1Such, then, was the state of feeling at Rome, as far as one can speak of so great a multitude. 1Of the provinces, Spain was governed by Cluvius Rufus, an eloquent man and skilled in the arts of peace, but untried in war. 1The Gallic provinces, besides their memory of Vindex, were bound by the recent gift of Roman citizenship and the reduction of tribute for the future. 1Yet the communities of the Gauls nearest to the armies in Germany had not been treated with the same honour, and some, having even lost territory, measured with equal resentment the advantages of others and their own injuries. 1The armies in Germany were anxious and angry, the most dangerous thing in forces so great, from pride in their recent victory and from fear that they would be thought to have backed the other side.
1They had been slow to defect from Nero, and Verginius had not at once declared for Galba. 1Whether he had been unwilling to rule was doubtful: that the soldiers had offered him the empire was agreed. 1Even those who had no right to complain were nevertheless indignant that Fonteius Capito had been killed. 1They lacked a leader, Verginius having been taken away under a pretence of friendship; 1that he was not sent back, and was even on trial, they took as a charge against themselves.