1A few days after the Kalends of January a letter is brought from Pompeius Propinquus, the procurator in Belgica, saying that the legions of Upper Germany, breaking through the reverence of their oath, were demanding another emperor, and were leaving the choice to the senate and the Roman people so that their mutiny might be received more leniently. 1This news hastened the decision of Galba, who had long been debating adoption with himself and his intimates. 1Indeed, nothing had been talked of more often in the whole city during those months, first from the licence and passion for such talk, then because Galba was now worn with age. 1Few had judgement or love of the state: many, with foolish hope, according as each was someone's friend or client, marked out this man or that in self-interested rumours, partly too out of hatred for Titus Vinius, who grew more hated each day by the same degree as he grew more powerful.
1For Galba's very indulgence sharpened the greed of his friends, gaping at their great good fortune, since with a weak and credulous man wrongdoing involved less fear and greater reward.