Otho (Suetonius)

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	Otho Author: Suetonius	Translator: Alexander Thomson
1	Maiores Othonis orti sunt oppido Ferentio , familia uetere et honorata atque ex principibus Etruriae . auus M . Saluius Otho , patre equite R ., matre humili incertum an ingenua , per gratiam Liuiae Augustae , in cuius domo creuerat , senator est factus nec praeturae gradum excessit . Pater L . Otho , materno genere praeclaro multarumque et magnarum propinquitatium , tam carus tamque non absimilis facie Tiberio principi fuit , ut plerique procreatum ex eo crederent . urbanos honores , proconsulatum Africae et extraordinaria imperia seuerissime administrauit . ausus etiam est in Illyrico milites quosdam , quod motu Camilli ex paenitentia praepositos suos quasi defectionis aduersus Claudium auctores occiderant , capite punire et quidem ante principia se coram , quamuis ob id ipsum promotos in ampliorem gradum a Claudio sciret . quo facto sicut gloriam auxit , ita gratiam minuit ; quam tamen mature reciperauit detecta equitis R . fraude , quem prodentibus seruis necem Claudio parare compererat . namque et senatus honore rarissimo , statua in Palatio posita , prosecutus est eum et Claudius adlectum inter patricios conlaudans amplissimis uerbis hoc quoque adiecit : ' uir , quo meliores liberos habere ne opto quidem .' ex Albia Terentia splendida femina duos filios tulit , L . Titianum et minorem M . cognominem sibi ; tulit et filiam , quam uixdum nubilem Druso Germanici filio despondit .	THE ancestors of Otho were originally of the town of Ferentum, of an ancient and honourable family, and, indeed, one of the most considerable in Etruria. His grandfather, M. Salvius Otho (whose father was a Roman knight, but his mother of mean extraction, for it is not certain whether she was free-born), by the favour of Livia Augusta, in whose house he had his education, was made a senator, but never rose higher than the praetorship. His father, Lucius Otho, was by the mother's side nobly descended, allied to several great families, and so dearly beloved by Tiberius, and so much resembled him in his features, that most people believed Tiberius was his father. He behaved with great strictness and severity, not only in the city offices, but in the pro-consulship of Africa, and some extraordinary commands in the army. He had the courage to punish with death some soldiers in Illyricum, who, in the disturbance attempted by Camillus, upon changing their minds, had put their generals to the sword, as promoters of that insurrection against Claudius. He ordered the execution to take place in the front of the camp, and under his own eyes; though he knew they had been advanced to higher ranks in the army by Claudius, on that very account. By this action he acquired fame, but lessened his favour at court; which, however, he soon recovered, by discovering to Claudius a design upon his life, carried on by a Roman knight, and which he had learnt from some of his slaves. For the senate ordered a statue of him to be erected in the palace; an honour which had been conferred but upon very few before him. And Claudius advanced him to the dignity of a patrician, commending him, at the same time, in the highest terms, and concluding with these words: " A man, than whom I don't so much as wish to have children that should be better." He had two sons by a very noble woman, Albia Terentia, namely, Lucius Titianus, and a younger called Marcus, who had the same cognomen as himself. He had also a daughter, whom he contracted to Drusus, Germanicus's son, before she was of marriageable age.
2	Otho imperator IIII . Kal . Mai . natus est Camillo Arruntio Domitio Ahenobarbo cons . a prima adulescentia prodigus ac procax , adeo ut saepe flagris obiurgaretur a patre , ferebatur et uagari noctibus solitus atque inualidum quemque obuiorum uel potulentum corripere ac distento sago impositum in sublime iactare . post patris deinde mortem libertinam aulicam gratiosam , quo efficacius coleret , etiam diligere simulauit quamuis anum ac paene decrepitam ; per hanc insinuatus Neroni facile summum inter amicos locum tenuit congruentia morum , ut uero quidam tradunt , et consuetudine mutui stupri . ac tantum potentia ualuit , ut damnatum repetundis consularem uirum , ingens praemium pactus , prius quam plane restitutionem ei impetrasset , non dubitaret in senatum ad agendas gratias introducere .	The emperor Otho was born upon the fourth of the calends of May [28th April], in the consulship of Camillus Aruntius and Domitius Aenobarbus. He was from his earliest youth so riotous and wild, that he was often severely scourged by his father. He was said to run about in the night-time, and seize upon any one he met, who was either drunk or too feeble to mal e resistance, and toss him in a blanket. After his father's death, to make his court more effectually to a freedwoman about the palace, who was in great favour, he pretended to be in love with her, though she was old and almost decrepit. Having by her means got into Nero's good graces, he soon became one of the principal favourites, by the congeniality of his disposition to that of the emperor. He had so great a sway at court, that when a man of consular rank was condemned for bribery, having tampered with him for a large sum of money, to procure his pardon; before he had quite effected it, he scrupled not to introduce him into the senate, to return his thanks.
