Galba (Suetonius)

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	Galba Author: Suetonius	Translator: Alexander Thomson
14	maiore adeo et fauore et auctoritate adeptus est quam gessit imperium , quanquam multa documenta egregii principis daret ; sed nequaquam tam grata erant , quam inuisa quae secus fierent . Regebatur trium arbitrio , quos una et intra Palatium habitantis nec umquam non adhaerentis paedagogos uulgo uocabant . ii erant T . Vinius legatus eius in Hispania , cupiditatis immensae ; Cornelius Laco ex assessore praefectus praetorii , arrogantia socordiaque intolerabilis ; libertus Icelus , paulo ante anulis aureis et Marciani cognomine ornatus ac iam summae equestris gradus candidatus . his diuerso uitiorum genere grassantibus adeo se abutendum permisit et tradidit , ut uix sibi ipse constaret , modo acerbior parciorque , modo remissior ac neglegentior quam conueniret principi electo atque illud aetatis . Quosdam claros ex utroque ordine uiros suspicione minima inauditos condemnauit . ciuitates R . raro dedit , iura trium liberorum uix uni atque alteri ac ne is quidem nisi ad certum praefinitumque tempus . iudicibus sextam decuriam adici precantibus non modo negauit , sed et concessum a Claudio beneficium , ne hieme initioque anni ad iudicandum euocarentur , eripuit .	He possessed himself of the imperial power with more favour and authority than he administered it, although he gave many proofs of his being an excellent prince: but these were not so grateful to the people, as his misconduct was offensive. He was governed by three favourites, who, because they lived in the palace, and were constantly about him, obtained the name of his pedagogues. These were Titus Vinius who had been his lieutenant in Spain, a man of insatiable avarice; Cornelius Laco, who, from an assessor to the prince, was advanced to be prefect of the pretorian guards, a person of intolerable arrogance, as well as indolence; and his freedman Icelus, dignified a little before with the privilege of wearing the gold ring, and the use of the cognomen Martianus, who became a candidate for the highest honour within the reach of any person of the equestrian order. He resigned himself so implicitly into the power of those three favourites, who governed in every thing according to the capricious impulse of their vices and tempers, and his authority was so much abused by them, that the tenor of his conduct was not very consistent with itself. At one time, he was more rigorous and frugal, at another, more lavish and negligent, than became a prince who had been chosen by the people, and was so far advanced in years. He condemned some men of the first rank in the senatorian and equestrian orders, upon a very slight suspicion, and without trial. He rarely granted the freedom of the city to any one; and the privilege belonging to such as had three children, only one or two; and that with great difficulty, and only for a limited time. When the judges petitioned to have a sixth decury added to their number, he not only denied them, but abolished the vacation which had been granted to them by Claudius for the winter, and the beginning of the year.
15	existimabatur etiam senatoria et equestria officia bienni spatio determinaturus nec daturus nisi inuitis ac recusantibus . liberalitates Neronis non plus decimis concessis per quinquaginta equites R . ea condicione reuocandas curauit exigendasque , ut et si quid scaenici ac xystici donatum olim uendidissent , auferretur emptoribus , quando illi pretio absumpto soluere nequirent . at contra nihil non per comites atque libertos pretio addici aut donari gratia passus est , uectigalia immunitates , poenas innocentium impunitates noxiorum . quin etiam populo R . deposcente supplicium Haloti et Tigillini solos ex omnibus Neronis emissariis uel maleficentissimos incolumes praestitit atque insuper Halotum procuratione amplissima ornauit , pro Tigillino etiam saeuitiae populum edicto increpuit .	It was thought that he likewise intended to reduce the offices held by senators and men of the equestrian order, to a term of two years' continuance; and to bestow them only on those who were unwilling to accept them, and had refused them. All the grants of Nero he recalled, saving only the tenth part of them. For this purpose he gave a commission to fifty Roman knights; with orders, that if players 'or wrestlers had sold what had been formerly given them, it should be exacted from the purchasers, since the others, having, no doubt spent the money, were in a condition to pay. But on the other hand, he suffered his attendants and freedmen to sell or give away the revenue of the state, or immunities from taxes, and to punish the innocent, or pardon criminals, at pleasure. Nay, when the Roman people were very clamorous for the punishment of Halotus and Tigellinus, two of the most mischievous amongst all the emissaries of Nero, he protected them, and even bestowed on I alotus one of the best procurations in his disposal. And as to Tigellinus, he even reprimanded the people for their cruelty by a proclamation.
