whether it was
that she studied to keep Nero's love from decaying, or
whether, (as some say,) she did not choose to receive
the emperor as a husband, but, in her playful way,
took more pleasure in having him approach her as a
gallant. Otho's life therefore was in great danger on
account of that, marriage; and it is. astonishing, that
the man who could sacrifice his wife and sister for the
sake of Poppaea should afterwards spare Otho.
But Otho had a friend in Seneca ; and it was he who
persuaded Nero to send him out governor of Lusitania,
on the borders of the ocean. Otho made himself agree-
able to the inhabitants by his lenity; for he knew that
this command was given him only as a more honorable
exile. On Galba's revolt, he was the first governor of
a province that came over to him, and he carried with
him all the gold and silver vessels he had, to be melted
down and coined for his use. He likewise presented
him with such of his servants as knew best how to wait
on an emperor. He behaved to him, indeed, in all re-
spects with great fidelity; and it appeared from the
specimen he gave, that there was no department in the
government for which he had not talents. He accom-
panied him in his whole journey, and was many days
in the same carriage with him; during all which time
he lost no opportunity to pay his court to Vinius,
either by assiduities or presents: and as he always
took care to leave him the first place, he was secure by
his means of having the second. Besides that there
was nothing invidious in this station, he recommended
himself by granting his favors and services without re-
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? GALEA.
309
ward, and by his general affability and politeness. He
took most pleasure in serving the officers of the army,
and obtained governments for many of them, partly by
applications to the emperor, and partly to Vinius and
his freedmen, Icelns and Asiaticus, for these had the
chief influence at court.
Whenever Galba visited him, he complimented the
company of guards that was on duty with a piece of
gold for each man; thus practising on and gaining the
soldiers, while he seemed only to be doing honor to
their master.
When Galba was deliberating on the
choice of a successor, Vinius proposed Otho. Nor
was this a disinterested overture, for Otho had pro-
mised to marry Vinius' daughter, after Galba had
adopted him, and appointed him his successor. But
Galba always showed that he preferred the good of the
public to any private considerations; and in this case
he sought not for the man who might be most agree-
able to himself, but one who promised to be the great-
est blessing to the Romans. Indeed it can hardly be
supposed that he would have appointed Otho heir even
to his private patrimony, when he knew how expensive
and profuse he was, and that he was loaded with a debt
of five millions of drachmas. He therefore gave Vi-
nius a patient hearing, without returning him any an-
swer, and put off the affair to another time. However,
as he declared himself consul, and chose Vinius for
his colleague, it was supposed that he would appoint a
successor at the beginning of the next year, and the
soldiers wished that Otho might be the man.
But while Galba delayed the appointment, and con-
tinued deliberating, the army mutinied in Germany.
All the troops throughout the empire hated Galba, be-
cause they had not received the promised donations,
but those in Germany had a particular apology for
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PLUTARCH.
their aversion. They alleged 'that Virginias Rufus,
their general, had been removed with ignominy, and
that the Gauls, who had fought against them, were the
only people that were rewarded; whilst all who had
not joined Vindex were punished; and Galba, as if he
had obligations to none but him for the imperial dia-
dem, honored his memory with sacrifices and public
libations. '
Such speeches as this were common in the camp,
when the calends of January were at hand, and Flaccus
assembled the soldiers, that they might take tjje custo-
mary oath of fealty to the emperor. But, instead of
that, they overturned and broke to pieces the statues
of Galba; and, having taken an oath of allegiance to
the senate and people of Rome, they retired to their
tents. Their officers were now as apprehensive of
anarchy as rebellion, and the following speech is said
to have been made on the occasion: 'What are we
doing; my fellow-soldiers? We neither appoint ano-
ther emperor, nor keep our allegiance to the present,
as if we had renounced not only Galba, but every other
sovereign, and all manner of obedience. It is true,
Hordeonius Flaccus is no more than the shadow of
Galba. Let us quit him. But at the distance of one
day's march only, there is Vitellius, who commands
in the lower Germany, whose father was censor, and
thrice consul, and in a manner colleague to the empe-
ror Claudius. And though his poverty be a circum-
stance for which some people may despise him, it is a
strong proof of his probity and greatness of mind.
Let us go and declare him emperor, and show the
world that we know how to choose a person for that
high dignity better than the Spaniards and Lusita-
nians. ' ?
Some approved, and others rejected this motion*
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? GALBA.
One of the standard-bearers, however, marched off
privately, and carried the news to Vitellius that night.
He found him at table, for he was giving a great en-
tertainment to his officers. The news soon spread
through the army, and Fabius Valens, who commanded
one of the legions, went next day, at the head of a
considerable party of horse, and saluted Vitellius em-
peror. For some days before he seemed to dread the
weight of sovereign power, and totally to decline it;
but now being fortified with the indulgences of the
table, to which he had sat down at mid-day, he went
out, and accepted the title of Germanicus, which the
army conferred on him, though he refused that of Cae-
sar. Soon after, Flaccus' troops forgot the republican
oaths they had taken to the senate and the people, and
swore allegiance to Vitellius. Thus Vitellius was pro-
claimed emperor in Germany.
As soon as Galba was informed of the insurrection
there, he resolved, without farther delay, to proceed
to the adoption. He knew some of his friends were
for Dolabella, and a still greater number for Otho;
but without being guided by the judgment of either
party, or making the least mention of his design, he
sent suddenly for Piso, the son of Crassus and Scri-
bonia, who were put to death by Nero; a young man
formed by nature for every virtue, and distinguished
for his modesty and sobriety of manners. In pursu-
ance of his intentions, he went down with him to the
camp, to give him the title of Caesar, and declare him
his successor. But he was no sooner out of his palace
than very inauspicious presages appeared: and in the
camp, when he delivered a speech to the army, read-
ing some parts, and pronouncing others from memory,
the many claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, the
violent rain that fell, and the darkness that covered
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? PLUTARCH.
both the camp and the city, plainly announced that the
gods did not admit of the adoption, and that the issue
would be unfortunate. The countenances of the sol-
diers, too, were black and lowering, because there was
no donation even on that occasion.