3	omnium autem consiliorum secretorumque particeps die , quem necandae matri Nero destinarat , ad auertendas suspiciones cenam utrique exquisitissimae comitatis dedit ; item Poppaeam Sabinam tunc adhuc amicam eius , abductam marito demandatamque interim sibi , nuptiarum specie recepit nec corrupisse contentus adeo dilexit , ut ne riualem quidem Neronem aequo tulerit animo creditur certe non modo missos ad arcessendam non recepisse , sed ipsum etiam exclusisse quondam pro foribus astantem miscentemque frustra minas et preces ac depositum reposcentem . quare diducto matrimonio sepositus est per causam legationis in Lusitaniam . et satis uisum , ne poena acrior mimum omnem diuulgaret , qui tamen sic quoque hoc disticho enotuit : cur Otho mentito sit , quaeritis , exul honore ? uxoris moechus coeperat esse suae .	Having by means of this woman, insinuated himself into all the emperor's secrets, he, upon the day designed for the murder of his mother, entertained them both at a very splendid feast, to prevent suspicion. Poppaea Sabina, for whom >Nero entertained such a violent passion that he had taken her from her husband and entrusted her to him, he received, and went through the form of marrying her. And not satisfied with obtaining her favour, he loved her so extravagantly, that he could not with patience bear Nero for his rival. It is certainly believed that he not only refused admittance to those who were sent by Nero to fetch her, but that, on one occasion, he shut him out, and kept him standing before the door, mixing prayers and menaces in vain, and demanding back again what was entrusted to his keeping. His pretended marriage, therefore, being dissolved, he was sent lieutenant into Lusitania. This treatment of him was thought sufficiently severe, because harsher proceedings might have brought the whole farce to light, which notwithstanding, at last came out, and was published to the world in the following distich: Cur Otho mentitus sit, quaeritis, exul honore? Uxoris moechus cseperat esse suae. You ask why Otho's banish'd? Know, the cause Comes not within the verge of vulgar laws, Against all rules of fashionable life, The rogue had dared to sleep with his own wife.
4	Prouinciam administrauit quaestorius per decem annos , moderatione atque abstinentia singulari . ut tandem occasio ultionis data est , conatibus Galbae primus accessit ; eodemque momento et ipse spem imperii cepit magnam quidem et ex condicione temporum , sed aliquanto maiorem ex affirmatione Seleuci mathematici . qui cum eum olim superstitem Neroni fore spopondisset , tunc ultro inopinatus aduenerat imperaturum quoque breui repromittens . nullo igitur officii aut ambitionis in quemquam genere omisso , quotiens cena principem acciperet , aureos excubanti cohorti uiritim diuidebat , nec minus alium alia uia militum demerebatur ; cuidam etiam de parte finium cum uicino litiganti adhibitus arbiter totum agrum redemit emancipauitque , ut iam uix ullus esset , qui non et sentiret et praedicaret solum successione imperii dignum .	He governed the province in quality of quaestor for ten years, with singular moderation and justice. As soon as an opportunity of revenge offered, he readily joined in Galba's enterprises, and at the same time conceived hopes of obtaining the imperial dignity for himself. To this he was much encouraged by the state of the times, but still more by the assurances given him by Seleucus, the astrologer, who, having formerly told him that he would certainly out-live Nero, came to him at that juncture unexpectedly, promising him again that he should succeed in the empire, and that in a very short time. He, therefore, let slip no opportunity of making his court to every one about him by all manner of civilities. As often as he entertained Galba at supper, he distributed to every man of the cohort which attended the emperor on guard, a gold piece; endeavouring likewise to oblige the rest of the soldiers in one way or another. Being chosen an arbitrator by one who had a dispute with his neighbour about a piece of land, he bought it, and gave it to him; so that now almost every body thought and said, that he was the only man worthy of succeeding to the empire.
