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28。 Some hesitation had shewn itself； when the generals； seeing that
the weary troops would not listen to what seemed to them unmeaning
encouragement； pointed to Cremona。 Whether this was； as Messalla
relates； the device of Hormus； or whether Caius Plinius be the
better authority when he charges it upon Antonius； I cannot easily
determine。 All I can say is this； that neither in Antonius nor in
Hormus would this foulest of crimes have been a degeneracy from the
character of their former lives。 Wounds or bloodshed no longer kept
the men back from undermining the rampart and battering the gates。
Supported on the shoulders of comrades； and forming a second
〃testudo；〃 they clambered up and seized the weapons and even the hands
of the enemy。 The unhurt and the wounded； the half…dead and the dying；
were mingled together with every incident of slaughter and death in
every form。
The fiercest struggle was maintained by the 3rd and 7th legions； and
Antonius in person with some chosen auxiliaries concentrated his
efforts on the same point。 The Vitellianists； unable to resist the
combined and resolute attack； and finding that their missiles glided
off the 〃testudo；〃 at last threw the engine itself on the
assailants； for a moment it broke and overwhelmed those on whom it
fell； but it drew after it in its fall the battlements and upper
part of the rampart。 At the same time an adjoining tower yielded to
the volleys of stones； and； while the 7th legion in wedge…like array
was endeavouring to force an entrance； the 3rd broke down the gate
with axes and swords。 All authors are agreed that Caius Volusius； a
soldier of the 3rd legion； entered first。 Beating down all who opposed
him； he mounted the rampart； waved his hand； and shouted aloud that
the camp was taken。 The rest of the legion burst in； while the
troops of Vitellius were seized with panic； and threw themselves
from the rampart。 The entire space between the camp and the walls of
Cremona was filled with slain。
Difficulties of another kind presented themselves in the lofty walls
of the town； its stone towers； its iron…barred gates； in the
garrison who stood brandishing their weapons； in its numerous
population devoted to the interests of Vitellius； and in the vast
conflux from all parts of Italy which had assembled at the fair
regularly held at that time。 The besieged found a source of strength
in these large numbers； the assailants an incentive in the prospect of
booty。 Antonius gave orders that fire should instantly be set to the
finest buildings without the city； to see whether the inhabitants of
Cremona might not be induced by the loss of their property to transfer
their allegiance。 Some houses near the walls； which overtopped the
fortifications； he filled with the bravest of his soldiers； who； by
hurling beams； tiles； and flaming missiles； dislodged the defenders
from the ramparts。
The legions now began to form themselves into a 〃testudo；〃 and the
other troops to discharge volleys of stones and darts； when the
courage of the Vitellianists began to flag。 The higher their rank； the
more readily they succumbed to fortune； fearing that when Cremona
had fallen quarter could no longer be expected； and that all the
fury of the conqueror would be turned； not on the penniless crowd； but
on the tribunes and centurions； by whose slaughter something was to be
gained。 The common soldiers； careless of the future and safer in their
obscurity； still held out。 Roaming through the streets or concealed in
the houses； they would not sue for peace even when they had
abandoned the contest。 The principal officers of the camp removed
the name and images of Vitellius； Caecina； who was still in
confinement； they released from his chains； imploring him to plead
their cause。 When he haughtily rejected their suit； they entreated him
with tears； and it was indeed the last aggravation of misery； that
many valiant men should invoke the aid of a traitor。 Then they
displayed from the walls the olive branches and chaplets of
suppliants； and when Antonius had ordered that the discharge of
missiles should cease； they brought out the eagles and standards。 Then
followed； with eyes bent on the ground； a dismal array of unarmed men。
The conquerors had gathered round； at first they heaped reproaches
on them and pointed at them their weapons； then seeing how they
offered their cheeks to insulting blows； how； with all their high
spirit departed； they submitted； as vanquished men； to every
indignity； it suddenly occurred to their recollection； that these were
the very soldiers who but shortly before had used with moderation
their victory at Bedriacum。 Yet； when Caecina the consul；
conspicuous in his robes of state and with his train of lictors；
came forward thrusting aside the crowd； the victors were fired with
indignation； and reproached him with his tyranny； his cruelty； and； so
hateful are such crimes； even with his treason。 Antonius checked them；
gave him an escort； and sent him to Vespasian。
Meanwhile the population of Cremona was roughly handled by the
soldiers； who were just beginning a massacre； when their fury was
mitigated by the entreaties of the generals。 Antonius summoned them to
an assembly； extolled the conquerors； spoke kindly to the conquered；
but said nothing either way of Cremona。 Over and above the innate love
of plunder； there was an old feud which made the army bent on the
destruction of the inhabitants。 It was generally believed that in
the war with Otho； as well as in the present； they had supported the
cause of Vitellius。 Afterwards； when the 13th legion had been left
to build an amphitheatre； with the characteristic insolence of a
city population； they had wantonly provoked and insulted them。 The
ill…feeling had been aggravated by the gladiatorial show exhibited
there by Caecina； by the circumstance that their city was now for
the second time the seat of war； and by the fact that they had
supplied the Vitellianists with provisions in the field； and that some
of their women； taken by party…zeal into the battle； had there been
slain。 The occurrence of the fair filled the colony； rich as it always
was； with an appearance of still greater wealth。 The other generals
were unnoticed； Antonius from his success and high reputation was
observed of all。 He had hastened to the baths to wash off the blood；
and when he found fault with the temperature of the water； an answer
was heard； 〃that it would soon be warm enough。 Thus the words of a
slave brought on him the whole odium of having given the signal for
firing the town； which was indeed already in flames。
Forty thousand armed men burst into Cremona； and with them a body of
sutlers and camp…followers； yet more numerous and yet more abandoned
to lust