1Otho was holding a crowded banquet for leading women and men; 1they, in alarm, unsure whether it was a chance frenzy of the soldiers or a trick of the emperor, whether it was more dangerous to stay and be caught or to flee and scatter, now pretended composure, now were betrayed by their fear, and all the while watched Otho's face; 1and, as happens when minds are inclined to suspicion, though Otho was afraid, he was feared. 1But, alarmed no less by the senate's danger than by his own, he had at once sent the praetorian prefects to soothe the soldiers' anger, and he ordered everyone to leave the banquet quickly.
1Then indeed on all sides magistrates threw away their insignia and avoided the throng of attendants and slaves, and old men and women made through the darkness, by different streets of the city, for uncertain hiding places, a few for their homes, most for the houses of friends, or of whatever humblest client each one had.