galba-第2章

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and　for　this　service　was　considerably　advanced。　On　the　freedman；　Galba
conferred　the　honour　of　the　gold　ring；　and　Icelus；　as　he　had　been
before；　now　taking　the　name　of　Marcianus；　held　the　first　place　of
the　freedmen。
　　But　at　Rome；　Nymphidius　Sabinus；　not　gently；　and　little　by　little；
but　at　once；　and　without　exception；　engrossed　all　power　to　himself；
Galba；　being　an　old　man　（seventy…three　years　of　age）；　would
scarcely；　he　thought；　live　long　enough　to　be　carried　in　a　litter　to
Rome；　and　the　troops　in　the　city　were　from　old　time　attached　to　him；
and　now　bound　by　the　vastness　of　the　promised　gift；　for　which　they
regarded　him　as　their　benefactor；　and　Galba　as　their　debtor。　Thus
presuming　on　his　interest；　he　straightway　commanded　Tigellinus；　who
was　in　joint　commission　with　himself；　to　lay　down　his　sword；　and
giving　entertainments；　he　invited　the　former　consuls　and　commanders；
making　use　of　Galba's　name　for　the　invitation；　but　at　the　same　time
prepared　many　in　the　camp　to　propose　that　a　request　should　be　sent
to　Galba　that　he　should　appoint　Nymphidius　sole　prefect　for　life
without　a　colleague。　And　the　modes　which　the　senate　took　to　show　him
honour　and　increase　his　power；　styling　him　their　benefactor；　and
attending　daily　at　his　gates；　and　giving　him　the　compliment　of　heading
with　his　own　name　and　confirming　all　their　acts；　carried　him　on　to　a
yet　greater　degree　of　arrogance；　so　that　in　a　short　time　he　became
an　object；　not　only　of　dislike；　but　of　terror；　to　those　that　sought
his　favour。　When　the　consuls　themselves　had　despatched　their
couriers　with　the　decrees　of　the　senate　to　the　emperor；　together
with　the　sealed　diplomas；　which　the　authorities　in　all　the　towns　where
horses　or　carriages　are　changed　look　at；　and　on　that　certificate
hasten　the　courtiers　forward　with　all　their　means；　he　was　highly
displeased　that　his　seal　had　not　been　used；　and　none　of　his　soldiers
employed　on　the　errand。　Nay；　he　even　deliberated　what　course　to　take
with　the　consuls　themselves；　but　upon　their　submission　and　apology
he　was　at　last　pacified。　To　gratify　the　people；　he　did　not　interfere
with　their　beating　to　death　any　that　fell　into　their　hands　of　Nero's
party。　Amongst　others；　Spiclus；　the　gladiator；　was　killed　in　the　forum
by　being　thrown　under　Nero's　statues；　which　they　dragged　about　the
place　over　his　body。　Aponius；　one　of　those　who　had　been　concerned　in
accusations；　they　knocked　to　the　ground；　and　drove　carts　loaded　with
stones　over　him。　And　many　others　they　tore　in　pieces；　some　of　them
no　way　guilty；　insomuch　that　Mauriscus；　a　person　of　great　account
and　character；　told　the　senate　that　he　feared；　in　a　short　time；　they
might　wish　for　Nero　again。
　　Nymphidius；　now　advancing　towards　the　consummation　of　his　hopes；　did
not　refuse　to　let　it　be　said　that　he　was　the　son　of　Caius　Caesar；
Tiberius's　successor；　who；　it　is　told；　was　well　acquainted　with　his
mother　in　his　early　youth；　a　woman　indeed　handsome　enough；　the
offspring　of　Callistus；　one　of　Caesar's　freedmen；　and　a　certain
sempstress。　But　it　is　plain　that　Caius's　familiarity　with　his　mother
was　of　too　late　date　to　give　him　any　pretensions；　and　it　was　suspected
he　might；　if　he　pleased；　claim　a　father　in　Martianus；　the　gladiator；
whom　his　mother；　Nymphidia；　took　a　passion　for；　being　a　famous　man
in　his　way；　whom　also　he　much　more　resembled。　However；　though　he
certainly　owned　Nymphidia　for　his　mother；　he　ascribed　meantime　the
downfall　of　Nero　to　himself　alone；　and　thought　he　was　not　sufficiently
rewarded　with　the　honours　and　riches　he　enjoyed　（nay；　though　to　all
was　added　the　company　of　Sporus；　whom　he　immediately　sent　for　while
Nero's　body　was　yet　burning　on　the　pile；　and　treated　as　his　consort
