[Sidenote:  A.D. 68 (a.u. 821)] [Sidenote:—­1—­] Thus was Galba declared emperor just as Tiberius had foretold when he said to him:  “You also shall have a little taste of sovereignty.”  The event was likewise foretold by unmistakable omens.  He beheld in visions the Goddess of Fortune telling him that she had now stuck by him for a long time yet no one appeared ready to take her into his house; and if she should be barred out much longer she should take up her abode with some one else.  During those very days also boats full of weapons and under the guidance of no human being came to anchor off the coast of Spain.  And a mule brought forth young, an occurrence which had been previously interpreted as destined to portend the possession of authority by him.  Again, a boy that was bringing him incense in the course of a sacrifice suddenly had his hair turn gray; whereupon the seers declared that dominion over the younger generation should be given to his old age.

[Sidenote:—­2—­] These, then, were the signs given beforehand that had a bearing on his sovereignty.  Personally his conduct was in most ways moderate and he avoided giving offence since he bore in mind that he had not taken the emperor’s seat but it had been given him;—­indeed, he said so frequently:—­unfortunately, he collected money greedily since his wants were numerous, though he spent comparatively little after all, bestowing upon some persons not even denarii but merely asses.  His freedmen, however, committed a great number of wrongs, the responsibility for which was laid upon him.  Ordinary individuals need only keep themselves from crime, but those who hold sovereign power must see to it that no dependent of theirs practices villany either.  For it makes little difference to the ones who suffer wrong at whose hands they happen to be ill treated.  Consequently, even though Galba abstained from inflicting injury, yet he was ill spoken of because he allowed these others to commit crimes, or at least was ignorant of what was taking place.  Nymphidius and Capito, in particular, were allowed by him to run riot.  For instance, Capito, when one day some one appealed a case from his jurisdiction, changed his seat hastily to a high chair near by and then cried out:  “Now plead your case before Caesar!” He went through the form of deciding it and had the man put to death.  Galba felt obliged to proceed against them for this.

[Sidenote:—­3—­] As he drew near the City, the guards of Nero met him and asked that their organization be preserved intact.  At first he was for postponing his decision and averred that he wanted to think the matter over.  Since, however, they would not obey but kept up a clamor, the army submitted to them.  As a consequence about seven thousand of his soldiers lost their lives and the guardsmen were decimated.  This shows that even if Galba was bowed down with age and disease, yet his spirit was keen and he did not believe in an emperor’s being compelled to do anything unwillingly.  A