histories-第42章
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city population； they had wantonly provoked and insulted them。 The
ill…feeling had been aggravated by the gladiatorial show exhibited
there by Caecina； by the circumstance that their city was now for
the second time the seat of war； and by the fact that they had
supplied the Vitellianists with provisions in the field； and that some
of their women； taken by party…zeal into the battle； had there been
slain。 The occurrence of the fair filled the colony； rich as it always
was； with an appearance of still greater wealth。 The other generals
were unnoticed； Antonius from his success and high reputation was
observed of all。 He had hastened to the baths to wash off the blood；
and when he found fault with the temperature of the water； an answer
was heard； 〃that it would soon be warm enough。 Thus the words of a
slave brought on him the whole odium of having given the signal for
firing the town； which was indeed already in flames。
Forty thousand armed men burst into Cremona； and with them a body of
sutlers and camp…followers； yet more numerous and yet more abandoned
to lust and cruelty。 Neither age nor rank were any protection from
indiscriminate slaughter and violation。 Aged men and women past
their prime； worthless as booty； were dragged about in wanton
insult。 Did a grown up maiden or youth of marked beauty fall in
their way； they were torn in pieces by the violent hands of ravishers；
and in the end the destroyers themselves were provoked into mutual
slaughter。 Men； as they carried off for themselves coin or
temple…offerings of massive gold； were cut down by others of
superior strength。 Some； scorning what met the eye； searched for
hidden wealth； and dug up buried treasures； applying the scourge and
the torture to the owners。 In their hands were flaming torches； which；
as soon as they had carried out the spoil； they wantonly hurled into
the gutted houses and plundered temples。 In an army which included
such varieties of language and character； an army comprising Roman
citizens； allies； and foreigners； there was every kind of had a law of
his own； and nothing was forbidden。 For four days Cremona satisfied
the plunderers。 When all things else； sacred and profane； were
settling down into the flames； the temple of Mephitis outside the
walls alone remained standing； saved by its situation or by divine
interposition。
Such was the end of Cremona； 286 years after its foundation。 It
was built in the consulship of Tiberius Sempronius and Cornelius
Scipio； when Hannibal was threatening Italy； as a protection against
the Gauls from beyond the Padus； or against any other sudden invader
from the Alps。 From the number of settlers； the conveniences
afforded by the rivers； the fertility of the soil； and the many
connexions and intermarriages formed with neighbouring nations； it
grew and flourished； unharmed by foreign enemies； though most
unfortunate in civil wars。 Ashamed of the atrocious deed； and aware of
the detestation which it was inspiring； Antonius issued a
proclamation； that no one should detain in captivity a citizen of
Cremona。 The spoil indeed had been rendered valueless to the
soldiers by a general agreement throughout Italy； which rejected
with loathing the purchase of such slaves。 A massacre then began； when
this was known； the prisoners were secretly ransomed by their
friends and relatives。 The remaining inhabitants soon returned to
Cremona； the temples and squares were restored by the munificence of
the burghers； and Vespasian gave his exhortations。
The soil poisoned with blood forbade the enemy to remain long by the
ruins of the buried city。 They advanced to the third milestone； and
gathered the dispersed and panic…stricken Vitellianists round their
proper standards。 The vanquished legions were then scattered
throughout Illyricum； for civil war was not over； and they might
play a doubtful part。 Messengers carrying news of the victory were
then despatched to Britain and to Spain。 Julius Calenus； a tribune；
was sent to Gaul； and Alpinius Montanus； prefect of a cohort； to
Germany； as the one was an Aeduan； the other a Trever； and both were
Vitellianists； they would be a proof of the success。 At the same
time the passes of the Alps were occupied with troops； for it was
suspected that Germany was arming itself to support Vitellius。
A few days after the departure of Caecina； Vitellius had hurried
Fabius Valens to the seat of war； and was now seeking to hide his
apprehensions from himself by indulgence。 He made no military
preparation； he did not seek to invigorate the soldiers by encouraging
speeches or warlike exercises； he did not keep himself before the eyes
of the people。 Buried in the shades of his gardens； like those
sluggish animals which； if you supply them with food； lie motionless
and torpid； he had dismissed with the same forgetfulness the past； the
present； and the future。 While he thus lay wasting his powers in sloth
among the woods of Aricia； he was startled by the treachery of
Lucilius Bassus and the defection of the fleet at Ravenna。 Then came
the news about Caecina； and he heard with a satisfaction mingled
with distress； first； that he had revolted； and then； that he had been
put in irons by the army。 In that dull soul joy was more powerful than
apprehension。 In great exultation he returned to Rome； and before a
crowded assembly of the people heaped praises on the dutiful obedience
of the soldiers。 He ordered Publius Sabinus； prefect of the Praetorian
Guard； to be thrown into prison； because of his friendship with
Caecina； and substituted in his place Alfenius Varus。
He then addressed the Senate in a speech of studied
grandiloquence； and was extolled by the Senators with elaborate
adulation。 A savage resolution against Caecina was moved by Lucius
Vitellius； the rest affected indignation at the idea that a consul had
betrayed the State； a general his Emperor； a man loaded with wealth so
vast and honours so numerous his benefactor； and seemed to deplore the
wrongs of Vitellius； while they uttered their private griefs。 Not a
word from any one of them disparaged the Flavianist leaders； they
censured the delusion and recklessness of the armies； and with a
prudent circumlocution avoided the name of Vespasian。 A man was found；
who； while all regarded with great contempt both giver and receiver；
wormed himself by flattery into the one day of office which remained
to complete the consulate of Caecina。 On the last day of October
Rosius Regulus both assumed and resigned the office。 The learned
remarked that never before had a new consul been elected without a
formal act of deprivation and the passing of a law。 Before this indeed
Caninius Rebilus had been consul for a single day during the
dictatorship of Caius Caesar； when the prizes of the civil war had
to be enjoyed in haste。
At this time the murder of Junius Blaesus obtained an infamous
notoriety。 Of this act I have heard the following account。
Vitellius； who was suffering from severe illness； observed from the
Servilian gardens a neighbouring turret brilliantly illuminated
throughout the night。 Inquiring the cause； he was told that Caecina
Tuscus was entertaining a large party； of whom Junius Blaesus was
the most distinguished。 Other particulars were given with much
exaggeration about the splendour of the banquet and the unrestrained
gaiety of the guests。 There were persons who charged Tuscus and his
guests； and Blaesus more vindictively than any； with passing their
days in merriment while the Emperor was sick。 As soon as it was
sufficiently clear to those who keenly watch the angry moods of
princes； that Vitellius was exasperated； and that Blaesus might be
destroyed； the part of the informer was intrus
