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head of the mutiny was thus removed； there yet remained in many of the
soldiers the consciousness of guilt。 There were even men who talked in
angry terms of the feebleness and avarice of Galba。 The strictness
once so commended； and celebrated in the praises of the army； was
galling to troops who rebelled against the old discipline； and who had
been accustomed by fourteen years' service under Nero to love the
vices of their emperors； as much as they had once respected their
virtues。 To all this was added Galba's own expression； 〃I choose my
soldiers； I do not buy them；〃 noble words for the commonwealth； but
fraught with peril for himself。 His other acts were not after this
pattern。
Titus Vinius and Cornelius Laco； one the most worthless； the other
the most spiritless of mankind； were ruining the weak old Emperor； who
had to bear the odium of such crimes and the scorn felt for such
cowardice。 Galba's progress had been slow and blood…stained。 Cingonius
Varro； consul elect； and Petronius Turpilianus； a man of consular
rank； were put to death； the former as an accomplice of Nymphidius；
the latter as one of Nero's generals。 Both had perished without
hearing or defence； like innocent men。 His entry into the capital；
made after the slaughter of thousands of unarmed soldiers； was most
ill…omened； and was terrible even to the executioners。 As he brought
into the city his Spanish legion； while that which Nero had levied
from the fleet still remained； Rome was full of strange troops。
There were also many detachments from Germany； Britain； and Illyria；
selected by Nero； and sent on by him to the Caspian passes； for
service in the expedition which he was preparing against the Albani；
but afterwards recalled to crush the insurrection of Vindex。 Here
there were vast materials for a revolution； without indeed a decided
bias towards any one man； but ready to a daring hand。
In this conjuncture it happened that tidings of the deaths of
Fonteius Capito and Clodius Macer reached the capital。 Macer was
executed in Africa； where he was undoubtedly fomenting sedition； by
Trebonius Garutianus the procurator； who acted on Galba's authority；
Capito fell in Germany； while he was making similar attempts； by the
hands of Cornelius Aquinus and Fabius Valens； legates of legions；
who did not wait for an order。 There were however some who believed
that Capito； though foully stained with avarice and profligacy； had
yet abstained from all thought of revolution； that this was a
treacherous accusation invented by the commanders themselves； who
had urged him to take up arms； when they found themselves unable to
prevail； and that Galba had approved of the deed； either from weakness
of character； or to avoid investigation into the circumstances of acts
which could not be altered。 Both executions； however； were
unfavourably regarded； indeed； when a ruler once becomes unpopular；
all his acts； be they good or bad； tell against him。 The freedmen in
their excessive power were now putting up everything for sale； the
slaves caught with greedy hands at immediate gain； and； reflecting
on their master's age； hastened to be rich。 The new court had the same
abuses as the old； abuses as grievous as ever； but not so readily
excused。 Even the age of Galba caused ridicule and disgust among those
whose associations were with the youth of Nero； and who were
accustomed； as is the fashion of the vulgar； to value their emperors
by the beauty and grace of their persons。
Such； as far as one can speak of so vast a multitude； was the
state of feeling at Rome。 Among the provinces； Spain was under the
government of Cluvius Rufus； an eloquent man； who had all the
accomplishments of civil life； but who was without experience in
war。 Gaul； besides remembering Vindex； was bound to Galba by the
recently conceded privileges of citizenship； and by the diminution
of its future tribute。 Those Gallic states； however； which were
nearest to the armies of Germany； had not been treated with the same
respect； and had even in some cases been deprived of their
territory； and these were reckoning the gains of others and their
own losses with equal indignation。 The armies of Germany were at
once alarmed and angry； a most dangerous temper when allied with
such strength； while elated by their recent victory； they feared
because they might seem to have supported an unsuccessful party。
They had been slow to revolt from Nero； and Verginius had not
immediately declared for Galba； it was doubtful whether he had himself
wished to be emperor； but all agreed that the empire had been
offered to him by the soldiery。 Again； the execution of Capito was a
subject of indignation； even with those who could not complain of
its injustice。 They had no leader； for Verginius had been withdrawn on
the pretext of his friendship with the Emperor。 That he was not sent
back； and that he was even impeached； they regarded as an accusation
against themselves。
The army of Upper Germany despised their legate； Hordeonius Flaccus；
who； disabled by age and lameness； had no strength of character and no
authority； even when the soldiery were quiet； he could not control
them； much more in their fits of frenzy were they irritated by the
very feebleness of his restraint。 The legions of Lower Germany had
long been without any general of consular rank； until； by the
appointment of Galba； Aulus Vitellius took the command。 He was son
of that Vitellius who was censor and three times consul； this was
thought sufficient recommendation。 In the army of Britain there was no
angry feeling； indeed no troops behaved more blamelessly throughout
all the troubles of these civil wars； either because they were far
away and separated by the ocean from the rest of the empire； or
because continual warfare had taught them to concentrate their
hatred on the enemy。 Illyricum too was quiet； though the legions drawn
from that province by Nero had； while lingering in Italy； sent
deputations to Verginius。 But separated as these armies were by long
distances； a thing of all others the most favourable for keeping
troops to their duty； they could neither communicate their vices；
nor combine their strength。
In the East there was as yet no movement。 Syria and its four legions
were under the command of Licinius Mucianus； a man whose good and
bad fortune were equally famous。 In his youth he had cultivated with
many intrigues the friendship of the great。 His resources soon failed；
and his position became precarious； and as he also suspected that
Claudius had taken some offence； he withdrew into a retired part of
Asia； and was as like an exile； as he was afterwards like an
emperor。 He was a compound of dissipation and energy； of arrogance and
courtesy； of good and bad qualit