Thus the day was spent in crimes, and worst of all was the joy 47 they caused. The senate was summoned by the urban praetor.[78] The other magistrates all vied in flattery. The senators arrived post-haste. They decreed to Otho the powers of the tribunate, the title of Augustus, and all the imperial prerogatives. Their unanimous object was to blot out all recollection of former insults; but, as these had been hurled equally from all sides, they did not, as far as any one could see, stick in his memory. Whether he had forgotten them or only postponed punishment, his reign was too short to show. He was then carried through the still reeking Forum among the piles of dead bodies to the Capitol, and thence to the palace. He granted permission to burn and bury the bodies of his victims. Piso's wife Verania and his brother Scribonianus laid out his body, and this was done for Vinius by his daughter Crispina. They had to search for the heads and buy them back from the murderers, who had preserved them for sale. FOOTNOTES: [72] According to Plutarch, when they brought Otho Galba's head, he said, 'That's nothing: show me Piso's.' [73] i.e. the legion of marines--Prima Adiutrix. Cp. chap. 6, &c. [74] i.e. in command of the _cohortes vigilum_. Cp. chap. 5, note 10. [75] Vespasian's elder brother. He continued to hold the office under Vitellius (ii. 63). [76] See chap. 42, note 71. [77] As a _libertus Caesaris_ he passed into Otho's hands with the rest of the palace furniture. [78] The consuls Galba and Vinius (chap. 1), were both dead. DRAMATIS PERSONAE Piso was in his thirty-first year. His reputation was better than 48 his fortune. His brothers had been executed, Magnus by Claudius, Crassus by Nero.[79] He himself after being long in exile was a Caesar for four days. Hastily adopted in preference to his elder brother,[80] the only advantage he reaped was to be killed first.