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Nero。 The pretender himself； assuming a studied appearance of
sorrow； and appealing to their fidelity as old soldiers of his own；
besought them to land him in Egypt or Syria。 The captains； perhaps
wavering； perhaps intending to deceive； declared that they must
address their soldiers； and that they would return when the minds of
all had been prepared。 Everything； however； was faithfully reported to
Asprenas； and at his bidding the ship was boarded and taken； and the
man； whoever he was； killed。 The body； in which the eyes； the hair；
and the savage countenance； were remarkable features； was conveyed
to Asia； and thence to Rome。
In a state that was distracted by strife； and that from frequent
changes in its rulers trembled on the verge between liberty and
licence； even little matters were attended with great excitement。
Vibius Crispus； whose wealth； power； and ability； made him rank
among men of distinction； rather than among men of worth； demanded
that Annius Faustus； of the Equestrian order； who in the days of
Nero had practised the trade of the informer； should be brought to
trial before the Senate。 The Senators indeed had recently； during
the reign of Galba； passed a resolution； that cognizance should be
taken of the cases of the informers。 This decree was variously carried
out； and； while retained as law； was powerless or effectual； according
as the person； who happened to be accused； was influential or
helpless。 Besides the terror of the law； Crispus had exerted his own
power to the utmost to destroy the man who had informed against his
brother。 He had prevailed upon a great part of the Senate to demand
that he should be consigned to destruction； undefended and unheard。
But； on the other hand； there were some with whom nothing helped the
accused person so much as the excessive power of the accuser。 They
gave it as their opinion； that time ought to be allowed； that the
charges ought to be specified； that； odious and guilty as the man
might be； he yet ought to be heard； as precedent required。 At first
they carried their point； and the trial was postponed for a few
days； but before long Faustus was condemned； but by no means with that
unanimity on the part of the people which his detestable character had
deserved。 Men remembered that Crispus had followed the same profession
with profit； nor was it the penalty but the prosecutor that they
disliked。
Meanwhile the campaign had opened favourably for Otho； at whose
bidding the armies of Dalmatia and Pannonia had begun to move。 These
comprised four legions； from each of which two thousand troops were
sent on in advance。 The 7th had been raised by Galba； the 11th；
13th； and 14th were veteran soldiers； the 14th having particularly
distinguished itself by quelling the revolt in Britain。 Nero had added
to their reputation by selecting them as his most effective troops。
This had made them long faithful to Nero； and kindled their zeal for
Otho。 But their self…confidence induced a tardiness of movement
proportionate to their strength and solidity。 The auxiliary infantry
and cavalry moved in advance of the main body of the legions。 The
capital itself contributed no contemptible force； namely five
Praetorian cohorts； some troops of cavalry； and the first legion；
and together with these； 2000 gladiators； a disreputable kind of
auxiliaries； but employed throughout the civil wars even by strict
disciplinarians。 Annius Gallus was put at the head of this force；
and was sent on with Vestricius Spurinna to occupy the banks of the
Padus； the original plan of the campaign having fallen to the
ground； now that Caecina； who they had hoped might have been kept
within the limits of Gaul； had crossed the Alps。 Otho himself was
accompanied by some picked men of the body…guard； with whom were the
rest of the Praetorian cohorts； the veteran troops from the Praetorian
camp； and a vast number of the levies raised from the fleet。 No
indolence or riot disgraced his march。 He wore a cuirass of iron；
and was to be seen in front of the standards； on foot； rough and
negligent in dress； and utterly unlike what common report had pictured
him。
Fortune seemed to smile on his efforts。 Through his fleets； which
commanded the sea； he held the greater part of Italy； even as far as
where the chain of the Maritime Alps begins。 The task of attempting
the passage of this chain； and of advancing into the Provincia
Narbonensis； he had entrusted to three generals； Suedius Clemens；
Antonius Novellus； and Aemilius Pacensis。 Pacensis； however； was put
in irons by his insubordinate troops； Antonius possessed no kind of
authority； and Clemens commanded only for popularity； and was as
reckless in transgressing the good order of military discipline as
he was eager to fight。 One would not have thought that it was Italy；
the fields； and the habitations of their native country； that they
were passing through。 They burnt； spoiled； and plundered； as if they
were among the lands of the foreigner and the cities of a hostile
people； and all with the more frightful effect as nowhere had there
been made any provision against the danger。 The fields were full of
rural wealth； the houses stood with open doors； and the owners； as
with their wives and children they came forth to meet the army；
found themselves surrounded； in the midst of the security of peace；
with all the horrors of war。 Marius Maturus was then governing as
procurator the province of the Maritime Alps。 Raising the
population； in which is no lack of able…bodied men； he resolved to
drive back the Othonianists from the borders of his province； but
the mountaineers were cut down and broken by the first charge； as
might be expected of men who had been hastily collected； who were
not familiar with camps or with regular command； who saw no glory in
victory； no infamy in flight。
Exasperated by this conflict； the troops of Otho vented their rage
on the town of Albintemilium。 In the field indeed they had secured
no plunder； their rustic adversaries were poor； and their arms
worthless； nor could they be taken prisoners； for they were swift of
foot； and knew the country well。 But the rapacity of the troops
glutted itself in the ruin of an innocent population。 The horror of
these acts was aggravated by a noble display of fortitude in a
Ligurian woman； she had concealed her son； and when the soldiers；
who believed that some money had been hidden with him； questioned
her with torture as to where she was hiding him； she pointed to her
bosom； and replied； 〃It is here that he is concealed〃； nor could any
subsequent threats or even death itself make her falter in this
courageous and noble answer。
Messengers now came in haste and alarm to inform Fabius Valens；
how Otho's fleet was thre