Histories 2.40

Hist. 2.40.1Inveniō apud quōsdam auctōrēs pavōre bellī seu fastīdiō utrīusque prīncipis, quōrum flāgitia ac dēdecus apertiōre in diēs fāmā nōscēbantur, dubitāsse exercitūs num positō certāmine vel ipsī in medium cōnsultārent, vel senātuī permitterent legere imperātōrem, atque eō ducēs Othōniānōs spatium ac morās suāsisse, praecipuā spē Paulīnī, quod vetustissimus cōnsulārium et mīlitiā clārus glōriam nōmenque Britannicīs expedītiōnibus meruisset.I find in some authors that, from dread of war or from disgust with both emperors, whose crimes and disgrace were becoming known by a report that grew plainer every day, the armies wondered whether they should lay aside the contest and either deliberate together themselves or allow the senate to choose an emperor, and that this was why the Othonian generals had advised delay and postponement, Paulinus having especial hopes, because he was the most senior of the consulars and, being famous in war, had earned glory and a name in his British campaigns. Hist. 2.40.1Ego ut concesserim apud paucōs tacitō vōtō quiētem prō discordiā, bonum et innocentem prīncipem prō pessimīs ac flāgitiōsissimīs expetītum, ita neque Paulīnum, quā prūdentiā fuit, spērāsse corruptissimō saeculō tantam vulgī moderātiōnem reor ut quī pācem bellī amōre turbāverant, bellum pācis cāritāte dēpōnerent, neque aut exercitūs linguīs mōribusque dissonōs in hunc cōnsēnsum potuisse coalēscere, aut lēgātōs ac ducēs magnā ex parte luxūs egestātis scelerum sibi cōnsciōs nisi pollūtum obstrictumque meritīs suīs prīncipem passūrōs.For my part, while I would grant that a few men secretly prayed for peace instead of strife, and for a good and blameless emperor instead of the worst and most criminal, I do not believe that Paulinus, given his good sense, expected so much moderation from the mob in a most corrupt age that those who had disturbed peace from love of war would lay down war from affection for peace; nor that armies discordant in language and customs could have come together in such agreement; nor that the legates and generals, conscious for the most part of their own luxury, poverty and crimes, would have tolerated an emperor unless he were stained himself and bound to them by their services.