otho-第2章

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Vitellius's　men　marched　up　to　the　walls；　and　upbraided　Otho's　upon　the
ramparts；　calling　them　players；　dancers；　idle　spectators　of　Pythian
and　Olympic　games；　but　novices　in　the　art　of　war；　who　never　so　much　as
looked　on　at　a　battle；　mean　souls；　that　triumphed　in　the　beheading
of　Galba；　an　old　man　unarmed；　but　had　no　desire　to　look　real　enemies
in　the　face。　Which　reproaches　so　inflamed　them　that　they　kneeled　at
Spurina's　feet；　entreated　him　to　give　his　orders；　and　assured　him　no
danger　or　toil　should　be　too　great　or　too　difficult　for　them。
Whereupon　when　Vitellius's　forces　made　a　vigorous　attack　on　the
town；　and　brought　up　numerous　engines　against　the　walls；　the
besieged　bravely　repulsed　them；　and；　repelling　the　enemy　with　great
slaughter；　secured　the　safety　of　a　noble　city；　one　of　the　most
flourishing　places　in　Italy。
　　Besides；　it　was　observed　that　Otho's　officers　were　much　more
inoffensive；　both　towards　the　public　and　to　private　men；　than　those　of
Vitellius；　among　whom　was　Caecina；　who　used　neither　the　language　nor
the　apparel　of　a　citizen；　an　overbearing；　foreign…seeming　man；　of
gigantic　stature；　and　always　dressed　in　trews　and　sleeves；　after　the
manner　of　the　Gauls；　whilst　he　conversed　with　Roman　officials　and
magistrates。　His　wife；　too；　travelled　along　with　him；　riding　in
splendid　attire　on　horseback；　with　a　chosen　body　of　cavalry　to
escort　her。　And　Fabius　Valens；　the　other　general；　was　so　rapacious
that　neither　what　he　plundered　from　enemies；　nor　what　he　stole　or
got　as　gifts　and　bribes　from　his　friends　and　allies；　could　satisfy　his
wishes。　And　it　was　said　that　it　was　in　order　to　have　time　to　raise
money　that　he　had　marched　so　slowly　that　he　was　not　present　at　the
former　attack。　But　some　lay　the　blame　on　Caecina；　saying；　that　out
of　a　desire　to　gain　the　victory　by　himself　before　Fabius　joined　him；
he　committed　sundry　other　errors　of　lesser　consequence；　and　by
engaging　unseasonably　and　when　he　could　not　do　so　thoroughly；　he
very　nearly　brought　all　to　ruin。
　　When　he　found　himself　beat　off　at　Placentia；　he　set　off　to　attack
Cremona；　another　large　and　rich　city。　In　the　meantime；　Annius　Gallus
marched　to　join　Spurina　at　Placentia；　but　having　intelligence　that　the
siege　was　raised；　and　that　Cremona　was　in　danger；　he　turned　to　its
relief；　and　encamped　just　by　the　enemy；　where　he　was　daily
reinforced　by　other　officers。　Caecina　placed　a　strong　ambush　of
heavy　infantry　in　some　rough　and　woody　country；　and　gave　orders　to　his
horse　to　advance；　and　if　the　enemy　should　charge　them；　then　to　make
a　slow　retreat；　and　draw　them　into　the　snare。　But　his　stratagem　was
discovered　by　some　deserters　to　Celsus；　who　attacked　with　a　good
body　of　horse；　but　followed　the　pursuit　cautiously；　and　succeeded　in
surrounding　and　routing　the　troops　in　the　ambuscade；　and　if　the
infantry　which　he　ordered　up　from　the　camp　had　come　soon　enough　to
sustain　the　horse；　Caecina's　whole　army；　in　all　appearance；　had　been
totally　routed。　But　Paulinus；　moving　too　slowly；　was　accused　of　acting
with　a　degree　of　needless　caution　not　to　have　been　expected　from　one
of　his　reputation。　So　that　the　soldiers　incensed　Otho　against　him；
accused　him　of　treachery；　and　boasted　loudly　that　the　victory　had　been
in　their　power；　and　that　if　it　was　not　complete；　it　was　owing　to　the
mismanagement　of　their　generals；　all　which　Otho　did　not　so　much
believe　as　he　was　willing　to　appear　not　to　disbelieve。　He　therefore
sent　his　brother　Titianus；　with　Proculus；　the　prefect　of　the　guards；
to　the　army；　where　the　latter　was　general　in　reality；　and　the　former
in　appearance。　Celsus　and　Paulinus　had　the　title　of　friends　and
counsellors；　but　not　the　least　authority　or　power。　At　the　same　time；
