to their reputation by selecting them as his most effective troops。
This had made them long faithful to Nero； and kindled their zeal for
Otho。 But their self…confidence induced a tardiness of movement
proportionate to their strength and solidity。 The auxiliary infantry
and cavalry moved in advance of the main body of the legions。 The
capital itself contributed no contemptible force； namely five
Praetorian cohorts； some troops of cavalry； and the first legion；
and together with these； 2000 gladiators； a disreputable kind of
auxiliaries； but employed throughout the civil wars even by strict
disciplinarians。 Annius Gallus was put at the head of this force；
and was sent on with Vestricius Spurinna to occupy the banks of the
Padus； the original plan of the campaign having fallen to the
ground； now that Caecina； who they had hoped might have been kept
within the limits of Gaul； had crossed the Alps。 Otho himself was
accompanied by some picked men of the body…guard； with whom were the
rest of the Praetorian cohorts； the veteran troops from the Praetorian
camp； and a vast number of the levies raised from the fleet。 No
indolence or riot disgraced his march。 He wore a cuirass of iron；
and was to be seen in front of the standards； on foot； rough and
negligent in dress； and utterly unlike what common report had pictured
him。
Fortune seemed to smile on his efforts。 Through his fleets； which
commanded the sea； he held the greater part of Italy； even as far as
where the chain of the Maritime Alps begins。 The task of attempting
the passage of this chain； and of advancing into the Provincia
Narbonensis； he had entrusted to three generals； Suedius Clemens；
Antonius Novellus； and Aemilius Pacensis。 Pacensis； however； was put
in irons by his insubordinate troops； Antonius possessed no kind of
authority； and Clemens commanded only for popularity； and was as
reckless in transgressing the good order of military discipline as
he was eager to fight。 One would not have thought that it was Italy；
the fields； and the habitations of their native country； that they
were passing through。 They burnt； spoiled； and plundered； as if they
were among the lands of the foreigner and the cities of a hostile
people； and all with the more frightful effect as nowhere had there
been made any provision against the danger。 The fields were full of
rural wealth； the houses stood with open doors； and the owners； as
with their wives and children they came forth to meet the army；
found themselves surrounded； in the midst of the security of peace；
with all the horrors of war。 Marius Maturus was then governing as
procurator the province of the Maritime Alps。 Raising the
population； in which is no lack of able…bodied men； he resolved to
drive back the Othonianists from the borders of his province； but
the mountaineers were cut down and broken by the first charge； as
might be expected of men who had been hastily collected； who were
not familiar with camps or with regular command； who saw no glory in
victory； no infamy in flight。
Exasperated by this conflict； the troops of Otho vented their rage
on the town of Albintemilium。 In the field indeed they had secured
no plunder； their rustic adversaries were poor； and their arms
worthless； nor could they be taken prisoners； for they were swift of
foot； and knew the country well。 But the rapacity of the troops
glutted itself in the ruin of an innocent population。 The horror of
these acts was aggravated by a noble display of fortitude in a
Ligurian woman； she had concealed her son； and when the soldiers；
who believed that some money had been hidden with him； questioned
her with torture as to where she was hiding him； she pointed to her
bosom； and replied； 〃It is here that he is concealed〃； nor could any
subsequent threats or even death itself make her falter in this
courageous and noble answer。
Messengers now came in haste and alarm to inform Fabius Valens；
how Otho's fleet was threatening the province of Gallia Narbonensis；
which had sworn allegiance to Vitellius。 Envoys from the colonies were
already on the spot praying for aid。 He despatched two cohorts of
Tungrian infantry； four squadrons of horse； and all the cavalry of the
Treviri under the command of Julius Classicus。 Part of these troops
were retained for the defence of the colony of Forum Julii； for it was
feared； that if the whole army were sent by the route through the
interior； the enemy's fleet might make a rapid movement on the
unprotected coast。 Twelve squadrons of cavalry and some picked
infantry advanced against the enemy； they were reinforced by a
cohort of Ligurians； an auxiliary local force of long standing； and
five hundred Pannonians； not yet regularly enrolled。 The conflict
commenced without delay； the enemy's line of battle being so arranged；
