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he was half…intoxicated； and heavy with food； yet the ardour and
vigour of the soldiers themselves discharged all the duties of a
general as well as if the Emperor had been present to stimulate the
energetic by hope and the indolent by fear。 Ready to march and eager
for action； they loudly demanded the signal for starting； the title of
Germanicus was at once bestowed on Vitellius； that of Caesar he
refused to accept； even after his victory。 It was observed as a
happy omen for Fabius Valens and the forces which he was conducting to
the campaign； that on the very day on which they set out an eagle
moved with a gentle flight before the army as it advanced； as if to
guide it on its way。 And for a long distance so loudly did the
soldiers shout in their joy； so calm and unterrified was the bird；
that it was taken as no doubtful omen of great and successful
achievements。
The territory of the Treveri they entered with all the security
naturally felt among allies。 But at Divodurum； a town of the
Mediomatrici； though they had been received with the most courteous
hospitality； a sudden panic mastered them。 In a moment they took up
arms to massacre an innocent people； not for the sake of plunder； or
fired by the lust of spoil； but in a wild frenzy arising from causes
so vague that it was very difficult to apply a remedy。 Soothed at
length by the entreaties of their general； they refrained from utterly
destroying the town； yet as many as four thousand human beings were
slaughtered。 Such an alarm was spread through Gaul； that as the army
advanced； whole states； headed by their magistrates and with prayers
on their lips； came forth to meet it； while the women and children lay
prostrate along the roads； and all else that might appease an
enemy's fury was offered； though war there was none； to secure the
boon of peace。
Valens received the tidings of the murder of Galba and the accession
of Otho while he was in the country of the Leuci。 The feelings of
the soldiers were not seriously affected either with joy or alarm；
they were intent on war。 Gaul however ceased to hesitate： Otho and
Vitellius it hated equally； Vitellius it also feared。 The next
territory was that of the Lingones who were loyal to Vitellius。 The
troops were kindly received； and they vied with each other in good
behaviour。 This happy state of things； however； was of short
duration owing to the violence of the auxiliary infantry； which had
detached itself； as before related； from the 14th legion； and had been
incorporated by Valens with his army。 First came angry words； then a
brawl between the Batavi and the legionaries； which as the
partialities of the soldiers espoused one or another of the parties
was almost kindled into a battle； and would have been so； had not
Valens by punishing a few； reminded Batavi of the authority which they
had now forgotten。 Against the Aedui a pretext for war was sought in
vain。 That people； when ordered to furnish arms and money； voluntarily
added a supply of provisions。 What the Aedui did from fear； the people
of Lugdunum did with delight。 Yet the Italian legion and the Taurine
Horse were withdrawn。 It was resolved that the 18th cohort should be
left there； as it was their usual winter quarters。 Manlius Valens；
legate of the Italian legion； though he had served the party well； was
held in no honour by Vitellius。 Fabius Valens had defamed him by
secret charges of which he knew nothing； publicly praising him all the
while； that he might the less suspect the treachery。
The old feud between Lugdunum and Vienna had been kindled afresh
by the late war。 They had inflicted many losses on each other so
continuously and so savagely that they could not have been fighting
only for Nero or Galba。 Galba had made his displeasure the occasion
for diverting into the Imperial treasury the revenues of Lugdunum；
while he had treated Vienna with marked respect。 Thence came rivalry
and dislike； and the two states； separated only by a river； were
linked together by perpetual feud。 Accordingly the people of
Lugdunum began to work on the passions of individual soldiers； and
to goad them into destroying Vienna； by reminding them； how that
people had besieged their colony； had abetted the attempts of
Vindex； and had recently raised legions for Galba。 After parading
these pretexts for quarrel； they pointed out how vast would be the
plunder。 From secret encouragement they passed to open entreaty。 〃Go；〃
they said； 〃to avenge us and utterly destroy this home of Gallic
rebellion。 There all are foreigners and enemies； we are a Roman
colony； a part of the Roman army； sharers in your successes and
reverses。 Fortune may declare against us。 Do not abandon us to an
angry foe。〃
By these and many similar arguments they so wrought upon the troops；
that even the legates and the leaders of the party did not think it
possible to check their fury； but the people of Vienna； aware of their
danger； assumed the veils and chaplets of suppliants； and； as the army
approached； clasped the weapons； knees and feet of the soldiers； and
so turned them from their purpose。 Valens also made each soldier a
present of 300 sesterces。 After that the antiquity and rank of the
colony prevailed； and the intercession of Valens； who charged them
to respect the life and welfare of the inhabitants； received a
favourable hearing。 They were however publicly mulcted of their
arms； and furnished the soldiers with all kinds of supplies from their
private means。 Report； however； has uniformly asserted； that Valens
himself was bought with a vast sum。 Poor for many years and suddenly
growing rich； he could but ill conceal the change in his fortunes；
indulging without moderation the appetites which a protracted
poverty had inflamed； and； after a youth of indigence； becoming
prodigal in old age。 The army then proceeded by slow marches through
the territory of the Allobroges and Vocontii； the very length of
each day's march and the changes of encampment being made a matter
of traffic by the general； who concluded disgraceful bargains to the
injury of the holders of land and the magistrates of the different
states； and used such menaces； that at Lucus； a municipal town of
the Vocontii； he was on the point of setting fire to the place； when a
present of money soothed his rage。 When money was not forthcoming he
was bought off by sacrifices to his lust。 Thus he made his way to
the Alps。
Caecina revelled more freely in plunder and bloodshed。 His
restless spirit had been provoked by the Helvetii； a Gallic race
famous once for its warlike population； afterwards for the
associations of its name。 Of the murder of Galba they knew nothing；
and they rejected the authority of Vitellius。 The war originated in
the rapacity and impatience of the 21st legion； who had seized some
money sent to pay the garrison of a fortress； which the Helvetii had
long held with their own troops and at their own expense。 The Helvetii
in their indignation intercepted some letters written in the name of
the army of Germany； which were on their way to the legions of
Pannonia； and detained the centurion and some of his soldiers in
custody。 Caecina； eager for war； hastened to punish every delinquency；
as it occurred； before the offender could repent。 Suddenly moving
his camp he ravaged a place； which during a long period of peace had
grown up into something like a town； and which was much resorted to as
an agreeable watering place。 Despatches were sent to the Rhaetian
auxiliaries； instructing them to attack the Helvetii in the rear while
the legion was engaging them in front。
Bold before the danger came and timid in the moment of peril； the
Helvetii； though at the commencement of the movement they had chosen
Claudius Severus for their leader； knew not how to use their arms；
to keep their ranks； or to act in concert。 A pitched battle with
veteran troops would be destruction； a siege would be perilous with
fortifications old and ruinous。 On the one side was Caecina at the
head of a powerful army； on the other were the auxiliary infantry
and cavalry of Rhaetia and the youth of that province； inured to
arms and exercised in habits of warfare。 All around were slaughter and
devastation。 Wandering to and fro between the two armies； the Helvetii
threw aside their arms； and with a large proportion of wounded and
stragglers fled for refuge to Mount Vocetius。 They were immediately
dislodged by the attack of some Thracian infantry。 Closely pursued
by the Germans and Rhaetians they were cut down in their forests and
even in their hiding places。 Thousands were put to the sword；
thousands more were sold into slavery。 Every place ha