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Their loyalty to the Roman people was of long standing； and their
nation was more faithful than the other to any trust reposed in
them。 On the flank of the army were posted some auxiliaries； for
Rhaetia was hostile； Portius Septimius； the procurator； remaining
incorruptibly faithful to Vitellius。 Accordingly； Sextilius Felix with
Aurius' Horse； eight cohorts； and the native levies of Noricum； was
sent to occupy the bank of the river Aenus； which flows between
Rhaetia and Noricum。 Neither hazarded an engagement； and the fate of
the two parties was decided elsewhere。
Antonius； as he hurried with the veteran soldiers of the cohorts and
part of the cavalry to invade Italy； was accompanied by Arrius
Varus； an energetic soldier。 Service under Corbulo； and successes in
Armenia； had gained for him this reputation； yet it was generally
said； that in secret conversations with Nero he had calumniated
Corbulo's high qualities。 The favour thus infamously acquired made him
a centurion of the first rank； yet the ill…gotten prosperity of the
moment afterwards turned to his destruction。 Primus and Varus；
having occupied Aquileia； were joyfully welcomed in the neighbourhood；
and in the towns of Opitergium and Altinum。 At Altinum a force was
left to oppose the Ravenna fleet； the defection of which from
Vitellius was not yet known。 They next attached to their party
Patavium and Ateste。 There they learnt that three cohorts； belonging
to Vitellius； and the Sebonian Horse had taken up a position at the
Forum Alieni； where they had thrown a bridge across the river。 It
was determined to seize the opportunity of attacking this force；
unprepared as it was； for this fact had likewise been communicated。
Coming upon them at dawn； they killed many before they could arm。
Orders had been given to slay but few； and to constrain the rest by
fear to transfer their allegiance。 Some indeed at once surrendered；
but the greater part broke down the bridge； and thus cut off the
advance of the pursuing enemy。
When this success became known； two legions； the seventh （Galba's）
and the eighteenth （the Gemina）； finding the campaign opening in
favour of the Flavianists； repaired with alacrity to Patavium under
the command of Vedius Aquila the legate。 A few days were there taken
for rest； and Minucius Justus； prefect of the camp in the 7th
legion； who ruled with more strictness than a civil war will permit；
was withdrawn from the exasperated soldiery； and sent to Vespasian。 An
act that had been long desired was taken by a flattering
construction for more than it was worth； when Antonius gave orders
that the statues of Galba； which had been thrown down during the
troubles of the times； should be restored in all the towns。 It
would； he supposed； reflect honour on the cause； if it were thought
that they had been friendly to Galba's rule； and that his party was
again rising into strength。
The next question was； what place should be selected as the seat
of war。 Verona seemed the most eligible； surrounded as it was with
open plains； suitable for the action of cavalry； in which they were
very strong。 At the same time it was thought that in wresting from
Vitellius a colony so rich in resources there would be both profit and
glory。 They secured Vicetia by simply passing through it。 Though in
itself a small gain； for the town is but of moderate strength； it
was considered an important advantage when they reflected that in this
town Caecina was born； and that the general of the enemy had lost
his native place。 The people of Verona were a valuable aid； they
served the cause by the example of their zeal and by their wealth； and
the army thus occupied a position between Rhaetia and the Julian Alps。
It was to cut off all passage at this point from the armies of Germany
that they had barred this route。 All this was done either without
the knowledge； or against the commands of Vespasian。 He gave orders
that the army should halt at Aquileia and there await Mucianus； and
these orders he supported by the argument； that as Aegypt； which
commanded the corn supplies； and the revenues of the wealthiest
provinces were in his hands； the army of Vitellius would be
compelled to capitulate from the want of pay and provisions。
Mucianus in frequent letters advised the same policy； a victory that
should cost neither blood nor tears； and other objects of the kind；
were his pretexts； but in truth he was greedy of glory； and anxious to
keep the whole credit of the war to himself。 Owing； however； to the
vast distances； the advice came only after the matter was decided。
Then Antonius by a sudden movement fell upon the outposts of the
enemy； and made trial of their courage in a slight skirmish； the
combatants separating on equal terms。 Soon afterwards； Caecina
strongly fortified a camp between Hostilia； a village belonging to
Verona； and the marshes of the river Tartarus； where his position
was secure； as his rear was covered by the river； and his flank by
intervening marshes。 Had he only been loyal； those two legions；
which had not been joined by the army of Moesia； might have been
crushed by the united strength of the Vitellianists； or driven back
and compelled to evacuate Italy in a disgraceful retreat。 Caecina；
however； by various delays betrayed to the enemy the early
opportunities of the campaign； assailing by letters those whom it
was easy to drive out by force of arms； until by his envoys he settled
the conditions of his treachery。 In this interval Aponius Saturninus
came up with the 7th legion （Claudius'）。 This legion was commanded
by the tribune Vipstanus Messalla； a man of illustrious family；
himself highly distinguished； the only man who had brought into that
conflict an honest purpose。 To this army； which was far from equalling
the forces of Vitellius （it in fact consisted of three legions）；
Caecina despatched a letter reproaching them with rashness in again
drawing the sword in a vanquished cause。 At the same time he
extolled the valour of the German army； of Vitellius he made but
some slight and common…place mention without any abuse of Vespasian。
Certainly he said nothing which could either seduce or terrify the
enemy。 The leaders of the Flavianist party； omitting all apology for
their former fortune； at once took up a tone of high praise of
Vespasian； of confidence in their cause； of security as to their army；
and of hostility to Vitellius； while hopes were held out to the
tribunes and centurions of retaining the privileges which Vitellius
had granted them； and Caecina was himself encouraged in no ambiguous
terms to change sides。 These letters read to the assembled army
increased their confidence； for Caecina had written in a humble
strain； as if he feared to offend Vespasian； while their ow