16	Per haec prope uniuersis ordinibus offensis uel praecipua flagrabat inuidia apud milites . nam cum in uerba eius absentis iurantibus donatiuum grandius solito praepositi pronuntiassent , neque ratam rem habuit et subinde iactauit legere se militem , non emere consuesse ; atque eo quidem nomine omnis , qui ubique erant , exacerbauit . ceterum praetorianos etiam metu et indignitate commouit , remouens subinde plerosque ut suspectos et Nymphidi socios . sed maxime fremebat superioris Germaniae exercitus fraudari se praemis nauatae aduersus Gallos et Vindicem operae . ergo primi obsequium rumpere ausi Kal . Ian . adigi sacramento nisi in nomen senatus recusarunt statimque legationem ad praetorianos cum mandatis destinauerunt : displicere imperatorem in Hispania factum ; eligerent ipsi quem cuncti exercitus comprobarent .	By this conduct he incurred the hatred of all orders of the people, but especially of the soldiery. For their commanders having promised them in his name a donative larger than usual, upon their taking the oath to him before his arrival at Rome; he refused to make it good, frequently bragging, "that it was his custom to choose his soldiers, not buy them." Thus the troops became exasperated against him in all quarters. The pretorian guards he alarmed with apprehensions of danger and unworthy treatment; disbanding many of them occasionally as disaffected to his government, and favourers of Nymphidius. But most of all, the army in Upper Germany was incensed against him, as being defrauded of the rewards due to them for the service they had rendered in the insurrection of the Gauls under Vindex. They were, therefore, the first who ventured to break into open mutiny, refusing upon the calends [the 1st] of January, to take any oath of allegiance, except to the senate; and they immediately dispatched deputies to the pretorian troops, to let them know, "they did not like the emperor who had been set up in Spain," and to desire that " they would make choice of another, who might meet with the approbation of all the armies."
17	quod ut nuntiatum est , despectui esse non tam senectam suam quam orbitatem ratus , Pisonem Frugi Licinianum nobilem egregiumque iuuenem ac sibi olim probatissimum testamentoque semper in bona et nomen adscitum repente e media salutantium turba adprehendit filiumque appellans perduxit in castra ac pro contione adoptauit , ne tunc quidem donatiui ulla mentione facta . quo faciliorem occasionem M . Saluio Othoni praebuit perficiendi conata intra sextum adoptionis diem .	Upon receiving intelligence of this, imagining that he was slighted not so much on account of his age, as for having no children, he immediately singled out of a company of young persons of rank, who came to pay their compliments to him, Piso Frugi Licinianus, a youth of noble descent and great talents, for whom he had before contracted such a regard, that he had appointed him in his will the heir both of his estate and name. Him he now styled his son, and taking him to the camp, adopted him in the presence of the assembled troops, but without making any mention of a donative. This circumstance afforded the better opportunity to Marcus Salvius Otho of accomplishing his object, six days after the adoption.
18	Magna et assidua monstra iam inde a principio exitum ei , qualis euenit , portenderant . cum per omne iter dextra sinistraque oppidatim uictimae caederentur , taurus securis ictu consternatus rupto uinculo essedum eius inuasit elatisque pedibus totum cruore perfudit ; ac descendentem speculator impulsu turbae lancea prope uulnerauit . urbem quoque et deinde Palatium ingressum excepit terrae tremor et assimilis quidam mugitui sonus . secuta sunt aliquanto manifestiora . monile margaritis gemmisque consertum ad ornandam Fortunam suam Tusculanam ex omni gaza secreuerat ; id repente quasi augustiore dignius loco Capitolinae Veneri dedicauit , ac proxima nocte somniauit speciem Fortunae querentis fraudatam se dono destinato , minantisque erepturam et ipsam quae dedisset . cumque exterritus luce prima ad expiandum somnium , praemissis qui rem diuinam appararent , Tusculum excucurrisset , nihil inuenit praeter tepidam in ara fauillam atratumque iuxta senem in catino uitreo tus tenentem et in calice fictili merum . obseruatum etiam est Kal . Ian . sacrificanti coronam de capite excidisse , auspicanti pullos auolasse ; adoptionis die neque milites adlocuturo castrensem sellam de more positam pro tribunali oblitis ministris et in senatu curulem peruerse collocatam .	