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the standards of the captured cohorts； to keep their recent honours
before the eyes of his own men； and to terrify the enemy by the
remembrance of defeat； now directed his own mother and sisters； and
the wives and children of all his men； to stand in the rear； where
they might encourage to victory； or shame defeat。 The war…song of
the men； and the shrill cries of the women； rose from the whole
line； and an answering but far less vigorous cheer； came from the
legions and auxiliaries。 The Batavians had exposed the left wing by
their desertion； and they immediately turned against our men。 Still
the legionaries； though their position was alarming； kept their arms
and their ranks。 The auxiliaries of the Ubii and the Treveri broke
at once in shameful flight； and dispersed over the whole country。 On
that side the Germans threw the weight of their attack。 Meanwhile
the legions had an opportunity of retreating into what was called
the Old Camp。 Claudius Labeo； prefect of the Batavian horse； who had
been the rival of Civilis in some local contest； was sent away into
the country of the Frisii； to kill him might be to give offence to his
countrymen； while to keep him with the army might be to sow the
seeds of discord。
About the same time the messenger despatched by Civilis came up with
the cohorts of the Batavians and the Canninefates； while by the orders
of Vitellius they were advancing towards Rome。 At once； inflated
with pride and haughtiness； they demanded； by way of remuneration
for their march； a donative； double pay； and an increase in the number
of cavalry； things indeed which Vitellius had promised； but which they
now asked； not with the thought of obtaining them； but as a pretext
for mutiny。 Flaccus； by his many concessions； had produced no other
effect but to make them insist with more energy on what they knew he
must refuse。 Treating him with contempt； they made their way towards
Lower Germany； to join Civilis。 Hordeonius； assembling the tribunes
and centurions； asked their opinion as to whether he should use
coercion with those who refused obedience。 Soon； yielding to his
natural timidity and to the alarm of his officers； who were troubled
by the suspicious temper of the auxiliaries and by the fact that the
ranks of the legions had been recruited by a hurried conscription；
he resolved to confine his troops to the camp。 Then； repenting of
his resolve； and finding that the very men who had advised it now
disapproved it； he seemed bent on pursuing the enemy； and wrote to
Herennius Gallus； legate of the first legion； who was then holding
Bonna； that he was to prevent the Batavians from crossing the Rhine；
and that he would himself hang on their rear with his army。 They might
have been crushed； if Hordeonius； moving from one side； and Gallus
from the other； had enclosed them between their armies。 But Flaccus
abandoned his purpose； and； in other despatches to Gallus； recommended
him not to threaten the departing foe。 Thence arose a suspicion that
the war was being kindled with the consent of the legates； and that
everything which had happened； or was apprehended； was due； not to the
cowardice of the troops； or to the strength of the enemy； but to the
treachery of the generals。
When the Batavians were near the camp at Bonna； they sent on
before them delegates； commissioned to deliver to Herennius Gallus a
message from the cohorts。 It was to this effect： 〃We have no quarrel
with the Romans； for whom we have so often fought。 Wearied with a
protracted and fruitless service； we long for our native land and
for rest。 If no one oppose us； our march will be harmless； but if an
armed force encounter us； we will make a way with the sword。〃 The
soldiers prevailed upon the hesitating legate to risk the chances of a
battle。 Three thousand legionaries； some raw Belgian cohorts； and with
them a mob of rustics and camp…followers； cowardly； but bold of speech
before the moment of danger； rushed out of all the gates； thinking
to surround the Batavians； who were inferior in number。 But the enemy；
being veteran troops； formed in columns； presenting on every side a
dense array； with front； flanks； and rear secure。 Thus they were
able to break the thin line of our soldiers。 The Belgians giving
way； the legion was driven back； retreating in confusion on the
entrenchments and the gates。 It was there that the greatest
slaughter took place。 The trenches were heaped up with corpses。 Nor
was it only from the deadly blows of the enemy that they suffered；
many perished in the crush and by their own weapons。 The victorious
army； who avoided the Colonia Agrippinensis； did not venture on any
other hostile act during the remainder of their march； and excused the
conflict at Bonna； alleging that they had asked for peace； and that
when it was refused they had but looked to their own safety。
Civilis； who now on the arrival of these veteran cohorts was at
the head of a complete army； but who was undecided in his plans； and
still reflected on the power of Rome； made all who were with him swear
allegiance to Vespasian； and sent envoys to the two legions which
after their defeat in the previous engagement had retreated into the
Old Camp； advising them to accept the same allegiance。 Their reply
was： 〃We do not follow the advice of traitors or enemies。 Vitellius is
our Emperor； to him we will retain our fealty and devote our swords
till our last breath。 Then let not a Batavian refugee affect to decide
the destinies of Rome； let him rather await the merited penalty of his
guilt。〃 When this reply was delivered to Civilis； he was furious
with anger； and hurried the whole Batavian nation into open war。 The
Bructeri and the Tencteri joined him； and messengers summoned all
Germany to share in his plunder and his glory。
To meet the threatened dangers of the gathering war； the legates
of the legions； Munius Lupercus and Numisius Rufus； strengthened their
entrenchments and walls。 The buildings； which during a long period
of peace had grown up like a town near the camp； were destroyed；
lest they might be useful to the enemy。 Little care； however； was
taken about the conveyance of supplies into the camp。 These the
generals allowed to be plundered； and so； what might long have
sufficed for their necessities； was wantonly wasted in a few days。
Civilis； who occupied the centre of the army with the elite of the
Batavian troops； wishing to add a new terror to his demonstration；
covered both banks of the Rhine with columns of his German allies；
while his cavalry galloped about the plains。 At the same time the
fleet was moved up the stream。 Here were the standards of the
veteran cohorts； there the images of wild beasts； brought out of the
woods and sacred groves； under the various forms which each tribe is
used to follow into battle； and these mingled emblems of civil and
of foreign warfare utterly confounded the besieged。 The extent of
the entrenchment raised the hopes of the besiegers。 Constructed for
two legions； it was now held by not more than five thousand Roman
soldiers。 But there was with them a great number of camp…followers；
who had assembled there on the disturbance of peace； and who could
be employed in the contest。
Part of the camp occupied the gentle slope of a hill； to part was
a level approach。 By this encampment Augustus had thought the German
tribes might be watched and checked； never had he contemplated such
a pitch of disaster； as that these tribes should themselves advance to
attack our legions。 Hence no labour was bestowed on the ground or on
the defences。 Our valour and our arms seemed defence enough。 The
Batavians and the Transrhenane tribes took up their position； each
tribe by itself； to distinguish and so the better to display the
valour of each； first annoying us by a distant volley； then； as they
found that very many of their missiles fixed themselves harmlessly
in the turrets and battlements of the walls； and they themselves
suffered from the stones showered down on them； they fell on the
entrenchment with a shout and furious rush； many placing their
scaling…ladders against the ramparts； and others mounting on a testudo
formed by their comrades。 Some were in the act of climbing over when
they were thrust down by the swords of the enemy； and fell overwhelmed
by a storm of javelins and stakes。 Always very daring at first and
excessively elated by success； they now in their eagerness for plunder
bore up against reverse。 They also ventured to use what to them was
a novelty； engines of war； they had themselves no skill in handling
them； but the prisoners and deserters taught them to pile up timber in
the shape of a bridge； un