miles urbanus longo Caesarum sacramento imbutus
the city troops, steeped in a long oath of allegiance to the Caesars;
et ad destitudinem Neronem arte magis et impulsu qua suo ingenio traductus.
had been drawn into deserting Nero more by stratagem and influence than by their own character.
postquam neque dari donativum sub nomine Galbae promissum neque magis meritis
after they understood that the payment promised in Galba's name was not being given,
ac praemiis eundem in pace quem in bello locum praeventamque gratiam intellegit apud
and that there was not the same place for great services and rewards in peace as in war,
praeventamque gratiam intellegit apud principem a legionibus factum,
and that favour with an emperor created by the legions was previously taken,
pronus ad novas res sclera insuper Nymphidii Sabini praefecti imperium sibi molientis agitatur.
they were inclined to change, and in addition were stirred up by the crime of Nymphidius Sabinus, their commander, as he aimed for power for himself.
et Nymphidius quidem in ipso conatu oppressus, set quamvis capite defectionis ablato
And Nymphidius, indeed, was caught in the attempt itself, but although the head of the mutiny was removed,
manebat plerisque militum conscientia,
still there remained guilt in very many of the soldiers,
nec deerant sermones senium atque avaritium Galbae increpantium.
nor were conversations lacking of those who condemned Galba's old age and greed.
laudata olim et militari fama celebrata severitas eius angebat aspernantes veterem disciplinam
His strictness, once praised and celebrated in talk among soldiers, began to annoy those who rejected old-fashioned discipline,
atque ita quattuordecim annis a Nerone adsuefactos ut haud minus vitia principium amarent quam olim virtutes verebantur
who had been made so accustomed by Nero over fourteen years that they loved the vices of the emperors no less than they once feared their virtues.
accessit Galbae vox pro re publica honesta, ipso anceps, legi a se militem,
Added to this was a remark of Galba's - honest for the state, double-edged for himself- that soldiers were not chosen by him,
non emi; nec enim ad hanc formam cetera erant.
not bought; for the rest of his actions were not after this pattern.