that part of the levies from the fleet； who had a number of rustics
among their ranks； were posted on the slope of the hills which
border on the coast； the Praetorians fully occupying the level
ground between the hills and the shore； while on the sea was the
fleet； moored to the land and ready for action； drawn up in line so as
to present a formidable front。 The Vitellianists whose infantry was
inferior； but who were strong in cavalry； stationed the mountaineers
on the neighbouring heights； and their infantry in close ranks
behind the cavalry。 The squadrons of the Treveri charged the enemy
incautiously； and found themselves encountered in front by the veteran
troops； while on the flanks they were also annoyed by showers of
stones from the rustic band； who were skilful throwers； and who； mixed
up as they were among the regular soldiers； whether cowardly or brave；
were all equally bold in the moment of victory。 The general
consternation of the Vitellianists was increased by a new alarm as the
fleet attacked the rear of the combatants。 By this movement they
were hemmed in on all sides； and the whole force would have
perished； had not the shades of night checked the advance of the
victorious army； and covered the retreat of the vanquished。
The Vitellianists； however； though beaten； did not remain
inactive。 They brought up reinforcements and attacked the enemy； who
felt themselves secure； and whose vigilance was relaxed by success。
The sentinels were cut down； the camp stormed； and the panic reached
the ships； till； as the alarm gradually subsided； they again assumed
the offensive under the protection of some neighbouring heights
which they had occupied。 A terrible slaughter ensued； and the prefects
of the Tungrian cohorts； after having long maintained their line
unbroken； fell beneath a shower of missiles。 The Othonianists；
however； did not achieve a bloodless victory； as the enemy's cavalry
wheeled round； and cut off some who had imprudently prolonged the
pursuit。 And then； as if a sort of armistice had been concluded to
provide against any sudden panic that the cavalry of the one party
or the fleet of the other might cause； the Vitellianists retreated
to Antipolis； a town of Gallia Narbonensis； the Othonianists to
Albigaunum； in Upper Liguria。
Corsica； Sardinia； and the other islands of the neighbouring seas；
were retained in the interests of Otho by the fame of these naval
successes。 Corsica； however； all but suffered fatal injury from the
rash proceedings of Decumus Pacarius； the procurator； proceedings
which in so gigantic a war could contribute nothing to the general
result； and which only brought destruction upon their author。 In his
hatred of Otho he resolved to support Vitellius with the whole
strength of Corsica； an insignificant assistance even had the design
succeeded。 He collected the chief men of the island； and explained his
plans。 Claudius Pyrrhicus； captain of the Liburnian ships stationed in
the place； and Quintius Certus； a Roman knight； who ventured to
offer opposition； he ordered to execution。 All who were present were
terrified at their death； and； with the ignorant populace； which
ever blindly shares in the fears of others； took the oath of
allegiance to Vitellius。 But when Pacarius began to enlist troops； and
to weary with military duties an undisciplined population； disgusted
with the unusual toil； they began to reflect upon their own
weakness。 〃The country which we inhabit；〃 they said to themselves； 〃is
an island： Germany and its mighty legions are far from us； and we know
that even countries protected by infantry and cavalry have been
plundered and ravaged by the fleet。〃 Their feelings underwent a sudden
change； they did not； however； resort to open violence； but chose an
opportunity for a treacherous attack。 When the persons who usually
surrounded Pacarius had left him； and he was naked and helpless in the
bath； they slew him。 His associates were slaughtered with him。 The
perpetrators of the deed carried the heads of the slain to Otho； as
being the heads of public enemies； but； lost among the crowd of
greater criminals； in the vast confusion of events； they were
neither rewarded by Otho nor punished by Vitellius。
Silius' Horse had now； as I have already related； opened the way
into Italy； and transferred the war across the borders。 No one
entertained any attachment to Otho； yet it was not because they
preferred Vitellius： long years of peace had subdued them to any
kind of servitude； had made them ready to submit to the first comer
and careless about the better cause。 The wealthiest district of Italy；
the broad plains and cities which lie between the Padus and the
Alps； was now held by the troops of Vitellius； for by this time the
infantry sent on in advance by Caecina had also arrived。 A coh