Many remarkable prodigies had happened from the very beginning of his reign, which forewarned him of his approaching fate. In every town through which he passed in his way from Spain to Rome, victims were slain on the right and left of the roads; and one of these, which was a bull, being maddened with the stroke of the axe, broke the rope with which it was tied, and running straight against his chariot, with his fore-feet elevated, bespattered him with blood. Likewise, as he was alighting, one of the guard, being pushed forward by the crowd, had very nearly wounded him with his lance. And upon his entering the city and, afterwards, the palace, he was welcomed with an earthquake, and a noise like the bellowing of cattle. These signs of ill-fortune were followed by some that were still more apparently such. Out of all his treasures he had selected a necklace of pearls and jewels, to adorn his statue of Fortune at Tusculum, But it suddenly occurring to him that it deserved a more august place, he consecrated it to the Capitoline Venus; and next night, he dreamt that Fortune appeared to him, complaining that she had been defrauded of the present intended her, and threatening to resume what she had given him. Terrified at this denunciation, at break of day he sent forward some persons to Tusculum, to make preparations for a sacrifice which might avert the displeasure of the goddess; and when he himself arrived at the place, he found nothing but some hot embers upon the altar, and an old man in black standing by, holding a little incense in a glass, and some wine in an earthen pot. It was remarked, too, that whilst he was sacrificing upon the calends of January, the chaplet fell from his head, and upon his consulting the pullets for omens, they flew away. Farther, upon the day of his adopting Piso, when he was to harangue the soldiers, the seat which he used upon those occasions, through the neglect of his attendants, was not placed, according to custom, upon his tribunal; and in the senate-house, his curule chair was set with the back forward.
19	prius uero quam occideretur sacrificantem mane haruspex identidem monuit , caueret periculum , non longe percussores abesse . Haud multo post cognoscit teneri castra ab Othone , ac plerisque ut eodem quam primum pergeret suadentibus — posse enim auctoritate et praesentia praeualere — nihil amplius quam continere se statuit et legionariorum firmare praesidiis , qui multifariam diuerseque tendebant . loricam tamen induit linteam , quanquam haud dissimulans parum aduersus tot mucrones profuturam . sed extractus rumoribus falsis , quos conspirati , ut eum in publicum elicerent , de industria dissiparant , paucis temere affirmantibus transactum negotium , oppressos , qui tumultuarentur , aduenire frequentis ceteros gratulabundos et in omne obsequium paratos , iis ut occurreret prodiit tanta fiducia , ut militi cuidam occisum a se Othonem glorianti : ' quo auctore ?' responderit , atque in forum usque processit . ibi equites , quibus mandata caedes erat , cum per publicum dimota paganorum turba equos adegissent , uiso procul eo parumper restiterunt ; dein rursum incitati desertum a suis contrucidarunt .	The day before he was slain, as he was sacrificing in the morning, the augur warned him from time to time to be upon his guard, for that he was in danger from assassins, and that they were near at hand. Soon after, he was informed, that Otho was in possession of the pretorian camp. And though most of his friends advised him to repair thither immediately, in hopes that he might quell the tumult by his authority and presence, he resolved to do nothing more than keep close within the palace, and secure himself by guards of the legionary soldiers, who were quartered in different parts about the city. He put on a linen coat of mail, however; remarking at the same time, that it would avail him little against the points of so many swords. But being tempted out by false reports, which the conspirators had purposely spread to induce him to venture abroad-some few of those about him too hastily assuring him that the tumult had ceased, the mutineers were apprehended, and the rest coming to congratulate him, resolved to continue firm in their obedience-he went forward to meet them with so much confidence, that upon a soldier's boasting that he had killed Otho, he asked him, " By what authority?" and proceeded as far as the forum. There the knights appointed to dispatch him, making their way through the crowd of citizens, upon seeing him at a distance, halted a while; after which, galloping up to him, now abandoned by all his attendants, they put him to death.
