"I will lay no claim
to nobleness, or moderation, for indeed, to count up virtues in comparing
oneself with Otho is needless. The vices, of which alone he boasts,
overthrew the Empire, even when he was but the Emperor's friend. Shall he
earn that Empire now by his manner and his gait, or by those womanish
adornments? They are deceived, on whom luxury imposes by its false show of
liberality; he will know how to squander, he will not know how to give.
Already he is thinking of debaucheries, of revels, of tribes of mistresses.
These things he holds to be the prizes of princely
power, things, in which the wanton
enjoyment will be for him alone, the shame and the disgrace for all. Never
yet has any one exercised for good ends the power obtained by crime. The
unanimous will of mankind gave to Galba the title of Cæsar, and you
consented when he gave it to me. Were the Senate, the Country, the People,
but empty names, yet, comrades, it is your interest that the most worthless
of men should not create an Emperor. We have occasionally heard of legions
mutinying against their generals, but your loyalty, your character, stand
unimpeached up to this time. Even with Nero, it was he that deserted you,
not you that deserted him. Shall less than thirty runaways and deserters
whom no one would allow to choose a tribune or centurion for themselves,
assign the Empire at their pleasure? Do you tolerate the precedent? Do you
by your inaction make the crime your own? This lawless spirit will pass into
the provinces, and though we shall suffer from this treason, you will suffer
from the wars that will follow. Again, no more is offered you for murdering
your Prince, than you will have if you shun such guilt. We shall give you a
donative for your loyalty, as surely as others can give it for your
treason."
