Page:Tacitus Histories Fyfe (1912) Vol1.djvu/42

38 the individual recipients, leaving each a tithe of their original gift. However, in each case there was scarcely a tenth part left, for these worthless spendthrifts had run through Nero's money as freely as they had squan- dered their own : they had no real property or capital left, nothing but the apparatus of their luxury. Thirty of the knights were entrusted with the duty of recover- ing the money. This commission, for which there was no precedent, proved vastly unpopular owing to the scope of its authority, and the large number of the victims. Every quarter seemed beset with sales and brokers and lawsuits. And yet lively satisfaction was caused by the discovery that the beneficiaries of Nero's bounty were as poor as the victims of his greed.

At this time several officers were cashiered, Antonius Taurus and Antonius Naso of the Guards, Aemilius Pacensis of the City Garrison, and Julius Fronto of the Police. However, this proved no remedy. The others only began to feel alarmed, thinking that Galba's craft and timidity had sacrificed a few, while his suspicions rested on them all.

Meanwhile Otho had nothing to hope from a peaceful settlement : all his plans demanded a disturbance. Many motives spurred him on : his extravagance would have ruined a prince, and his poverty have perplexed a private person : he was angry with Galba and jealous