In this conjuncture it happened
that tidings of the deaths of Fonteius
Capito and Clodius Macer reached the
capital. Macer was executed in
Africa, where he was
undoubtedly fomenting sedition, by Trebonius Garutianus the
procurator, who acted on Galba's
authority; Capito fell in
Germany, while he was
making similar attempts, by the hands of Cornelius Aquinus and Fabius
Valens, legates of legions, who did not wait for an order. There were
however some who believed that Capito, though foully stained with avarice
and profligacy, had yet abstained from all thought of revolution, that this
was a treacherous accusation invented by the commanders themselves, who had
urged him to take up arms, when they found themselves unable to prevail, and
that Galba had approved of the deed, either from weakness of character, or
to avoid investigation into the circumstances of acts which could not be
altered. Both executions, however, were unfavourably regarded; indeed, when
a ruler once becomes unpopular, all his acts, be they good or bad, tell
against him. The freedmen in their excessive power were now putting up
everything for sale; the slaves caught with greedy hands at immediate gain,
and, reflecting on their master's age, hastened to be rich. The new court
had the same abuses as the old, abuses as grievous as ever, but not so
readily excused. Even the age of Galba caused ridicule and disgust among
those whose associations were with the youth of Nero, and who were
accustomed, as is the fashion of the vulgar, to value their emperors by the
beauty and grace of their persons.