5	sperauerat autem fore ut adoptaretur a Galba , idque in dies expectabat . sed postquam Pisone praelato spe decidit , ad uim conuersus est instigante super animi dolorem etiam magnitudine aeris alieni . neque enim dissimulabat , nisi principem se stare non posse , nihilque referre ab hoste in acie an in foro sub creditoribus caderet . ante paucos dies seruo Caesaris pro impetrata dispensatione decies sestertium expresserat ; hoc subsidium tanti coepti fuit . ac primo quinque speculatoribus commissa res est , deinde decem aliis , quos singuli binos produxerant ; omnibus dena sestertia repraesentata et quinquagena promissa . per hos sollicitati reliqui , nec adeo multi , haud dubia fiducia in ipso negotio pluris adfuturos .	He entertained hopes of being adopted by Galba, and expected it every day. But finding himself disappointed. by Piso's being preferred before him, he turned his thoughts to obtaining his purpose by the use of violence; and to this he was instigated, as well by the greatness of his debts, as by resentment at Galba's conduct towards him. For he did not conceal his conviction, "that he could not stand his ground unless he became emperor, and that it signified nothing whether he fell by the hands of his enemies in the field, or of his creditors in the forum." He had a few days before squeezed out of one of the emperor's slaves a million of sesterces for procuring him a stewardship; and this was the whole fund he had for carrying on so great an enterprise. At first the design was entrusted to only five of the guard, but afterward to ten others, each of the five naming two. They had every one ten thousand sesterces paid down, and were promised fifty thousand more. By these, others were drawn in, but not many; from a confident assurance, that when the matter came to the crisis, they should have enough to join them.
6	tulerat animus post adoptionem statim castra occupare cenantemque in Palatio Galbam adgredi , sed obstitit respectus cohortis , quae tunc excubabat , ne oneraretur inuidia , quod eiusdem statione et Gaius fuerat occisus et desertus Nero . medium quoque tempus religio et Seleucus exemit . Ergo destinata die praemonitis consciis , ut se in foro sub aede Saturni ad miliarium aureum opperirentur , mane Galbam salutauit , utque consueuerat osculo exceptus , etiam sacrificanti interfuit audiuitque praedicta haruspicis . deinde liberto adesse architectos nuntiante , quod signum conuenerat , quasi uenalem domum inspecturus abscessit proripuitque se postica parte Palati ad constitutum . alii febrem simulasse aiunt eamque excusationem proximis mandasse , si quaereretur . tunc abditus propere muliebri sella in castra contendit ac deficientibus lecticaris cum descendisset cursumque cepisset , laxato calceo restitit , donec omissa mora succollatus et a praesente comitatu imperator consalu tatus inter faustas adclamationes strictosque gladios ad principia deuenit , obuio quoque non aliter ac si conscius et particeps foret adhaerente . ibi missis qui Galbam et Pisonem trucidarent , ad conciliandos pollicitationibus militum animos nihil magis pro contione testatus est , quam id demum se habiturum , quod sibi illi reliquissent .	His first intention was, immediately after the departure of Piso, to seize the camp, and fall upon Galba whilst he was at supper in the palace; but he was restrained by a regard for the cohort at that time on duty, lest he should bring too great an odium upon it; because it happened that the same cohort was on guard before, both when Caius was slain, and Nero deserted. For some time afterwards, he was restrained also by scruples about the omens, and by the advice of Seleucus. Upon the day fixed at last for the enterprise, having given his accomplices notice to wait for him in the forum near the temple of Saturn, at the gilded mile-stone, he went in the morning to pay his respects to Galba; and being received with a kiss as usual, he attended him at sacrifice, and heard the predictions of the augur. A freedman of his, then bringing him word that the architects were come, which was the signal agreed upon, he withdrew, as if it were with a design to view a house upon sale, and went out by a back-door of the palace to the place appointed. Some say he pretended to be seized with an ague fit, and ordered those about him to make that excuse for him, if he was inquired after. Being then quickly concealed in a woman's litter, he made the best of his way for the camp. But the bearers growing tired, he got out, and began to run. His shoe becoming loose, he stopped again, but being immediately raised by his attendants upon their shoulders, and unanimously saluted by the fitle of EMPEROR, he came amidst auspicious acclamations and drawn swords into the Principia in the camp; all who met him joining in the cavalcade, as if they had been privy to the design. Upon this, sending some soldiers to dispatch Galba and Piso, he said nothing else in his address to the soldiery, to secure their affections, than these few words: ",I shall be content with whatever ye think fit to leave me."
