stirred up the officers in Moesia:[142] it was by my persistence that we broke through the Alps, seized hold of Italy and cut off the German and Raetian auxiliaries.[143] When Vitellius' legions were all scattered and disunited, it was I who flung the cavalry on them like a whirlwind, and then pressed home the attack with the infantry all day and all night. That victory is my greatest achievement and it is entirely my own. As for the mishap at Cremona, that was the fault of the war. In old days the civil wars cost the country far more damage and involved the destruction of more than one town. It is not with couriers and dispatches that I serve my master, but with my sword in my hand. Nor can it be said that I have interfered with the glory of the men who have meanwhile settled matters in Dacia.[144] What peace in Moesia is to them, the safety and welfare of Italy are to me. It was my encouragement which brought the provinces of Gaul and of Spain, the strongest parts of the whole world, over to Vespasian's side. But my labours will prove useless, if the reward for the dangers I have run is to fall to the man who was not there to share them.' All this reached the ears of Mucianus and a serious quarrel resulted. Antonius kept it up in a frank spirit of dislike, while Mucianus showed a cunning which was far more implacable. FOOTNOTES: [128] The narrative is here resumed from the end of chap. 35. [129] Would-be centurions doubtless bribed him to influence the soldiers in their favour. [130] Vespasian was too big to mind being despised; Mucianus was not, and eventually retaliated (cp. iv. 11). [131] November. [132] From Dalmatia (see ii. 11, 67). [133] Governor of Dalmatia (cp. ii. 86). [134] Fano. [135] Apparently soldiers' slang. Probably at some period an officer had bribed his men under the pretence of making special grants for the purchase of nails for their shoes. [136] 87 B.C. [137] L. Cornelius Sisenna, who died 67 B.C. in Pompey's war against the pirates, wrote a history of his own time, dealing in particular with Sulla's wars. [138] This or some similar incident seems to have become a respected commonplace of history and poetry (cp. chap. 25). [139] i.e. the main body of the legions. [140] See chap. 50. [141] See ii. 86. [142] i.e. Aponius, Vipstanus Messala, Dillius, and Numisius (see ii. 85, iii. 9, 10). [143] Cp. chap. 8. [144] i.e. Mucianus and his officers (see chap. 46). VITELLIUS' MEASURES OF DEFENCE