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once behold they will be reminded of panic； of flight； of famine；
and of the many times when as captives they had to beg for life。 Nor
are the Treveri and Lingones bound by any ties of affection； once
let their fear cease； and they will resume their arms。〃 Classicus
put an end to these differences of opinion by giving his approval to
the suggestions of Tutor； which were at once acted on。
The centre was the post assigned to the Ubii and Lingones。 On the
right were the Batavian cohorts； on the left the Bructeri and the
Tencteri。 One division marching over the hills； another passing
between the highroad and the river Mosella； made the attack with
such suddenness； that Cerialis； who had not slept in the camp； was
in his chamber and even in his bed； when he heard at the same moment
that the battle had begun； and that his men were being worsted。 He
rebuked the alarm of the messengers； till the whole extent of the
disaster became visible； and he saw that the camp of the legions had
been forced； that the cavalry were routed； that the bridge over the
Mosella； which connected the farther bank of the river with the
Colony； was held by the Germans。 Undismayed by the confusion； Cerialis
held back the fugitives with his own hand； and readily exposing
himself； with his person entirely unprotected； to the missiles of
the enemy； he succeeded by a daring and successful effort； with the
prompt aid of his bravest soldiers； in recovering the bridge and
holding it with a picked force。 Then returning to the camp； he saw the
broken companies of the legions； which had been captured at Bonna
and Novesium； with but few soldiers round the standards； and the
eagles all but surrounded by the foe。 Fired with indignation； he
exclaimed； 〃It is not Flaccus or Vocula； whom you are thus abandoning。
There is no treachery here； I have nothing to excuse but that I rashly
believed that you； forgetting your alliance with Gaul； had again
recollected your allegiance to Rome。 I shall be added to the number of
the Numisii and Herennii； so that all your commanders will have fallen
by the hands of their soldiers or of the enemy。 Go； tell Vespasian；
or； since they are nearer； Civilis and Classicus； that you have
deserted your general on the battlefield。 Legions will come who will
not leave me unavenged or you unpunished。〃
All this was true； and the tribunes and prefects heaped on their men
the same reproaches。 The troops formed themselves in cohorts and
companies； for they could not deploy into line； as the enemy were
scattered everywhere； while from the fact that the battle was raging
within the entrenchments； they were themselves hampered with their
tents and baggage。 Tutor； Classicus； and Civilis； each at his post；
animated the combatants； the Gauls they urged to fight for freedom；
the Batavi for glory； the Germans for plunder。 Everything seemed in
favour of the enemy； till the 21st legion； having more room than the
others； formed itself into a compact body； withstood； and soon drove
back the assailants。 Nor was it without an interposition of heaven；
that by a sudden change of temper the conquerors turned their backs
and fled。 Their own account was； that they were alarmed by the sight
of the cohorts； which； after being broken at the first onset；
rallied on the top of the hills； and presented the appearance of
reinforcements。 What checked them in their course of victory was a
mischievous struggle among themselves to secure plunder while they
forgot the enemy。 Cerialis； having thus all but ruined everything by
his carelessness； restored the day by his resolution； following up his
success； he took and destroyed the enemy's camp on the same day。
No long time was allowed to the soldiers for repose。 The
Agrippinenses were begging for help； and were offering to give up
the wife and sister of Civilis and the daughter of Classicus； who
had been left with them as pledges for the maintenance of the
alliance。 In the meanwhile they had massacred all the Germans who were
scattered throughout their dwellings。 Hence their alarm and reasonable
importunity in begging for help； before the enemy； recovering their
strength； could raise their spirits for a new effort or for thoughts
of revenge。 And indeed Civilis had marched in their direction； nor was
he by any means weak； as he had still； in unbroken force； the most
warlike of his cohorts； which consisted of Chauci and Frisii； and
which was posted at Tolbiacum； on the frontiers of the
Agrippinenses。 He was； however； diverted from his purpose by the
deplorable news that this cohort had been entirely destroyed by a
stratagem of the Agrippinenses； who； having stupefied the Germans by a
profuse entertainment and abundance of wine； fastened the doors； set
fire to the houses； and burned them。 At the same time Cerialis
advanced by forced marches； and relieved the city。 Civilis too was
beset by other fears。 He was afraid that the 14th legion； supported by
the fleet from Britain； might do mischief to the Batavi along their
line of coast。 The legion was； however； marched overland under the
command of Fabius Priscus into the territory of the Nervii and Tungri；
and these two states were allowed to capitulate。 The Canninefates；
taking the offensive； attacked our fleet； and the larger part of the
ships was either sunk or captured。 The same tribe also routed a
crowd of Nervii； who by a spontaneous movement had taken up arms on
the Roman side。 Classicus also gained a victory over some cavalry； who
had been sent on to Novesium by Cerialis。 These reverses； which；
though trifling； came in rapid succession； destroyed by degrees the
prestige of the recent victory。
About the same time Mucianus ordered the son of Vitellius to be
put to death； alleging that dissension would never cease； if he did
not destroy all seeds of civil war。 Nor would he suffer Antonius
Primus to be taken into the number of Domitian's attendants； for he
felt uneasy at his popularity with the troops； and feared the proud
spirit of the man； who could not endure an equal； much less a
superior。 Antonius then went to Vespasian； who received him； not
indeed as he expected； but in a not unfriendly spirit。 Two opposite
influences acted on the Emperor； on the one hand were the merits of
Antonius； under whose conduct the war had beyond all doubt been
terminated； on the other； were the letters of Mucianus。 And everyone
else inveighed against him； as an ill…affected and conceited man；
nor did they forget the scandals of his early life。 Antonius himself
failed not to provoke offence by his arrogance and his excessive
propensity to dwell on his own services。 He reproached other men
with being cowards； Caecina he stigmatized as a captive and a prisoner
of war。 Thus by degrees he came to be thought of le