§19prius uero quam occideretur sacrificantem mane haruspex identidem monuit, caueret periculum, non longe percussores abesse.
But before he was killed, as he was sacrificing in the morning, a soothsayer repeatedly warned him to beware of danger, and that assassins were not far off.
Haud multo post cognoscit teneri castra ab Othone, ac plerisque ut eodem quam primum pergeret suadentibus—posse enim auctoritate et praesentia praeualere —nihil amplius quam continere se statuit et legionariorum firmare praesidiis, qui multifariam diuerseque tendebant.
Not long after, he learned that the camp was held by Otho; and though many urged him to proceed thither as quickly as possible—for they said he could prevail by his authority and presence—he resolved to do nothing more than keep himself where he was and strengthen himself with the guards of the legionaries, who were quartered in various and scattered places.
loricam tamen induit linteam, quanquam haud dissimulans parum aduersus tot mucrones profuturam.
Nevertheless, he put on a linen breastplate, though not concealing that it would be of little use against so many blades.
sed extractus rumoribus falsis, quos conspirati, ut eum in publicum elicerent, de industria dissiparant, paucis temere affirmantibus transactum negotium, oppressos, qui tumultuarentur, aduenire frequentis ceteros gratulabundos et in omne obsequium paratos, iis ut occurreret prodiit tanta fiducia, ut militi cuidam occisum a se Othonem glorianti: 'quo auctore?' responderit, atque in forum usque processit.
But drawn out by false rumors, which the conspirators had industriously spread to lure him out into public, while a few rashly affirmed that the business was finished, that the rioters had been crushed, and that all the rest were arriving in crowds to congratulate him and ready for every obedience, he went forth to meet them with such confidence that when a certain soldier boasted that Otho had been killed by him, he replied, "By whose authority?" and proceeded as far as the Forum.
ibi equites, quibus mandata caedes erat, cum per publicum dimota paganorum turba equos adegissent, uiso procul eo parumper restiterunt; dein rursum incitati desertum a suis contrucidarunt.
There the horsemen, to whom the murder had been committed, having driven their horses through the public place after dispersing the crowd of citizens, halted for a moment on seeing him from afar; then, spurred on again, they cut him down, deserted by his followers.
§20Sunt qui tradant, ad primum tumultum proclamasse eum: 'quid agitis commilitones? ego uester sum et uos mei,' donatiuum etiam pollicitum.
There are some who hand down that at the first alarm he cried out: "What are you doing, fellow soldiers? I am yours, and you are mine," also promising a donative.
plures autem prodiderunt optulisse ultro iugulum et ut hoc agerent ac ferirent, quando ita uideretur, hortatum.
But more have reported that he offered his throat of his own accord and exhorted them to do their duty and strike, since it seemed best so.
illud mirum admodum fuerit, neque praesentium quemquam opem imperatori ferre conatum et omnes qui arcesserentur spreuisse nuntium excepta Germanicianorum uexillatione.
It was indeed very strange that no one of those present attempted to bring aid to the emperor, and all who were summoned disregarded the message, except a detachment of the German army.
ii ob recens meritum, quod se aegros et inualidos magno opere fouisset, in auxilium aduolauerunt, sed serius itinere deuio per ignorantiam locorum retardati.
These, on account of a recent service, because he had cared for them with great effort when they were sick and weak, flew to his aid, but were delayed, arriving too late, by taking a roundabout way through ignorance of the localities.
Iugulatus est ad lacum Curti ac relictus ita uti erat, donec gregarius miles a frumentatione rediens abiecto onere caput ei amputauit; et quoniam capillo arripere non poterat, in gremium abdidit, mox inserto per os pollice ad Othonem detulit.
He was slaughtered near the Lake of Curtius and left just as he was, until a common soldier returning from foraging, having thrown down his load, cut off his head; and since he could not grasp it by the hair, he hid it in his cloak, and soon, inserting his thumb into the mouth, carried it to Otho.
ille lixis calonibusque donauit, qui hasta suffixum non sine ludibrio circum castra portarunt adclamantes identidem: 'Galba Cupido, fruaris aetate tua,' maxime irritati ad talem iocorum petulantiam, quod ante paucos dies exierat in uulgus, laudanti cuidam formam suam ut adhuc floridam et uegetam respondisse eum:
ἔτι μοι μένοσ ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν.
He gave it to the camp-followers and servants, who, having fixed it upon a spear, carried it around the camp not without mockery, crying out repeatedly: "Galba, Cupid, enjoy your youth," being chiefly provoked to such petulance of jesting because a few days before it had gone abroad among the common people that, when someone praised his appearance as still blooming and vigorous, he had replied: ἔτι μοι μένοσ ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν.
ab is Patrobii Neroniani libertus centum aureis redemptum eo loco, ubi iussu Galbae animaduersum in patronum suum fuerat, abiecit.
From them, Patrobius, a freedman of Nero, having ransomed it for a hundred gold pieces, threw it away in that place where, by Galba's order, execution had been done upon his patron.
sero tandem dispensator Argiuus et hoc et ceterum truncum in priuatis eius hortis Aurelia uia sepulturae dedit.
At last, late in the day, his steward Argius gave both this and the rest of the trunk burial in his private gardens on the Aurelian Way.
§21Statura fuit iusta, capite praecaluo, oculis caeruleis, adunco naso, manibus pedibusque articulari morbo distortissimis, ut neque calceum perpeti neque libellos euoluere aut tenere omnino ualeret.
He was of a medium stature, very bald-headed, with blue eyes, a hooked nose, and hands and feet so distorted by gout that he could neither endure a shoe for long, nor unroll or hold a book at all.
excreuerat etiam in dexteriore latere eius caro praependebatque adeo ut aegre fascia substringeretur.
There had also grown out on his right side a mass of flesh which hung down to such an extent that it could with difficulty be bound up by a bandage.
§22Cibi plurimi traditur, quem tempore hiberno etiam ante lucem capere consuerat, inter cenam uero usque eo abundantis, ut congestas super manus reliquias circumferri iuberet spargique ad pedes stantibus.
He is said to have been a very heavy eater, and in the winter time he was accustomed to take food even before dawn; and at dinner, indeed, so abundant was his meal that he would order the leftovers piled upon his hands to be carried around and scattered at the feet of those standing by.
libidinis in mares pronior et eos non nisi praeduros exoletosque; ferebant in Hispania Icelum e ueteribus concubinis de Neronis exitu nuntiantem non modo artissimis osculis palam exceptum ab eo, sed ut sine mora uelleretur oratum atque seductum.
In his lust he was more inclined toward males, and those only of the most robust and mature; they used to say in Spain that when Icelus, one of his old concubines, brought the news of Nero's death, he was not only received by him openly with the closest kisses, but was immediately requested to be depilated and led aside.
§23Periit tertio et septuagesimo aetatis anno, imperii mense septimo senatus, ut primum licitum est, statuam ei decreuerat rostratae columnae superstantem in parte fori, qua trucidatus est; sed decretum Vespasianus aboleuit, percussores sibi ex Hispania in Iudaeam submisisse opinatus.
He perished in the seventy-third year of his age and the seventh month of his reign. The senate, as soon as it was permitted, had decreed him a statue standing upon a rostral column in that part of the Forum where he was slaughtered; but Vespasian annulled the decree, believing that Galba had sent assassins from Spain to Judaea to murder him.