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！
from the devastation of the country and from the flames of burning
houses； that the victorious army was approaching。 Vocula issued orders
that the standards should be planted within sight of the camp； and
should be surrounded with a ditch and rampart； where his men might
deposit their knapsacks； and so fight without encumbrance。 On this；
the General was assailed by a clamorous demand for instant battle。
They had now grown used to threaten。 Without even taking time to
form into line； disordered and weary as they were； they commenced
the action。 Civilis was on the field； trusting quite as much to the
faults of his adversaries as to the valour of his own troops。 With the
Romans the fortune of the day varied； and the most violently
mutinous shewed themselves cowards。 But some； remembering their recent
victory； stood their ground and struck fiercely at the foe； now
encouraging each other and their neighbours； and now； while they
re…formed their lines； imploring the besieged not to lose the
opportunity。 These latter； who saw everything from the walls；
sallied out from every gate。 It so happened that Civilis was thrown to
the ground by the fall of his horse。 A report that he had been
either wounded or slain gained belief throughout both armies； and
spread incredible panic among his own troops； and gave as great
encouragement to their opponents。 But Vocula； leaving the flying
foe； began to strengthen the rampart and the towers of the camp； as if
another siege were imminent。 He had misused success so often that he
was rightly suspected of a preference for war。
Nothing distressed our troops so much as the scarcity of supplies。
The baggage of the legions was therefore sent to Novesium with a crowd
of non…combatants to fetch corn from that place overland； for the
enemy commanded the river。 The march of the first body was
accomplished in security； as Civilis had not yet recovered。 But when
he heard that officers of the commissariat had been again sent to
Novesium； and that the infantry detached as an escort were advancing
just as if it were a time of profound peace； with but few soldiers
round the standards； the arms stowed away in the wagons； and all
wandering about at their pleasure； he attacked them in regular form；
having first sent on troops to occupy the bridges and the defiles in
the road。 The battle extended over a long line of march； lasting
with varying success till night parted the combatants。 The infantry
pushed on to Gelduba； while the camp remained in the same state as
before； garrisoned by such troops as had been left in it。 There
could be no doubt what peril a convoy； heavily laden and
panic…stricken； would have to encounter in attempting to return。
Vocula added to his force a thousand picked men from the fifth and
fifteenth legions besieged in the Old Camp； a body of troops
undisciplined and ill…affected to their officers。 But more than the
number specified came forward； and openly protested； as they
marched； that they would not endure any longer the hardships of famine
and the treachery of the legates。 On the other hand； those who had
stayed behind complained that they were； being left to their fate by
this withdrawal of a part of the legions。 A twofold mutiny was the
result； some calling upon Vocula to come back； while the others
refused to return to the camp。
Meanwhile Civilis blockaded the Old Camp。 Vocula retired first to
Gelduba； after； wards to Novesium； Civilis took possession of Gelduba；
and not long after was victorious in a cavalry engagement near
Novesium。 But reverses and successes seemed equally to kindle in the
troops the one desire of murdering their officers。 The legions；
increased in number by the arrival of the men from the fifth and
fifteenth； demanded a donative； for they had discovered that some
money had been sent by Vitellius。 After a short delay Hordeonius
gave the donative in the name of Vespasian。 This； more than anything
else； fostered the mutinous spirit。 The men； abandoning themselves
to debauchery and revelry and all the license of nightly gatherings；
revived their old grudge against Hordeonius。 Without a single legate
or tribune venturing to check them； for the darkness seems to have
taken from them all sense of shame； they dragged him out of his bed
and killed him。 The same fate was intended for Vocula； but he
assumed the dress of a slave； and escaped unrecognized in the
darkness。 When their fury had subsided and their alarm returned；
they sent centurions with despatches to the various states of Gaul；
imploring help in money and troops。
These men； headstrong； cowardly； and spiritless； as a mob without
a leader always is； on the approach of Civilis hastily took up arms；
and； as hastily abandoning them； betook themselves to flight。 Disaster
produced disunion； the troops from the Upper army dissociating their
cause from that of their comrades。 Nevertheless the statues of
Vitellius were again set up in the camp and in the neighbouring
Belgian towns； and this at a time when Vitellius himself had fallen。
Then the men of the 1st； the 4th； and the 18th legions； repenting of
their conduct； followed Vocula； and again taking in his presence the
oath of allegiance to Vespasian； were marched by him to the relief
of Mogontiacum。 The besieging army； an heterogeneous mass of Chatti；
Usipii； and Mattiaci； had raised the siege； glutted with spoils； but
not without suffering loss。 Our troops attacked them on the way；
dispersed and unprepared。 Moreover the Treveri had constructed a
breastwork and rampart across their territory； and they and the
Germans continued to contend with great losses on both sides up to the
time when they tarnished by rebellion their distinguished services
to the Roman people。
Meanwhile Vespasian （now consul for the second time） and Titus
entered upon their office； both being absent from Rome。 People were
gloomy and anxious under the pressure of manifold fears； for； over and
above immediate perils； they had taken groundless alarm under the
impression that Africa was in rebellion through the revolutionary
movements of Lucius Piso。 He was governor of that province； and was
far from being a man of turbulent disposition。 The fact was that the
wheat…ships were detained by the severity of the weather； and the
lower orders； who were accustomed to buy their provisions from day
to day； and to whom cheap corn was the sole subject of public
interest； feared and believed that the ports had been closed and the
supplies stopped； the Vitellianists； who had not yet given up their
party feelings； helping to spread the report； which was not
displeasing even to the conquerors。 Their ambition； which even foreign
campaigns could not fill to the full； was not satisfied by any
triumphs that civil war could furnish。
On the 1st of January； at a meeting of the Senate； convoked for
the purpose by Julius Frontinus； praetor of the city； votes of
thanks were passed to the legates； to the armies； and to the allied
kings。 The office of praetor was taken away from Tettius Julianus；
as having deserted his legion when it passed over to the party of
Vespasian； with a view to its being transferred to Plotius Griphus。
Equestrian rank was conferred on Hormus。 Then； on the resignation of
Frontinus； Caesar Domitian assumed the office of praetor of the
city。 His name was put at the head of despatches and edicts； but the
real authority was in the hands of Mucianus； with this exception； that
Domitian ventured on several acts of power； at the instigation of
his friends； or at his own caprice。 But Mucianus found his principal
cause of apprehension in Primus Antonius and Varus Arrius； who； in the
freshness of their fame； while distinguished by great achievements and
by the attachment of the soldiery； were also supported by the
people； because in no case had they extended their severities beyond
the battle…field。 It was also reported that Antonius had urged
Scribonianus Crassus； whom an illustrious descent added to the honours
of his brother made a conspicuous person； to assume the supreme power；
and it was understood that a number of accomplices would not have
failed to support him； had not the proposal been rejected by
Scribonianus； who was a man not easily to be tempted even by a
certainty； and was proportionately apprehensive of risk。 Mucianus；
seeing that Antonius could not be openly crushed； heaped many
praises upon him in the Senate； and loaded him with promises in
secret； holding out as a prize the government of Eastern Spain； then
vacant in consequence of the departure of Cluvius Rufus。 At the same
time he lavished on his friends tribuneships and prefectures； and
then； when he