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bearer； and then； seizing the standard； turned it towards the enemy。
Touched by the reproach； a few troopers； not more than a hundred in
number； made a stand。 The locality favoured them； for the road was
at that point particularly narrow； while the bridge over the stream
which crossed it had been broken down； and the stream itself； with its
varying channel and its precipitous banks； checked their flight。 It
was this necessity； or a happy chance； that restored the fallen
fortunes of the party。 Forming themselves into strong and close ranks；
they received the attack of the Vitellianists； who were now
imprudently scattered。 These were at once overthrown。 Antonius pursued
those that fled； and crushed those that encountered him。 Then came the
rest of his troops； who； as they were severally disposed； plundered；
made prisoners； or seized on weapons and horses。 Roused by the
shouts of triumph； those who had lately been scattered in flight
over the fields hastened to share in the victory。
At the fourth milestone from Cremona glittered the standards of
two legions； the Italica and the Rapax； which had been advanced as far
as that point during the success achieved by the first movement of
their cavalry。 But when fortune changed； they would not open their
ranks； nor receive the fugitives； nor advance and themselves attack an
enemy now exhausted by so protracted a pursuit and conflict。
Vanquished by accident； these men had never in their success valued
their general as much as they now in disaster felt his absence。 The
victorious cavalry charged the wavering line； the tribune Vipstanus
Messalla followed with the auxiliary troops from Moesia； whom；
though hurriedly brought up； long service had made as good soldiers as
the legionaries。 The horse and foot； thus mixed together； broke
through the line of the legions。 The near neighbourhood of the
fortifications of Cremona； while it gave more hope of escape；
diminished the vigour of their resistance。
Antonius did not press forward； for he thought of the fatigue and
the wounds with which a battle so hard fought； notwithstanding its
successful termination； must have disabled his cavalry and their
horses。 As the shadows of evening deepened the whole strength of the
Flavianist army came up。 They advanced amid heaps of dead and the
traces of recent slaughter； and； as if the war was over； demanded that
they should advance to Cremona； and receive the capitulation of the
vanquished party； or take the place by storm。 This was the motive
alleged； and it sounded well； but what every one said to himself was
this： 〃The colony； situated as it is on level ground； may be taken
by assault。 If we attack under cover of darkness； we shall be at least
as bold； and shall enjoy more licence in plunder。 If we wait for the
light； we shall be met with entreaties for peace； and in return for
our toil and our wounds shall receive only the empty satisfaction of
clemency and praise； but the wealth of Cremona will go into the purses
of the legates and the prefects。 The soldiers have the plunder of a
city that is stormed； the generals of one which capitulates。〃 The
centurions and tribunes were spurned away； that no man's voice might
be heard； the troops clashed their weapons together； ready to break
through all discipline； unless they were led as they wished。
Antonius then made his way into the companies。 When his presence and
personal authority had restored silence； he declared； 〃I would not
snatch their glory or their reward from those who have deserved them
so well。 Yet there is a division of duties between the army and its
generals。 Eagerness for battle becomes the soldiers； but generals
serve the cause by forethought； by counsel； by delay oftener than by
temerity。 As I promoted your victory to the utmost of my power by my
sword and by my personal exertions； so now I must help you by prudence
and by counsel； the qualities which belong peculiarly to a general。
What you will have to encounter is indeed perfectly plain。 There
will be the darkness； the strange localities of the town； the enemy
inside the walls； and all possible facilities for ambuscades。 Even
if the gates were wide open； we ought not to enter the place； except
we had first reconnoitred it； and in the day…time。 Shall we set
about storming the town when we have no means seeing where the
ground is level； what is the height of the walls； whether the city
is to be assailed by our artillery and javelins； or by siege…works and
covered approaches？〃 He then turned to individual soldiers； asking
them whether they had brought with them their axes and spades and
whatever else is used when towns are to be stormed。 On their admitting
that they had not done so； 〃Can any hands；〃 he answered； 〃break
through and undermine walls with swords and lances？ And if it should
be found necessary to throw up an embankment and to shelter
ourselves under mantlets and hurdles； shall we stand baffled like a
thoughtless mob； marvelling at the height of the towers and at the
enemy's defences？ Shall we not rather； by delaying one night； till our
artillery and engines come up； take with us a strength that must
prevail？〃 At the same time he sent the sutlers and camp…followers with
the freshest of the cavalry to Bedriacum to fetch supplies and
whatever else they needed。
The soldiers； however； were impatient； and a mutiny had almost
broken out； when some cavalry； who had advanced to the very walls of
Cremona； seized some stragglers from the town； from whose
information it was ascertained； that the six legions of Vitellius
and the entire army which had been quartered at Hostilia had on that
very day marched a distance of thirty miles； and having heard of the
defeat of their comrades； were preparing for battle； and would soon be
coming up。 This alarm opened the ears that had before been deaf to
their general's advice。 The 13th legion was ordered to take up its
position on the raised causeway of the Via Postumia； supported on
the left by the 7th （Galba's） which was posted in the plain； next came
the 7th （Claudius'）； defended in front by a field…ditch； such being
the character of the ground。 On the right was the 8th legion； drawn up
in an open space； and then the 3rd； whose ranks were divided by some
thick brushwood。 Such was the arrangement of the eagles and the
standards。 The soldiers were mingled in the darkness as accident had
determined。 The Praetorian colours were close to the 3rd legion； the
auxiliary infantry were stationed on the wings； the cavalry covered
the flanks and the rear。 Sido and Italicus； the Suevian chieftains；
with a picked body of their countrymen； manoeuvred in the van。
It would have been the best policy for the army of Vitellius to rest
at Cremona； and； with strength recruited by food and repose； to attack
and crush the next day an enemy exhausted by cold and hunger； but now；
wanting a leader； and having no settled plan； they came into collision
about nine o'clock at night with the Flavianist troops； who stood
ready； and in order of battle。 Respecting the disposition of the
Vitellianist army； disordered as it was by its fury and by the
darkness； I would not venture to speak positively。 Some； however； have
related； that on the right wing was the 4th legion （the Macedonian）；
that the 5th and 15th； with the veterans of three British legions （the
9th； 2nd； and 20th）； formed the centre； while the left wing was made
up of the 1st； the 16th； and the 22nd。 Men of the legions Rapax and
Italica were mingled with all the companies。 The cavalry and the
auxiliaries chose their position themselves。 Throughout the night
the battle raged in many forms； indecisive and fierce； destructive；
first to one side； then to the other。 Courage； strength； even the
eye with its keenest sight； were of no avail。 Both armies fought
with the same weapons； the watch…word； continually asked； became
known； the colours were confused together； as parties of combatants
snatched them from the enemy； and hurried them in this or that
direction。 The 7th legion； recently levied by Galba； was the hardest
pressed。 Six centurions of the first rank were killed； and some of the
standards taken； but the eagle was saved by Atilius Verus； the
centurion of the first company； who； after making a great slaughter
among the enemy； at last fell。
The line was supported； as it began to waver； by Antonius； who
brought up the Praetorians。 They took up the conflict； repulsed the
enemy； and were then themselves repulsed。 The troops of Vitellius
had collected their artillery on the raised causeway； where there
was a free and open space for the discharge of the missiles； which
at first had been scatter