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indulge in early conviviality。 And the soldiers in like manner are
either diligent or lax in their duty。 About Vitellius all was disorder
and drunkenness； more like a nocturnal feast and revel than a properly
disciplined camp。 Thus it happened that two soldiers； one of whom
belonged to the 5th legion； while the other was one of the Gallic
auxiliaries； challenged each other in sport to a wrestling match。
The legionary was thrown； and the Gaul taunted him。 The soldiers who
had assembled to witness the contest took different sides； till the
legionaries made a sudden and murderous attack on the auxiliary
troops； and destroyed two cohorts。 The first disturbance was checked
only by a second。 A cloud of dust and the glitter of arms were seen at
a distance。 A sudden cry was raised that the 14th legion had
retraced its steps； and was advancing to the attack。 It was in fact
the rearguard of the army； and their recognition removed the cause
of alarm。 Meanwhile a slave of Verginius happened to come in their
way。 He was charged with having designed the assassination of
Vitellius。 The soldiers rushed to the scene of the banquet； and loudly
demanded the death of Verginius。 Even Vitellius； tremblingly alive
as he was to all suspicions； had no doubt of his innocence。 Yet he
could hardly check the troops when they clamoured for the death of a
man of consular rank； formerly their own general。 Indeed there was
no one who was more frequently the object of all kinds of outbreaks
than Verginius； the man still was admired； still retained his high
reputation； but they hated him with the hatred of those who are
despised。
The next day Vitellius； after giving audience to the envoys from the
Senate whom he had ordered to wait for him there； proceeded to the
camp； and actually bestowed high praise on the loyalty of the
soldiers。 The auxiliary troops loudly complained that such complete
impunity； such privileged arrogance； was accorded to the legions。
The Batavian cohorts were sent back to Germany； lest they should
venture on further violence。 Destiny was thus simultaneously preparing
the occasions of civil and of foreign war。 The Gallic auxiliaries were
sent back to their respective states； a vast body of men； which in the
very earliest stage of the revolt had been employed to make an idle
show of strength。 Besides this； in order to eke out the Imperial
resources； which had been impaired by a series of bounties； directions
were given that the battalions of the legions and the auxiliary forces
should be reduced； all recruiting being forbidden。 Discharges were
offered without distinction。 This measure was disastrous to the State；
and distasteful to the soldier； who found that the same duty was
distributed among a smaller number； and that his toils and risks
came round in a more frequent succession。 Their vigour too was
undermined by luxury； a luxury that transgressed our ancient
discipline and the customs of our ancestors； in whose days the power
of Rome found a surer foundation in valour than in wealth。
Vitellius then directed his course to Cremona； and after
witnessing the spectacle exhibited by Caecina； he conceived a desire
to visit the plains of Bedriacum and to survey the scene of the recent
victory。 It was a hideous and terrible sight。 Not forty days had
passed since the battle； and there lay mangled corpses； severed limbs；
the putrefying forms of men and horses； the soil was saturated with
gore； and； what with levelled trees and crops； horrible was the
desolation。 Not less revolting was that portion of the road which
the people of Cremona had strewed with laurel leaves and roses； and on
which they had raised altars； and sacrificed victims as if to greet
some barbarous despot； festivities in which they delighted for the
moment； but which were afterwards to work their ruin。 Valens and
Caecina were present； and pointed out the various localities of the
field of battle； shewing how from one point the columns of the legions
had rushed to the attack； how from another the cavalry had charged；
how from a third the auxiliary troops had turned the flank of the
enemy。 The tribunes and prefects extolled their individual
achievements； and mixed together fictions； facts； and exaggerations。
The common soldiers also turned aside from the line of march with
joyful shouts； and recognized the various scenes of conflict； and
gazed with wonder on the piles of weapons and the heaps of slain。 Some
indeed there were whom all this moved to thoughts of the mutability of
fortune； to pity； and to tears。 Vitellius did not turn away his
eyes； did not shudder to behold the unburied corpses of so many
thousands of his countrymen； nay； in his exultation； in his
ignorance of the doom which was so close upon himself； he actually
instituted a religious ceremony in honour of the tutelary gods of
the place。
A show of gladiators was then given by Fabius Valens at Bononia；
with all the arrangements introduced from the capital。 The nearer
the Emperor approached to Rome； the greater was the license of his
march； accompanied as it was by players and herds of eunuchs； in
fact by all that had characterised the court of Nero。 Indeed；
Vitellius used to make a display of his admiration for Nero； and had
constantly followed him when he sang； not from the compulsion to which
the noblest had to yield； but because he was the slave and chattel
of profligacy and gluttony。 To leave some months of office open for
Valens and Caecina； the consulates of others were abridged； that of
Martius Macer was ignored on the ground of his having been one of
Otho's generals。 Valerius Maximus； who had been nominated consul by
Galba； had his dignity deferred for no offence； but because he was a
man of gentle temper； and could submit tamely to an affront。
Pedanius Costa was passed over。 The Emperor disliked him because he
had risen against Nero； and roused Verginius to revolt。 Other reasons；
however； were alleged。 Finally； after the servile fashion of the time；
thanks were voted to Vitellius。
A deception； which was started with considerable vigour； lasted
for a few； and but a few days。 There had suddenly sprung up a man； who
gave out that he was Scribonianus Camerinus； that； dreading the
times of Nero； he had concealed himself in Histria； where the old
family of the Crassi still had dependants； estates； and a popular
name。 He admitted into the secret of his imposture all the most
worthless of his followers； and the credulous populace and some of the
soldiers； either from not knowing the truth； or impatient for
revolution； began eagerly to rally round him。 When he was brought
before Vitellius； and asked who he was； as his account of himself
could not be trusted；； and his master recognised him as a runaway
slave