As to Piso, all that were present could not but won-
der that, so fair as they could conjecture from his voice
and look, he was not disconcerted with so great an ho-
nor, though he did not receive it without sensibility.
On the contrary, in Otho's countenance there appeared
strong marks of resentment, and of the impatience with
which he bore the disappointment of his hopes: for his
failing of that honor which he had been thought worthy
to aspire to, and which he lately believed himself very
near attaining, seemed a proof of Galba's hatred and
ill intentions to him. He was not therefore without
apprehensions of what might befall him afterwards;
and dreading Galba, execrating Piso, and full of in-
dignation against Vinius, he retired with this confusion
of passions in his heart. But the Chaldaeans and other
diviners, whom he had always about him, would not
suffer him intirely to give up his hopes or abandon his
design. In particular, he relied on Ptolemy, because
he had formerly predicted that he should not fall by
the hand of Nero, but survive him, and live to ascend
the imperial throne: for, as the former part of the
prophecy proved true, he thought he had no reason to
despair of the latter. None however exasperated him
more against Galba than those who condoled with him
in private, and pretended that he had been treated
with great ingratitude. Besides, there was a number
of people that had florished under Tigellinus and Nym-
phidius, and now lived in poverty and disgrace, who,
to recommend themselves to Otho, expressed great in-
dignation at the slight he had suffered, and urged him
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? GALEA.
313
to revenge it. Amongst these were Veturius, who was
optio, or centurion's deputy, and Barbius, who was
tesserarius, or one of those that carry the word from
the tribunes to the centurions. Onomastus, one of
Otho's freedmen, joined them, and went from troop to
troop, corrupting some with money, and others with
promises. Indeed, they were corrupt enough already,
and wanted only an opportunity to put their designs in
execution. If they had not been extremely disaffected,
they could not have been prepared for a revolt in so
short a space of time as that of four days, which was
all that passed between the adoption and the assassina-
tion ; for Piso and Galba were both slain the sixth day
after, which was the fifteenth of January. Early in
the morning Galba sacrificed in the palace in presence
of his friends. Umbricius the diviner no sooner took
the entrails in his hands than he declared, not in enig-
matical expressions, but plainly, that there were signs
of great troubles, and of treason that threatened imme-
diate danger to the emperor. Thus Otho was almost
delivered up to Galba by the hand of the gods; for he
stood behind the emperor, listening with great atten-
tion to the observations made by Umbricius. These
put him in great confusion, and his fears were disco-
vered by his change of color, when his freedman Ono-
mastus came and told him that the architects were
come, and waited for him at his house. This was the
signal for Otho's meeting the soldiers. He pretended
therefore that he had bought an old house which these
architects were to examine; and, going down by what
is called Tiberius' palace, went to that part of the fo-
rum where stands the gilded pillar which terminates
all the great roads in Italy.
The soldiers who received him, and saluted him em-
peror, are said not to have been more than twenty-
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? 314
PLUTARCH.
three: so that, though he had nothing of that dastardly
spirit which the delicacy of his constitution, and the
effeminacy of his life, seemed to declare, but, on the
contrary, was firm and resolute in time of danger; yet,
on this occasion, he was intimidated, and wanted to
retire; but the soldiers would not suffer it. They sur-
rounded the chair with drawn swords, and insisted on
its proceeding to the camp. Meantime Otho desired
the bearers to make haste, often declaring that he was
a lost man. There were some who overheard him,
and they rather wondered at the hardiness of the at-
tempt with so small a party, than disturbed themselves
about the consequences. As he was carried through
the forum, about the same number as the first joined
him, and others afterwards by three or four at a
time. The whole party then saluted him Caesar, and
conducted him to the camp, fiorishing their swords
before him. Martialis, the tribune who kept guard
that day, knowing nothing (as they tell us) of the con-
spiracy, was surprised and terrified at so unexpected
a sight, and suffered them to enter. When Otho was
within the camp, he met with no resistance, for the
conspirators gathered about such as were strangers to
the design, and made it their business to explain it to
them; on which, they joined them by one or two at a
time, at first out of fear, and afterwards out of choice.
The news was immediately carried to Galba, while
the diviner yet attended, and had the entrails in his
hands: so that they who had been most incredulous in
matters of divination, and even held it in contempt
before, were astonished at the divine interposition in
the accomplishment of this presage. People of all
sorts now orowding from the forum to the palace, Vi-
nius and Laco, with some of the emperor's freedmen,
stood before him with drawn swords to defend him.
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? GALEA.
Piso went out to speak to the life-guards, and Marius
Celsus, a man of great courage and honor, was sent to
secure the Illyrian legion, which lay in Vipsanius'
portico.
Galba was inclined to go out to the people. Vinius
endeavored to dissuade him from it; but Celsus and
Laco encouraged him to go, and expressed themselves
with some sharpness against Vinius. Meantime a strong
report prevailed that Otho was slain in the camp; soon
after which, Julius Atticus, a soldier of some note
amongst the guards, came up, and crying he was the
man that had killed Caesar's enemy, made his way
through the crowd, and showed his bloody sword to
Galba. The emperor fixing his eye on him, said,
'Who gave you orders V He answered, 'My alle-
giance, and the oath I had taken;' and the people ex-
pressed their approbation in loud plaudits. Galba
then went out in a sedan-chair, with a design to sacri-
fice to Jupiter, and show himself to the people. But
he had no sooner reached the forum than the rumor
changed like the wind, and news met him that Otho
was master of the camp. On this occasion, as it was
natural amongst a multitude of people, some called out
to him to advance, and some to retire; some to take
courage, and some to be cautious. His chair was
tossed backward and forward, as in a tempest, and
ready to be overset, when there appeared first a party
of horse, and then another of foot, issuing from the
Basilica of Paulus, and crying out, 'Away with this
private man! ' Numbers were then running about, not
to separate by flight, but to possess themselves of the
porticos and eminences about the forum, as it were to
enjoy some public spectacle. Atilius Virgilio beat
down one of Galba's statues, which served as a signal
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PLUTARCH.
for hostilities, and they attacked the chair on all sides
with javelins. As those did not despatch him, they
advanced sword in hand. In this time of trial none
stood up in his defence hut one' man, who, indeed,
amongst so many millions, was the only one that did
honor to the Roman empire. This was Sempronius
Densus, a centurion, who, without any particular obli-
gations to Galha, and only from a regard to honor and
the law, stood forth to defend the chair. First of all
he lifted up the vine-branch with which the centurions
chastise such as deserve stripes, and then called out to
the soldiers who were pressing on, and commanded
them to spare the emperor. They fell on him notwith-
standing, and he drew his sword and fought a long
time, till he received a stroke in the ham, which brought
him to the ground.
