histories-第3章
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exposed to any kind of slavery； and were ready to become the prize
of victory。 Such was the state of the Roman world； when Servius Galba；
consul for the second time； with T。 Vinius for his colleague；
entered upon a year； which was to be the last of their lives； and
which well nigh brought the commonwealth to an end。
A few days after the 1st of January； there arrived from Belgica
despatches of Pompeius Propinquus； the Procurator； to this effect；
that the legions of Upper Germany had broken through the obligation of
their military oath； and were demanding another emperor； but
conceded the power of choice to the Senate and people of Rome； in
the hope that a more lenient view might be taken of their revolt。
These tidings hastened the plans of Galba； who had been long
debating the subject of adoption with himself and with his intimate
friends。 There was indeed no more frequent subject of conversation
during these months； at first because men had liberty and
inclination to talk of such matters； afterwards because the feebleness
of Galba was notorious。 Few had any discrimination or patriotism； many
had foolish hopes for themselves； and spread interested reports； in
which they named this or that person to whom they might be related
as friend or dependant。 They were also moved by hatred of T。 Vinius；
who grew daily more powerful； and in the same proportion more
unpopular。 The very easiness of Galba's temper stimulated the greedy
cupidity which great advancement had excited in his friends； because
with one so weak and so credulous wrong might be done with less risk
and greater gain。
The real power of the Empire was divided between T。 Vinius； the
consul； and Cornelius Laco； prefect of the Praetorian Guard。 Icelus； a
freedman of Galba； was in equal favour； he had been presented with the
rings of knighthood； and bore the Equestrian name of Martianus。
These men； being at variance； and in smaller matters pursuing their
own aims； were divided in the affair of choosing a successor； into two
opposing factions。 T。 Vinius was for Marcus Otho； Laco and Icelus
agreed； not indeed in supporting any particular individual； but in
striving for some one else。 Galba indeed was aware of the friendship
between Vinius and Otho； the gossip of those who allow nothing to pass
in silence had named them as father…in…law and son…in…law； for
Vinius had a widowed daughter； and Otho was unmarried。 I believe
that he had also at heart some care for the commonwealth； in vain；
he would think； rescued from Nero； if it was to be left with Otho。 For
Otho's had been a neglected boyhood and a riotous youth； and he had
made himself agreeable to Nero by emulating his profligacy。 For this
reason the Emperor had entrusted to him； as being the confidant of his
amours； Poppaea Sabina； the imperial favourite； until he could rid
himself of his wife Octavia。 Soon suspecting him with regard to this
same Poppaea； he sent him out of the way to the province of Lusitania；
ostensibly to be its governor。 Otho ruled the province with
mildness； and； as he was the first to join Galba's party； was not
without energy； and； while the war lasted； was the most conspicuous of
the Emperor's followers； he was led to cherish more and more
passionately every day those hopes of adoption which he had
entertained from the first。 Many of the soldiers favoured him； and the
court was biassed in his favour； because he resembled Nero。
When Galba heard of the mutiny in Germany； though nothing was as yet
known about Vitellius； he felt anxious as to the direction which the
violence of the legions might take； while he could not trust even
the soldiery of the capital。 He therefore resorted to what he supposed
to be the only remedy； and held a council for the election of an
emperor。 To this he summoned； besides Vinius and Laco； Marius
Celsus； consul elect； and Ducennius Geminus； prefect of the city。
Having first said a few words about his advanced years； he ordered
Piso Licinianus to be summoned。 It is uncertain whether he acted on
his own free choice； or； as believed by some； under the influence of
Laco； who through Rubellius Plautus had cultivated the friendship of
Piso。 But； cunningly enough； it was as a stranger that Laco
supported him； and the high character of Piso gave weight to his
advice。 Piso； who was the son of M。 Crassus and Scribonia； and thus of
noble descent on both sides； was in look and manner a man of the old
type。 Rightly judged； he seemed a stern man； morose to those who
estimated him less favourably。 This point in his character pleased his
adopted father in proportion as it raised the anxious suspicions of
others。
We are told that Galba； taking hold of Piso's hand； spoke to this
effect： 〃If I were a private man； and were now adopting you by the Act
of the Curiae before the Pontiffs； as our custom is； it would be a
high honour to me to introduce into my family a descendant of Cn。
Pompeius and M。 Crassus； it would be a distinction to you to add to
the nobility of your race the honours of the Sulpician and Lutatian
houses。 As it is； I； who have been called to the throne by the
unanimous consent of gods and men； am moved by your splendid
endowments and by my own patriotism to offer to you； a man of peace；
that power； for which our ancestors fought； and which I myself
obtained by war。 I am following the precedent of the Divine
Augustus； who placed on an eminence next to his own； first his
nephew Marcellus； then his son…in…law Agrippa； afterwards his
grandsons； and finally Tiberius Nero； his stepson。 But Augustus looked
for a successor in his own family； I look for one in the state； not
because I have no relatives or companions of my campaigns； but because
it was not by any private favour that I myself received the imperial
power。 Let the principle of my choice be shown not only by my
connections which I have set aside for you； but by your own。 You
have a brother； noble as yourself； and older； who would be well worthy
of this dignity； were you not worthier。 Your age is such as to be
now free from the passions of youth； and such your life that in the
past you have nothing to excuse。 Hitherto； you have only borne
adversity； prosperity tries the heart with keener temptations； for
hardships may be endured； whereas we are spoiled by success。 You
indeed will cling with the same constancy to honor； freedom；
friendship； the best possessions of the human spirit； but others
will seek to weaken them with their servility。 You will be fiercely
assailed by adulation； by flattery； that worst poison of the true
heart； and by the selfish interests of individuals。 You and I speak
together to…day with perfect frankness； but others will be more
ready to address us as emperors than as men。 For to urge his duty upon
a prince is indeed a hard matter； to flatter him； whatever his
character； is a mere routine gone through without any heart。
〃Could the vast frame of this empire have stood and preserved its
balance without a directing spirit； I was not unworthy of inaugurating
a republic。 As it is； we have been long reduced to a position； in
which my age confer no greater boon on the Roman people than a good
successor； your youth no greater than a good emperor。 Under
Tuberous； Chairs； and Claudius； we were； so to speak； the
inheritance of a single family。 The choice which begins with us will
be a substitute for freedom。 Now that the family of the Julii and
the Claudii has come to an end； adoption will discover the worthiest
successor。 To be begotten and born of a princely race is a mere
accident； and is only valued as such。 In adoption there is nothing
that need bias the judgment； and if you wish to make a choice； an
unanimous opinion points out the m
