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it was unfavourably canvassed by the army at large。
The effect of this disaster on the Vitellianists was not so much
to drive them to fear as to draw them to obedience。 Nor was this the
case only among the troops of Caecina； who indeed laid all the blame
upon his soldiers； more ready； as he said； for mutiny than for battle。
The forces also of Fabius Valens； who had now reached Ticinum； laid
aside their contempt for the enemy； and anxious to retrieve their
credit began to yield a more respectful and uniform obedience to their
general。 A serious mutiny； however； had raged among them； of which； as
it was not convenient to interrupt the orderly narrative of
Caecina's operations； I shall take up the history at an earlier
period。 I have already described how the Batavian cohorts who
separated from the 14th legion during the Neronian war； hearing on
their way to Britain of the rising of Vitellius； joined Fabius
Valens in the country of the Lingones。 They behaved themselves
insolently； boasting； as they visited the quarters of the several
legions； that they had mastered the men of the 14th； that they had
taken Italy from Nero； that the whole destiny of the war lay in
their hands。 Such language was insulting to the soldiers； and
offensive to the general。 The discipline of the army was relaxed by
the brawls and quarrels which ensued。 At last Valens began to
suspect that insolence would end in actual treachery。
When； therefore； intelligence reached him that the cavalry of the
Treveri and the Tungrian infantry had been defeated by Otho's fleet；
and that Gallia Narbonensis was blockaded； anxious at once to
protect a friendly population； and； like a skilful soldier； to
separate cohorts so turbulent and； while they remained united； so
inconveniently strong； he directed a detachment of the Batavians to
proceed to the relief of the province。 This having been heard and
become generally known； the allies were discontented and the legions
murmured。 〃We are being deprived；〃 they said； 〃of the help of our
bravest men。 Those veteran troops victorious in so many campaigns； now
that the enemy is in sight； are withdrawn； so to speak； from the
very field of battle。 If indeed a province be of more importance
than the capital and the safety of the Empire； let us all follow
them thither； but if the reality； the support； the mainstay of
success； centre in Italy； you must not tear； as it were； from a body
its very strongest limbs。〃
In the midst of these fierce exclamations； Valens； sending his
lictors into the crowd； attempted to quell the mutiny。 On this they
attacked the general himself； hurled stones at him； and； when he fled；
pursued him。 Crying out that he was concealing the spoil of Gaul；
the gold of the men of Vienna； the hire of their own toils； they
ransacked his baggage； and probed with javelins and lances the walls
of the general's tent and the very ground beneath。 Valens； disguised
in the garb of a slave； found concealment with a subaltern officer
of cavalry。 After this； Alfenius Varus； prefect of the camp； seeing
that the mutiny was gradually subsiding； promoted the reaction by
the following device。 He forbade the centurions to visit the
sentinels； and discontinued the trumpet calls by which the troops
are summoned to their usual military duties。 Thereupon all stood
paralysed； and gazed at each other in amazement； panic…stricken by the
very fact that there was no one to direct them。 By their silence； by
their submission； finally by their tears and entreaties； they craved
forgiveness。 But when Valens； thus unexpectedly preserved； came
forward in sad plight； shedding tears； they were moved to joy； to
pity； even to affection。 Their revulsion to delight was just that of a
mob； always extreme in either emotion。 They greeted him with praises
and congratulations； and surrounding him with the eagles and
standards； carried him to the tribunal。 With a politic prudence he
refrained from demanding capital punishment in any case； yet；
fearing that he might lay himself more open to suspicion by
concealment of his feelings； he censured a few persons； well aware
that in civil wars the soldiers have more license than the generals。
While they were fortifying a camp at Ticinum； the news of
Caecina's defeat reached them； and the mutiny nearly broke out
afresh from an impression that underhand dealing and delay on the part
of Valens had kept them away from the battle。 They refused all rest；
they would not wait for their general； they advanced in front of the
standards； and hurried on the standard…bearers。 After a rapid march
they joined Caecina。 The character of Valens did not stand well with
Caecina's army。 They complained that； though so much weaker in
numbers； they had been exposed to the whole force of the enemy； thus
at once excusing themselves； and extolling； in the implied flattery；
the strength of the new arrivals； who might； they feared； despise them
as beaten and spiritless soldiers。 Though Valens had the stronger
army； nearly double the number of legions and auxiliaries； yet the
partialities of the soldiers inclined to Caecina； not only from the
geniality of heart； which he was thought more ready to display； but
even from his vigorous age； his commanding person； and a certain
superficial attractiveness which he possessed。 The result was a
jealousy between the two generals。 Caecina ridiculed his colleague
as a man of foul and infamous character； Valens retorted with
charges of emptiness and vanity。 But concealing their enmity； they
devoted themselves to their common interest； and in frequent
letters； without any thought of pardon； heaped all manner of charges
upon Otho； while the Othonianist generals； though they had the most
abundant materials for invective against Vitellius； refrained from
employing them。
In fact； before the death of these two men （and it was by his
death that Otho gained high renown； as Vitellius incurred by his the
foulest infamy）； Vitellius with his indolent luxury was less dreaded
than Otho with his ardent passions。 The murder of Galba had made the
one terrible and odious； while no one reckoned against the other the
guilt of having begun the war。 Vitellius with his sensuality and
gluttony was his own enemy； Otho； with his profligacy； his cruelty；
and his recklessness； was held to be more dangerous to the
Commonwealth。 When Caecina and Valens had united their forces； the
Vitellianists had no longer any reason to delay giving battle with
their whole strength。 Otho deliberated as to whether protracting the
war or risking an engagement were the better course。 Then Suetonius
Paullinus； thinking that it befitted his reputation； which was such
that no one at that period was looked upon as a more skilful
soldier； to give an opinio