The chair was overturned at what is called the Cur-
tian lake, and Galba tumbling out of it, they ran to de-
spatch him. At the same time he presented his throat,
and said, ' Strike, if it be for the good of Rome. ' He
received many strokes on his arms and legs, for he
had a coat of mail on his body. According to most
accounts, it was Camurius, a soldier of the fifteenth
legion, that despatched him; though some say it was
Terentius, some Arcadius, and others Fabius Fabulus.
They add, that when Fabius had cut off his head, he
wrapped it up in the skirt of his garment, because it
was so bald that he could take no hold of it. His asso-
ciates, however, would not suffer him to conceal it, but
insisted that he should let the world see what an ex-
ploit he had performed; he therefore fixed it on the
point of his spear, and swinging about the head of a
venerable old man, and a mild prince, who was both
pontifex maximus and consul, he ran on, (like the
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? GALBA.
317
Bacchanals with the head of Pentheus,) brandishing
his spear, that was dyed with the blood that trickled
from it.
When the head was presented to Otho, he cried out,
'This is nothing, my fellow-soldiers; show me the
head of Piso. ' It was brought not long after; for that
young prince being wounded, and pursued by one
Murcus, was killed by him at the gates of the temple
of Vesta. Vinius also was put to the sword, though he
declared himself an accomplice in the conspiracy, and
protested that it was against Otho's orders that he suf-
fered. However, they cut off his head, and that of
Laco, and carrying them to Otho, demanded their re-
ward: for, as Archilochus says,
We bring seven warriors only to your tent,
Yet thousands of us kill'd them.
So in this case many who had no share in the action
bathed their hands and swords in the blood, and show-
ing them to Otho, petitioned for their reward. It ap-
peared afterwards from the petitions given in, that the
number of them was a hundred and twenty; and
Vitellius having searched them out, put them all to
death. Marius Celsus also coming to the camp, many
accused him of having exhorted the soldiers to stand
by Galba, and the bulk of the army insisted that he
should suffer. But Otho being desirous to save him,
and yet afraid of contradicting them, told them, 'he
did not choose to have him executed so soon, because
he had several important questions to put to him. '
He ordered him therefore to be kept in chains, and
delivered him to persons in whom he could best con-
fide.
The senate was immediately assembled; and as if
they were become different men, or had other gods to
swear by, they took the oath to Otho, which he had
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? PLUTARCH.
before taken to Galba, but had not kept; and they
gave him the titles of Caesar and Augustus, while the
bodies of those that had been beheaded lay in their
consular robes in the forum. As for the heads, the
soldiers, after they had no farther use for them, sold
that of Vinius to his daughter for two thousand five
hundred drachmas. Piso's was given to his wife Ve-
rania, at her request; and Galba's to the servants of
Patrobius and Vitellius, who, after they had treated it
with the utmost insolence and outrage, threw it into a
place called Sestertium, where the bodies of those are
cast that are put to death by the emperors. Galba's
corpse was carried away by Helvidius Priscus, with
Otho's permission, and buried in the night by his freed-
man Argius.
Such is the history of Galba; a man who, in the
points of family and fortune distinctly considered, was
exceeded by few of the Romans, and who, in the union
of both, was superior to all. He had lived, too, in great
honor, and with the best reputation, under five empe-
rors; and it was rather by his character than by force
of arms that he deposed Nero. As to the rest who
conspired against the tyrant, some of them were thought
unworthy of the imperial diadem by the people, and
others thought themselves unworthy. But Galba was
invited to accept it, and only followed the sense of
those who called him to that high dignity. Nay, when
he gave the sanction of his name to Vindex, that which
before was called rebellion, was considered only as a
civil war, because a man of princely talents was then
at the head of it. So that he did not so much want
the empire, as the empire wanted him: and with these
principles he attempted to govern a people corrupted
by Tigellinus and Nymphidius, as Scipio, Fabricius,
and Camillus, governed the Romans of their times.
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? OALBA.
319
Notwithstanding his great age, he showed himself a
chief worthy of ancient Rome through all the military
department. But, in the civil administration, he de-
livered himself up to Vinius, to Laco, and to his en-
franchised slaves, who sold every thing, in the same
manner as Nero had left all to his insatiable vermin.
The consequence of this was, that no man regretted
him as an emperor, though almost all were moved with
pity at his miserable fate.
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? OTHO.
The new emperor went early in the morning to the
capitol, and sacrificed; after which he ordered Marius
Celsus to be brought before him.
? GALBA.
though Nymphidius had sent him rich vessels, and
other furniture suitable to a great prince, which he
had taken out of Nero's palace, he made use of none
of it; every thing was served up in dishes of his
own. This was a circumstance that did him honor, for
it showed him a man of superior sentiments, and in-
tirely above vanity. Titus Vinius, however, soon
endeavored to convince him that these superior senti-
ments, this modesty and simplicity of manners, be-
trayed an ambition for popular applause, which real
greatness of mind disdains; by which argument he
prevailed with him to use Nero's riches, and show all
the imperial magnificence at his entertainments. Thus
the old man made it appear that in time he would be
intirely governed by Vinius.
No man had a greater passion for money than Vi-
nius; nor was any man more an admirer of women.
