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A Loud shout ensu'd and the Ac∣clamations of the People no less immoderate then dissembl'd: As if they had been pouring forth their Wishes for the Prosperity of Caesar the Dictator, or the Emperor Augustus; with equal strife did they implore the Gods for the Prosperity of his Expedition; not out of Fear or Love, but an inflam'd desire of Servitude.
Says D'Ablancourt; The Oration was receiv'd with great applause, and attended by the feign'd and excessive Praises, as if they had been to honour the Departure of Cae∣sar Augustus; and this not for Fear or Affe∣ction, but by the instinct of Custom and Flat∣tery.
I have observ'd in several places, that Flattery and Love are incompatible, and never makes its Addresses but only to the Fortune of Princes. So that altho' Otho fell short of Caesar's Worth, or the Me∣rits of Augustus, nevertheless the People pay'd him the same Honours which they would have render'd to either of Them, because he was exalted to the same Dig∣nity. For the People measure their Re∣putation by the present Grandeur of the Prince, and not by his Credit and Repu∣tation, of which they are not capable to judge. They despis'd Galba, for that being Old, his Reign could be of no long endurance. On the other side, Otho, far inferior to Galba for his Parts and Inte∣grity, was reverenc'd because his Youth promis'd a long Reign.