第 36 节
作者:向前      更新:2021-04-30 17:17      字数:9322
  was a free and open space for the discharge of the missiles; which
  at first had been scattered at random; and had struck against the
  trees without injury to the enemy。 An engine of remarkable size;
  belonging to the 15th legion; was crushing the hostile ranks with huge
  stones; and would have spread destruction far and wide; had not two
  soldiers ventured on a deed of surpassing bravery。 Disguising
  themselves with shields snatched from the midst of the carnage; they
  cut the ropes and springs of the engine。 They were instantly slain;
  and their names have consequently been lost; but the fact is
  undoubted。 Fortune favoured neither side; till at a late hour of the
  night the moon rose and showed; but showed deceptively; both armies。
  The light; however; shining from behind; favoured the Flavianists。
  With them a lengthened shadow fell from men and horses; and the
  enemy's missiles; incorrectly aimed at what seemed the substance; fell
  short; while the Vitellianists; who had the light shining on their
  faces; were unconsciously exposed to an enemy who were; so to speak;
  concealed while they aimed。
  As soon as Antonius could recognize his men and be recognized by
  them; he sought to kindle their courage; striving to shame some with
  his reproaches; stirring many with praise and encouragement; and all
  with hopes and promises。 〃Why;〃 he demanded of the legions of
  Pannonia; 〃have you again taken up arms? Yonder is the field where you
  may wipe out the stain of past disgrace; and redeem your honour。〃 Then
  turning to the troops of Moesia; he appealed to them as the authors
  and originators of the war。 〃Idly;〃 he said 〃have you challenged the
  Vitellianists with threatening words; if you cannot abide their attack
  or even their looks。〃 So he spoke to each as he approached them。 The
  third legion he addressed at greater length; reminding them of old and
  recent achievements; how under Marcus Antonius they had defeated the
  Parthians; under Corbulo the Armenians; and had lately discomfited the
  Sarmatians。 Then angrily turning to the Praetorians; 〃Clowns;〃 said
  he; 〃unless you are victorious; what other general; what other camp
  will receive you? There are your colours and your arms; defeat is
  death; for disgrace you have exhausted。〃 A shout was raised on all
  sides; and the soldiers of the third legion saluted; as is the
  custom in Syria; the rising sun。
  A vague rumour thus arose; or was intentionally suggested by the
  general; that Mucianus had arrived; and that the two armies had
  exchanged salutations。 The men then charged as confidently as if
  they had been strengthened by fresh reinforcements; while the
  enemy's array was now less compact; for; as there was no one to
  command; it was now contracted; now extended; as the courage or fear
  of individual soldiers might prompt。 Antonius; seeing that they gave
  way; charged them with a heavy column; the loose ranks were at once
  broken; and; entangled as they were among their wagons and
  artillery; could not be re…formed。 The conquerors; in the eagerness of
  pursuit; dispersed themselves over the entire line of road。 The
  slaughter that followed was made particularly memorable through the
  murder of a father by his son。 I will record the incident with the
  names; on the authority of Vipstanus Messalla。 Julius Mansuetus; a
  Spaniard; enlisting in the legion Rapax; had left at home a son of
  tender age。 The lad grew up to manhood; and was enrolled by Galba in
  the 7th legion。 Now chancing to meet his father; he brought him to the
  ground with a wound; and; as he rifled his dying foe; recognized
  him; and was himself recognized。 Clasping the expiring man in his
  arms; in piteous accents he implored the spirit of his father to be
  propitious to him; and not to turn from him with loathing as from a
  parricide。 〃This guilt;〃 he said; 〃is shared by all; how small a
  part of a civil war is a single soldier!〃 With these words he raised
  the body; opened a grave; and discharged the last duties for his
  father。 This was noticed by those who were on the spot; then by many
  others; astonishment and indignation ran through the whole army; and
  they cursed this most horrible war。 Yet as eagerly as ever they
  stripped the bodies of slaughtered kinsfolk; connexions; and brothers。
  They talk of an impious act having been done; and they do it
