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was a free and open space for the discharge of the missiles； which
at first had been scattered at random； and had struck against the
trees without injury to the enemy。 An engine of remarkable size；
belonging to the 15th legion； was crushing the hostile ranks with huge
stones； and would have spread destruction far and wide； had not two
soldiers ventured on a deed of surpassing bravery。 Disguising
themselves with shields snatched from the midst of the carnage； they
cut the ropes and springs of the engine。 They were instantly slain；
and their names have consequently been lost； but the fact is
undoubted。 Fortune favoured neither side； till at a late hour of the
night the moon rose and showed； but showed deceptively； both armies。
The light； however； shining from behind； favoured the Flavianists。
With them a lengthened shadow fell from men and horses； and the
enemy's missiles； incorrectly aimed at what seemed the substance； fell
short； while the Vitellianists； who had the light shining on their
faces； were unconsciously exposed to an enemy who were； so to speak；
concealed while they aimed。
As soon as Antonius could recognize his men and be recognized by
them； he sought to kindle their courage； striving to shame some with
his reproaches； stirring many with praise and encouragement； and all
with hopes and promises。 〃Why；〃 he demanded of the legions of
Pannonia； 〃have you again taken up arms？ Yonder is the field where you
may wipe out the stain of past disgrace； and redeem your honour。〃 Then
turning to the troops of Moesia； he appealed to them as the authors
and originators of the war。 〃Idly；〃 he said 〃have you challenged the
Vitellianists with threatening words； if you cannot abide their attack
or even their looks。〃 So he spoke to each as he approached them。 The
third legion he addressed at greater length； reminding them of old and
recent achievements； how under Marcus Antonius they had defeated the
Parthians； under Corbulo the Armenians； and had lately discomfited the
Sarmatians。 Then angrily turning to the Praetorians； 〃Clowns；〃 said
he； 〃unless you are victorious； what other general； what other camp
will receive you？ There are your colours and your arms； defeat is
death； for disgrace you have exhausted。〃 A shout was raised on all
sides； and the soldiers of the third legion saluted； as is the
custom in Syria； the rising sun。
A vague rumour thus arose； or was intentionally suggested by the
general； that Mucianus had arrived； and that the two armies had
exchanged salutations。 The men then charged as confidently as if
they had been strengthened by fresh reinforcements； while the
enemy's array was now less compact； for； as there was no one to
command； it was now contracted； now extended； as the courage or fear
of individual soldiers might prompt。 Antonius； seeing that they gave
way； charged them with a heavy column； the loose ranks were at once
broken； and； entangled as they were among their wagons and
artillery； could not be re…formed。 The conquerors； in the eagerness of
pursuit； dispersed themselves over the entire line of road。 The
slaughter that followed was made particularly memorable through the
murder of a father by his son。 I will record the incident with the
names； on the authority of Vipstanus Messalla。 Julius Mansuetus； a
Spaniard； enlisting in the legion Rapax； had left at home a son of
tender age。 The lad grew up to manhood； and was enrolled by Galba in
the 7th legion。 Now chancing to meet his father； he brought him to the
ground with a wound； and； as he rifled his dying foe； recognized
him； and was himself recognized。 Clasping the expiring man in his
arms； in piteous accents he implored the spirit of his father to be
propitious to him； and not to turn from him with loathing as from a
parricide。 〃This guilt；〃 he said； 〃is shared by all； how small a
part of a civil war is a single soldier！〃 With these words he raised
the body； opened a grave； and discharged the last duties for his
father。 This was noticed by those who were on the spot； then by many
others； astonishment and indignation ran through the whole army； and
they cursed this most horrible war。 Yet as eagerly as ever they
stripped the bodies of slaughtered kinsfolk； connexions； and brothers。
They talk of an impious act having been done； and they do it
themselves。
When they reached Cremona a fresh work of vast difficulty
presented itself。 During the war with Otho the legions of Germany
had formed their camp round the walls of the city； round this camp had
drawn an entrenchment； and had again strengthened these defences。 At
this sight the victorious army hesitated； while the generals doubted
what orders they should give。 To attempt an assault with troops
exhausted by the toil of a day and a night would be difficult； and
with no proper reserves might be perilous。 Should they return to
Bedriacum； the fatigue of so long a march would be insupportable；
and their victory would result in nothing。 To entrench a camp with the
enemy so close at hand would be dangerous； as by a sudden sortie
they might cause confusion among them while dispersed and busied
with the work。 Above all； they were afraid of their soldiers； who were
more patient of danger than delay。 Cautious measures they disliked；
their rashness inspired them with hope； and eagerness for plunder
outweighed all the horrors of carnage； wounds； and bloodshed。
Antonius himself was this way inclined； and he ordered the
entrenched camp to be invested。 At first they fought from a distance
with arrows and stones； the Flavianists suffering most； as the enemy's
missiles were aimed at them from a superior height。 Antonius then
assigned to each legion the attack on some portion of the
entrenchments； and on one particular gate； seeking by this division of
labour to distinguish the cowardly from the brave； and to stimulate
his men by an honourable rivalry。 The 3rd and 7th legions took up a
position close to the road from Bedriacum； more to the right of the
entrenchments were stationed the 8th and the 7th （Claudius'）。 The 13th
were carried by the impetuosity of their attack as far as the gate
looking towards Brixia。 There ensued a little delay； while from the
neighbouring fields some were collecting spades and pickaxes； others
hooks and ladders。 Then raising their shields over their heads； they
advanced to the rampart in a dense 〃testudo。〃 Both used the arts of
Roman warfare； the Vitellianists rolled down ponderous stones； and
drove spears and long poles into the broken and tottering 〃testudo；〃
till the dense array of shields was loosened； and the ground was
strewn with a vast number of lifeless and mangled bodies。
28。 Some hesitation had shewn itself； when the generals； seeing that
the weary troops would not listen to what seemed to them unmeaning
encouragement； pointed to Cremona。 Whether this was； as Messalla
relates； the device of Hormus； or whether Caius Plinius be the
better authority when he charges it upon Antonius； I cannot easily
determine。 All I can say is this； that neither in Antonius nor in
Hormus would this foulest of crimes have been a degeneracy from the
character of their former lives。 Wounds or bloodshed no longer kept
the men back from undermining the rampart and battering the gates。
Supported on the shoulders of comrades； and forming a second
〃testudo；〃 they clambered up and seized the weapons and even the hands
of the enemy。 The unhurt and the wounded； the half…dead and the dying；
were mingled together with every incident of slaughter and death in
every form。
The fiercest struggle was maintained by the 3rd and 7th legions； and
Antonius in person with some chosen auxiliaries concentrated his
efforts on the same point。 The Vitellianists； unable to resist the
combined and resolute attack； and finding that their missiles glided
off the 〃testudo；〃 at last threw the engine itself on the
assailants； for a moment it broke and overwhelmed those on whom it
fell； but it drew after it in its fall the battlements and upper
part of the rampart。 At the same time an adjoining tower yielded to
the volleys of stones； and； while the 7th legion in wedge…like array
was endeavouring to force an entrance； the 3rd broke down the gate
with axes and swords。 All authors are agreed that Caius Volusius； a
soldier of the 3rd legion； entered first。 Beating down all who opposed
him； he mounted the rampart； waved his hand； and shouted aloud that
the camp was taken。 The rest of the legion burst in； while the
troops of Vitellius were seized with panic； and threw themselves
from the rampart。 The entire space between the camp and the walls of
Cremona was filled with slain。
Difficulties of another