Tacitus: The Histories, Volumes I and II. Cornelius Tacitus

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Название Tacitus: The Histories, Volumes I and II
Автор произведения Cornelius Tacitus
Жанр Документальная литература
Серия
Издательство Документальная литература
Год выпуска 0
isbn 4057664149251



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of the different maniples as distinct from the standards of the cohorts.

       Table of Contents

      45The senate and people seemed different men. There was a general rush for the camp, every one shouldering his neighbour and trying to overtake those in front. They heaped insults on Galba, praised the prudence of the troops, and covered Otho's hand with kisses, their extravagance varying inversely with their sincerity. Otho rebuffed no one, and succeeded by his words and looks in moderating the menace of the soldiers' greed for vengeance. They loudly demanded the execution of Marius Celsus, the consul-elect, who had remained Galba's faithful friend to the last. They were as much offended at his efficiency and honesty as if these had been criminal qualities. What they wanted was obviously to find a first excuse for plunder and murder and the destruction of all decent citizens. But Otho had as yet no influence to prevent crimes: he could only order them. So he simulated anger, giving instructions for Celsus' arrest, and by promising that he should meet with a worse penalty, thus rescued him from immediate death.

      72 According to Plutarch, when they brought Otho Galba's head, he said, 'That's nothing: show me Piso's.'