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！
were elected。 The soldiers in fact were not under the control of the
generals； but the generals were themselves constrained to follow the
furious impulses of the soldiers。 These mutinous proceedings； so
ruinous to discipline； Antonius soon turned to his own profit；
regardless of the near approach of Mucianus； a neglect more fatal than
any contempt for Vespasian。
As winter was approaching； and the low country was flooded by the
Padus； the army marched on without its heavy baggage。 The standards
and eagles of the victorious legions； the old and wounded soldiers；
and even many effective men； were left at Verona。 The auxiliary
infantry and cavalry； with some picked troops from the legions；
appeared sufficient for a war that was all but finished。 They had been
joined by the 11th legion； which at first had hesitated； but now in
the hour of success felt alarm at having stood aloof。 A recent levy of
6000 Dalmatians was attached to the legion。 They were under the
command of Pompeius Silvanus； a man of consular rank； the real
direction of affairs was in the hands of Annius Bassus； the legate
of the legion。 This officer contrived； under an appearance of
submission； to govern Silvanus； a leader without vigour； and apt to
waste in words the opportunities of action。 Bassus； with his
unobtrusive energy； was ready for everything that had to be done。 To
these forces were added the elite of the marines of the Ravenna fleet；
who demanded permission to serve in the legions。 The crews were made
up with Dalmatians。 The army and generals halted at the Temple of
Fortune； undecided as to their line of action。 They had heard that the
Praetorian Guard had marched out of Rome； and they supposed that the
Apennines were occupied with troops。 The generals； finding
themselves in a country utterly impoverished by war； were terrified by
the scarcity of provisions and the mutinous clamours of the
soldiery； who incessantly demanded the 〃clavarium；〃 as the donative
was called。 They had provided neither money nor corn； and they were
embarrassed by the general impatience and rapacity； for what they
might have obtained was plundered。
I have the very highest authority for asserting； that there was
among the conquerors such an impious disregard of right and wrong；
that a private cavalry soldier declared he had slain his brother in
the late battle； and claimed a reward from the generals。 The common
law of humanity on the one hand forbade them to reward this act of
blood； the necessities of the war on the other forbade them to
punish it。 They put him off； on the ground that the obligation was too
great to be immediately discharged。 Nothing more is recorded。 In the
earlier civil wars indeed a similar horror had occurred。 In the battle
with Cinna at the Janiculum； a soldier in Pompey's army； as Sisenna
tells us； slew his own brother； and； on discovering the horrible
deed he had committed； destroyed himself。 So much more earnest among
our ancestors was the honour paid to virtue； and the remorse that
waited on crime。 These and like instances； drawn from the
recollections of the past； I shall mention not irrelevantly；
whenever the subject and the occasion shall call for some example of
goodness or some solace in the presence of evil。
Antonius and the other generals of the party judged it expedient
to send forward the cavalry and explore the whole of Umbria for some
point where the Apennines presented a more gentle ascent； and also
to bring up the eagles and standards and all the troops at Verona；
while they were to cover the Padus and the sea with convoys。 Some
there were among the generals who were contriving delays； for Antonius
in fact was now becoming too great a man； and their hopes from
Mucianus were more definite。 That commander； troubled at so speedy a
success； and imagining that unless he occupied Rome in person he
should lose all share in the glory of the war； continued to write in
ambiguous terms to Varus and Antonius； enlarging at one time on the
necessity of following up their operations； at another on the
advantage of delay； and with expressions so worded that he could；
according to the event； repudiate a disastrous； or claim a
successful policy。 To Plotius Griphus； who had lately been raised by
Vespasian to the senatorial rank and appointed to command a legion； as
well as to all others on whom he could fully rely； he gave plainer
instructions。 All these men sent replies reflecting unfavourably on
the precipitancy of Varus and Antonius； and suiting the wishes of
Mucianus。 By forwarding these letters to Vespasian he had accomplished
this much； that the measures and achievements of Antonius were not
valued according to his hopes。
Antonius was indignant； and blamed Mucianus； whose calumnies had
depreciated his own hazardous achievements。 Nor was he temperate in
his expressions； for he was habitually violent in language； and was
unaccustomed to obey。 He wrote a letter to Vespasian in terms more
arrogant than should be addressed to an Emperor； and not without
implied reproach against Mucianus。 〃It was I；〃 he said； 〃who brought
into the field the legions of Pannonia； my instigations roused the
generals in Moesia； my courageous resolution forced a passage
through the Alps； seized on Italy； and cut off the succours from
Germany and Rhaetia。 The discomfiture of the disunited and scattered
legions of Vitellius by a fierce charge of cavalry； and afterwards
by the steady strength of the infantry in a conflict that lasted for a
day and a night； was indeed a most glorious achievement； and it was my
work。 For the destruction of Cremona the war must be answerable； the
civil strifes of former days cost the State more terrible loss and the
overthrow of many cities。 Not with messages and letters； but with my
arm and my sword； have I served my Emperor。 I would not seek to hinder
the renown of those who in the meanwhile have reduced Asia to
tranquillity。 They had at heart the peace of Moesia； I the safety
and security of Italy。 By my earnest representations Gaul and Spain；
the most powerful region of the world； have been won for Vespasian。
But all my efforts have been wasted； if they alone who have not shared
the peril obtain its rewards。〃 The meaning of all this did not
escape Mucianus； and there arose a deadly feud； cherished by
Antonius with frankness； by Mucianus with reserve； and therefore
with the greater bitterness。
Vitellius； after his power had been shattered at Cremona；
endeavoured to suppress the tidings of the disaster； and by this
foolish attempt at concealment he put off； not indeed his troubles；
but only the application of the remedy。 Had he avowed and discussed
his position； he had some chance； some strength； left； whereas； on the
contrary； when he pretended that all was prosperous； he aggravated his
perils by falsehood。 A strange silence was observed in his presence as
to the war； throughout the country all discussion was prohibited；
and so； many who would have told the truth had it been allowed；
finding it forbidden； spread rumours exaggerating the calamity。 The
generals of the enemy failed not to magnify the report of their
strength； for they sent back any spies of Vitellius whom they
captured； after conducting them round the camp in order that they
might learn the force of the victorious army。 All of these persons
Vitellius questioned in secret； and then ordered that they should be
put to death。 Singular bravery was displayed by a centurion； Julius
Agrestis； who； after several interviews； in which he had in vain
endeavoured to rouse Vitellius to courage； prevailed on the Emperor to
send him in person to see what was the strength of the enemy's
resources； and what had happened at Cremona。 He did not seek to escape
the notice of Antonius by making his observations in secret； but
avowed the emperor's instructions and his own purpose； and asked leave
to see everything。 Persons were sent to shew him the field of
battle； the remains of Cremona； and the captured legions。 He then made
his way back to Vitellius； and when the Emperor denied the truth of
the intelligence which he brought； and even charged him with having
been bribed； 〃Since；〃 he replied； 〃you require some decisive proof；
and I can no longer serve you in any other way either by my life or
death I will give you a proof which you can believe。〃 So he
departed； and confirmed his statement by a voluntary death。 Some say
that he was slain by order of Vitellius； but they bear the same
testimony to his loyalty and courage。
Vitellius； who seemed like a man roused from slumber ordered
Julius Priscus and Alfenius Varus； with fourteen of the Praetorian
cohorts and the