1In the camp by now no one's mind was in doubt, and such was the ardour that, not content with surrounding him with their column and their bodies, they placed Otho on the tribunal, where shortly before a golden statue of Galba had stood, and encircled him with banners in the midst of the standards. 1Nor was there any access for tribunes or centurions: the common soldiers were even ordering a watch to be kept on their officers. 1Everything rang with shouting and uproar and mutual encouragement, not as among the people and populace, with varied cries of listless flattery, but as soon as they caught sight of any of the soldiers streaming in, they seized him with their hands, embraced him in their arms, set him beside Otho, dictated the oath, commending now the emperor to the soldiers, now the soldiers to the emperor.
1Nor did Otho fail to play his part, stretching out his hands, doing homage to the crowd, throwing kisses, and playing the slave in everything to become master. 1After the whole legion of marines had taken the oath to him, trusting in his strength, and thinking that those whom he had so far stirred up one by one should now be fired all together, he stood before the rampart of the camp and began as follows.