按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
treachery。 Lucilius Bassus； who had been promoted by Vitellius from
the command of a squadron of cavalry to be admiral of the fleets at
Ravenna and Misenum； failing immediately to obtain the command of
the Praetorian Guard sought to gratify his unreasonable resentment
by an atrocious act of perfidy。 It cannot be certainly known whether
he carried Caecina with him； or whether （as is often the case with bad
men； that they are like each other） both were actuated by the same
evil motives。
The historians of the period； who during the ascendancy of the
Flavian family composed the chronicles of this war； have in the
distorted representations of flattery assigned as the motives of these
men a regard for peace and a love of their country。 For my own part
I believe that； to say nothing of a natural fickleness and an honour
which they must have held cheap after the betrayal of Galba；
feelings of rivalry； and jealousy lest others should outstrip them
in the favour of Vitellius； made them accomplish his ruin。 Caecina；
having overtaken the legions； strove by every species of artifice to
undermine the fidelity of the centurions and soldiers； who were
devoted to Vitellius。 Bassus； in making the same attempt；
experienced less difficulty； for the fleet； remembering how recently
it had served in the cause of Otho； was ready to change its
allegiance。
BOOK III； September … December； A。D。 69
UNDER happier auspices and in a more loyal spirit the Flavianist
leaders were discussing the plans of the campaign。 They had
assembled at Petovio； the winter…quarters of the 13th legion。 There
they debated； whether they should blockade the passes of the Pannonian
Alps till the whole strength of their party should be gathered in
their rear； or whether it would be the more vigorous policy to close
with the enemy； and to contend for the possession of Italy。 Those
who thought it advisable to wait for reinforcements； and to protract
the campaign； dwelt on the strength and reputation of the German
legions。 〃Vitellius；〃 they said； 〃has now joined them with the
flower of the British army。 Our numbers are not even equal to those of
the legions whom they lately defeated； and the conquered； let them
talk as fiercely as they will； lose something of their courage。 But；
if we occupy meanwhile the passes of the Alps； Mucianus will come up
with the forces of the East。 Vespasian has in addition the command
of the sea； his fleets； and provinces loyal to his cause； in which
he may collect the vast materials for what may be called another
war。 A salutary delay will bring us new forces； while we shall lose
nothing of what we have。〃
In answer to this； Antonius Primus； who was the most energetic
promoter of the war； declared that prompt action would be advantageous
to themselves； and fatal to Vitellius。 〃Supineness；〃 he said；
〃rather than confidence has grown upon the conquerors。 They are not
even kept under arms or within camps。 In every town of Italy； sunk
in sloth； formidable only to their entertainers； they have drunk of
unaccustomed pleasures with an eagerness equal to the rudeness of
their former life。 They have been emasculated by the circus； the
theatre； and the allurements of the capital； or they are worn out with
sickness。 Yet even to these men； if you give them time； their old
vigour will return with the preparation for war。 Germany； whence their
strength is drawn； is faraway； Britain is separated only by a
strait； the provinces of Gaul and Spain are near； on either side
they can find troops； horses； tribute； they have Italy itself； and the
resources of the capital； and； should they choose themselves to take
the offensive； they have two fleets； and the Illyrian sea open to
them。 What good then will our mountain…passes do us？ What will be
the use of having protracted the war into another summer？ Where are we
to find in the meanwhile money and supplies？ Why not rather avail
ourselves of the fact that the legions of Pannonia； which were cheated
rather than vanquished； are hastening to rise again for vengeance； and
that the armies of Moesia have brought us their unimpaired strength？
If you reckon the number of soldiers； rather than that of legions；
we have greater strength； and no vices； for our very humiliation has
been most helpful to our discipline。 As for the cavalry； they were not
vanquished even on that day； though the fortune of war was against
them； they penetrated the Vitellianist lines。 Two squadrons of Moesian
and Pannonian cavalry then broke through the enemy； now the united
standards of sixteen squadrons will bury and overwhelm with the
crash and din and storm of their onset these horses and horsemen
that have forgotten how to fight。 Unless any one hinders me； I who
suggest will execute the plan。 You； whose fortune never suffered a
reverse； may keep back the legions； the light cohorts will be enough
for me。 Before long you will hear that Italy has been opened； and
the power of Vitellius shaken。 You will be delighted to follow； and to
tread in the footsteps of victory。〃
With flashing eyes； and in the fierce tones that might be most
widely heard （for the centurions and some of the common soldiers had
intruded themselves into the deliberations）； he poured out such a
torrent of these and similar words； that he carried away even the
cautious and prudent； while the general voice of the multitude
extolled him as the one man； the one general in the army； and
spurned the inaction of the others。 He had raised this reputation
for himself at the very first assembly； when； after Vespasian's
letters had been read； he had not； like many； used ambiguous language；
on which he might put this or that construction as might serve his
purpose。 It was seen that he openly committed himself to the cause；
and he had therefore greater weight with the soldiers； as being
associated with them in what was either their crime or their glory。
Next to Primus in influence was Cornelius Fuscus； the procurator。 He
also had been accustomed to inveigh mercilessly against Vitellius； and
had thus left himself no hope in the event of defeat。 T。 Ampius
Flavianus； disposed to caution by natural temperament and advanced
years； excited in the soldiers a suspicion that he still remembered
his relationship to Vitellius； and as he had fled when the movement in
the legions began； and had then voluntarily returned； it was
believed that he had sought an opportunity for treachery。 Flavianus
indeed had left Pannonia； and had entered Italy； and was out of the
way of danger； when his desire for revolution urged him to resume
the title of Legate； and to take part in the civil strife。 Cornelius
Fuscus had advised him to this course； not that he needed the
talents of Flavianus； but wishing that a consular name might clothe
with its high prestige the very first movements of the party。
Still； that the passage into Italy might be safe and advantageous；
directions were sent to Aponius Saturninus to hasten up with the
armies of Moesia。 That the provinces might not be exposed without
defence to the barbarian tribes； the princes of the Sarmatae
Iazyges； who had in their hands the government of that nation； were
enrolled in the army。 These chiefs also offered the service of their
people； and its force of cavalry； their only effective troops； but the
offer was declined； lest in the midst of civil strife they should
attempt some hostile enterprise； or； influenced by higher offers
from other quarters； should cast off all sense of right and duty。 Sido
and Italicus； kings of the Suevi； were brought over to the cause。
Their loyalty to the Roman people was of long standing； and their
nation was more faithful than the other to any trust reposed in
them。 On the flank of the army were posted some auxiliaries； for
Rhaetia was hostile； Portius Septimius； the procurator； remaining
incorruptibly faithful to Vitellius。 Accordingly； Sextilius Felix with
Aurius' Horse； eight cohorts； and the native levies of Noricum； was
sent to occupy the bank of the river Aenus； which flows between
Rhaetia and Noricum。 Neither hazarded an engagement； and the fate of
the two parties was decided elsewhere。
Antonius； as he hurried with the veteran soldiers of the cohorts and
part of the cavalry to invade Italy； was accompanied by Arrius
Varus； an energetic soldier。 Service under Corbulo； and successes in
Armenia； had gained for him this reputation； yet it was generally
said； that in secret conversations with Nero he had calumniated
Corbulo's high qualities。 The favour thus infamously acquired made him
a centurion of the first rank； yet the ill…gotten prosperity of the
moment afterwards turned