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taking off of Macer in Africa by Trebonius； and Fonteius by Valens
in Germany； had a fair pretence； they being dreaded as armed
commanders； having their soldiers at their bidding； but why refuse
Turpilianus； an old man and unarmed； permission to try to clear
himself； if any part of the moderation and equity at first promised
were really to come to a performance？ Such were the comments to
which these actions exposed him。 When he came within five…and…twenty
furlongs or thereabouts of the city； he happened to light on a
disorderly rabble of the seamen； who beset him as he passed。 These
were they whom Nero made soldiers； forming them into a legion。 They so
rudely crowded to have their commission confirmed that they did not
let Galba either be seen or heard by those that had come out to meet
their new emperor； but tumultuously pressed on with loud shouts to
have colours to their legion； and quarters assigned them。 Galba put
them off until another time； which they interpreted as a denial；
grew more insolent and mutinous； following and crying out； some with
their drawn swords in their hands。 Upon seeing which； Galba
commanded the horse to ride over them； when they were soon routed； not
a man standing his ground； and many of them were slain； both there and
in the pursuit； an ill…omen； that Galba should make his first entry
through so much blood and among dead bodies。 And now he was looked
upon with terror and alarm by any one who had entertained contempt
of him at the sight of his age and apparent infirmities。
But when he desired presently to let it appear what a change would
be made from Nero's profuseness and sumptuosity in giving presents； he
much missed his aim； and fell so short of magnificence； that he
scarcely came within the limits of decency。 When Canus； who was a
famous musician； played at supper for him； he expressed his
approbation； and bade the bag he brought to him； and taking a few gold
pieces； put them in with this remark； that it was out of his own
purse； and not on the public account。 He ordered the largess which
Nero had made to actors and wrestlers and such like to be strictly
required again； allowing only the tenth part to be retained； though it
turned to very small account； most of those persons expending their
daily income as fast as they received it； being rude； improvident
livers； upon which he had further inquiry made as to those who had
bought or received from them； and called upon these people to
refund。 The trouble was infinite； the exactions being prosecuted
far； touching a great number of persons； bringing disrepute on
Galba； and general hatred on Vinius； who made the emperor appear
base…hearted and mean to the world； whilst he himself was spending
profusely； taking whatever he could get； and selling to any buyer。
Hesiod tells us to drink without stinting of…
〃The end and the beginning of the cask。〃
And Vinius； seeing his patron old and decaying； made the most of
what he considered to be at once the first of his fortune and the last
of it。
Thus the aged man suffered in two ways； first； through the evil
deeds which Vinius did himself； and； next； by his preventing or
bringing into disgrace those just acts which he himself designed。 Such
was the punishing Nero's adherents。 When he destroyed the bad； amongst
whom were Helius； Polycletus； Petinus； and Patrobius； the people
mightily applauded the act； crying out； as they were dragged through
the forum； that it was a goodly sight； grateful to the gods
themselves； adding； however； that the gods and men alike demanded
justice on Tigellinus； the very tutor and prompter of all the tyranny。
This good man； however； had taken his measures beforehand； in the
shape of a present and a promise to Vinius。 Turpilianus could not be
allowed to escape with life； though his one and only crime had been
that he had not betrayed or shown hatred to such a ruler as Nero。
But he who had made Nero what he became； and afterwards deserted and
betrayed him whom he had so corrupted； was allowed to survive as an
instance that Vinius could do anything； and an advertisement that
those that had money to give him need despair of nothing。 The
people； however； were so possessed with the desire of seeing
Tigellinus dragged to execution； that they never ceased to require
it at the theatre； and in the race…course； till they were checked by
an edict from the emperor himself； announcing that Tigellinus could
not live long； being wasted with a consumption； and requesting them
not to seek to make his government appear cruel and tyrannical。 So the
dissatisfied populace were laughed at； and Tigellinus made a
splendid feast； and sacrificed in thanksgiving for his deliverance；
and after supper； Vinius； rising from the emperor's table； went to
revel with Tigellinus； taking his daughter； a widow； with him； to whom
Tigellinus presented his compliments； with a gift of twenty…five
myriads of money； and bade the superintendent of his concubines take
off a rich necklace from her own neck and tie it about hers； the value
of it being estimated at fifteen myriads。
After this； even reasonable acts were censured； as； for example； the
treatment of the Gauls who had been in the conspiracy with Vindex。 For
people looked upon their abatement of tribute and admission to
citizenship as a piece； not of clemency on the part of Galba； but of
money…making on that of Vinius。 And thus the mass of the people
began to look with dislike upon the government。 The soldiers were kept
on a while in expectation of the promised donative； supposing that
if they did not receive the full； yet they should have at least as
much as Nero gave them。 But when Galba； on hearing they began to
complain； declared greatly； and like a general； that he was used to
enlist and not to buy his soldiers； when they heard of this； they
conceived an implacable hatred against him； for he did not seem to
defraud them merely himself in their present expectations； but to give
an ill precedent； and instruct his successors to do the like。 This
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 r