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the shape of a bridge； under which they put wheels； and so propelled
it； some standing on the top； and fighting as they would from an
earth…work； others concealing themselves within and undermining the
walls。 But the stones thrown by the catapults prostrated the
ill…constructed fabric； and when they set themselves to prepare
hurdles and mantlets； burning spears were thrown on them by the
engines； fire being thus actually used against the assailants。 At
last； despairing of success by force； they changed their plans； and
resolved to wait； for they were well aware that only a few days'
provisions were in the camp； and that there was a great crowd on
non…combatants； and they counted at the same time on the treachery
that might follow on scarcity； on the wavering fidelity of the slaves；
and on the chances of war。
Meanwhile Flaccus； who had heard of the siege of the camp； and had
sent into all parts of Gaul to collect auxiliaries； put under
command of Dillius Vocula； legate of the 18th legion； some troops
picked from the legions with orders to hasten by forced marches
along the banks of the Rhine。 Flaccus himself； who was weak in
health and disliked by his troops； travelled with the fleet。 The
troops indeed complained in unmistakable language that their general
had despatched the Batavian cohorts from Mogontiacum； had feigned
ignorance of the plans of Civilis； and was inviting the German
tribes to join the league。 〃This；〃 they said； 〃has strengthened
Vespasian no less than the exertions of Primus Antonius and
Mucianus。 Declared enmity and hostility may be openly repulsed； but
treachery and fraud work in darkness； and so cannot be avoided。
Civilis stands in arms against us； and arranges the order of his
battle； Hordeonius from his chamber or his litter gives such orders as
may best serve the enemy。 The swords of thousands of brave men are
directed by one old man's sick caprice。 How much better by slaying the
traitor； to set free our valour and our fortune from these evil
auspices！〃 The passions already kindled by the language which they
thus held among themselves were yet more inflamed by a despatch from
Vespasian； which Flaccus； finding that it could not be concealed； read
before an assembly of the troops； sending the persons who had
brought it in chains to Vitellius。
With feelings somewhat appeased； they arrived at Bonna； the
winter…camp of the first legion。 The troops there were even more
enraged against Hordeonius； and laid on him the blame of the late
disaster。 They said that it was by his orders that they had offered
battle to the Batavians； supposing that the legions from Mogontiacum
were following them； that it was through his treachery that they had
been slaughtered； no reinforcements coming up； that all these events
were unknown to the other legions； and were not told to their Emperor；
though the sudden outburst of treason might have been crushed by the
prompt action of so many provinces。 Hordeonius read to the army copies
of all the letters which he had sent about Gaul； begging for
reinforcements； and established as a precedent a most disgraceful
practice； namely； the handing over the despatches to the
standard…bearers of the legions； through whose means they were read by
the soldiers sooner than by the generals。 He then ordered one of the
mutineers to be put in irons； more for the sake of asserting his
authority than because any one man was in fault。 The army was then
moved from Bonna to the Colonia Agrippinensis； while auxiliaries
from Gaul continued to flow in； for at first that nation zealously
supported the cause of Rome。 Soon indeed as the Germans increased in
power； many of the states took up arms against us； moved by the hope
of freedom and； could they once shake off the yoke； even by the lust
of empire。 The irritation of the legions still increased； nor had
the imprisonment of a single soldier struck them with terror。 This
fellow indeed actually charged the general with complicity； he had； he
said； acted as a messenger between Civilis and Flaccus； and because he
might tell the truth he was now being crushed under a false charge。
With wonderful firmness Vocula ascended the tribunal； and ordered
the man； who had been seized by the lictors； and was loudly
remonstrating； to be led off to execution。 All the best men acquiesced
in the order； while the ill…affected were struck with terror。 Then； as
all with common consent demanded that Vocula should be their
general； Hordeonius handed over to him the supreme command。
But there were many things to exasperate the already divided
feelings of the soldiery。 Pay and provisions were scanty； Gaul was
rebelling against conscription and taxes； while the Rhine； owing to
a drought unexampled in that climate； would hardly admit of
navigation； and thus supplies were straitened at the same time that
outposts had to be established along the entire bank to keep the
Germans from fording the stream； the self…same cause thus bringing
about a smaller supply of grain and a greater number of consumers。
Among ignorant persons the very failure of the stream was regarded
as a prodigy； as if the very rivers； the old defences of the Empire；
were deserting us。 What； in peace； would have seemed chance or nature；
was now spoken of as destiny and the anger of heaven。 As the army
entered Novesium the sixteenth legion joined it； Herennius Gallus； its
legate； was associated with Vocula in the responsibilities of command。
As they did not venture to advance upon the enemy； they constructed
a camp at a place called Gelduba。 Here the generals sought to give
steadiness to the troops by such exercises as forming in order of
battle； constructing fortifications； making entrenchments； and
whatever else might train them for war。 In the hope that they might be
fired to courage by the delights of plunder； Vocula led the army
against the nearest villages of the Gugerni； who had accepted the
alliance of Civilis。 Some of the troops remained permanently with
Herennius Gallus。
One day it happened that at no great distance from the camp the
Germans were endeavouring to drag off to their own bank a vessel laden
with corn； which had run aground in the shallows。 Gallus could not
endure this； and sent a cohort to help。 The numbers of the Germans
also increased； as fresh troops continued to join both sides； a
regular battle ensued。 The Germans； besides inflicting great loss on
our men； carried off the vessel。 The vanquished troops； following what
had become a regular practice； laid the blame not on their own
cowardice； but on supposed treachery in the legate。 Dragged out of his
tent； his garments torn； and his person severely beaten； he was
commanded to declare for what bribe and with what accomplices he had
betrayed the army。 Their old hatred of Hordeonius reappeared。 He； they
declared； was the instigator of the crime； Gallus his tool。 At last；
utterly terrified by their threats of instant death； the legate
himself charged Hordeonius with treachery。 He was then put in irons；
and only released on the arrival of Vocula； who the next day inflicted
capital punishment on the ringleaders of the mutiny； such wide
extremes of license and of subordination were to be found in that
army。 The common soldiers were undoubtedly loyal to Vitellius； but all
the most distinguished men were in favour of Vespasian。 The result was
an alternation of outbreaks and executions； and a strange mixture of
obedience and frenzy； which made it impossible to restrain the men
whom it was yet possible to punish。
Meanwhile all Germany was raising the power of Civilis by vast
additions of strength； and the alliance was secured by hostages of the
noblest rank。 He directed that the territories of the Ubii and the
Treveri should be ravaged by the several tribes on which they
bordered； and that another detachment should cross the river Mosa；
to threaten the Menapii and the Morini and the frontiers of Gaul。 In
both quarters plunder was collected； with peculiar hostility in the
case of the Ubii； because； this nation； being of German origin； had
forsworn its native country； and assumed the Roman name of the
Agrippinenses。 Their cohorts were cut up at the village of Marcodurum；
where they lay in careless security； presuming on their distance
from the river…bank。 The Ubii did not remain quiet； but made predatory
excursions into Germany； escaping at first with impunity； though
they were afterwards cut off。 Throughout the whole of this war； they
were more loyal than fortunate。 Civilis； grown more formidable now
that the Ubii had been crushed； and elated by the success of his
operations； pressed on the siege of the legions； keepin