Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/503

 OTHO. 495 slowly, was accused of acting with a degree of needless caution not to have been expected from one of his repu- tation. So that the soldiers incensed Otho against him, accused him of treachery, and boasted loudly that the victory had been in their power, and that if it was not complete, it was owing to the mismanagement of their generals ; all which Otho did not so much believe as he was willing to appear not to disbelieve. He therefore sent his brother Titianus, with Proculus, the prefect of the guards, to the army, where the latter was general in real- ity, and the former in appearance. Celsus and Paulinus had the title of friends and counsellors, but not the least authority or power. At the same time, there was noth- ing but quarrel and disturbance amongst the enemy, especially where Valens commanded ; for the soldiers here, being informed of what had happened at the am- buscade, were enraged because they had not been per- mitted to be present to strike a blow in defence of the lives of so many men that had died in that action. Valens, with much difficult}^, quieted their fury, after they had now begun to throw missiles at him, and quit- ting his camp, joined CoBcma. About this time, Otho came to Bedriacum, a little town near Cremona, to the camp, and called a council of war; where Proculus and Titianus declared for giving battle, while the soldiers were flushed with their late success, saying they ought not to lose their time and opportunity and present height of strength, and wait for Yitellius to arrive out of Gaul. But Paulinus told them that the enemy's whole force was present, and tKat there was no body of reserve behind ; but that Otho, if he would not be too precipitate, and choose the enemy's time, instead of his own, for the battle, might expect reinforcements out of Moesia and Pannonia, not inferior in numbers to the troops that were already present. He thought it proba-