7	Dein uergente iam die ingressus senatum positaque breui oratione quasi raptus de publico et suscipere imperium ui coactus gesturusque communi omnium arbitrio , Palatium petit . ac super ceteras gratulantium adulantiumque blanditias ab infima plebe appellatus Nero nullum indicium recusantis dedit , immo , ut quidam tradiderunt , etiam diplomatibus primisque epistulis suis ad quosdam prouinciarum praesides Neronis cognomen adiecit . certe et imagines statuasque eius reponi passus est et procuratores atque libertos ad eadem officia reuocauit , nec quicquam prius pro potestate subscripsit quam quingenties sestertium ad peragendam Auream domum . Dicitur ea nocte per quietem pauefactus gemitus maximos edidisse repertusque a concursantibus humi ante lectum iacens per omnia piaculorum genera Manes Galbae , a quo deturbari expellique se uiderat , propitiare temptasse ; postridie quoque in augurando tempestate orta grauiter prolapsum identidem obmurmurasse : τί γάρ μοι καὶ μακροῖσ αὐλοῖς ;	Towards the close of the day, he entered the senate, and after he had made a short speech to them, pretending that he had been seized in the streets, and compelled by violence to assume the imperial authority, which he designed to exercise in conjunction with them, he retired to the palace Besides other compliments which he received from those who flocked about him to congratulate and flatter him, he was called Nero by the mob, and manifested no intention of declining that cognomen. Nay, some authors relate, that he used it in his official acts, and the first letters he sent to the governors of provinces. He suffered all his images and statues to be replaced, and restored his procurators and freedmen to their former posts. And the first writing which he signed as emperor, was a promise of fifty millions of sesterces to finish the Golden-house. He is said to have been greatly frightened that night in his sleep, and to have groaned heavily; and being found, by those who came running in to see what the matter was, lying upon the floor before his bed, he endeavoured by every kind of atonement to appease the ghost of Galba, by which he had found himself violently tumbled out of bed. The next day, as he was taking the omens, a great storm arising, and sustaining a grievous fall, he muttered to himself from time to time: τί γαρ What business have I the loud trumpets to sound?
8	Sub idem uero tempus Germaniciani exercitus in Vitelli uerba iurarant . quod ut comperit , auctor senatui fuit mittendae legationis , quae doceret electum iam principem , quietem concordiamque suaderet ; et tamen per internuntios ac litteras consortem imperii generumque se Vitellio optulit . uerum haud dubio bello iamque ducibus et copiis , quas Vitellius praemiserat , appropinquantibus animum fidemque erga se praetorianorum paene internecione amplissimi ordinis expertus est . placuerat per classiarios arma transferri remittique nauibus ; ea cum in castris sub noctem promerentur , insidias quidam suspicati tumultum excitauerunt ; ac repente omnes nullo certo duce in Palatium cucurrerunt caedem senatus flagitantes , repulsisque tribunorum qui inhibere temptabant , nonnullis et occisis , sic ut erant cruenti , ubinam imperator esset requirentes perruperunt in triclinium usque nec nisi uiso destiterunt . Expeditionem autem inpigre atque etiam praepropere incohauit , nulla ne religionum quidem cura , sed et motis necdum conditis ancilibus , quod antiquitus infaustum habetur , et die , quo cultores deum Matris lamentari et plangere incipiunt , praeterea aduersissimis auspiciis . nam et uictima Diti patri caesa litauit , cum tali sacrificio contraria exta potiora sint , et primo egressu inundationibus Tiberis retardatus ad uicensimum etiam lapidem ruina aedificiorum praeclusam uiam offendit .	