there　was　nothing　but　quarrel　and　disturbance　amongst　the　enemy；
especially　where　Valens　commanded；　for　the　soldiers　here；　being
informed　of　what　had　happened　at　the　ambuscade；　were　enraged　because
they　had　not　been　permitted　to　be　present　to　strike　a　blow　in
defence　of　the　lives　of　so　many　men　that　had　died　in　that　action；
Valens；　with　much　difficulty；　quieted　their　fury；　after　they　had　now
begun　to　throw　missiles　at　him；　and　quitting　his　camp；　joined　Caecina。
　　About　this　time；　Otho　came　to　Bedriacum；　a　little　town　near　Cremona；
to　the　camp；　and　called　a　council　of　war；　where　Proculus　and
Titianus　declared　for　giving　battle；　while　the　soldiers　were　flushed
with　their　late　success；　saying　they　ought　not　to　lose　their　time
and　opportunity　and　present　height　of　strength；　and　wait　for　Vitellius
to　arrive　out　of　Gaul。　But　Paulinus　told　them　that　the　enemy's　whole
force　was　present；　and　that　there　was　no　body　of　reserve　behind；　but
that　Otho；　if　he　would　not　be　too　precipitate；　and　chose　the　enemy's
time；　instead　of　his　own；　for　the　battle；　might　expect
reinforcements　out　of　Moesia　and　Pannonia；　not　inferior　in　numbers
to　the　troops　that　were　already　present。　He　thought　it　probable；
too；　that　the　soldiers；　who　were　then　in　heart　before　they　were
joined；　would　not　be　less　so　when　the　forces　were　all　come　up。
Besides；　the　deferring　battle　could　not　be　inconvenient　to　them　that
were　sufficiently　provided　with　all　necessaries；　but　the　others；　being
in　an　enemy's　country；　must　needs　be　exceedingly　straitened　in　a
little　time。　Marius　Celsus　was　of　Paulinus's　opinion；　Annius　Gallus；
being　absent　and　under　the　surgeon's　hands　through　a　fall　from　his
horse；　was　consulted　by　letter；　and　advised　Otho　to　stay　for　those
legions　that　were　marching　from　Moesia。　But　after　all　he　did　not
follow　the　advice；　and　the　opinion　of　those　that　declared　for　a　battle
prevailed。
　　There　are　several　reasons　given　for　this　determination；　but　the　most
apparent　is　this；　that　the　praetorian　soldiers；　as　they　are　called；
who　serve　as　guards；　not　relishing　the　military　discipline　which
they　now　had　begun　a　little　more　to　experience；　and　longing　for
their　amusements　and　unwarlike　life　among　the　shows　of　Rome；　would　not
be　commanded；　but　were　eager　for　a　battle；　imagining　that　upon　the
first　onset　they　should　carry　all　before　them。　Otho　also　himself　seems
not　to　have　shown　the　proper　fortitude　in　bearing　up　against　the
uncertainty；　and；　out　of　effeminacy　and　want　of　use；　had　not
patience　for　the　calculations　of　danger；　and　was　so　uneasy　at　the
apprehension　of　it　that　he　shut　his　eyes；　and　like　one　going　to　leap
from　a　precipice；　left　everything　to　fortune。　This　is　the　account
Secundus　the　rhetorician；　who　was　his　secretary；　gave　of　the　matter。
But　others　would　tell　you　that　there　were　many　movements　in　both
armies　for　acting　in　concert；　and　if　it　were　possible　for　them　to
agree；　then　they　should　proceed　to　choose　one　of　their　most
experienced　officers　that　were　present；　if　not；　they　should　convene
the　senate；　and　invest　it　with　the　power　of　election。　And　it　is　not
improbable　that；　neither　of　the　emperors　then　bearing　the　title　having
really　any　reputation；　such　purposes　were　really　entertained　among　the
genuine；　serviceable；　and　sober…minded　part　of　the　soldiers。　For
what　could　be　more　odious　and　unreasonable　than　that　the　evils　which
the　Roman　citizens　had　formerly　thought　it　so　lamentable　to　inflict
upon　each　other　for　the　sake　of　a　Sylla　or　a　Marius；　a　Caesar　or　a
Pompey；　should　now　be　undergone　anew；　for　the　object　of　letting　the
empire　pay　the　expenses　of　the　gluttony　and　intemperance　of　Vitellius；
or　the　looseness　and　effeminacy　of　Otho？　It　is　thought　that　Celsus；
upon　such　reflections；　protracted　the　time　in　order　to　a　possible
