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and now that Valens was coming up； fearful that all the distinctions
of the campaign would centre in that general； he made a hasty
attempt to retrieve his credit； but with more impetuosity than
prudence。 Twelve miles from Cremona （at a place called the Castors） he
posted some of the bravest of his auxiliaries； concealed in the
woods that there overhang the road。 The cavalry were ordered to move
forward； and； after provoking a battle； voluntarily to retreat； and
draw on the enemy in hasty pursuit； till the ambuscade could make a
simultaneous attack。 The scheme was betrayed to the Othonianist
generals； and Paullinus assumed the command of the infantry； Celsus of
the cavalry。 The veterans of the 13th legion； four cohorts of
auxiliaries； and 500 cavalry； were drawn up on the left side of the
road； the raised causeway was occupied by three Praetorian cohorts；
ranged in deep columns； on the right front stood the first legion with
two cohorts of auxiliaries and 500 cavalry。 Besides these； a
thousand cavalry； belonging to the Praetorian guard and to the
auxiliaries； were brought up to complete a victory or to retrieve a
repulse。
Before the hostile lines engaged； the Vitellianists began to
retreat； but Celsus； aware of the stratagem； kept his men back。 The
Vitellianists rashly left their position； and seeing Celsus
gradually give way； followed too far in pursuit； and themselves fell
into an ambuscade。 The auxiliaries assailed them on either flank；
the legions were opposed to them in front； and the cavalry； by a
sudden movement； had surrounded their rear。 Suetonius Paullinus did
not at once give the infantry the signal to engage。 He was a man
naturally tardy in action； and one who preferred a cautious and
scientific plan of operations to any success which was the result of
accident。 He ordered the trenches to be filled up； the plain to be
cleared； and the line to be extended； holding that it would be time
enough to begin his victory when he had provided against being
vanquished。 This delay gave the Vitellianists time to retreat into
some vineyards； which were obstructed by the interlacing layers of the
vines； and close to which was a small wood。 From this place they again
ventured to emerge； slaughtering the foremost of the Praetorian
cavalry。 King Epiphanes was wounded； while he was zealously cheering
on the troops for Otho。
Then the Othonianist infantry charged。 The enemy's line was
completely crushed； and the reinforcements who were coming up to their
aid were also put to flight。 Caecina indeed had not brought up his
cohorts in a body； but one by one； as this was done during the battle；
it increased the general confusion； because the troops who were thus
divided； not being strong at any one point； were borne away by the
panic of the fugitives。 Besides this； a mutiny broke out in the camp
because the whole army was not led into action。 Julius Gratus； prefect
of the camp； was put in irons； on a suspicion of a treacherous
understanding with his brother who was serving with Otho's army； at
the very time that the Othonianists had done the same thing and on the
same grounds to that brother Julius Fronto； a tribune。 In fact such
was the panic everywhere； among the fugitives and among the troops
coming up； in the lines and in front of the entrenchments； that it was
very commonly said on both sides； that Caecina and his whole army
might have been destroyed； had not Suetonius Paullinus given the
signal of recall。 Paullinus alleged that he feared the effects of so
much additional toil and so long a march； apprehending that the
Vitellianists might issue fresh from their camp； and attack his
wearied troops； who； once thrown into confusion； would have no
reserves to fall back upon。 A few approved the general's policy； but
it was unfavourably canvassed by the army at large。
The effect of this disaster on the Vitellianists was not so much
to drive them to fear as to draw them to obedience。 Nor was this the
case only among the troops of Caecina； who indeed laid all the blame
upon his soldiers； more ready； as he said； for mutiny than for battle。
The forces also of Fabius Valens； who had now reached Ticinum； laid
aside their contempt for the enemy； and anxious to retrieve their
credit began to yield a more respectful and uniform obedience to their
general。 A serious mutiny； however； had raged among them； of which； as
it was not convenient to interrupt the orderly narrative of
Caecina's operations； I shall take up the history at an earlier
period。 I have already described how the Batavian cohorts who
separated from the 14th legion during the Neronian war； hearing on
their way to Britain of the rising of Vitellius； joined Fabius
Valens in the country of the Lingones。 They behaved themselves
insolently； boasting； as they visited the quarters of the several
legions； that they had mastered the men of the 14th； that they had
taken Italy from Nero； that the whole destiny of the war lay in
their hands。 Such language was insulting to the soldiers； and
offensive to the general。 The discipline of the army was relaxed by
the brawls and quarrels which ensued。 At last Valens began to
suspect that insolence would end in actual treachery。
When； therefore； intelligence reached him that the cavalry of the
Treveri and the Tungrian infantry had been defeated by Otho's fleet；
and that Gallia Narbonensis was blockaded； anxious at once to
protect a friendly population； and； like a skilful soldier； to
separate cohorts so turbulent and； while they remained united； so
inconveniently strong； he directed a detachment of the Batavians to
proceed to the relief of the province。 This having been heard and
become generally known； the allies were discontented and the legions
murmured。 〃We are being deprived；〃 they said； 〃of the help of our
bravest men。 Those veteran troops victorious in so many campaigns； now
that the enemy is in sight； are withdrawn； so to speak； from the
very field of battle。 If indeed a province be of more importance
than the capital and the safety of the Empire； let us all follow
them thither； but if the reality； the support； the mainstay of
success； centre in Italy； you must not tear； as it were； from a body
its very strongest limbs。〃
In the midst of these fierce exclamations； Valens； sending his
lictors into the crowd； attempted to quell the mutiny。 On this they
attacked the general himself； hurled stones at him； and； when he fled；
pursued him。 Crying out that he was concealing the spoil of Gaul；
the gold of the men of Vienna； the hire of their own toils； they
ransacked his baggage； and probed with javelins and lances the walls
of the general's tent and the very ground beneath。 Valens； disguised
in the garb of a slave； found concealment with a subaltern officer
of cavalry。 After this； Alfenius Varus； prefect of the camp； seeing
that the mutiny was gradually subsiding； promoted the reaction by
the following device。 He forbade the centurions to visit the
sentinels； and discontinued the trumpet calls by which the troops
are summoned to their usual military duties。 Thereupon all stood
paralysed； and gazed at each other in amazement； panic…stricken by the
very fact that there was no one to direct them。 By their silence； by
their submission； finally by their tears and entreaties； they craved
forgiveness。 But when Valens； thus unexpectedly preserved； came
forward in sad plight； shedding tears； they were moved to joy； to
pity； even to affection。 Their revulsion to delight was just that of a
mob； always extreme in either emotion。 They greeted him with praises
and congratulations； and surrounding him with the eagles and
standards； carried him to the tribunal。 With a politic prudence he
refrained from demanding capital punishment in any case； yet；
fearing that he might lay himself more open to suspicion by
concealment of his feelings； he censured a few persons； well aware
that in civil wars the soldiers have more license than the generals。
While they were fortifying a camp at Ticinum； the news of
Caecina's defeat reached them； and the mutiny nearly broke out
afresh from an impression that underhand dealing and delay on the part
of Valens had kept them away from the battle。 They refused all rest；
they would not wait for their general； they advanced in front of the
standards； and hurried on the standard…bearers。 After a rapid march
they joined Caecina。 The character of Valens did not stand well with
Caecina's army。 They complained that； though so much weaker in
numbers； they had been exposed to the whole force of the enemy； thus
at once excusing themselves； and extolling； in the implied flattery；
the strength of the new arriv