About the same time, the armies in Germany took an oath to Vitellius as emperor. Upon receiving this intelligence, he advised the senate to send thither deputies, to inform them, that a prince had been already chosen; and to persuade them to peace and a good understanding. By letters and messengers, however, he offered Vitellius to make him his colleague in the empire, and his son-in-law. But a war being now unavoidable, and the generals and troops sent forward by Vitellius, advancing, he had a proof of the attachment and fidelity of the pretorian guards, which had nearly proved fatal to the senatorian order. It had been judged proper that some arms should be given out of the stores, and conveyed to the fleet by the marine troops. While they were employed in fetching these from the camp in the night, some of the guards suspecting treachery, excited a tumult; and suddenly the whole body, without any of their officers at their head, ran to the palace, demanding that the entire senate should be put to the sword; and having repulsed some of the tribunes who endeavoured to stop them, and slain others, they broke, all bloody as they were, into the banquetting room, inquiring for the emperor; nor would they quit the place until they had seen him. He now entered upon his expedition against Vitellius with great alacrity, but too much precipitation, and without any regard to the ominous circumstances which attended it. For the Ancilia had been taken out of the temple of Mars, for the usual procession, but were not yet replaced; during which interval it had of old been looked upon as very unfortunate to engage in any enterprise. He likewise set forward upon the day when the worshippers of the Mother of the gods begin their lamentations and wailing. Besides these, other unlucky omens attended him, For, in a victim offered to Father Dis, he found the signs such as upon all other occasions are regarded as favourable; whereas, in that sacrifice, the contrary intimations are judged the most propitious. At his first setting forward, he was stopped by inundations of the Tiber; and at twenty miles' distance from the city, found the road blocked up by the fall of houses.
9	simili temeritate , quamuis dubium nemini esset quin trahi bellum oporteret , quando et fame et angustiis locorum urgeretur hostis , quam primum tamen decertare statuit , siue impatiens longioris sollicitudinis speransque ante Vitelli aduentum profligari plurimum posse , siue impar militum ardori pugnam deposcentium . nec ulli pugnae affuit substititque Brixelli . Et tribus quidem , uerum mediocribus proelis apud Alpes circaque Placentiam et ad Castoris , quod loco nomen est , uicit ; nouissimo maximoque apud Betriacum fraude superatus est , cum spe conloquii facta , quasi ad condicionem pacis militibus eductis , ex inprouiso atque in ipsa consalutatione dimicandum fuisset . ac statim moriendi impetum cepit , ut multi nec frustra opinantur , magis pudore , ne tanto rerum hominumque periculo dominationem sibi asserere perseueraret , quam desperatione ulla aut diffidentia copiarum ; quippe residuis integrisque etiam nunc quas secum ad secundos casus detinuerat , et superuenientibus aliis e Dalmatia Pannoniaque et Moesia , ne uictis quidem adeo afflictis ut non in ultionem ignominiae quiduis discriminis ultro et uel solae subirent .	Though it was the general opinion that it would be proper to protract the war, as the enemy were distressed by famine and the straitness of their quarters, yet he resolved with equal rashness to force them to an engagement as soon as possible; whether from impatience of prolonged anxiety, and in the hope of bringing matters to an issue before the arrival of Vitellius, or because he could not resist the ardour of the troops, who were all clamorous for battle. He was not, however, present at any of those which ensued, but stayed behind at Brixellum. He had the advantage in three slight engagements, near the Alps, about Placentia, and a place called Castor's; but was, by a fraudulent stratagem of the enemy, defeated in the last and greatest battle at Bedriacum. For, some hopes of a conference being given, and the soldiers being drawn up to hear the conditions of peace declared, very unexpectedly, and amidst their mutual salutations, they were obliged to stand to their arms. Immediately upon this he determined to put an end to his life, more, as many think, and not without reason, out of shame, at persisting in a struggle for the empire to the hazard of the public interest and so many lives, than from despair, or distrust of his troops. For he had still in reserve, and in full force, those whom he had kept about him for a second trial of his fortune, and others were coming up from Dalmatia, Pannonia, and Moesia; nor were the troops lately defeated so far discouraged as not to be ready, even of themselves, to run all risks in order to wipe off their recent disgrace.