accommodation；　and　that　Otho　pushed　on　things　to　an　extremity　to
prevent　it。
　　He　himself　returned　to　Brixillum；　which　was　another　false　step；　both
because　he　withdrew　from　the　combatants　all　the　motives　of　respect　and
desire　to　gain　his　favour　which　his　presence　would　have　supplied；
and　because　he　weakened　the　army　by　detaching　some　of　his　best　and
most　faithful　troops　for　his　horse　and　foot　guards。
　　About　the　same　time　also　happened　a　skirmish　on　the　Po。　As　Caecina
was　laying　a　bridge　over　it；　Otho's　men　attacked　him；　and　tried　to
prevent　it。　And　when　they　did　not　succeed；　on　their　putting　into　their
boats　torchwood；　with　a　quantity　of　sulphur　and　pitch；　the　wind　on　the
river　suddenly　caught　their　material　that　they　had　prepared　against
the　enemy；　and　blew　it　into　a　light。　First　came　smoke；　and　then　a
clear　flame；　and　the　men；　getting　into　great　confusion　and　jumping
overboard；　upset　the　boats；　and　put　themselves　ludicrously　at　the
mercy　of　their　enemies。　Also　the　Germans　attacked　Otho's　gladiators
upon　a　small　island　in　the　river；　routed　them；　and　killed　a　good　many。
　　All　which　made　the　soldiers　at　Bedriacum　full　of　anger；　and
eagerness　to　be　led　to　battle。　So　Proculus　led　them　out　of　Bedriacum
to　a　place　fifty　furlongs　off；　where　he　pitched　his　camp　so　ignorantly
and　with　such　a　ridiculous　want　of　foresight　that　the　soldiers
suffered　extremely　for　want　of　water；　though　it　was　the　spring　time；
and　the　plains　all　around　were　full　of　running　streams　and　rivers　that
never　dried　up。　The　next　day　he　proposed　to　attack　the　enemy；　first
making　a　march　of　not　less　than　a　hundred　furlongs；　but　to　this
Paulinus　objected；　saying　they　ought　to　wait；　and　not　immediately
after　a　journey　engage　men　who　would　have　been　standing　in　their
arms　and　arranging　themselves　for　battle　at　their　leisure；　whilst　they
were　making　a　long　march；　with　all　their　beasts　of　burden　and　their
camp　followers　to　encumber　them。　As　the　generals　were　arguing　about
this　matter；　a　Numidian　courier　came　from　Otho　with　orders　to　lose
no　time；　but　give　battle。　Accordingly　they　consented；　and　moved。　As
soon　as　Caecina　had　notice；　he　was　much　surprised；　and　quitted　his
post　on　the　river　to　hasten　to　the　camp。　In　the　meantime；　the　men
had　armed　themselves　mostly；　and　were　receiving　the　word　from
Valens；　so　while　the　legions　took　up　their　position；　they　sent　out　the
best　of　their　horse　in　advance。
　　Otho's　foremost　troops；　upon　some　groundless　rumour；　took　up　the
notion　that　the　commanders　on　the　other　side　would　come　over；　and
accordingly；　upon　their　first　approach；　they　saluted　them　with　the
friendly　title　of　fellow…soldiers。　But　the　others　returned　the
compliment　with　anger　and　disdainful　words；　which　not　only
disheartened　those　that　had　given　the　salutation；　but　excited
suspicions　of　their　fidelity　amongst　the　others　on　their　side；　who　had
not。　This　caused　a　confusion　at　the　very　first　onset。　And　nothing　else
that　followed　was　done　upon　any　plan；　the　baggage…carriers；　mingling
up　with　the　fighting　men；　created　great　disorder　and　division；　as　well
as　the　nature　of　the　ground；　the　ditches　and　pits　in　which　were　so
many　that　they　were　forced　to　break　their　ranks　to　avoid　and　go
round　them；　and　so　to　fight　without　order；　and　in　small　parties。　There
were　but　two　legions；　one　of　Vitellius's　called　The　Ravenous；　and
another　of　Otho's；　called　The　Assistant；　that　got　out　into　the　open
outspread　level　and　engaged　in　proper　form；　fighting；　one　main　body
against　the　other；　for　some　length　of　time。　Otho's　men　were　strong　and
bold；　but　had　never　been　in　battle　before；　Vitellius's　had　seen　many
wars；　but　were　old　and　past　their　strength。　So　Otho's　legion　charged
boldly；　drove　back　their　opponents；　and　took　the　eagle；　killing　pretty