While he was yet very young, and making his first
campaign under Calvisius Sabinus, he brought the
wife of his general one night into the camp in a sol-
dier's habit, and remained with her in that part of it
which the Romans call the Principia: for this, Cains
Caesar put him in prison; but. he was released on the
death of that prince. Afterwards, happening to sup
with Claudius Caesar, he stole a silver cup. The em-
peror being informed of it, invited him the following
evening, but ordered the attendants to serve him with
nothing but earthen vessels. This moderation of the
emperor seemed to show that the theft was deserving
only of ridicule, and not serious resentment: but what
he did afterwards, when he had Galba and his revenues
at command, served partly as the cause, and partly
as the pretence, for many events of the most tragical
kind.
Nymphidius, on the return of Gelliauus, whom he
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? 300
PLUTARCH.
had sent as a spy on Galba, was informed that Corne-
lius Laco was appointed to the command of the guards
and of the palace, and that all the power would be in
the hands of Vinius. This distressed him exceedingly,
as he had no opportunity to attend the emperor, or
speak to him in private; for his intentions were sus-
pected, and all were on their guard. In this perplexity,
he assembled the officers of the pretorian cohorts, and
told them, that ' Galba was indeed an old man of mild
and moderate sentiments; but that, instead of using
his own judgment, he was intirely directed by Vinius
and Laco, who made a bad use of their power. It is
our business therefore,' continued he, ' before they
insensibly establish themselves, and become sole mas-
ters, as Tigellinus was, to send ambassadors to the
emperor in the name of all the troops, and represent
to him, that if he removes those two counsellors from
his person, he will find a much more agreeable recep-
tion amongst the Romans. ' Nymphidius perceiving
that his officers did not approve the proposal, but
thought it absurd and preposterous to dictate the choice
of friends to an emperor of his age, as they might have
done to a boy who now first tasted power, he adopted
another scheme. In hopes of intimidating Galba, he
pretended sometimes in his letters that there were
discontents, and dangers of an insurrection in Rome;
sometimes, that Clodius Macer had laid an embargo in
Africa on the corn-ships. One while he said the Ger-
man legions were in motion, and another while that
there was the same rebellious disposition amongst those
in Syria and Judea. But as Galba did not give much
attention or credit to his advices, he resolved to usurp
the imperial title himself before he arrived; though
Clodius Celsus, the Antiochian, a sensible man, and
one of his best friends, did all in his power to dis-
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? GALBA.
301
suade him; and told him plainly, he did not believe
there was one family in Rome that would give him the
title of Caesar. Many others however made a jest of
Galba; and Mithridates of Pontus, in particular, mak-
ing merry with his bald head and wrinkled face, said,
'The Romans think him something extraordinary
while he is at a distance, but as soon as he arrives, they
will consider it a disgrace to the times to have ever
called him Caesar. '
It was resolved therefore that Nymphidius should be
conducted to the camp at midnight, and proclaimed
emperor. But Antonius Honoratus, the first tribune,
assembled in the evening the troops under his com-
mand, and blamed both himself and'them for changing
so often in so short a time, not in pursuance of the dic-
tates of reason, or for making a better choice, but be-
cause some demon pushed them on from one treason to
another. 'The crimes of Nero, indeed,' said he, 'may
justify our first measures: but has Galba murdered
his own mother, or his wife? or has he made you
ashamed of your emperor by appearing as a fiddler or
an actor on a stage? Yet not even these things brought
us to abandon Nero; but Nymphidius first persuaded
us that he had abandoned us, and had fled into Egypt.
Shall we then sacrifice Galba after Nero; and when
we have destroyed the relation of Livia, as well as the
son of Agrippina, set the son of Nymphidia on the
imperial throne? Or rather, after having taken ven-
geance on a detestable tyrant in Nero, shall we not
show ourselves good and faithful guards to Galba? '
On this speech of the tribune, all his men acceded
to the proposal. They applied also to their fellow-
soldiers, and prevailed on most of them to return to
their allegiance. At the same time a loud shout was
heard in the camp; and Nymphidius either believing
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? 303
PLUTARCH.
(which is the account that some give us) that the troops
were calling him in order to proclaim him emperor, or
else hastening to appease the insurrection, and fix such
as he found wavering, went with lights to the camp;
having in his hand a speech composed for him by Cin-
gonins Varro, which he had committed to memory, in
order to pronounce it to the army. But seeing the
gates shut, and a number of men in arms on the wall,
his confidence abated. However, advancing nearer, he
asked them, ' What they intended to do, and by whose
command they were under arms V They answered,
one and all, 'that they acknowleged no other em-
peror but Galba. ' Then pretending to enter into their
opinion, he applauded their fidelity, and ordered those
that accompanied him to follow his example. The
guard opening the gate, and suffering him to enter with
a few of his people, a javelin was thrown at him, which
Septimius, who went before, received on his shield.
But others, drawing their swords, he fled, and was
pursued into a soldier's hut, where they despatched
him. His body was dragged to the middle of the
camp, where they inclosed it with pales, and exposed
it to public view the next day.
Nymphidius being thus taken off, Galba was no
sooner informed of it, than he ordered such of his ac-
complices as had not already despatched themselves,
to be put to death. Amongst these was Cingonius, who
composed the oration, and Mithridates of Pontus. In
this the emperor did not proceed according to the
laws and customs of the Romans ; . nor was it indeed a
popular measure to inflict capital punishment On per-
sons of eminence, without any form of trial, though
they might deserve death: for the Romans, deceived,
as it usually happens, by the first reports, now ex-
pected another kind of government. But what afflicted
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? GALBA.
them most, was the order he sent for the execution of
Petronius Turpilianus, a man of consular dignity,
merely because he had been faithful to Nero. There
was some pretence for taking off Macer in Africa, by
means of Trebonianus, and Fonteius in Germany by
Valens, because they were in arms, and had forces that
he might be afraid of. But there was no reason why
Turpilianus, a defenceless old man, should not have a
hearing, at least under a prince who should have pre-
served in his actions the moderation he so much af-
fected. Such complaints there were against Galba on
this subject.
When he was about five-and-twenty furlongs from
the city, he found the way stopped by a disorderly
parcel of seamen, who gathered about him on all sides.
These were persons whom Nero had formed into a
legion, that they might act as soldiers. They now
met him on the road to have their establishment con-
firmed, and crowded the emperor so much, that he
could neither be seen nor heard by those who came to
wait on him; for they insisted, in a clamorous manner,
on having legionary colors and quarters assigned them.
