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burst out at once。 〃What；〃 they cried； 〃has the glory of the army of
Germany fallen so low； that without a battle； even without a wound；
they should yield up hands ready bound and arms resigned to surrender？
What legions indeed are these against us？ Only the conquered。 The
first and the twelfth； the sole strength of the Othonianist army；
are not there； and even them we routed and crushed on these very
plains； only that so many thousands of armed men； like a herd of
slaves for sale； might be given as a present to the exile Antonius。
Thus； forsooth； the adhesion of one fleet would be worth eight
legions。 So it pleases Bassus and Caecina； after robbing the Emperor
of palaces； gardens； and money； to rob the soldiers of their
Emperor。 But we； who have seen nothing of toil and bloodshed； we；
who must be contemptible even to the Flavianists； what shall we answer
to those who shall ask us of our victories and our defeats？〃
Joining one and all in these cries； by which each expressed his
own vexation； they proceeded； following the lead of the fifth
legion； to replace the images of Vitellius； and to put Caecina in
irons。 They elected to the command Fabius Fabullus； legate of the
fifth legion； and Cassius Longus； prefect of the camp； they
massacred the soldiers from three Liburnian ships； who happened to
fall in their way； but who were perfectly ignorant and innocent of
these proceedings； they then abandoned the camp； and； after breaking
down the bridge； fell back on Hostilia； and thence on Cremona； in
order to effect a junction with the two legions； the 1st Italica and
the 21st Rapax； which； with a portion of the cavalry； Caecina had sent
on to occupy Cremona。
On this becoming known to Antonius； he determined to attack the
hostile armies； while they were still distracted in feeling and
divided in strength； before the generals could recover their
authority； and the soldiers their subordination along with that
confidence which would spring from the junction of the legions。 He
concluded indeed that Fabius Valens had left the capital； and would
hasten his march； on hearing of the treason of Caecina； and Fabius was
loyal to Vitellius； and not without some military skill。 At the same
time he dreaded the approach of a vast body of Germans by way of
Rhaetia。 Vitellius had also summoned reinforcements from Britain；
Gaul； and Spain； whose arms would have wasted like a wide…spread
pestilence； had not Antonius； fearful of this very danger； hurried
on an engagement； and thus secured his victory。 He reached Bedriacum
with his whole army in two days' march from Verona。 The next day；
keeping the legions to fortify the position； he sent the auxiliary
infantry into the territories of Cremona； ostensibly to collect
supplies； really to imbue the soldiery with a taste for the spoils
of civil war。 He himself advanced with 4000 cavalry as far as the
8th milestone from Bedriacum； in order that they might plunder with
greater freedom。 The scouts； as usual； took a wider range。
It was almost eleven o'clock； when a horseman arrived at full
speed with the news； that the enemy were approaching； that a small
body was moving in front； but that the stir and noise could be heard
far and wide。 While Antonius was deliberating as to what was to be
done； Arrius Varus； eager to do his best； charged with the bravest
of the cavalry； and drove back the Vitellianists； inflicting upon them
some slight loss； as more came up； the fortune of the day changed； and
those who had been most eager in the pursuit found themselves last
in the flight。 This rash act did not originate with Antonius； he
anticipated in fact what actually happened。 He now urged his
soldiers to enter on the battle with a good heart； he then drew off
the squadrons of his cavalry to the two flanks； leaving in the midst
an open space in which to receive Varus and his troopers； the
legions were ordered to arm themselves； signals were made over the
country that every man should leave plundering； and join the battle at
the nearest point。 Meanwhile the terror…stricken Varus plunged into
the disordered ranks of his friends； and brought a panic with him。 The
fresh troops were driven back along with the wounded fugitives；
confused by their own alarm and by the difficulties of the road。
In the midst of this panic Antonius omitted nothing that a
self…possessed commander or a most intrepid soldier could do。 He threw
himself before the terrified fugitives； he held back those who were
giving way； and wherever the struggle was hardest； wherever there
was a gleam of hope； there he was with his ready skill； his bold hand；
his encouraging voice； easily recognized by the enemy； and a
conspicuous object to his own men。 At last he was carried to such a
pitch of excitement； that he transfixed with a lance a flying standard
bearer； and then； seizing the standard； turned it towards the enemy。
Touched by the reproach； a few troopers； not more than a hundred in
number； made a stand。 The locality favoured them； for the road was
at that point particularly narrow； while the bridge over the stream
which crossed it had been broken down； and the stream itself； with its
varying channel and its precipitous banks； checked their flight。 It
was this necessity； or a happy chance； that restored the fallen
fortunes of the party。 Forming themselves into strong and close ranks；
they received the attack of the Vitellianists； who were now
imprudently scattered。 These were at once overthrown。 Antonius pursued
those that fled； and crushed those that encountered him。 Then came the
rest of his troops； who； as they were severally disposed； plundered；
made prisoners； or seized on weapons and horses。 Roused by the
shouts of triumph； those who had lately been scattered in flight
over the fields hastened to share in the victory。
At the fourth milestone from Cremona glittered the standards of
two legions； the Italica and the Rapax； which had been advanced as far
as that point during the success achieved by the first movement of
their cavalry。 But when fortune changed； they would not open their
ranks； nor receive the fugitives； nor advance and themselves attack an
enemy now exhausted by so protracted a pursuit and conflict。
Vanquished by accident； these men had never in their success valued
their general as much as they now in disaster felt his absence。 The
victorious cavalry charged the wavering line； the tribune Vipstanus
Messalla followed with the auxiliary troops from Moesia； whom；
though hurriedly brought up； long service had made as good soldiers as
the legionaries。 The horse and foot； thus mixed together； broke
through the line of the legions。 The near neighbourhood of the
fortifications of Cremona； while it gave more hope of escape；
diminished the vigou