Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/514

506 OTIIO. bade them immediately swear allegiance to Vitellius ; and when they understood that some of the senators were still upon the spot, they made no opposition to the depart- lu-e of the rest, but only disturbed the tranquillity of Virginius Rufus with an offer of the government, and moving in one body to his house in arms, they first entreated him, and then demanded of him to accept of the empire, or at least to be their mediator. But he, that refused to command them when conquerors, thought it ridiculous to pretend to it now they were beat, and was unwilling to go as their envoy to the Germans, whom in past time he had compelled to do various things that they had not liked ; and for these reasons he slipped away through a private door. As soon as the soldiers perceived this, they owned Vitellius, and so got their pardon, and served under Caecina.