Galba put them off to another time; but they consi-
dered that as a denial; and some of them even drew
their swords: on which he ordered the cavalry to fall
on them. They made no resistance, but fled with the
utmost precipitation, and many of them were killed in
their flight. It was considered as an inauspicious cir-
cumstance for Galba to enter the city amidst so much
blood and slaughter. And those who despised him
before as weak and inactive through age, now looked
on him as an object of fear and horror.
Besides, while he endeavored to reform the extra-
vagance and profusion with which money used to be
given away by Nero, he missed the mark of propriety.
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? PLUTARCH.
When Canus, a celebrated performer on the flute,
played to him one evening at court, after expressing
the highest satisfaction at the excellence of his music,
he ordered his purse to be brought, and taking out a
few pieces of gold, gave them to Canus, telling him, at
the same time, that this was a gratuity out of his own,
not the public money. As for the money which Nero
had given to persons that pleased him on the stage, or
in the palaestra, he insisted with great rigor that it
should be all returned, except a tenth part. And as
persons of such dissolute lives, who mind nothing but
a provision for the day, could produce very little, he
caused inquiry to be made for all who had bought any
thing of them, or received presents, and obliged them
to refund. This affair extending to great numbers of
people, and seeming to have no end, it reflected dis-
grace on Vinius, because he made the emperor sordid
and mean to others, while he pillaged the treasury
himself in the most insatiable manner, and took and
sold whatever he thought proper.
In short, as Hesiod says,
Spare not the full cask, nor, when shallow streams
Declare the bottom near, withdraw your hand.
So Vinius, seeing Galba old and infirm, drank freely of
the favors of fortune, as only beginning, and yet, at the
same time, drawing to an end.
But the aged emperor was greatly injured by Vinius,
not only through his neglect or misapplication of things
committed to his trust, but by his condemning or de-
feating the most salutary intentions of his master. This
was the case with respect to punishing Nero's ministers.
Some bad ones, it is true, were put to death, amongst
whom were Elius, Polycletus, Petinus, and Patrobius.
The people expressed their joy by loud plaudits when
these were led through the forum to the place of exe-
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? GALBA.
cution, and called it a glorious and holy procession.
But both gods and men, they said, demanded the pu-
nishment of Tigellinus, who suggested the very worst
measures, and taught Nero all his tyranny. That
worthy minister however had secured himself by great
presents to Vinius, which were only earnests of still
greater. Turpilianus, though obnoxious only because
he had not betrayed or hated his master, on account of
his bad qualities, and though guilty of no remarkable
crime, was, notwithstanding, put to death; while the
man who had made Nero unfit to live, and, after he
had made him such, deserted and betrayed him, lived
and florished: a proof that there was nothing which
Yinius would not sell, and that no man had reason to
despair who had money: for there was no sight which
the people of Rome so passionately longed for, as that
of Tigellinus carried to execution; and in the theatre
and the circus they continually demanded it, till at last
the emperor checked them by an edict, importing, that
Tigellinus was in a deep consumption, which would de-
stroy him ere long, and that their sovereign intreated
them not to turn his government into a tyranny by
needless acts of severity.
The people were highly displeased; but the mis-
creants only laughed at them. Tigellinus offered sacri-
fice in acknowlegement to the gods for his recovery,
and provided a great entertainment; and Vinius rose
from the emperor's table, to go and carouse with Ti-
gellinus, accompanied by his daughter, who was a
widow. Tigellinus drank to her, and said, 'I will
make this cup worth two hundred and fifty thousand
drachmas to you. ' At the same time he ordered his
chief mistress to take off her own necklace and give it
her. This was said to be worth a hundred and fifty
thousand more.
PLUT. VoL. VII. V
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? 306
PLUTARCH.
From this time the most moderate of Galba's pro-
ceedings were misrepresented: for instance, his lenity
to the Gauls, who had conspired with Vindex, did not
escape censure: for it was believed that they had not
gained a remission of tribute and the freedom of Rome
from the emperor's indulgence, but that they purchased
them of Vinius. Hence the people had a general aver-
sion to Galba's administration. As for the soldiers,
though they did not receive what had been promised
them, they let it pass, hoping that, if they had not that
gratuity, they should certainly have as much as Nero
had given them. But when they began to murmur,
and their complaints were brought to Galba, he said,
what well became a great prince, ' That it was his cus-
tom to choose, not to buy his soldiers. ' This saying,
however, being reported to the troops, filled them with
the most deadly and irreconcileable hatred to Galba:
for it seemed to them that he not only wanted to de-
prive them of the gratuity himself, but to set a prece-
dent for future emperors.
The disaffection to the government that prevailed in
Rome was as yet kept secret in some measure, partly
because some remaining reverence for the presence of
the emperor prevented the flame of sedition from break-
ing out, and partly for want of an open occasion to at-
tempt a change. But the troops which served under
Virginhis, and were now commanded by Flaccus in
Germany, thinking they deserved great things for the
battle which they fought with Vindex, and finding that
they obtained nothing, began to behave in a very re-
fractory manner, and could not be appeased by their
officers. Their general himself they utterly despised,
as well on account of his inactivity (for he had the gout
in a violent manner), as his want of experience in mili-
tary affairs. One day, at some public games, when the
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? GALBA.
307
tribunes and centurions, according to custom, made
vows for the happiness of the emperor, the common
soldiers murmured; and when the officers repeated
their good wishes, they answered, ' if he is worthy. '
The legions that were under the command of Tigel-
linus behaved with equal insolence; of which Galba's
agents wrote him an account. He was now appre-
hensive that it was not only his age, but his want of
children, that brought him into contempt; and therefore
he formed a design to adopt some young man of noble
birth, and declare him his successor. Marcus Otho
was of a family by no means obscure ; but, at the same
time, he was more remarkable from his infancy for
luxury and love of pleasure than most of the Roman
youth. And, as Homer often calls Paris the husband
of the beauteous Helen, because he had nothing else to
distinguish him, so Otho was noted in Rome as the
husband of Poppaea. This was the lady whom Nero
fell in love with while she was wife to Crispinus; but
retaining as yet some respect for his own wife, and
some reverence for his mother, he privately employed
Otho to solicit her: for Otho's debauchery had recom-
mended him to Nero as a friend and companion, and
he had an agreeable way of rallying him on what he
called his avarice and sordid manner of living.
