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that the Ubii had been crushed； and elated by the success of his
operations； pressed on the siege of the legions； keeping a strict
watch to prevent any secret intelligence of advancing succours from
reaching them。 He entrusted to the Batavians the care of the
machines and the vast siege…works； and when the Transrhenane tribes
clamoured for battle； he bade them go and cut through the ramparts；
and； if repulsed； renew the struggle； their numbers were superfluously
large； and their loss was not felt。 Even darkness did not terminate
the struggle。
Piling up logs of wood round the walls and lighting them； they sat
feasting； and rushed to the conflict； as each grew heated with wine；
with a useless daring。 Their missiles were discharged without effect
in the darkness； but to the Romans the ranks of the barbarians were
plainly discernible； and they singled out with deliberate aim anyone
whose boldness or whose decorations made him conspicuous。 Civilis
saw this； and； extinguishing the fires； threw the confusion of
darkness over the attack。 Then ensued a scene of discordant clamour；
of accident； and uncertainty； where no one could see how to aim or
to avoid a blow。 Wherever a shout was heard； they wheeled round and
strained hand and foot。 Valour was of no avail； accident disturbed
every plan； and the bravest frequently were struck down by the
missiles of the coward。 The Germans fought with inconsiderate fury；
our men； more alive to the danger； threw； but not at random； stakes
shod with iron and heavy stones。 Where the noise of the assailants was
heard； or where the ladders placed against the walls brought the enemy
within reach of their hands； they pushed them back with their shields；
and followed them with their javelins。 Many； who had struggled on to
the walls； they stabbed with their short swords。 After a night thus
spent； day revealed a new method of attack。
The Batavians had raised a tower two stories high； which they
brought up to the Praetorian gate of the camp； where the ground was
most level。 But our men； pushing forward strong poles； and battering
it with beams； broke it down； causing great destruction among the
combatants on the top。 The enemy were attacked in their confusion by a
sudden and successful sally。 All this time many engines were
constructed by the legionaries； who were superior to the enemy in
experience and skill。 Peculiar consternation was caused by a
machine； which； being poised in the air over the heads of the enemy；
suddenly descended； and carried up one or more of them past the
faces of their friends； and then； by a shifting of the weights；
projected them within the limits of the camp。 Civilis； giving up all
hope of a successful assault； again sat down to blockade the camp at
his leisure； and undermined the fidelity of the legions by the
promises of his emissaries。
All these events in Germany took place before the battle of Cremona；
the result of which was announced in a despatch from Antonius；
accompanied by Caecina's proclamation。 Alpinius Montanus； prefect of a
cohort in the vanquished army； was on the spot； and acknowledged the
fate of his party。 Various were the emotions thus excited； the
Gallic auxiliaries； who felt neither affection nor hatred towards
either party； and who served without attachment； at once； at the
instance of their prefects； deserted Vitellius。 The veteran soldiers
hesitated。 Nevertheless； when Hordeonius administered the oath；
under a strong pressure from their tribunes； they pronounced the
words； which their looks and their temper belied； and while they
adopted every other expression； they hesitated at the name of
Vespasian； passing it over with a slight murmur； and not
unfrequently in absolute silence。
After this； certain letters from Antonius to Civilis were read in
full assembly； and provoked the suspicions of the soldiery； as they
seemed to be addressed to a partisan of the cause and to be unfriendly
to the army of Germany。 Soon the news reached the camp at Gelduba； and
the same language and the same acts were repeated。 Montanus was sent
with a message to Civilis； bidding him desist from hostilities； and
not seek to conceal the designs of an enemy by fighting under false
colours； and telling him that； if he had been attempting to assist
Vespasian； his purpose had been fully accomplished。 Civilis at first
replied in artful language； but soon perceiving that Montanus was a
man of singularly high spirit and was himself disposed for change；
he began with lamenting the perils through which he had struggled
for five…and…twenty years in the camps of Rome。 〃It is；〃 he said； 〃a
noble reward that I have received for my toils； my brother murdered；
myself imprisoned； and the savage clamour of this army； a clamour
which demanded my execution； and for which by the law of nations I
demand vengeance。 You； Treveri； and other enslaved creatures； what
reward do you expect for the blood which you have shed so often？
What but a hateful service； perpetual tribute； the rod； the axe； and
the passions of a ruling race？ See how I； the prefect of a single
cohort； with the Batavians and the Canninefates； a mere fraction of
Gaul； have destroyed their vast but useless camps； or are pressing
them with the close blockade of famine and the sword。 In a word；
either freedom will follow on our efforts； or； if we are vanquished；
we shall but be what we were before。〃 Having thus fired the man's
ambition； Civilis dismissed him； but bade him carry back a milder
answer。 He returned； pretending to have failed in his mission； but not
revealing the other facts； these indeed soon came to light。
Civilis； retaining a part of his forces； sent the veteran cohorts
and the bravest of his German troops against Vocula and his army；
under the command of Julius Maximus and Claudius Victor； his
sister's son。 On their march they plundered the winter camp of a
body of horse stationed at Ascibergium； and they fell on Vocula's camp
so unexpectedly that he could neither harangue his army； nor even
get it into line。 All that he could do in the confusion was to order
the veteran troops to strengthen the centre。 The auxiliaries were
dispersed in every part of the field。 The cavalry charged； but；
received by the orderly array of the enemy； fled to their own lines。
What ensued was a massacre rather than a battle。 The Nervian infantry；
from panic or from treachery； exposed the flank of our army。 Thus
the attack fell upon the legions； who had lost their standards and
were being cut down within the entrenchments； when the fortune of
the day was suddenly changed by a reinforcement of fresh troops。
Some Vascon infantry； levied by Galba； which had by this time been
sent for； heard the noise of the combatants as they approached the
camp； attacked the rear of the preoccupied enemy； and spread a panic
more than proportionate to their numbers； some believing that all
the troops from Novesium； others that all from Mogontiacum； had come
up。 This delusion restored the courage of the Romans； and in relying
on the strength of others they recovered their own。 All the bravest of
the Batavians； of the infantry at least； fell； but the cavalry escaped
with the standards and with the prisoners whom they had secured in the
early part of the engagement。 Of the slain on that day the greater
number belonged to our army； but to its less effective part。 The
Germans lost the flower of their force。
The two generals were equally blameworthy； they deserved defeat；
they did not make the most of success。 Had Civilis given battle in
greater force； he could not have been outflanked by so small a
number of cohorts； and he might have destroyed the camp after once
forcing an entrance。 As for Vocula； he did not reconnoitre the
advancing enemy； and consequently he was vanquished as soon as be left
the camp； and then； mistrusting his victory； he fruitlessly wasted
several days before marching against the enemy； though； had he at once
resolved to drive them back； and to follow up his success； he might；
by one and the same movement； have raised the siege of the legions。
Meanwhile Civilis had tried to work on the feelings of the besieged by
representing that with the Romans all was lost； and that victory had
declared for his own troops。 The standards and colours were carried
round the ramparts； and the prisoners also were displayed。 One of
them； with noble daring； declared the real truth in a loud voice； and；
as he was cut down on the spot by the Germans； all the more confidence
was felt in his information。 At the same time it was becoming evident；
from the devastation of the country and from the flames of burning
houses； that the victorious