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time more temperate language was heard throughout the camp； and the
tribunes and centurions； mixing with the troops； suggested
commendations of the prudence of their general in selecting for the
rallying point and basis of his operations a colony rich in military
strength and resources。 Finally； Spurinna himself； not so much
reproaching them with their error as exposing it by his arguments；
conducted them all back to Placentia； except some scouts whom he left；
in a less turbulent temper and more amenable to command。 The walls
were strengthened； battlements were added； and the towers were
raised in height。 It was not only of the implements of war that
provision and preparation were made； but of the spirit of
subordination and the love of obedience。 This was all that was wanting
to the party； for they had no reason to be dissatisfied with their
courage。
Caecina； who seemed to have left his cruelty and profligacy on the
other side of the Alps； advanced through Italy with his army under
excellent discipline。 The towns and colonies； however； found
indications of a haughty spirit in the general's dress； when they
saw the cloak of various colours； and the trews； a garment of
foreign fashion； clothed in which he was wont to speak to their
toga…clad citizens。 And they resented； as if with a sense of
personal wrong； the conduct of his wife Salonina； though it injured no
one that she presented a conspicuous figure as she rode through
their towns on horseback in a purple habit。 They were acting on the
instincts of human nature； which prompt men to scrutinize with keen
eyes the recent elevation of their fellows； and to demand a
temperate use of prosperity from none more rigorously than from
those whom they have seen on a level with themselves。 Caecina； after
crossing the Padus； sought to tamper with the loyalty of the
Othonianists at a conference in which he held out hopes of reward； and
he was himself assailed with the same arts。 After the specious but
meaningless names of peace and concord had been thus bandied to and
fro； Caecina turned all his thoughts and plans on the capture of
Placentia； making a formidable show of preparation； as he knew that
according to the success of his opening operations would be the
subsequent prestige of his arms。
The first day； however； was spent in a furious onset rather than
in the skilful approaches of a veteran army。 Exposed and reckless； the
troops came close under the walls； stupefied by excess in food and
wine。 In this struggle the amphitheatre； a most beautiful building；
situated outside the walls； was burnt to the ground； possibly set on
fire by the assailants； while they showered brands； fireballs； and
ignited missiles； on the besieged； possibly by the besieged
themselves； while they discharged incessant volleys in return。 The
populace of the town； always inclined to be suspicious； believed
that combustibles had been purposely introduced into the building by
certain persons from the neighbouring colonies； who viewed it with
envious and jealous eyes； because there was not in Italy another
building so capacious。 Whatever the cause of the accident； it was
thought of but little moment as long as more terrible disasters were
apprehended； but as soon as they again felt secure； they lamented it
as though they could not have endured a heavier calamity。 In the end
Caecina was repulsed with great slaughter among his troops； and the
night was spent in the preparation of siege…works。 The Vitellianists
constructed mantlets； hurdles； and sheds； for undermining the walls
and screening the assailants； the Othonianists busied themselves in
preparing stakes and huge masses of stone and of lead and brass；
with which to break and overwhelm the hostile ranks。 The shame of
failure； the hope of renown； wrought on both armies； both were
appealed to by different arguments； on the one side they extolled
the strength of the legions and of the army of Germany； on the
other； the distinctions of the soldiery of the capital and the
Praetorian cohorts； the one reviled their foes as slothful and
indolent soldiers； demoralized by the circus and the theatres； the
others retorted with the names of foreigner and barbarian。 At the same
time they lauded or vituperated Otho and Vitellius； but found indeed a
more fruitful source of mutual provocation in invective than in
praise。
Almost before dawn of day the walls were crowded with combatants；
and the plains glittered with masses of armed men。 The close array
of the legions； and the skirmishing parties of auxiliaries assailed
with showers of arrows and stones the loftier parts of the walls；
attacking them at close quarters where they were undefended； or old
and decayed。 The Othonianists； who could take a more deliberate and
certain aim； poured down their javelins on the German cohorts as
they recklessly advanced to the attack with fierce war…cries；
brandishing their shields above their shoulders after the manner of
their country； and leaving their bodies unprotected。 The soldiers of
the legions； working under cover of mantlets and hurdles； undermined
the walls； threw up earth…works； and endeavoured to burst open the
gates。 The Praetorians opposed them by rolling down with a
tremendous crash ponderous masses of rock； placed for the purpose。
Beneath these many of the assailants were buried； and many； as the
slaughter increased with the confusion； and the attack from the
walls became fiercer； retreated wounded； fainting； and mangled； with
serious damage to the prestige of the party。 Caecina； ashamed of the
assault on which he had so rashly ventured； and unwilling； ridiculed
and baffled as he was； to remain in the same position； again crossed
the Padus； and resolved on marching to Cremona。 As he was going；
Turullius Cerialis with a great number of the levies from the fleet；
and Julius Briganticus with a few troopers； gave themselves up to him。
Julius commanded a squadron of horse； he was a Batavian。 Turullius was
a centurion of the first rank； not unfriendly to Caecina； as he had
commanded a company in Germany。
Spurinna； on discovering the enemy's route； informed Annius Gallus
by letter of the successful defence of Placentia； of what had
happened； and of what Caecina intended to do。 Gallus was then bringing
up the first legion to the relief of Placentia； he hardly dared
trust so few cohorts； fearing that they could not sustain a
prolonged siege or the formidable attack of the German army。 On
hearing that Caecina had been repulsed； and was making his way to
Cremona； though the legion could hardly be restrained； and in its
eagerness for action； even went to the length of open mutiny； he
halted at Bedriacum。 This is a village situated between Verona and
Cremona； and has now acquired an ill…omened celebrity by two great
days of disaster to Rome。 About the same time Martius Macer fought a
successful battle not far from Cremona。 Martius； who was a man of
energy； conveyed his gladiators in boats across the Padus； and
suddenly threw them upon the opposite bank。 The Vitellianist
auxiliaries on the spot were routed； those who made a stand were cut
to pieces； the rest directing their flight to Cremona。 But the
impetuosity of the victors was checked； for it was feared that the
enemy might be strengthened by reinforcements； and change the
fortune of the day。 This policy excited the suspicions of the
Othonianists； who put a sinister construction on all the acts of their
generals。 Vying with each other in an insolence of language
proportioned to their cowardice of heart； they assailed with various
accusations Annius Gallus； Suetonius Paullinus； and Marius Celsus。 The
murderers of Galba were the most ardent promoters of mutiny and
discord。 Frenzied with fear and guilt； they sought to plunge
everything into confusion； resorting； now to openly seditious
language； now to secret letters to Otho； and he； ever ready to believe
the meanest of men and suspicious of the good； irresolute in
prosperity； but rising higher under reverses； was in perpetual
alarm。 The end of it was that he sent for his brother Titianus； and
intrusted him with the direction of the campaign。
Meanwhile； brilliant successes were gained under the command of
Celsus and Paullinus。 Caecina was greatly annoyed by the fruitlessness
of all his undertakings； and by the waning reputation of his army。
He had been repulsed from Placentia； his auxiliaries had been recently
cut up； and even when the skirmishers had met in a series of
actions； frequent indeed； but not worth relating； he had been worsted；
and now that Valens was coming up； fearful that all the distinctions
of the campaign would centre in