they hated him whilst living, yet highly
extolled him after his death; insomuch that it was the common talk and
opinion, "that Galba had been driven to destruction by his rival, not so
much for the sake of reigning himself, as of restoring Rome to its
ancient liberty."

* * * * * *

It is remarkable, in the fortune of this emperor, that he owed both his
elevation and catastrophe to the inextricable embarrassments in which he
was involved; first, in respect of pecuniary circumstances, and next, of
political. He was not, so far as we can learn, a follower of any of the
sects of philosophers which justified, and even recommended suicide, in
particular cases: yet he perpetrated that act with extraordinary coolness
and resolution; and, what is no less remarkable, from the motive, as he
avowed, of public expediency only. It was observed of him, for many
years after his death, that "none ever died like Otho."

FOOTNOTES:

[670] On the esplanade, where the standards, objects of religious
reverence, were planted. See note to c. vi. Criminals were usually
executed outside the Vallum, and in the presence of a centurion.

[671] Probably one of the two mentioned in CLAUDIUS, c. xiii.

[672] A.U.C. 784 or 785.

[673] "Distento sago impositum in sublime jactare."

[674] See NERO, c. xxxv.

[675] The Milliare Aureum was a pillar of stone set up at the top of the
Forum, from which all the great military roads throughout Italy started,
the distances to the principal towns being marked upon it. Dio (lib.
liv.) says that it was erected by the emperor Augustus, when he was
curator of the roads.

[676] Haruspex, Auspex, or Augur, denoted any person who foretold
futurity, or interpreted omens. There was at Rome a body of priests, or
college, under this title, whose office it was to foretell future events,
chiefly from the flight, chirping, or feeding of birds, and from other
appearances. They were of the greatest authority in the Roman state; for
nothing of importance was done in public affairs, either at home or
abroad, in peace or war, without consulting them. The Romans derived the
practice of augury chiefly from the Tuscans; and anciently their youth
used to be instructed as carefully in this art, as afterwards they were
in the Greek literature. For this purpose, by a decree of the senate, a
certain number of the sons of the leading men at Rome was sent to the
twelve states of