otho-第2章

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happened　about　the　time　when　Vespasian　and　his　party　first　openly
began　to　put　themselves　forward。　Another　incident；　which　the　people　in
general　thought　an　evil　sign；　was　the　inundation　of　the　Tiber；　for
though　it　happened　at　a　time　when　rivers　are　usually　at　their　fullest；
yet　such　height　of　water　and　so　tremendous　a　flood　had　never　been
known　before；　nor　such　a　destruction　of　property；　great　part　of　the
city　being　under　water；　and　especially　the　corn　market；　so　that　it
occasioned　a　great　dearth　for　several　days。
　　But　when　news　was　now　brought　that　Caecina　and　Valens；　commanding
for　Vitellius；　had　possessed　themselves　of　the　Alps；　Otho　sent
Dolabella　（a　patrician；　who　was　suspected　by　the　soldiery　of　some　evil
purpose）；　for　whatever　reason；　whether　it　were　fear　of　him　or　of　any
one　else；　to　the　town　of　Aquinum；　to　give　encouragement　there；　and
proceeding　then　to　choose　which　of　the　magistrates　should　go　with
him　to　the　war；　he　named　amongst　the　rest　Lucius；　Vitellius's　brother；
without　distinguishing　him　by　any　new　marks　either　of　his　favour　or
displeasure。　He　also　took　the　greatest　precautions　for　Vitellius's
wife　and　mother；　that　they　might　be　safe；　and　free　from　all
apprehension　for　themselves。　He　made　Flavius　Sabinus；　Vespasian's
brother；　governor　of　Rome；　either　in　honour　to　the　memory　of　Nero；　who
had　advanced　him　formerly　to　that　command；　which　Galba　had　taken　away；
or　else　to　show　his　confidence　in　Vespasian　by　his　favour　to　his
brother。
　　After　he　came　to　Brixillum；　a　town　of　Italy　near　the　Po；　he　stayed
behind　himself；　and　ordered　the　army　to　march　under　the　conduct　of
Marius　Celsus；　Suetonius　Paulinus；　Gallus；　and　Spurina；　all　men　of
experience　and　reputation；　but　unable　to　carry　their　own　plans　and
purposes　into　effect；　by　reason　of　the　ungovernable　temper　of　the
army；　which　would　take　orders　from　none　but　the　emperor　whom　they
themselves　had　made　their　master。　Nor　was　the　enemy　under　much
better　discipline；　the　soldiers　there　also　being　haughty　and
disobedient　upon　the　same　account；　but　they　were　more　experienced
and　used　to　hard　work；　whereas　Otho's　men　were　soft　from　their　long
easy　living　and　lack　of　service；　having　spent　most　of　their　time　in
the　theatres　and　at　state　shows　and　on　the　stage；　while　moreover
they　tried　to　cover　their　deficiencies　by　arrogance　and　vain
display；　pretending　to　decline　their　duty；　not　because　they　were
unable　to　do　the　thing　commanded；　but　because　they　thought
themselves　above　it。　So　that　Spurina　had　like　to　have　been　cut　in
pieces　for　attempting　to　force　them　to　their　work；　they　assailed　him
with　insolent　language；　accusing　him　of　a　design　to　betray　and　ruin
Caesar's　interest；　nay；　some　of　them　that　were　in　drink　forced　his
tent　in　the　night；　and　demanded　money　for　the　expenses　of　their
journey；　which　they　must　at　once　take；　they　said；　to　the　emperor；　to
complain　of　him。
　　However；　the　contemptuous　treatment　they　met　with　at　Placentia　did
for　the　present　good　service　to　Spurina；　and　to　the　cause　of　Otho。　For
Vitellius's　men　marched　up　to　the　walls；　and　upbraided　Otho's　upon　the
ramparts；　calling　them　players；　dancers；　idle　spectators　of　Pythian
and　Olympic　games；　but　novices　in　the　art　of　war；　who　never　so　much　as
looked　on　at　a　battle；　mean　souls；　that　triumphed　in　the　beheading
of　Galba；　an　old　man　unarmed；　but　had　no　desire　to　look　real　enemies
in　the　face。　Which　reproaches　so　inflamed　them　that　they　kneeled　at
Spurina's　feet；　entreated　him　to　give　his　orders；　and　assured　him　no
danger　or　toil　should　be　too　great　or　too　difficult　for　them。
Whereupon　when　Vitellius's　forces　made　a　vigorous　attack　on　the
town；　and　brought　up　numerous　engines　against　the　walls；　the
besieged　bravely　repulsed　them；　and；　repelling　the　enemy　with　great
slaughter；　secured　the　safety　of　a　noble　city；　one　of　the　most
flourishing　places　in　Italy。
　　Besides；　it　was　observed　that　Otho's　officers　were　much　more
inoffensive；　both　towards　the　public　and　to　private　men；　than　those　of
Vitellius；　among　whom　was　Caecina；　who　used　neither　the　language　nor
the　apparel　of　a　citizen；　an　overbearing；　foreign…seeming　man；　of
gigantic　stature；　and　always　dressed　in　trews　and　sleeves；　after　the
manner　of　the　Gauls；　whilst　he　conversed　with　Roman　officials　and
magistrates。　His　wife；　too；　travelled　along　with　him；　riding　in
splendid　attire　on　horseback；　with　a　chosen　body　of　cavalry　to
escort　her。　And　Fabius　Valens；　the　other　general；　was　so　rapacious
that　neither　what　he　plundered　from　enemies；　nor　what　he　stole　or
got　as　gifts　and　bribes　from　his　friends　and　allies；　could　satisfy　his
wishes。　And　it　was　said　that　it　was　in　order　to　have　time　to　raise
money　that　he　had　marched　so　slowly　that　he　was　not　present　at　the
former　attack。　But　some　lay　the　blame　on　Caecina；　saying；　that　out
of　a　desire　to　gain　the　victory　by　himself　before　Fabius　joined　him；
he　committed　sundry　other　errors　of　lesser　consequence；　and　by
engaging　unseasonably　and　when　he　could　not　do　so　thoroughly；　he
very　nearly　brought　all　to　ruin。
　　When　he　found　himself　beat　off　at　Placentia；　he　set　off　to　attack
Cremona；　another　large　and　rich　city。　In　the　meantime；　Annius　Gallus
marched　to　join　Spurina　at　Placentia；　but　having　intelligence　that　the
siege　was　raised；　and　that　Cremona　was　in　danger；　he　turned　to　its
relief；　and　encamped　just　by　the　enemy；　where　he　was　daily
reinforced　by　other　officers。　Caecina　placed　a　strong　ambush　of
heavy　infantry　in　some　rough　and　woody　country；　and　gave　orders　to　his
horse　to　advance；　and　if　the　enemy　should　charge　them；　then　to　make
a　slow　retreat；　and　draw　them　into　the　snare。　But　his　stratagem　was
discovered　by　some　deserters　to　Celsus；　who　attacked　with　a　good
body　of　horse；　but　followed　the　pursuit　cautiously；　and　succeeded　in
surrounding　and　routing　the　troops　in　the　ambuscade；　and　if　the
infantry　which　he　ordered　up　from　the　camp　had　come　soon　enough　to
sustain　the　horse；　Caecina's　whole　army；　in　all　appearance；　had　been
totally　routed。　But　Paulinus；　moving　too　slowly；　was　accused　of　acting
with　a　degree　of　needless　caution　not　to　have　been　expected　from　one
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　e