The rush of the soldiers
was not even checked by the doors of the palace. They burst in upon the
banquet with loud demands that Otho should shew himself. They wounded the
tribune, Julius Martialis, and the prefect, Vitellius Saturninus, who sought
to stem the torrent. On every side they brandished their swords, and menaced
the centurions and tribunes at one moment, the whole Senate at another.
Their minds were maddened by a blind panic, and, unable to single out any
one object for their fury, they
sought for indiscriminate vengeance. At
last Otho, regardless of his imperial dignity, stood up on a couch, and by
dint of prayers and tears contrived to restrain them. Reluctant and guilty,
they returned to the camp. The next day the houses were closed as they might
be in a captured city. Few of the citizens could be seen in the streets, the
populace were dejected, the soldiers walked with downcast looks, and seemed
gloomy rather than penitent. Licinius Proculus and Plotius Firmus, the
prefects, addressed the companies in the gentler or harsher terms that
suited their respective characters. The end of these harangues was that 5000
sesterces were paid to each soldier. Then did Otho venture to enter the
camp; the tribunes and centurions surrounded him. They had thrown aside the
insignia of their rank, and they demanded release from the toils and perils
of service. The soldiers felt the reproach; returning to their duty, they
even demanded the execution of the ringleaders in the riot.
