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the sanction of religion？ If all went well with them； what city
could they select as the seat of empire？〃 The victory was yet to be
gained； dissension had already begun。 One State angrily boasted of its
alliances； another of its wealth and military strength； or of the
antiquity of its origin。 Disgusted with the prospect of the future；
they acquiesced in their present condition。 Letters were written to
the Treveri in the name of the States of Gaul； requiring them to
abstain from hostilities； and reminding them that pardon might yet
be obtained； and that friends were ready to intercede for them； should
they repent。 Valentinus still opposed； and succeeded in closing the
ears of his countrymen to this advice； though he was not so diligent
in preparing for war as he was assiduous in haranguing。
Accordingly neither the Treveri； the Lingones； nor the other
revolted States； took measures at all proportioned to the magnitude of
the peril they had incurred。 Even their generals did not act in
concert。 Civilis was traversing the pathless wilds of the Belgae in
attempting to capture Claudius Labeo； or to drive him out of the
country。 Classicus for the most part wasted his time in indolent
repose； as if he had only to enjoy an empire already won。 Even Tutor
made no haste to occupy with troops the upper bank of the Rhine and
the passes of the Alps。 Meanwhile the 21st legion； by way of
Vindonissa； and Sextilius Felix with the auxiliary infantry； by way of
Rhaetia； penetrated into the province。 They were joined by the
Singularian Horse； which had been raised some time before by
Vitellius； and had afterwards gone over to the side of Vespasian。
Their commanding officer was Julius Briganticus。 He was sister's son
to Civilis； and he was hated by his uncle and hated him in return with
all the extreme bitterness of a family feud。 Tutor； having augmented
the army of the Treveri with fresh levies from the Vangiones； the
Caeracates； and the Triboci； strengthened it with a force of veteran
infantry and cavalry； men from the legions whom he had either
corrupted by promises or overborne by intimidation。 Their first act
was to cut to pieces a cohort； which had been sent on in advance by
Sextilius Felix； soon afterwards； however； on the approach of the
Roman generals at the head of their army； they returned to their
duty by an act of honourable desertion； and the Triboci； Vangiones；
and Caeracates； followed their example。 Avoiding Mogontiacum； Tutor
retired with the Treveri to Bingium； trusting to the strength of the
position； as he had broken down the bridge over the river Nava。 A
sudden attack； however； was made by the infantry under the command
of Sextilius； a ford was discovered； and he found himself betrayed and
routed。 The Treveri were panicstricken by this disaster； and the
common people threw down their arms； and dispersed themselves
through the country。 Some of the chiefs； anxious to seem the first
to cease from hostilities； fled to those States which had not
renounced the Roman alliance。 The legions； which had been removed；
as I have before related； from Novesium and Bonna to the territory
of the Treveri； voluntarily swore allegiance to Vespasian。 These
proceedings took place in the absence of Valentinus。 When he returned；
full of fury and bent on again throwing everything into confusion
and ruin； the legions withdrew to the Mediomatrici； a people in
alliance with Rome。 Valentinus and Tutor again involved the Treveri in
war； and murdered the two legates； Herennius and Numisius； that by
diminishing the hope of pardon they might strengthen the bond of
crime。
Such was the state of the war； when Petilius Cerialis reached
Mogontiacum。 Great expectations were raised by his arrival。 Eager
for battle； and more ready to despise than to be on his guard
against the enemy； he fired the spirit of the troops by his bold
language； for he would； he said； fight without a moment's delay； as
soon as it was possible to meet the foe。 The levies which had been
raised in Gaul he ordered back to their respective States； with
instructions to proclaim that the legions sufficed to defend the
Empire； and that the allies might return to the duties of peace；
secure in the thought that a war which Roman arms had undertaken was
finished。 This proceeding strengthened the loyalty of the Gauls。 Now
that their youth were restored to them they could more easily bear the
burden of the tribute； and； finding themselves despised； they were
more ready to obey。 Civilis and Classicus； having heard of the
defeat of Tutor and of the rout of the Treveri； and indeed of the
complete success of the enemy； hastened in their alarm to
concentrate their own scattered forces； and meanwhile sent repeated
messages to Valentinus； warning him not to risk a decisive battle。
This made Cerialis move with more rapidity。 He sent to the
Mediomatrici persons commissioned to conduct the legions which were
there by the shortest route against the enemy； and； collecting such
troops as there were at Mogontiacum and such as he had brought with
himself； he arrived in three days' march at Rigodulum。 Valentinus；
at the head of a large body of Treveri； had occupied this position；
which was protected by hills； and by the river Mosella。 He had also
strengthened it with ditches and breastworks of stones。 These
defences； however； did not deter the Roman general from ordering his
infantry to the assault； and making his cavalry advance up the hill；
he scorned the enemy； whose forces； hastily levied； could not； he
knew； derive any advantage from their position； but what would be more
than counterbalanced by the courage of his own men。 There was some
little delay in the ascent； while the troops were passing through
the range of the enemy's missiles。 As soon as they came to close
fighting； the barbarians were dislodged and hurled like a falling
house from their position。 A detachment of the cavalry rode round
where the hills were less steep； and captured the principal Belgic
chiefs； and among them Valentinus； their general。
On the following day Cerialis entered the Colony of the Treveri。 The
soldiers were eager to destroy the city。 〃This；〃 they said； 〃is the
birthplace of Classicus and Tutor； it was by the treason of these
men that our legions were besieged and massacred。 What had Cremona
done like this； Cremona which was torn from the very bosom of Italy；
because it had occasioned to the conquerors the delay of a single
night？ Here on the borders of Germany stands unharmed a city which
exults in the spoils of our armies and the blood of our generals。
Let the plunder be brought into the Imperial treasury； we shall be
satisfied with the fire that will destroy a rebellious colony and
compensate for the overthrow of so many camps。〃 Cerialis； fearing
the disgrace of being thought to have imbued his soldiers with a
spirit of licence and cruelty； checked their fury。 They submitted；
for； now that civil war was at an end； they were tractable enough in
dealing with an enemy。 Their thoughts were then diverted by the
pitiable aspect of the legions which had been summoned from the
Mediomatrici。 They stood oppressed by the consciousness of guilt；
their eyes fixed on the earth。 No friendly salutations passed
between the armies as they met； they made no answer to those who would
console or encourage them； but hid themselves in their tents； and
shrank from the very light of day。 Nor was it so much their peril or
their alarm that confounded them； as their shame and humiliation。 Even
the conquerors were struck dumb； and dared not utter a word of
entreaty； but pleaded for pardon by their silent tears； till
Cerialis at last soothed their minds by declaring that destiny had
brought about all that had happened through the discords of soldiers
and generals or through the treachery of the foe。 They must consider
that day as the first of their military service and of their
allegiance。 Their past crimes would be remembered neither by the
Emperor nor by himself。 They were thus admitted into the same camp
with the rest； and an order was read in every company； that no soldier
was in any contention or altercation to reproach a comrade with mutiny
or defeat。
Cerialis then convoked an assembly of the Treveri and Lingones；
and thus addressed them： 〃I have never cultivated eloquence； it is
by my sword that I have asserted the excellence of the Roman people。
Since； however； words have very great weight with you； since you
estimate good and evil； not according to their real value； but
according to the representations of seditious men； I have resolved
to say a few words； which； as the war is at an end； it may be useful
f