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the private soldiers； and found them desirous of peace； and Titianus
also gave directions that envoys should be sent in order to a
treaty。 And accordingly it was agreed that the conference should be
between Celsus and Gallus on one part； and Valens with Caecina on
the other。 As the two first were upon their journey； they met some
centurions； who told them the troops were already in motion；
marching for Bedriacum； but that they themselves were deputed by their
generals to carry proposals for an accommodation。 Celsus and Gallus
expressed their approval； and requested them to turn back and carry
them to Caecina。 However； Celsus； upon his approach； was in danger
from the vanguard； who happened to be some of the horse that had
suffered at the ambush。 For as soon as they saw him； they hallooed；
and were coming down upon him； but the centurions came forward to
protect him； and the other officers crying out and bidding them
desist； Caecina came up to inform himself of the tumult； which he
quieted； and giving a friendly greeting to Celsus； took him in his
company and proceeded towards Bedriacum。 Titianus； meantime； had
repented of having sent the messengers； and placed those of the
soldiers who were more confident upon the walls once again； bidding
the others also go and support them。 But when Caecina rode up on his
horse and held out his hand； no one did or said to the contrary； those
on the walls greeted his men with salutations； others opened the gates
and went out； and mingled freely with those they met； and instead of
acts of hostility； there was nothing but mutual shaking of hands and
congratulations； every one taking the oaths and submitting to
Vitellius。
This is the account which the most of those that were present at the
battle give of it； yet own that the disorder they were in； and the
absence of any unity of action； would not give them leave to be
certain as to particulars。 And when I myself travelled afterwards over
the field of battle； Mestrius Florus； a man of consular degree； one of
those who had been； not willingly； but by command； in attendance on
Otho at the time； pointed out to me an ancient temple； and told me；
that as he went that way after the battle； he observed a heap of
bodies piled up there to such a height that those on the top of it
reached the pinnacles of the roof。 How it came to be so； he could
neither discover himself nor learn from any other person； as indeed；
he said； in civil wars it generally happens that greater numbers are
killed when an army is routed； quarter not being given； because
captives are of no advantage to the conquerors； but why the
carcasses should be heaped up after that manner is not easy to
determine。
Otho； at first； as it frequently happens； received some uncertain
rumours of the issue of the battle。 But when some of the wounded
that returned from the field informed him rightly of it； it is not；
indeed； so much to be wondered at that his friends should bid him
not give all up as lost or let his courage sink； but the feeling shown
by the soldiers is something that exceeds all belief。 There was not
one of them would either go over to the conqueror or show any
disposition to make terms for himself； as if their leader's cause
was desperate； on the contrary； they crowded his gates； called out
to him the title of emperor； and as soon as he appeared； cried out and
entreated him； catching hold of his band； and throwing themselves upon
the ground； and with all the moving language of tears and
persuasion； besought him to stand by them； not abandon them to their
enemies； but employ in his service their lives and persons； which
would not cease to be his so long as they had breath； so urgent was
their zealous and universal importunity。 And one obscure and private
soldier； after he had drawn his sword； addressed himself to Otho：
〃By this； Caesar； judge our fidelity； there is not a man amongst us
but would strike thus to serve you；〃 and so stabbed himself。
Notwithstanding this； Otho stood serene and unshaken； and； with a face
full of constancy and composure； turned himself about and looked at
them； replying thus： 〃This day； my fellow…soldiers； which gives me
such proofs of your affection； is preferable even to that on which you
saluted me emperor； deny me not； therefore； the yet higher
satisfaction of laying down my life for the preservation of so many
brave men； in this； at least； let me be worthy of the empire； that is；
to die for it。 I am of opinion the enemy has neither gained an
entire nor a。 decisive victory； I have advice that the Moesian army is
not many days' journey distant； on its march to the Adriatic； Asia；
Syria； and Egypt； and the legions that are serving against the Jews；
declare for us； the senate is also with us； and the wives and children
of our opponents are in our power； but alas； it is not in defence of
Italy against Hannibal or Pyrrhus or the Cimbri that we fight；
Romans combining against Romans； and； whether we conquer or are
defeated； the country suffers and we commit a crime： victory； to
whichever it fall； is gained at her expense。 Believe it many times
over； I can die with more honour than I can reign。 For I cannot see at
all how I should do any such great good to my country by gaining the
victory； as I shall by dying to establish peace and unanimity and to
save Italy from such another unhappy day。〃
As soon as he had done； he was resolute against all manner of
argument or persuasion； and taking leave of his friends and the
senators that were present； he bade them depart； and wrote to those
that were absent； and sent letters to the towns； that they might
have every honour and facility in their journey。 Then he sent for
Cocceius； his brother's son； who was yet a boy； and bade him be in
no apprehension of Vitellius； whose mother and wife and family he
had treated with the same tenderness as his own； and also told him
that this had been his reason for delaying to adopt him； which he
had meant to do as his son； he had desired that he might share his
power； if he conquered； but not be involved in his ruin if he
failed。 〃Take notice；〃 he added； 〃my boy； of these my last words； that
you neither too negligently forget； nor too zealously remember； that
Caesar was your uncle。〃 By and by he heard a tumult amongst the
soldiers at the door； who were treating the senators with menaces
for preparing to withdraw； upon which； out of regard to their
safety； he showed himself once more in public； but not with a gentle
aspect and in a persuading manner as before； on the contrary； with a
countenance that discovered indignation and authority； he commanded
such as were disorderly to leave the place； and was not disobeyed。
It was now evening； and feeling thirsty； he drank some water； and
then took two daggers that belonged to him； and when he had
carefully examined their edges； he laid one of them down； and put
the other in his robe； under his arm； then called his servants； and
distributed some money amongst them； but not inconsiderately； nor like
one too lavish of what was not his own； for to some he gave more； to
others less； all strictly in moderation； and distinguishing every
one's particular merit。 When this was done； he dismissed them； and
passed the rest of the night in so sound a sleep that the officers
of his bed…chamber heard him snore。 In the morning； he called for
one of his freedmen； who had assisted him in arranging about the
senators； and bade him bring him an account if they were safe。 Being
informed they were all well and wanted nothing； 〃Go then；〃 he said
〃and show yourself to the soldiers； lest they should cut you to pieces
for being accessory to my death。〃 As soon as he was gone； he held
his sword upright under him with both his hands； and falling upon it
expired with no more than one single groan to express his sense of the
pang； or to inform those that waited without。 When his servants；
therefore； raised their exclamations of grief； the whole camp and city
were at once filled with lamentation； the soldiers immediately broke
in at the doors with a loud cry； in passionate distress； and
accusing themselves that they had been so negligent in looking afte