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over the Pyrenees； the Alps； and vast distances of road。
The minds of the soldiery were already on fire； when Maevius Pudens；
a near relative of Tigellinus； added； so to speak； fuel to the flames。
In his endeavour to win over all who were particularly weak in
character； or who wanted money and were ready to plunge into
revolution； he gradually went so far as to distribute； whenever
Galba dined with Otho； one hundred sesterces to each soldier of the
cohort on duty； under pretext of treating them。 This； which we may
almost call a public bounty； Otho followed up by presents more
privately bestowed on individuals； nay he bribed with such spirit；
that； finding there was a dispute between Cocceius Proculus； a soldier
of the bodyguard； and one of his neighbours； about some part of
their boundaries； he purchased with his own money the neighbour's
entire estate； and made a present of it to the soldier。 He took
advantage of the lazy indifference of the Prefect； who overlooked
alike notorious facts and secret practices。
He then entrusted the conduct of his meditated treason to Onomastus；
one of his freedmen； who brought over to his views Barbius Proculus；
officer of the watchword to the bodyguard； and Veturius； a deputy
centurion in the same force。 Having assured himself by various
conversations with these men that they were cunning and bold； he
loaded them with presents and promises； and furnished them with
money with which to tempt the cupidity of others。 Thus two soldiers
from the ranks undertook to transfer the Empire of Rome； and
actually transferred it。 Only a few were admitted to be accomplices in
the plot； but they worked by various devices on the wavering minds
of the remainder； on the more distinguished soldiers； by hinting
that the favours of Nymphidius had subjected them to suspicion； on the
vulgar herd； by the anger and despair with which the repeated
postponement of the donative had inspired them。 Some were fired by
their recollections of Nero and their longing regrets for their old
license。 All felt a common alarm at the idea of having to serve
elsewhere。
The contagion spread to the legions and the auxiliary troops；
already excited by the news of the wavering loyalty of the army of
Germany。 So ripe were the disaffected for mutiny and so close the
secrecy preserved by the loyal； that they would actually have seized
Otho on the 14th of January； as he was returning from dinner； had they
not been deterred by the risks of darkness； the inconvenient
dispersion of the troops over the whole city； and the difficulty of
concerted action among a half…intoxicated crowd。 It was no care for
the state； which they deliberately meditated polluting with the
blood of their Emperor； it was a fear lest in the darkness of night
any one who presented himself to the soldiers of the Pannonian or
German army might be fixed on instead of Otho； whom few of them
knew。 Many symptoms of the approaching outburst were repressed by
those who were in the secret。 Some hints； which had reached Galba's
ears； were turned into ridicule by Laco the prefect； who knew
nothing of the temper of the soldiery； and who； inimical to all
measures； however excellent； which he did not originate； obstinately
thwarted men wiser than himself。
On the 15th of January； as Galba was sacrificing in front of the
temple of Apollo； the Haruspex Umbricius announced to him that the
entrails had a sinister aspect； that treachery threatened him； that he
had an enemy at home。 Otho heard； for he had taken his place close by；
and interpreted it by contraries in a favourable sense； as promising
success to his designs。 Not long after his freedman Onomastus informed
him that the architect and the contractors were waiting for him。 It
had been arranged thus to indicate that the soldiers were
assembling； and that the preparations of the conspiracy were complete。
To those who inquired the reason of his departure； Otho pretended that
he was purchasing certain farm…buildings； which from their age he
suspected to be unsound； and which had therefore to be first surveyed。
Leaning on his freedman's arm； he proceeded through the palace of
Tiberius to the Velabrum； and thence to the golden milestone near
the temple of Saturn。 There three and twenty soldiers of the
body…guard saluted him as Emperor； and； while he trembled at their
scanty number； put him hastily into a chair； drew their swords； and
hurried him onwards。 About as many more soldiers joined them on
their way； some because they were in the plot； many from mere
surprise； some shouted and brandished their swords； others proceeded
in silence； intending to let the issue determine their sentiments。
Julius Martialis was the tribune on guard in the camp。 Appalled by
the enormity and suddenness of the crime； or perhaps fearing that
the troops were very extensively corrupted and that it would be
destruction to oppose them； he made many suspect him of complicity。
The rest of the tribunes and centurions preferred immediate safety
to danger and duty。 Such was the temper of men's minds； that； while
there were few to venture on so atrocious a treason； many wished it
done； and all were ready to acquiesce。
Meanwhile the unconscious Galba； busy with his sacrifice； was
importuning the gods of an empire that was now another's。 A rumour
reached him； that some senator unknown was being hurried into the
camp； before long it was affirmed that this senator was Otho。 At the
same time came messengers from all parts of the city； where they had
chanced to meet the procession； some exaggerating the danger； some；
who could not even then forget to flatter； representing it as less
than the reality。 On deliberation it was determined to sound the
feeling of the cohort on guard in the palace； but not through Galba in
person； whose authority was to be kept unimpaired to meet greater
emergencies。 They were accordingly collected before the steps of the
palace； and Piso addressed them as follows：… 〃Comrades； this is the
sixth day since I became a Caesar by adoption； not knowing what was to
happen； whether this title was to be desired； or dreaded。 It rests
with you to determine what will be the result to my family and to
the state。 It is not that I dread on my own account the gloomier
issue； for I have known adversity； and I am learning at this very
moment that prosperity is fully as dangerous。 It is the lot of my
father； of the Senate； of the Empire itself； that I deplore； if we
have either to fall this day； or to do what is equally abhorrent to
the good； to put others to death。 In the late troubles we had this
consolation； a capital unstained by bloodshed； and power transferred
without strife。 It was thought that by my adoption provision was
made against the possibili