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from the rampart。 The entire space between the camp and the walls of
Cremona was filled with slain。
Difficulties of another kind presented themselves in the lofty walls
of the town； its stone towers； its iron…barred gates； in the
garrison who stood brandishing their weapons； in its numerous
population devoted to the interests of Vitellius； and in the vast
conflux from all parts of Italy which had assembled at the fair
regularly held at that time。 The besieged found a source of strength
in these large numbers； the assailants an incentive in the prospect of
booty。 Antonius gave orders that fire should instantly be set to the
finest buildings without the city； to see whether the inhabitants of
Cremona might not be induced by the loss of their property to transfer
their allegiance。 Some houses near the walls； which overtopped the
fortifications； he filled with the bravest of his soldiers； who； by
hurling beams； tiles； and flaming missiles； dislodged the defenders
from the ramparts。
The legions now began to form themselves into a 〃testudo；〃 and the
other troops to discharge volleys of stones and darts； when the
courage of the Vitellianists began to flag。 The higher their rank； the
more readily they succumbed to fortune； fearing that when Cremona
had fallen quarter could no longer be expected； and that all the
fury of the conqueror would be turned； not on the penniless crowd； but
on the tribunes and centurions； by whose slaughter something was to be
gained。 The common soldiers； careless of the future and safer in their
obscurity； still held out。 Roaming through the streets or concealed in
the houses； they would not sue for peace even when they had
abandoned the contest。 The principal officers of the camp removed
the name and images of Vitellius； Caecina； who was still in
confinement； they released from his chains； imploring him to plead
their cause。 When he haughtily rejected their suit； they entreated him
with tears； and it was indeed the last aggravation of misery； that
many valiant men should invoke the aid of a traitor。 Then they
displayed from the walls the olive branches and chaplets of
suppliants； and when Antonius had ordered that the discharge of
missiles should cease； they brought out the eagles and standards。 Then
followed； with eyes bent on the ground； a dismal array of unarmed men。
The conquerors had gathered round； at first they heaped reproaches
on them and pointed at them their weapons； then seeing how they
offered their cheeks to insulting blows； how； with all their high
spirit departed； they submitted； as vanquished men； to every
indignity； it suddenly occurred to their recollection； that these were
the very soldiers who but shortly before had used with moderation
their victory at Bedriacum。 Yet； when Caecina the consul；
conspicuous in his robes of state and with his train of lictors；
came forward thrusting aside the crowd； the victors were fired with
indignation； and reproached him with his tyranny； his cruelty； and； so
hateful are such crimes； even with his treason。 Antonius checked them；
gave him an escort； and sent him to Vespasian。
Meanwhile the population of Cremona was roughly handled by the
soldiers； who were just beginning a massacre； when their fury was
mitigated by the entreaties of the generals。 Antonius summoned them to
an assembly； extolled the conquerors； spoke kindly to the conquered；
but said nothing either way of Cremona。 Over and above the innate love
of plunder； there was an old feud which made the army bent on the
destruction of the inhabitants。 It was generally believed that in
the war with Otho； as well as in the present； they had supported the
cause of Vitellius。 Afterwards； when the 13th legion had been left
to build an amphitheatre； with the characteristic insolence of a
city population； they had wantonly provoked and insulted them。 The
ill…feeling had been aggravated by the gladiatorial show exhibited
there by Caecina； by the circumstance that their city was now for
the second time the seat of war； and by the fact that they had
supplied the Vitellianists with provisions in the field； and that some
of their women； taken by party…zeal into the battle； had there been
slain。 The occurrence of the fair filled the colony； rich as it always
was； with an appearance of still greater wealth。 The other generals
were unnoticed； Antonius from his success and high reputation was
observed of all。 He had hastened to the baths to wash off the blood；
and when he found fault with the temperature of the water； an answer
was heard； 〃that it would soon be warm enough。 Thus the words of a
slave brought on him the whole odium of having given the signal for
firing the town； which was indeed already in flames。
Forty thousand armed men burst into Cremona； and with them a body of
sutlers and camp…followers； yet more numerous and yet more abandoned
to lust and cruelty。 Neither age nor rank were any protection from
indiscriminate slaughter and violation。 Aged men and women past
their prime； worthless as booty； were dragged about in wanton
insult。 Did a grown up maiden or youth of marked beauty fall in
their way； they were torn in pieces by the violent hands of ravishers；
and in the end the destroyers themselves were provoked into mutual
slaughter。 Men； as they carried off for themselves coin or
temple…offerings of massive gold； were cut down by others of
superior strength。 Some； scorning what met the eye； searched for
hidden wealth； and dug up buried treasures； applying the scourge and
the torture to the owners。 In their hands were flaming torches； which；
as soon as they had carried out the spoil； they wantonly hurled into
the gutted houses and plundered temples。 In an army which included
such varieties of language and character； an army comprising Roman
citizens； allies； and foreigners； there was every kind of had a law of
his own； and nothing was forbidden。 For four days Cremona satisfied
the plunderers。 When all things else； sacred and profane； were
settling down into the flames； the temple of Mephitis outside the
walls alone remained standing； saved by its situation or by divine
interposition。
Such was the end of Cremona； 286 years after its foundation。 It
was built in the consulship of Tiberius Sempronius and Cornelius
Scipio； when Hannibal was threatening Italy； as a protection against
the Gauls from beyond the Padus； or against any other sudden invader
from the Alps。 From the number of settlers； the conveniences
afforded by the rivers； the fertility of the soil； and the many
connexions and intermarriages formed with neighbouring nations； it
grew and flourished； unharmed by foreign enemies； though most
unfortunate in civil wars。 Ashamed of the atrocious deed； and aware of
the detestation which it was inspiring； Antonius issued a
proclamation； that no one should detain in captivity a citizen of
Cremona。 The spoil indeed had been rendered valueless to the
soldiers by a general agreement throughout Italy； which rejected
with loathing the purchase of such slaves。 A massacre then began； when
this was known； the prisoners were secretly ransomed by their
friends and relatives。 The remaining inhabitants soon returned to
Cremona； the temples and squares were restored by the munificence of
the burghers； and Vespasian gave his exhortations。
The soil poisoned with blood forbade the enemy to remain long by the
ruins of the buried city。 They advanced to the third milestone； and
gathered the dispersed and panic…stricken Vitellianists round their
proper standards。 The vanquished legions were then scattered
throughout Illyricum； for civil war was not over； and they might
play a doubtful part。 Messengers carrying news of the victory were
then despatched to Britain and to Spain。 Julius Calenus； a tribune；
was sent to Gaul； and Alpinius Montanus； prefect of a cohort； to
Germany； as the one was an Aeduan； the other a Trever； and both were
Vitellianists； they would be a proof of the success。 At the same
time the passes of the Alps were occupied with troops； for it was
suspected that Germany was arming itself to support Vitellius。
A few days after the departure of Caecina； Vitellius had hurried
Fabius Valens to the seat of war； and was now seeking to hide his
apprehensions from himself by indulgence。 He made no military
preparation； he did not seek to invigorate the soldiers by encouraging
speeches or warlike exercises； he did not keep himself before the eyes
of the people。 Buried in the shades of his gardens； like those
sluggish animals which； if you supply them with food； lie motionless
and torpid； he had dismissed with the same forgetfulness the past； the
present； and the future。