dismissing such fears, we sallied forth. I have to say that Domitian showed no sign of cowardice that day.
We learned in the Forum that the Emperor was sacrificing in the Temple of Apollo. The word was that the omens were bad. The priest told him the entrails had a sinister colour, that an enemy threatened and that he should stay at home that day. Everyone in the Forum seemed to know of this.
'Have they arrested Otho, then?' a fat equestrian called out.
'Not yet, but the Senate are about to meet in order to declare him a public enemy.'
'But that's wrong,' another cried. 'What harm has Otho ever done? He's a true friend of the Roman People, that's for sure.'
'Galba, Otho, Piso - what difference will it make to the likes of us?' the keeper of the tavern into which we had retired demanded. 'The question is only, who will keep the German legions from marching on the city?'
'They say Piso has already set off to negotiate with them - with full power to conclude a bargain.'
'Piso? He's a long streak of piss, if you ask me,' said another. 'Conclude a bargain? Him? Pardon me if I fart.'
In fact, as we now know, Otho himself had been at the Temple of Apollo, and had seen and heard what the priest said. There he had been approached by friends who told him that his architect and the contractors were waiting for him. So he excused himself, saying that he was thinking of buying a properly, but, being unsure of its condition, had ordered a survey. I suppose this was a joke as well as a deception. He was certainly thinking of taking over a property.
Why Otho had attended the ceremony in the Temple of Apollo I do not pretend to guess. By doing so he had put himself in great danger. But it may be that, uncertain whether the troops would indeed rise in his support, he thought it safer to disguise his disaffection by attending. For, if he had not done so, and if the troops had refused to move in accordance with the prompting of his agents, then his absence, being remarked on, would have been taken as evidence of disloyalty. But it may simply be that the gamble of attendance appealed to his peculiar sense of humour; he was ever a gambler.
Now, leaving the temple, leaning on a freedman's arm to suggest that he felt no urgency, despite the speed of his departure, he passed through the Palace of Tiberius to the Velabrum, and from there to the golden milestone which stands near the Temple of Saturn. All this we learned later.
Had it been immediately known that scarce two dozen of the Guard were there to salute him as Emperor and raise him aloft on a gilded chair, then Galba could have snuffed the conspiracy before it was properly underway. But Otho's agents were active, and it was at once the talk of the Forum that the whole of the Praetorians had revolted, and were marching on the palace to make an end of their aged and despised Emperor.
Word came confusingly to Galba, so that he did not know which report he should believe. It was resolved that the loyalty of the cohort stationed in the palace should at once be put to the test. If it was involved in the revolt, then all was lost. So they were paraded before the palace to be harangued by Piso.
I have no doubt, Tacitus, that, favouring Piso and wishing to honour his memory, you will compose a noble speech supposed to have been given by him. But I was there and the truth is that he spoke haltingly and in a confused manner, as one who has been overtaken by events which he does not understand. His only sensible act was to promise the soldiers a donative for their loyalty - better late than never - but he spoiled this by adding that it would be at least as great as any payment they might receive for treason. This was feeble. It put the idea of desertion in the minds of any who were not already entertaining it.
Messengers were then sent to the troops belonging to the army of Illyricum who were stationed by the Portico of Vipsanius Agrippa in the Campus Martius, and to those legions recruited
We learned in the Forum that the Emperor was sacrificing in the Temple of Apollo. The word was that the omens were bad. The priest told him the entrails had a sinister colour, that an enemy threatened and that he should stay at home that day. Everyone in the Forum seemed to know of this.
'Have they arrested Otho, then?' a fat equestrian called out.
'Not yet, but the Senate are about to meet in order to declare him a public enemy.'
'But that's wrong,' another cried. 'What harm has Otho ever done? He's a true friend of the Roman People, that's for sure.'
'Galba, Otho, Piso - what difference will it make to the likes of us?' the keeper of the tavern into which we had retired demanded. 'The question is only, who will keep the German legions from marching on the city?'
'They say Piso has already set off to negotiate with them - with full power to conclude a bargain.'
'Piso? He's a long streak of piss, if you ask me,' said another. 'Conclude a bargain? Him? Pardon me if I fart.'
In fact, as we now know, Otho himself had been at the Temple of Apollo, and had seen and heard what the priest said. There he had been approached by friends who told him that his architect and the contractors were waiting for him. So he excused himself, saying that he was thinking of buying a properly, but, being unsure of its condition, had ordered a survey. I suppose this was a joke as well as a deception. He was certainly thinking of taking over a property.
Why Otho had attended the ceremony in the Temple of Apollo I do not pretend to guess. By doing so he had put himself in great danger. But it may be that, uncertain whether the troops would indeed rise in his support, he thought it safer to disguise his disaffection by attending. For, if he had not done so, and if the troops had refused to move in accordance with the prompting of his agents, then his absence, being remarked on, would have been taken as evidence of disloyalty. But it may simply be that the gamble of attendance appealed to his peculiar sense of humour; he was ever a gambler.
Now, leaving the temple, leaning on a freedman's arm to suggest that he felt no urgency, despite the speed of his departure, he passed through the Palace of Tiberius to the Velabrum, and from there to the golden milestone which stands near the Temple of Saturn. All this we learned later.
Had it been immediately known that scarce two dozen of the Guard were there to salute him as Emperor and raise him aloft on a gilded chair, then Galba could have snuffed the conspiracy before it was properly underway. But Otho's agents were active, and it was at once the talk of the Forum that the whole of the Praetorians had revolted, and were marching on the palace to make an end of their aged and despised Emperor.
Word came confusingly to Galba, so that he did not know which report he should believe. It was resolved that the loyalty of the cohort stationed in the palace should at once be put to the test. If it was involved in the revolt, then all was lost. So they were paraded before the palace to be harangued by Piso.
I have no doubt, Tacitus, that, favouring Piso and wishing to honour his memory, you will compose a noble speech supposed to have been given by him. But I was there and the truth is that he spoke haltingly and in a confused manner, as one who has been overtaken by events which he does not understand. His only sensible act was to promise the soldiers a donative for their loyalty - better late than never - but he spoiled this by adding that it would be at least as great as any payment they might receive for treason. This was feeble. It put the idea of desertion in the minds of any who were not already entertaining it.
Messengers were then sent to the troops belonging to the army of Illyricum who were stationed by the Portico of Vipsanius Agrippa in the Campus Martius, and to those legions recruited
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