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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
suspicions of their fidelity amongst the others on their side； who had
not。 This caused a confusion at the very first onset。 And nothing else
that followed was done upon any plan； the baggage…carriers； mingling
up with the fighting men； created great disorder and division； as well
as the nature of the ground； the ditches and pits in which were so
many that they were forced to break their ranks to avoid and go
round them； and so to fight without order； and in small parties。 There
were but two legions； one of Vitellius's called The Ravenous； and
another of Otho's； called The Assistant； that got out into the open
outspread level and engaged in proper form； fighting； one main body
against the other； for some length of time。 Otho's men were strong and
bold； but had never been in battle before； Vitellius's had seen many
wars； but were old and past their strength。 So Otho's legion charged
boldly； drove back their opponents； and took the eagle； killing pretty
nearly every man in the first rank； till the others； full of rage
and shame； returned the charge； slew Orfidius； the commander of the
legion； and took several standards。 Varus Alfenus； with his Batavians；
who are the natives of an island of the Rhine； and are esteemed the
best of the German horse； fell upon the gladiators； who had a
reputation both for valour and skill in fighting。 Some few of these
did their duty； but the greatest part of them made towards the
river； and； falling in with some cohorts stationed there； were cut
off。 But none behaved so ill as the praetorians； who； without ever
so much as meeting the enemy； ran away； broke through their own body
that stood； and put them into disorder。 Notwithstanding this； many
of Otho's men routed those that were opposed to them； broke right into
them； and forced their way to the camp through the very middle of
their conquerors。
As for their commanders； neither Proculus nor Paulinus ventured to
reenter with the troops； they turned aside； and avoided the
soldiers； who had already charged the miscarriage upon their officers。
Annius Gallus received into the town and rallied the scattered
parties； and encouraged them with an assurance that the battle was a
drawn one and the victory had in many parts been theirs。 Marius
Celsus； collecting the officers； urged the public interest； Otho
himself； if he were a brave man； would not； after such an expense of
Roman blood； attempt anything further； especially since even Cato
and Scipio； though the liberty of Rome was then at stake； had been
accused of being too prodigal of so many brave men's lives as were
lost in Africa； rather than submit to Caesar after the battle of
Pharsalia had gone against them。 For though all persons are equally
subject to the caprice of fortune； yet all good men have one advantage
she cannot deny； which is this； to act reasonably under misfortunes。
This language was well accepted amongst the officers； who sounded
the private soldiers； and found them desirous of peace； and Titianus
also gave directions