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written to Vitellius。 If once they had emulated each other in valour
and obedience； so now there was a rivalry in insubordination and
insolence； till they clamoured as violently for the execution of
Aponius as they had for that of Flavianus。 The legions of Moesia
recalled how they had aided the vengeance of the Pannonian army； while
the soldiers of Pannonia； as if they were absolved by the mutiny of
others； took a delight in repeating their fault。 They hastened to
the gardens in which Saturninus was passing his time； and it was not
the efforts of Primus Antonius； Aponianus； and Messalla； though they
exerted themselves to the uttermost； that saved him； so much as the
obscurity of the hiding…place in which he concealed himself； for he
was hidden in the furnace of some baths that happened to be out of
use。 In a short time he gave up his lictors； and retired to
Patavium。 After the departure of the two men of consular rank； all
power and authority over the two armies centred in Antonius alone； his
colleagues giving way to him； and the soldiers being strongly biased
in his favour。 There were those who believed that both these
mutinies were set on foot by the intrigues of Antonius； in order
that he might engross all the prizes of the war。
Nor indeed was there less restlessness among the partisans of
Vitellius； who were distracted by yet more fatal dissensions；
springing； not from the suspicions of the common men； but from the
treachery of the generals。 Lucilius Bassus； prefect of the Ravenna
fleet； finding that the troops wavered in purpose； from the fact
that many were natives of Dalmatia and Pannonia； provinces held for
Vespasian； had attached them to the Flavianist party。 The night…time
was chosen for accomplishing the treason； because then； unknown to all
the rest； the ringleaders alone might assemble at head…quarters。
Bassus； moved by shame； or perhaps by fear； awaited the issue in his
house。 The captains of the triremes rushed with a great outcry on
the images of Vitellius； a few； who attempted to resist； were cut
down； the great majority； with the usual love of change； were ready to
join Vespasian。 Then Bassus came forward and openly sanctioned the
movement。 The fleet appointed Cornelius Fuscus to be prefect； and he
hastened to join them。 Lucilius was put under honourable arrest； and
conveyed as far as Adria by the Liburnian ships； there he was thrown
into prison by Vivennius Rufinus； prefect of a squadron of cavalry；
which was there in garrison。 His chains； however； were immediately
struck off on the interference of Hormus； one of the Emperor's
freedmen； for he too ranked among the generals。
On the revolt of the fleet becoming known； Caecina called together
to head…quarters； which he purposely selected as being the most
retired part of the camp； the chief centurions and some few
soldiers； while the rest were dispersed on various military duties。
Then he extolled the valour of Vespasian； and the strength of his
party； he told them that the fleet had changed sides； that they were
straitened for supplies； that Gaul and Spain were against them； that
in the capital there was nothing on which to rely； thus making the
worst of everything that concerned Vitellius。 Then； the conspirators
present setting the example； and the rest being paralysed by the
strangeness of the proceeding； he made them swear allegiance to
Vespasian。 At the same time the images of Vitellius were torn down；
and persons were despatched to convey the intelligence to Antonius。
But when this treason became noised abroad throughout the camp； when
the soldiers； hurrying back to head…quarters； saw the name of
Vespasian written on the colours； and the images of Vitellius thrown
upon the ground； first there was a gloomy silence； then all their rage
burst out at once。 〃What；〃 they cried； 〃has the glory of the army of
Germany fallen so low； that without a battle； even without a wound；
they should yield up hands ready bound and arms resigned to surrender？
What legions indeed are these against us？ Only the conquered。 The
first and the twelfth； the sole strength of the Othonianist army；
are not there； and even them we routed and crushed on these very
plains； only that so many thousands of armed men； like a herd of
slaves for sale； might be given as a present to the exile Antonius。
Thus； forsooth； the adhesion of one fleet would be worth eight
legions。 So it pleases Bassus and Caecina； after robbing the Emperor
of palaces； gardens； and money； to rob the soldiers of their
Emperor。 But we； who have seen nothing of toil and bloodshed； we；
who must be contemptible even to the Flavianists； what shall we answer
to those who shall ask us of our victories and our defeats？〃
Joining one and all in these cries； by which each expressed his
own vexation； they proceeded； following the lead of the fifth
legion； to replace the images of Vitellius； and to put Caecina in
irons。 They elected to the command Fabius Fabullus； legate of the
fifth legion； and Cassius Longus； prefect of the camp； they
massacred the soldiers from three Liburnian ships； who happened to
fall in their way； but who were perfectly ignorant and innocent of
these proceedings； they then abandoned the camp； and； after breaking
down the bridge； fell back on Hostilia； and thence on Cremona； in
order to effect a junction with the two legions； the 1st Italica and
the 21st Rapax； which； with a portion of the cavalry； Caecina had sent
on to occupy Cremona。
On this becoming known to Antonius； he determined to attack the
hostile armies； while they were still distracted in feeling and
divided in strength； before the generals could recover their
authority； and the soldiers their subordination along with that
confidence which would spring from the junction of the legions。 He
concluded indeed that Fabius Valens had left the capital； and would
hasten his march； on hearing of the treason of Caecina； and Fabius was
loyal to Vitellius； and not without some military skill。 At the same
time he dreaded the approach of a vast body of Germans by way of
Rhaetia。 Vitellius had also summoned reinforcements from Britain；
Gaul； and Spain； whose arms would have wasted like a wide…spread
pestilence； had not Antonius； fearful of this very danger； hurried
on an engagement； and thus secured his victory。 He reached Bedriacum
with his whole army in two days' march from Verona。 The next day；
keeping the legions to fortify the position； he sent the auxiliary
infantry into the territories of Cremona； ostensibly to collect
supplies； really to imbue the soldiery with a taste for the spoils
of civil war。 He himself advanced with 4000 cavalry as far as the
8th milestone from Bedriacum； in order that they might plunder with
greater freedom。 The scouts； as usual； took a wider range。
It was almost eleven o'clock； when a horseman arrived at full
speed with the news； that the enemy were approaching； that a small
body was moving in front； but that the stir and noise could be heard
far and wide。 While Antonius was deliberating as to what was to be
done； Arrius Varus； eager to do his best； charged with the bravest
of the cavalry； and drove back the Vitellianists； inflicting upon them
some slight loss； as more came up； the fortune of the day changed； and
those who had been most eager in the pursuit found themselves last
in the flight。 This rash act did not originate with Antonius； he
anticipated in fact what actually happened。 He now urged his
soldiers to enter on the battle with a good heart； he then drew off
the squadrons of his cavalry to the two flanks； leaving in the midst
an open space in which to receive Varus and his troopers； the
legions were ordered to arm themselves； signals were made over the
country that every man should leave plundering； and join the battle at
the nearest point。 Meanwhile the terror…stricken Varus plunged into
the disordered ranks of his friends； and brought a panic with him。 The
fresh troops were driven back along with the wounded fugitives；
confused by their own alarm and by the difficulties of the road。
In the midst of this panic Antonius omitted nothing that a
self…possessed commander or a most intrepid soldier could do。 He threw
himself before the terrified fugitives； he held back those who were
giving way； and wherever the struggle was hardest； wherever there
was a gleam of hope； there he was with his ready skill； his bold hand；
his encouraging voice； easily recognized by the enemy； and a
conspicuous object to his own men。 At last he was carried to such a
pitch of excitement； that he transfixed with a lance a flying standard
bearer； and then； seizing the standard； turned it towards the enemy。