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of his reputation。 So that the soldiers incensed Otho against him；
accused him of treachery； and boasted loudly that the victory had been
in their power； and that if it was not complete； it was owing to the
mismanagement of their generals； all which Otho did not so much
believe as he was willing to appear not to disbelieve。 He therefore
sent his brother Titianus； with Proculus； the prefect of the guards；
to the army； where the latter was general in reality； and the former
in appearance。 Celsus and Paulinus had the title of friends and
counsellors； but not the least authority or power。 At the same time；
there was nothing but quarrel and disturbance amongst the enemy；
especially where Valens commanded； for the soldiers here； being
informed of what had happened at the ambuscade； were enraged because
they had not been permitted to be present to strike a blow in
defence of the lives of so many men that had died in that action；
Valens； with much difficulty； quieted their fury； after they had now
begun to throw missiles at him； and quitting his camp； joined Caecina。
About this time； Otho came to Bedriacum； a little town near Cremona；
to the camp； and called a council of war； where Proculus and
Titianus declared for giving battle； while the soldiers were flushed
with their late success； saying they ought not to lose their time
and opportunity and present height of strength； and wait for Vitellius
to arrive out of Gaul。 But Paulinus told them that the enemy's whole
force was present； and that there was no body of reserve behind； but
that Otho； if he would not be too precipitate； and chose the enemy's
time； instead of his own； for the battle； might expect
reinforcements out of Moesia and Pannonia； not inferior in numbers
to the troops that were already present。 He thought it probable；
too； that the soldiers； who were then in heart before they were
joined； would not be less so when the forces were all come up。
Besides； the deferring battle could not be inconvenient to them that
were sufficiently provided with all necessaries； but the others； being
in an enemy's country； must needs be exceedingly straitened in a
little time。 Marius Celsus was of Paulinus's opinion； Annius Gallus；
being absent and under the surgeon's hands through a fall from his
horse； was consulted by letter； and advised Otho to stay for those
legions that were marching from Moesia。 But after all he did not
follow the advice； and the opinion of those that declared for a battle
prevailed。
There are several reasons given for this determination； but the most
apparent is this； that the praetorian soldiers； as they are called；
who serve as guards； not relishing the military discipline which
they now had begun a little more to experience； and longing for
their amusements and unwarlike life among the shows of Rome； would not
be commanded； but were eager for a battle； imagining that upon the
first onset they should carry all before them。 Otho also himself seems
not to have shown the proper fortitude in bearing up against the
uncertainty； and； out of effeminacy and want of use； had not
patience for the calculations of danger； and was so uneasy at the
apprehension of it that he shut his eyes； and like one going to leap
from a precipice； left everything to fortune。 This is the account
Secundus the rhetorician； who was his secretary； gave of the matter。
But others would tell you that there were many movements in both
armies for acting in concert； and if it were possible for them to
agree； then they should proceed to choose one of their most
experienced officers that were present； if not； they should convene
the senate； and invest it with the power of election。 And it is not
improbable that； neither of the emperors then bearing the title having
really any reputation； such purposes were really entertained among the
genuine； serviceable； and sober…minded part of the soldiers。 For
what could be more odious and unreasonable than that the evils which
the Roman citizens had formerly thought it so lamentable to inflict
upon each other for the sake of a Sylla or a Marius； a Caesar or a
Pompey； should now be undergone anew； for the object of letting the
empire pay the expenses of the gluttony and intemperance of Vitellius；
or the looseness and effeminacy of Otho？ It is thought that Celsus；
upon such reflections； protracted the time in order to a possible
accommodation； and that Otho pushed on things to an extremity to
prevent it。
He himself returned to Brixillum； which was another false step； both
because he withdrew from the combatants all the motives of respect and
desire to gain his favour which his presence would have supplied；
and because he weakened the army by detaching some of his best and
most faithful troops for his horse and foot guards。
About the same time also happened a skirmish on the Po。 As Caecina
was laying a bridge over it； Otho's men attacked him； and tried to
prevent it。 And when they did not succeed； on their putting into their
boats torchwood； with a quantity of sulphur and pitch； the wind on the
river suddenly caught their material that they had prepared against
the enemy； and blew it into a light。 First came smoke； and then a
clear flame； and the men； getting into great confusion and jumping
overboard； upset the boats； and put themselves ludicrously at the
mercy of their enemies。 Also the Germans attacked Otho's gladiators
upon a small island in the river； routed them； and killed a good many。
All which made the soldiers at Bedriacum full of anger； and
eagerness to be led to battle。 So Proculus led them out of Bedriacum
to a place fifty furlongs off； where he pitched his camp so ignorantly
and with such a ridiculous want of foresight that the soldiers
suffered extremely for want of water； though it was the spring time；
and the plains all around were full of running streams and rivers that
never dried up。 The next day he proposed to attack the enemy； first
making a march of not less than a hundred furlongs； but to this
Paulinus objected； saying they ought to wait； and not immediately
after a journey engage men who would have been standing in their
arms and arranging themselves for battle at their leisure； whilst they
were making a long march； with all their beasts of burden and their
camp followers to encumber them。 As the generals were arguing about
this matter； a Numidian courier came from Otho with orders to lose
no time； but give battle。 Accordingly they consented； and moved。 As
soon as Caecina had notice； he was much surprised； and quitted his
post on the river to hasten to the camp。 In the meantime； the men
had armed themselves mostly； and were receiving the word from
Valens； so while the legions took up their position； they sent out the
best of their horse in advance。
Otho's foremost troops； upon some groundless rumour； took up the
notion that the commanders on the other side would come over； and
accordingly； upon their first approach； they saluted them with the
friendly title of fellow…soldiers。 But the others returned the
compliment with anger and disdainful words； which not only
disheartened those that had given the salutation； but excited
suspi