20	Sunt qui tradant , ad primum tumultum proclamasse eum : ' quid agitis commilitones ? ego uester sum et uos mei ,' donatiuum etiam pollicitum . plures autem prodiderunt optulisse ultro iugulum et ut hoc agerent ac ferirent , quando ita uideretur , hortatum . illud mirum admodum fuerit , neque praesentium quemquam opem imperatori ferre conatum et omnes qui arcesserentur spreuisse nuntium excepta Germanicianorum uexillatione . ii ob recens meritum , quod se aegros et inualidos magno opere fouisset , in auxilium aduolauerunt , sed serius itinere deuio per ignorantiam locorum retardati . Iugulatus est ad lacum Curti ac relictus ita uti erat , donec gregarius miles a frumentatione rediens abiecto onere caput ei amputauit ; et quoniam capillo arripere non poterat , in gremium abdidit , mox inserto per os pollice ad Othonem detulit . ille lixis calonibusque donauit , qui hasta suffixum non sine ludibrio circum castra portarunt adclamantes identidem : ' Galba Cupido , fruaris aetate tua ,' maxime irritati ad talem iocorum petulantiam , quod ante paucos dies exierat in uulgus , laudanti cuidam formam suam ut adhuc floridam et uegetam respondisse eum : ἔτι μοι μένοσ ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν . ab is Patrobii Neroniani libertus centum aureis redemptum eo loco , ubi iussu Galbae animaduersum in patronum suum fuerat , abiecit . sero tandem dispensator Argiuus et hoc et ceterum truncum in priuatis eius hortis Aurelia uia sepulturae dedit .	Some authors relate, that upon their first approach he cried out, "What do you mean, fellow-soldiers ? I am yours, and you are mine," and promised them a donative: but the generality of writers relate, that he offered his throat to them, saying, " Do your work, and strike, since you are resolved upon it." It is remarkable, that not one of those who were at hand, ever made any attempt to assist the emperor; and all who were sent for, disregarded the summons, except a troop of Germans. They, in consideration of his late kindness in showing them particular attention during a sickness which prevailed in the camp, flew to his aid, but came too late: for, being not well acquainted with the town, they had taken a circuitous route. He was slain near the Curtian Lake, and there left, until a common soldier returning from the receipt of his allowance of corn, throwing down the load which he carried, cut off his head. There being upon it no hair, by which he might hold it, he hid it in the bosom of his dress; but afterwards thrusting his thumb into the mouth, he carried it in that manner to Otho, who gave it to the drudges and slaves who attended the soldiers; and they, fixing it upon the point of a spear, carried it in derision round the camp, crying out as they went along, "You take your fill of joy in your old age." They were irritated to this pitch of rude banter, by a report spread a few days before, that, upon some one's commending his person as still florid and vigorous, he replied, ἔτι μοι μένοσ ἔμπεδόν My strength, as yet, has suffered no decay. A freedman of Patrobius's, who himself had belonged to Nero's family, purchased the head from them at the price of a hundred gold pieces, and threw it into the place where, by Galba's order, his patron had been put to death. At last, after some time, his steward Argius buried it, with the rest of his body, in his own gardens near the Aurelian Way.
21	Statura fuit iusta , capite praecaluo , oculis caeruleis , adunco naso , manibus pedibusque articulari morbo distortissimis , ut neque calceum perpeti neque libellos euoluere aut tenere omnino ualeret . excreuerat etiam in dexteriore latere eius caro praependebatque adeo ut aegre fascia substringeretur .	In person he was of a good size, bald before, with blue eyes, and an aquiline nose; and his hands and feet were so distorted with the gout, that he could neither wear a shoe, nor turn over the leaves of a book, or so much as hold it. He had likewise an excrescence in his right side, which hung down to that degree, that it was with difficulty kept up by a bandage.
22	Cibi plurimi traditur , quem tempore hiberno etiam ante lucem capere consuerat , inter cenam uero usque eo abundantis , ut congestas super manus reliquias circumferri iuberet spargique ad pedes stantibus . libidinis in mares pronior et eos non nisi praeduros exoletosque ; ferebant in Hispania Icelum e ueteribus concubinis de Neronis exitu nuntiantem non modo artissimis osculis palam exceptum ab eo , sed ut sine mora uelleretur oratum atque seductum .	He is reported to have been a great eater, and usually took his breakfast in the winter-time before day. At supper, he fed very heartily, giving the fragments which were left, by handfuls, to be distributed amongst the attendants.
23	Periit tertio et septuagesimo aetatis anno , imperii mense septimo senatus , ut primum licitum est , statuam ei decreuerat rostratae columnae superstantem in parte fori , qua trucidatus est ; sed decretum Vespasianus aboleuit , percussores sibi ex Hispania in Iudaeam submisisse opinatus .	He perished in the seventy-third year of his age, and the seventh month of his reign. The senate, as soon as they could with safety, ordered a statue to be erected for him upon the naval column, in that part of the forum where he was slain. But Vespasian cancelled the decree, upon a suspicion that he had sent assassins from Spain into Judea to murder him.