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hesitate whether they should not cease their strife； and either
themselves consult together； or allow the Senate to choose an Emperor；
and that； for this reason； Otho's generals recommended a certain
measure of delay； Paullinus especially entertaining hopes for himself；
on the ground that he was the senior among the men of consular rank；
that he was well known as a soldier； and had attained great
distinction and fame by his campaigns in Britain。 Though I would allow
that there were some few who in their secret wishes prayed for peace
in the stead of disorder； for a worthy and blameless Emperor in the
room of men utterly worthless and wicked； yet I cannot suppose that
Paullinus； wise as he was； could have hoped in an age thoroughly
depraved to find such moderation in the common herd； as that men；
who in their passion for war had trampled peace under foot； should now
in their affection for peace renounce the charms of war； nor can I
think that armies differing in language and in character； could have
united in such an agreement； or that lieutenants and generals； who
were for the most part burdened by the consciousness of profligacy； of
poverty； and of crime； could have endured any Emperor who was not
himself stained by vice； as well as bound by obligation to themselves。
That old passion for power which has been ever innate in man
increased and broke out as the Empire grew in greatness。 In a state of
moderate dimensions equality was easily preserved； but when the
world had been subdued； when all rival kings and cities had been
destroyed； and men had leisure to covet wealth which they might
enjoy in security； the early conflicts between the patricians and
the people were kindled into flame。 At one time the tribunes were
factious； at another the consuls had unconstitutional power； it was in
the capital and the forum that we first essayed civil wars。 Then
rose C。 Marius； sprung from the very dregs of the populace； and L。
Sulla； the most ruthless of the patricians； who perverted into
absolute dominion the liberty which had yielded to their arms。 After
them came Cn。 Pompeius； with a character more disguised but no way
better。 Henceforth men's sole object was supreme power。 Legions formed
of Roman citizens did not lay down their arms at Pharsalia and
Philippi； much less were the armies of Otho and Vitellius likely of
their own accord to abandon their strife。 They were driven into
civil war by the same wrath from heaven； the same madness among men；
the same incentives to crime。 That these wars were terminated by
what we may call single blows； was owing to want of energy in the
chiefs。 But these reflections on the character of ancient and modern
times have carried me too far from my subject。 I now return to the
course of events。
Otho having started for Brixellum； the honours of supreme command
devolved on his brother Titianus； while the real power and control
were in the hands of the prefect Proculus。 Celsus and Paullinus； as no
one made any use of their skill； did but screen with their idle
title of general the blunders of others。 The tribunes and centurions
were perplexed to see that better men were despised； and that the most
worthless carried the day。 The common soldiers were full of eagerness；
but liked to criticise rather than to obey the orders of their
officers。 It was resolved to move the camp forward to the fourth
milestone from Bedriacum； but it was done so unskilfully； that
though it was spring； and there were so many rivers in the
neighbourhood； the troops were distressed for want of water。 Then
the subject of giving battle was discussed； Otho in his despatches
ever urging them to make haste； and the soldiers demanding that the
Emperor should be present at the conflict； many begged that the troops
quartered beyond the Padus should be brought up。 It is not so easy
to determine what was best to be done； as it is to be sure that what
was done was the very worst。
They started for a campaign rather than for a battle； making for the
confluence of the Padus and Addua； a distance of sixteen miles from
their position。 Celsus and Paullinus remonstrated against exposing
troops wearied with a march and encumbered with baggage to any
enemy； who； being himself ready for action and having marched barely
four miles； would not fail to attack them； either when they were in
the confusion of an advance； or when they were dispersed and busy with
the work of entrenchment。 Titianus and Proculus； overcome in argument；
fell back on the Imperial authority。 It was true that a Numidian had
arrived at full gallop with an angry message from Otho； in which the
Emperor； sick of delay and impatient of suspense； sharply rebuked
the inactivity of the generals； and commanded that matters should be
brought to an issue。
The same day； while Caecina was engaged on the construction of a
bridge； two tribunes of the Praetorian Guard came to him and begged an
interview。 He was on the point of hearing their proposals and
sending back his own； when the scouts arrived at headlong speed with
the news that the enemy were close at hand。 The address of the
tribunes was thus abruptly terminated。 Thus it remained uncertain
whether deception； or treason； or some honourable arrangement； had
been in their thoughts。 Caecina dismissed the tribunes and rode back
to the camp。 There he found that Fabius Valens had given the signal
for battle； and that the troops were under arms。 While the legions
were casting lots for the order of march； the cavalry charged； and；
strange to say； were kept only by the courage of the Italian legion
from being driven back on the entrenchments by an inferior force of
Othonianists。 These men； at the sword's point； compelled the beaten
squadron to wheel round and resume the conflict。 The line of the
Vitellianists was formed without hurry； for； though the enemy was
close at hand； the sight of their arms was intercepted by the thick
brushwood。 In Otho's army the generals were full of fear； and the
soldiers hated their officers； the baggage…wagons and the
camp…followers were mingled with the troops； and as there were steep
ditches on both sides the road； it would have been found too narrow
even for an undisturbed advance。 Some were gathering round their
standards； others were seeking them； everywhere was heard the confused
shouting of men who were joining the ranks； or calling to their
comrades； and each； as he was prompted by courage or by cowardice；
rushed on to the front； or slunk back to the rear。
From the consternation of panic their feelings passed under the
influence of a groundless joy into languid indifference； some
persons spreading the lie that Vitellius' army had revolted。 Whether
this rumour was circulated by the spies of Vitellius； or originated in
treachery or in accident among the partisans of Otho； has never been
clearly ascertained。 Forgetting their warlike ardour； the Othonianists
at once greeted the foe； as they were answered by an angry murmur；
they caused apprehensions of treachery in many of their own side；
who did not know what the greeting meant。 Then the enemy's line
charged with its ranks unbroken； in strength and in numbers
superior； the Othonianists； scattered and weary as they were； met
the attack with spirit。 The ground was so entangled with trees and
vineyards that the battle assumed many forms。 They met in close and in
distant conflict； in line and in column。 On the raised road they stood
foot to foot； they pushed with their bodies and their shields； and
ceasing to throw their javelins； they struck through helmets and
breastplates with swords and battle…axes。 Recognising each other and
distinctly seen by the rest of the combatants； they were fighting to
decide the whole issue of the war。
In an open plain between the Padus and the road； two legions
happened to meet。 On the side of Vitellius was the 21st； called the
Rapax； a corps of old and distinguished renown。 On that of Otho was
the 1st； called Adjutrix； which had never before been brought into the
field； but was high…spirited； and eager to gain its first triumph。 The
men of the 1st； overthrowing the foremost ranks of the 21st； carried
off the eagle。 The 21st； infuriated by this loss； not only repulsed
the 1st； and slew the legate； Orfidius Benignus； but captured many
colours and standards from the enemy。 In another quarter the 13th
legion was put to flight by a charge of the 5th。 The 14th was
surrounded by a superior force。 Otho's generals had long since fled
and Caecina and Valens strengthened their army with the reserves。
New reinforcements were supplied by Varus Alfenius with his Batavians。
They had routed the band of gladiato