10	Interfuit huic bello pater meus Suetonius Laetus , tertiae decimae legionis tribunus angusticlauius . is mox referre crebro solebat Othonem etiam priuatum usque adeo detestatum ciuilia arma , ut memorante quodam inter epulas de Cassi Brutique exitu cohorruerit ; nec concursurum cum Galba fuisse , nisi confideret sine bello rem transigi posse ; tunc ad despiciendam uitam exemplo manipularis militis concitatum , qui cum cladem exercitus nuntiaret nec cuiquam fidem faceret ac nunc mendaci nunc timoris , quasi fugisset , ex acie argueretur , gladio ante pedes eius incubuerit . hoc uiso proclamasse eum aiebat , non amplius se in periculum talis tamque bene meritos coniecturum . Fratrem igitur fratrisque filium et singulos amicorum cohortatus , ut sibi quisque pro facultate consuleret , ab amplexu et osculo suo dimisit omnis , secretoque capto binos codicillos exarauit , ad sororem consolatorios et ad Messalinam Neronis , quam matrimonio destinarat , commendans reliquias suas et memoriam . quicquid deinde epistularum erat , ne cui periculo aut noxae apud uictorem forent , concremauit . diuisit et pecunias domesticis ex copia praesenti .	My father, Suetonius Lenis, was in this battle, being at that time an angusticlavian tribune in the thirteenth legion. He used frequently to say, that Otho, before his advancement to the empire, had such an abhorrence of civil war, that once, upon hearing an account given at table of the death of Cassius and Brutus, he fell into a trembling, and that he neverwould have interfered with Galba, but that he was confident of succeeding in his enterprise without a war. Moreover, that he was then encouraged to despise life by the example of a common soldier, who bringing news of the defeat of the army, and finding that he met with no credit, but was railed at for a liar and a coward, as if he had run away from the field of battle, fell upon his sword at the emperor's feet; upon the sight of which, my father said that Otho cried out, " that he would expose to no farther danger such brave men, who had deserved so well at his hands." Advising therefore his brother, his brother's son, and the rest of his friends, to provide for their security in the best manner they could, after he had embraced and kissed them, he sent them away; and them withdrawing into a private room by himself, he wrote a letter of consolation to his sister, containing two sheets. He likewise sent another to Messalina, Nero's widow, whom he had intended to marry, committing her the care of his relics and memory. He then burnt all the letters which he had by him, to prevent the danger and mischief that might otherwise befall the writers from the conqueror. What ready money he had, he distributed among his domestics.
11	atque ita paratus intentusque iam morti , tumultu inter moras exorto ut eos , qui discedere et abire coeptabant , corripi quasi desertores detinerique sensit : ' adiciamus ,' inquit , ' uitae et hanc noctem ,' his ipsis totidemque uerbis , uetuitque uim cuiquam fieri ; et in serum usque patente cubiculo , si quis adire uellet , potestatem sui praebuit . post hoc sedata siti gelidae aquae potione arripuit duos pugiones et explorata utriusque acie , cum alterum puluino subdidisset , foribus adopertis artissimo somno quieuit . et circa lucem demum expergefactus uno se traiecit ictu infra laeuam papillam irrumpentibusque ad primum gemitum modo celans modo detegens plagam exanimatus est et celeriter , nam ita praeceperat , funeratus , tricensimo et octauo aetatis anno et nonagensimo et quinto imperii die .	And now being prepared, and just upon the point of dispatching himself, he was induced to suspend the execution of his purpose by a great tumult which had broken out in the camp. Finding that some of the soldiers who were making off had been seized and detained as deserters, " Let us add," said he, " this night to our life." These were his very words. He then gave orders that no violence should be offered to any one; and keeping his chamber-door open until late at night, he allowed all who pleased the liberty to come and see him. At last, after quenching his thirst with a draught of cold water, he took up two poniards, and having examined the points of both, put one of them under his pillow, and shutting his chamber-door, slept very soundly, until, awaking about break of day. he stabbed himself under the left pap. Some persons bursting into the room upon his first groan, he at one time covered, and at another exposed his wound to the view of the bystanders, and thus life soon ebbed away. His funeral was hastily performed, according to his own order, in the thirty-eighth year of his age, and ninety-fifth day of his reign.