with　the　name　of　Poppaea）；　but　he　must　also　aspire　to　the　empire。
And　at　Rome　he　had　friends　who　took　measures　for　him　secretly；　as　well
as　some　women　and　some　members　of　the　senate　also；　who　worked
underhand　to　assist　him。　And　into　Spain　he　despatched　one　of　his
friends；　named　Gellianus；　to　view　the　posture　of　affairs。
　　But　all　things　succeeded　well　with　Galba　after　Nero's　death；　only
Virginius　Rufus；　still　standing　doubtful；　gave　him　some　anxiety；
lest　he　should　listen　to　the　suggestions　of　some　who　encouraged　him　to
take　the　government　upon　him；　having；　at　present；　besides　the
command　of　a　large　and　warlike　army；　the　new　honours　of　the　defeat
of　Vindex　and　the　subjugation　of　one　considerable　part　of　the　Roman
empire；　namely；　the　entire　Gaul；　which　had　seemed　shaking　about　upon
the　verge　of　open　revolt。　Nor　had　any　man　indeed　a　greater　name　and
reputation　than　Virginius；　who　had　taken　a　part　of　so　much　consequence
in　the　deliverance　of　the　empire　at　once　from　a　cruel　tyranny　and　a
Gallic　war。　But　he；　standing　to　his　first　resolves；　reserved　to　the
senate　the　power　of　electing　an　emperor。　Yet　when　it　was　now
manifest　that　Nero　was　dead；　the　soldiers　pressed　him　hard　to　it；
and　one　of　the　tribunes；　entering　his　tent　with　his　drawn　sword；
bade　him　either　take　the　government　or　that。　But　after　Fabius
Valens；　having　the　command　of　one　legion；　had　first　sworn　fealty　to
Galba；　and　letters　from　Rome　came　with　tidings　of　the　resolves　of
the　senate；　at　last　with　much　ado　he　persuaded　the　army　to　declare
Galba　emperor。　And　when　Flaccus　Hordeonius　came　by　Galba's
commission　as　Galba　successor；　he　handed　over　to　him　his　forces；　and
went　himself　to　meet　Galba　on　his　way；　and　having　met　him　turned
back　to　attend　him；　in　all　which　no　apparent　displeasure　nor　yet
honour　was　shown　him。　Galba's　feelings　of　respect　for　him　prevented
the　former；　the　latter　was　checked　by　the　envy　of　his　friends；　and
particularly　of　Titus　Vinius；　who；　acting　in　the　desire　of　hindering
Virginius's　promotion；　unwittingly　aided　his　happy　genius　in
rescuing　him　from　those　hazards　and　hardships　which　other　commanders
were　involved　in；　and　securing　him　the　safe　enjoyment　of　a　quiet
life　and　peaceable　old　age。
　　Near　Narbo；　a　city　in　Gaul；　the　deputation　of　the　senate　met
Galba；　and　after　they　had　delivered　their　compliments；　begged　him　to
make　what　haste　he　could　to　appear　to　the　people　that　impatiently
expected　him。　He　discoursed　with　them　courteously　and　unassumingly；
and　in　his　entertainment；　though　Nymphidius　had　sent　him　royal
furniture　and　attendance　of　Nero's；　he　put　all　aside；　and　made　use
of　nothing　but　his　own；　for　which　he　was　well　spoken　of；　as　one　who
had　a　great　mind；　and　was　superior　to　little　vanities。　But　in　a
short　time；　Vinius；　by　declaring　to　him　that　these　noble；　unpompous；
citizen…like　ways　were　a　mere　affectation　of　popularity　and　a　petty
bashfulness　at　assuming　his　proper　greatness；　induced　him　to　make
use　of　Nero's　supplies；　and　in　his　entertainments　not　to　be　afraid
of　a　regal　sumptuosity。　And　in　more　than　one　way　the　old　man　let　it
gradually　appear　that　he　had　put　himself　under　Vinius's　disposal。
　　Vinius　was　a　person　of　an　excessive　covetousness；　and　not　quite　free
from　blame　in　respect　to　women。　For　being　a　young　man；　newly　entered
into　the　service　under　Calvisius　Sabinus；　upon　his　first　campaign；
he　brought　his　commander's　wife；　a　licentious　woman；　in　a　soldier's
dress；　by　night　into　the　camp；　and　was　found　with　her　in　the　very
general's　quarters；　the　principia；　as　the　Romans　call　them。　For
which　insolence　Caius　Caesar　cast　him　into　prison；　from　whence　he
was　fortunately　delivered　by　Caius's　death。　Afterwards；　being
invited　by　Claudius　Caesar　to　supper；　he　privily　conveyed　away　a