We are told, that one day when Nero was perfuming
himself with a very rich essence, he sprinkled a little
of it on Otho. Otho invited the emperor the day fol-
lowing, when suddenly gold and silver pipes opened
on all sides of the apartment, and poured out essences
for them in as much plenty as if it had been water. He
applied to Poppa? a according to Nero's desire, and first
seduced her for him, with the flattering idea of having
an emperor for her lover: after which he persuaded
her to leave her husband. But when he took her
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? PLUTARGH.
home as his own wife, he was not so happy in having
her, as miserable in the thought of her being loved by
another. And Poppaea is said not to have been dis-
pleased with this jealousy; for it seems she refused
to admit Nero when Otho was absent; whether it was
that she studied to keep Nero's love from decaying, or
whether, (as some say,) she did not choose to receive
the emperor as a husband, but, in her playful way,
took more pleasure in having him approach her as a
gallant. Otho's life therefore was in great danger on
account of that, marriage; and it is. astonishing, that
the man who could sacrifice his wife and sister for the
sake of Poppaea should afterwards spare Otho.
But Otho had a friend in Seneca ; and it was he who
persuaded Nero to send him out governor of Lusitania,
on the borders of the ocean. Otho made himself agree-
able to the inhabitants by his lenity; for he knew that
this command was given him only as a more honorable
exile. On Galba's revolt, he was the first governor of
a province that came over to him, and he carried with
him all the gold and silver vessels he had, to be melted
down and coined for his use. He likewise presented
him with such of his servants as knew best how to wait
on an emperor. He behaved to him, indeed, in all re-
spects with great fidelity; and it appeared from the
specimen he gave, that there was no department in the
government for which he had not talents. He accom-
panied him in his whole journey, and was many days
in the same carriage with him; during all which time
he lost no opportunity to pay his court to Vinius,
either by assiduities or presents: and as he always
took care to leave him the first place, he was secure by
his means of having the second. Besides that there
was nothing invidious in this station, he recommended
himself by granting his favors and services without re-
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? GALEA.
309
ward, and by his general affability and politeness. He
took most pleasure in serving the officers of the army,
and obtained governments for many of them, partly by
applications to the emperor, and partly to Vinius and
his freedmen, Icelns and Asiaticus, for these had the
chief influence at court.
Whenever Galba visited him, he complimented the
company of guards that was on duty with a piece of
gold for each man; thus practising on and gaining the
soldiers, while he seemed only to be doing honor to
their master.
When Galba was deliberating on the
choice of a successor, Vinius proposed Otho. Nor
was this a disinterested overture, for Otho had pro-
mised to marry Vinius' daughter, after Galba had
adopted him, and appointed him his successor. But
Galba always showed that he preferred the good of the
public to any private considerations; and in this case
he sought not for the man who might be most agree-
able to himself, but one who promised to be the great-
est blessing to the Romans. Indeed it can hardly be
supposed that he would have appointed Otho heir even
to his private patrimony, when he knew how expensive
and profuse he was, and that he was loaded with a debt
of five millions of drachmas. He therefore gave Vi-
nius a patient hearing, without returning him any an-
swer, and put off the affair to another time. However,
as he declared himself consul, and chose Vinius for
his colleague, it was supposed that he would appoint a
successor at the beginning of the next year, and the
soldiers wished that Otho might be the man.
But while Galba delayed the appointment, and con-
tinued deliberating, the army mutinied in Germany.
All the troops throughout the empire hated Galba, be-
cause they had not received the promised donations,
but those in Germany had a particular apology for
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? 310
PLUTARCH.
their aversion. They alleged 'that Virginias Rufus,
their general, had been removed with ignominy, and
that the Gauls, who had fought against them, were the
only people that were rewarded; whilst all who had
not joined Vindex were punished; and Galba, as if he
had obligations to none but him for the imperial dia-
dem, honored his memory with sacrifices and public
libations. '
Such speeches as this were common in the camp,
when the calends of January were at hand, and Flaccus
assembled the soldiers, that they might take tjje custo-
mary oath of fealty to the emperor. But, instead of
that, they overturned and broke to pieces the statues
of Galba; and, having taken an oath of allegiance to
the senate and people of Rome, they retired to their
tents. Their officers were now as apprehensive of
anarchy as rebellion, and the following speech is said
to have been made on the occasion: 'What are we
doing; my fellow-soldiers? We neither appoint ano-
ther emperor, nor keep our allegiance to the present,
as if we had renounced not only Galba, but every other
sovereign, and all manner of obedience. It is true,
Hordeonius Flaccus is no more than the shadow of
Galba. Let us quit him. But at the distance of one
day's march only, there is Vitellius, who commands
in the lower Germany, whose father was censor, and
thrice consul, and in a manner colleague to the empe-
ror Claudius. And though his poverty be a circum-
stance for which some people may despise him, it is a
strong proof of his probity and greatness of mind.
Let us go and declare him emperor, and show the
world that we know how to choose a person for that
high dignity better than the Spaniards and Lusita-
nians. ' ?
Some approved, and others rejected this motion*
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? GALBA.
One of the standard-bearers, however, marched off
privately, and carried the news to Vitellius that night.
He found him at table, for he was giving a great en-
tertainment to his officers. The news soon spread
through the army, and Fabius Valens, who commanded
one of the legions, went next day, at the head of a
considerable party of horse, and saluted Vitellius em-
peror. For some days before he seemed to dread the
weight of sovereign power, and totally to decline it;
but now being fortified with the indulgences of the
table, to which he had sat down at mid-day, he went
out, and accepted the title of Germanicus, which the
army conferred on him, though he refused that of Cae-
sar. Soon after, Flaccus' troops forgot the republican
oaths they had taken to the senate and the people, and
swore allegiance to Vitellius. Thus Vitellius was pro-
claimed emperor in Germany.