  themselves。
  When they reached Cremona a fresh work of vast difficulty
  presented itself。 During the war with Otho the legions of Germany
  had formed their camp round the walls of the city; round this camp had
  drawn an entrenchment; and had again strengthened these defences。 At
  this sight the victorious army hesitated; while the generals doubted
  what orders they should give。 To attempt an assault with troops
  exhausted by the toil of a day and a night would be difficult; and
  with no proper reserves might be perilous。 Should they return to
  Bedriacum; the fatigue of so long a march would be insupportable;
  and their victory would result in nothing。 To entrench a camp with the
  enemy so close at hand would be dangerous; as by a sudden sortie
  they might cause confusion among them while dispersed and busied
  with the work。 Above all; they were afraid of their soldiers; who were
  more patient of danger than delay。 Cautious measures they disliked;
  their rashness inspired them with hope; and eagerness for plunder
  outweighed all the horrors of carnage; wounds; and bloodshed。
  Antonius himself was this way inclined; and he ordered the
  entrenched camp to be invested。 At first they fought from a distance
  with arrows and stones; the Flavianists suffering most; as the enemy's
  missiles were aimed at them from a superior height。 Antonius then
  assigned to each legion the attack on some portion of the
  entrenchments; and on one particular gate; seeking by this division of
  labour to distinguish the cowardly from the brave; and to stimulate
  his men by an honourable rivalry。 The 3rd and 7th legions took up a
  position close to the road from Bedriacum; more to the right of the
  entrenchments were stationed the 8th and the 7th (Claudius')。 The 13th
  were carried by the impetuosity of their attack as far as the gate
  looking towards Brixia。 There ensued a little delay; while from the
  neighbouring fields some were collecting spades and pickaxes; others
  hooks and ladders。 Then raising their shields over their heads; they
  advanced to the rampart in a dense 〃testudo。〃 Both used the arts of
  Roman warfare; the Vitellianists rolled down ponderous stones; and
  drove spears and long poles into the broken and tottering 〃testudo;〃
  till the dense array of shields was loosened; and the ground was
  strewn with a vast number of lifeless and mangled bodies。
  28。 Some hesitation had shewn itself; when the generals; seeing that
  the weary troops would not listen to what seemed to them unmeaning
  encouragement; pointed to Cremona。 Whether this was; as Messalla
  relates; the device of Hormus; or whether Caius Plinius be the
  better authority when he charges it upon Antonius; I cannot easily
  determine。 All I can say is this; that neither in Antonius nor in
  Hormus would this foulest of crimes have been a degeneracy from the
  character of their former lives。 Wounds or bloodshed no longer kept
  the men back from undermining the rampart and battering the gates。
  Supported on the shoulders of comrades; and forming a second
  〃testudo;〃 they clambered up and seized the weapons and even the hands
  of the enemy。 The unhurt and the wounded; the half…dead and the dying;
  were mingled together with every incident of slaughter and death in
  every form。
  The fiercest struggle was maintained by the 3rd and 7th legions; and
  Antonius in person with some chosen auxiliaries concentrated his
  efforts on the same point。 The Vitellianists; unable to resist the
  combined and resolute attack; and finding that their missiles glided
  off the 〃testudo;〃 at last threw the engine itself on the
  assailants; for a moment it broke and overwhelmed those on whom it
  fell; but it drew after it in its fall the battlements and upper
  part of the rampart。 At the same time an adjoining tower yielded to
  the volleys of stones; and; while the 7th legion in wedge…like array
  was endeavouring to force an entrance; the 3rd broke down the gate
  with axes and swords。 All authors are agreed that Caius Volusius; a
  soldier of the 3rd legion; entered first。 Beating down all who opposed
  him; he mounted the rampart; waved his hand; and shouted aloud that
  the camp was taken。 The rest of the legion burst in; while the
  troops of Vitellius were seized with panic; and threw themselves
  from the rampart。 The entire space between the camp and the walls of
  Cremona was filled with slain。
  Difficulties of another