silver　cup；　which　Caesar　hearing　of；　invited　him　again　the　next　day；
and　gave　order　to　his　servants　to　set　before　him　no　silver　plate；
but　only　earthenware。　And　this　offence；　through　the　comic　mildness
of　Caesar's　reprimand；　was　treated　rather　as　a　subject　of　jest　than　as
a　crime。　But　the　acts　to　which　now；　when　Galba　was　in　his　hands　and
his　power　was　so　extensive；　his　covetous　temper　led　him　were　the
causes；　in　part；　and　in　part　the　provocation；　of　tragical　and　fatal
mischiefs。
　　Nymphidius　became　very　uneasy　upon　the　return　out　of　Spain　of
Gellianus　whom　he　had　sent　to　pry　into　Galba's　actions；
understanding　that　Cornelius　Laco　was　appointed　commander　of　the　court
guards；　and　that　Vinius　was　the　great　favourite；　and　that　Gellianus
had　not　been　able　so　much　as　to　come　nigh；　much　less　have　any
opportunity　to　offer　any　words　in　private；　so　narrowly　had　he　been
watched　and　observed。　Nymphidius；　therefore；　called　together　the
officers　of　the　troops；　and　declared　to　them　that　Galba　of　himself　was
a　good；　well…meaning　old　man；　but　did　not　act　by　his　own　counsel；
and　was　ill…guided　by　Vinius　and　Laco；　and　lest；　before　they　were
aware；　they　should　engross　the　authority　Tigellinus　had　with　the
troops；　he　proposed　to　them　to　send　deputies　from　the　camp　acquainting
him　that　if　he　pleased　to　remove　only　these　two　from　his　counsel　and
presence；　he　would　be　much　more　welcome　to　all　at　his　arrival。
Wherein；　when　he　saw　he　did　not　prevail　（it　seeming　absurd　and
unmannerly　to　give　rules　to　an　old　commander　what　friends　to　retain　or
displace；　as　if　he　had　been　a　youth　newly　taking　the　reins　of
authority　into　his　hands）；　adopting　another　course；　he　wrote　himself
to　Galba　letters　in　alarming　terms；　one　while　as　if　the　city　were
unsettled；　and　had　not　yet　recovered　its　tranquillity；　then　that
Clodius　Macer　withheld　the　corn…ships　from　Africa；　that　the　legions　in
Germany　began　to　be　mutinous；　and　that　he　heard　the　like　of　those　in
Syria　and　Judaea。　But　Galba　not　minding　him　much　or　giving　credit　to
his　stories；　he　resolved　to　make　his　attempt　beforehand；　though
Clodius　Celsus；　a　native　of　Antioch；　a　person　of　sense；　and　friendly
and　faithful　to　Nymphidius；　told　him　he　was　wrong；　saying　he　did　not
believe　one　single　street　in　Rome　would　ever　give　him　the　title　of
Caesar。　Nevertheless　many　also　derided　Galba；　amongst　the　rest
Mithridates　of　Pontus；　saying；　that　as　soon　as　this　wrinkled；
baldheaded　man　should　be　seen　publicly　at　Rome；　they　would　think　it　an
utter　disgrace　even　to　have　had　such　a　Caesar。
　　At　last　it　was　resolved；　about　midnight；　to　bring　Nymphidius　into
the　camp；　and　declare　him　emperor。　But　Antonius　Honoratus；　who　was
first　among　the　tribunes；　summoning　together　in　the　evening　those
under　his　command；　charged　himself　and　them　severely　with　their　many
and　unreasonable　turns　and　alterations；　made　without　any　purpose　or
regard　to　merit；　simply　as　if　some　evil　genius　hurried　them　from　one
reason　to　another。　〃What　though　Nero's　miscarriages；〃　said　he；　〃gave
some　colour　to　your　former　acts；　can　you　say　you　have　any　plea　for
betraying　Galba　in　the　death　of　a　mother；　the　blood　of　a　wife；　or
the　degradation　of　the　imperial　power　upon　the　stage　and　amongst
players？　Neither　did　we　desert　Nero　for　all　this；　until　Nymphidius　had
persuaded　us　that　he　had　first　left　us　and　fled　into　Egypt。　Shall
we；　therefore；　send　Galba　after；　to　appease　Nero's　shade；　and；　for　the
sake　of　making　the　son　of　Nymphidia　emperor；　take　off　one　of　Livia's
family；　as　we　have　already　the　son　of　Agrippina？　Rather；　doing　justice
on　him；　let　us　revenge　Nero's　death；　and　show　ourselves　true　and
faithful　by　preserving　Galba。〃
　　The　tribune　having　ended　his　harangue；　the　soldiers　assented；　and
encouraged　all　they　met　with　to　persist　in　their　fidelity　to