As soon as Galba was informed of the insurrection
there, he resolved, without farther delay, to proceed
to the adoption. He knew some of his friends were
for Dolabella, and a still greater number for Otho;
but without being guided by the judgment of either
party, or making the least mention of his design, he
sent suddenly for Piso, the son of Crassus and Scri-
bonia, who were put to death by Nero; a young man
formed by nature for every virtue, and distinguished
for his modesty and sobriety of manners. In pursu-
ance of his intentions, he went down with him to the
camp, to give him the title of Caesar, and declare him
his successor. But he was no sooner out of his palace
than very inauspicious presages appeared: and in the
camp, when he delivered a speech to the army, read-
ing some parts, and pronouncing others from memory,
the many claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, the
violent rain that fell, and the darkness that covered
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? PLUTARCH.
both the camp and the city, plainly announced that the
gods did not admit of the adoption, and that the issue
would be unfortunate. The countenances of the sol-
diers, too, were black and lowering, because there was
no donation even on that occasion.
As to Piso, all that were present could not but won-
der that, so fair as they could conjecture from his voice
and look, he was not disconcerted with so great an ho-
nor, though he did not receive it without sensibility.
On the contrary, in Otho's countenance there appeared
strong marks of resentment, and of the impatience with
which he bore the disappointment of his hopes: for his
failing of that honor which he had been thought worthy
to aspire to, and which he lately believed himself very
near attaining, seemed a proof of Galba's hatred and
ill intentions to him. He was not therefore without
apprehensions of what might befall him afterwards;
and dreading Galba, execrating Piso, and full of in-
dignation against Vinius, he retired with this confusion
of passions in his heart. But the Chaldaeans and other
diviners, whom he had always about him, would not
suffer him intirely to give up his hopes or abandon his
design. In particular, he relied on Ptolemy, because
he had formerly predicted that he should not fall by
the hand of Nero, but survive him, and live to ascend
the imperial throne: for, as the former part of the
prophecy proved true, he thought he had no reason to
despair of the latter. None however exasperated him
more against Galba than those who condoled with him
in private, and pretended that he had been treated
with great ingratitude. Besides, there was a number
of people that had florished under Tigellinus and Nym-
phidius, and now lived in poverty and disgrace, who,
to recommend themselves to Otho, expressed great in-
dignation at the slight he had suffered, and urged him
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? GALEA.
313
to revenge it. Amongst these were Veturius, who was
optio, or centurion's deputy, and Barbius, who was
tesserarius, or one of those that carry the word from
the tribunes to the centurions. Onomastus, one of
Otho's freedmen, joined them, and went from troop to
troop, corrupting some with money, and others with
promises. Indeed, they were corrupt enough already,
and wanted only an opportunity to put their designs in
execution. If they had not been extremely disaffected,
they could not have been prepared for a revolt in so
short a space of time as that of four days, which was
all that passed between the adoption and the assassina-
tion ; for Piso and Galba were both slain the sixth day
after, which was the fifteenth of January. Early in
the morning Galba sacrificed in the palace in presence
of his friends. Umbricius the diviner no sooner took
the entrails in his hands than he declared, not in enig-
matical expressions, but plainly, that there were signs
of great troubles, and of treason that threatened imme-
diate danger to the emperor. Thus Otho was almost
delivered up to Galba by the hand of the gods; for he
stood behind the emperor, listening with great atten-
tion to the observations made by Umbricius. These
put him in great confusion, and his fears were disco-
vered by his change of color, when his freedman Ono-
mastus came and told him that the architects were
come, and waited for him at his house. This was the
signal for Otho's meeting the soldiers. He pretended
therefore that he had bought an old house which these
architects were to examine; and, going down by what
is called Tiberius' palace, went to that part of the fo-
rum where stands the gilded pillar which terminates
all the great roads in Italy.
The soldiers who received him, and saluted him em-
peror, are said not to have been more than twenty-
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? 314
PLUTARCH.
three: so that, though he had nothing of that dastardly
spirit which the delicacy of his constitution, and the
effeminacy of his life, seemed to declare, but, on the
contrary, was firm and resolute in time of danger; yet,
on this occasion, he was intimidated, and wanted to
retire; but the soldiers would not suffer it. They sur-
rounded the chair with drawn swords, and insisted on
its proceeding to the camp. Meantime Otho desired
the bearers to make haste, often declaring that he was
a lost man. There were some who overheard him,
and they rather wondered at the hardiness of the at-
tempt with so small a party, than disturbed themselves
about the consequences. As he was carried through
the forum, about the same number as the first joined
him, and others afterwards by three or four at a
time. The whole party then saluted him Caesar, and
conducted him to the camp, fiorishing their swords
before him. Martialis, the tribune who kept guard
that day, knowing nothing (as they tell us) of the con-
spiracy, was surprised and terrified at so unexpected
a sight, and suffered them to enter. When Otho was
within the camp, he met with no resistance, for the
conspirators gathered about such as were strangers to
the design, and made it their business to explain it to
them; on which, they joined them by one or two at a
time, at first out of fear, and afterwards out of choice.
The news was immediately carried to Galba, while
the diviner yet attended, and had the entrails in his
hands: so that they who had been most incredulous in
matters of divination, and even held it in contempt
before, were astonished at the divine interposition in
the accomplishment of this presage. People of all
sorts now orowding from the forum to the palace, Vi-
nius and Laco, with some of the emperor's freedmen,
stood before him with drawn swords to defend him.
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? GALEA.
Piso went out to speak to the life-guards, and Marius
Celsus, a man of great courage and honor, was sent to
secure the Illyrian legion, which lay in Vipsanius'
portico.
Galba was inclined to go out to the people. Vinius
endeavored to dissuade him from it; but Celsus and
Laco encouraged him to go, and expressed themselves
with some sharpness against Vinius. Meantime a strong
report prevailed that Otho was slain in the camp; soon
after which, Julius Atticus, a soldier of some note
amongst the guards, came up, and crying he was the
man that had killed Caesar's enemy, made his way
through the crowd, and showed his bloody sword to
Galba. The emperor fixing his eye on him, said,
'Who gave you orders V He answered, 'My alle-
giance, and the oath I had taken;' and the people ex-
pressed their approbation in loud plaudits. Galba
then went out in a sedan-chair, with a design to sacri-
fice to Jupiter, and show himself to the people. But
he had no sooner reached the forum than the rumor
changed like the wind, and news met him that Otho
was master of the camp. On this occasion, as it was
natural amongst a multitude of people, some called out
to him to advance, and some to retire; some to take
courage, and some to be cautious. His chair was
tossed backward and forward, as in a tempest, and
ready to be overset, when there appeared first a party
of horse, and then another of foot, issuing from the
Basilica of Paulus, and crying out, 'Away with this
private man! ' Numbers were then running about, not
to separate by flight, but to possess themselves of the
porticos and eminences about the forum, as it were to
enjoy some public spectacle. Atilius Virgilio beat
down one of Galba's statues, which served as a signal
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? 316
PLUTARCH.
for hostilities, and they attacked the chair on all sides
with javelins. As those did not despatch him, they
advanced sword in hand. In this time of trial none
stood up in his defence hut one' man, who, indeed,
amongst so many millions, was the only one that did
honor to the Roman empire. This was Sempronius
Densus, a centurion, who, without any particular obli-
gations to Galha, and only from a regard to honor and
the law, stood forth to defend the chair. First of all
he lifted up the vine-branch with which the centurions
chastise such as deserve stripes, and then called out to
the soldiers who were pressing on, and commanded
them to spare the emperor. They fell on him notwith-
standing, and he drew his sword and fought a long
time, till he received a stroke in the ham, which brought
him to the ground.
The chair was overturned at what is called the Cur-
tian lake, and Galba tumbling out of it, they ran to de-
spatch him. At the same time he presented his throat,
and said, ' Strike, if it be for the good of Rome. ' He
received many strokes on his arms and legs, for he
had a coat of mail on his body. According to most
accounts, it was Camurius, a soldier of the fifteenth
legion, that despatched him; though some say it was
Terentius, some Arcadius, and others Fabius Fabulus.
They add, that when Fabius had cut off his head, he
wrapped it up in the skirt of his garment, because it
was so bald that he could take no hold of it. His asso-
ciates, however, would not suffer him to conceal it, but
insisted that he should let the world see what an ex-
ploit he had performed; he therefore fixed it on the
point of his spear, and swinging about the head of a
venerable old man, and a mild prince, who was both
pontifex maximus and consul, he ran on, (like the
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? GALBA.
317
Bacchanals with the head of Pentheus,) brandishing
his spear, that was dyed with the blood that trickled
from it.
When the head was presented to Otho, he cried out,
'This is nothing, my fellow-soldiers; show me the
head of Piso. ' It was brought not long after; for that
young prince being wounded, and pursued by one
Murcus, was killed by him at the gates of the temple
of Vesta. Vinius also was put to the sword, though he
declared himself an accomplice in the conspiracy, and
protested that it was against Otho's orders that he suf-
fered. However, they cut off his head, and that of
Laco, and carrying them to Otho, demanded their re-
ward: for, as Archilochus says,
We bring seven warriors only to your tent,
Yet thousands of us kill'd them.
So in this case many who had no share in the action
bathed their hands and swords in the blood, and show-
ing them to Otho, petitioned for their reward. It ap-
peared afterwards from the petitions given in, that the
number of them was a hundred and twenty; and
Vitellius having searched them out, put them all to
death. Marius Celsus also coming to the camp, many
accused him of having exhorted the soldiers to stand
by Galba, and the bulk of the army insisted that he
should suffer. But Otho being desirous to save him,
and yet afraid of contradicting them, told them, 'he
did not choose to have him executed so soon, because
he had several important questions to put to him. '
He ordered him therefore to be kept in chains, and
delivered him to persons in whom he could best con-
fide.
The senate was immediately assembled; and as if
they were become different men, or had other gods to
swear by, they took the oath to Otho, which he had
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? PLUTARCH.
before taken to Galba, but had not kept; and they
gave him the titles of Caesar and Augustus, while the
bodies of those that had been beheaded lay in their
consular robes in the forum. As for the heads, the
soldiers, after they had no farther use for them, sold
that of Vinius to his daughter for two thousand five
hundred drachmas. Piso's was given to his wife Ve-
rania, at her request; and Galba's to the servants of
Patrobius and Vitellius, who, after they had treated it
with the utmost insolence and outrage, threw it into a
place called Sestertium, where the bodies of those are
cast that are put to death by the emperors. Galba's
corpse was carried away by Helvidius Priscus, with
Otho's permission, and buried in the night by his freed-
man Argius.
Such is the history of Galba; a man who, in the
points of family and fortune distinctly considered, was
exceeded by few of the Romans, and who, in the union
of both, was superior to all. He had lived, too, in great
honor, and with the best reputation, under five empe-
rors; and it was rather by his character than by force
of arms that he deposed Nero. As to the rest who
conspired against the tyrant, some of them were thought
unworthy of the imperial diadem by the people, and
others thought themselves unworthy. But Galba was
invited to accept it, and only followed the sense of
those who called him to that high dignity. Nay, when
he gave the sanction of his name to Vindex, that which
before was called rebellion, was considered only as a
civil war, because a man of princely talents was then
at the head of it. So that he did not so much want
the empire, as the empire wanted him: and with these
principles he attempted to govern a people corrupted
by Tigellinus and Nymphidius, as Scipio, Fabricius,
and Camillus, governed the Romans of their times.
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? OALBA.
319
Notwithstanding his great age, he showed himself a
chief worthy of ancient Rome through all the military
department. But, in the civil administration, he de-
livered himself up to Vinius, to Laco, and to his en-
franchised slaves, who sold every thing, in the same
manner as Nero had left all to his insatiable vermin.
The consequence of this was, that no man regretted
him as an emperor, though almost all were moved with
pity at his miserable fate.
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? OTHO.
The new emperor went early in the morning to the
capitol, and sacrificed; after which he ordered Marius
Celsus to be brought before him.
