Antonius did not press
forward, for he thought of the fatigue and the wounds with which a battle so
hard fought, notwithstanding its successful termination, must have disabled
his cavalry and their horses. As the shadows of evening deepened the whole
strength of the Flavianist army came up. They advanced amid heaps of dead
and the traces of recent slaughter, and, as if the war was over, demanded
that they should advance to
Cremona, and receive the
capitulation of the vanquished party, or take the place by
storm. This was the motive alleged,
and it sounded well, but what every one said to himself was this: "The
colony, situated as it is on level ground, may be taken by assault. If we
attack under cover of darkness, we shall be at least as bold, and shall
enjoy more licence in plunder. If we wait for the light, we shall be met
with entreaties for peace, and in return for our toil and our wounds shall
receive only the empty satisfaction of clemency and praise, but the wealth
of
Cremona will go into the purses of the legates
and the prefects. The soldiers have the plunder of a city that is stormed,
the generals of one which capitulates." The centurions and tribunes were
spurned away; that no man's voice might be heard, the troops clashed their
weapons together, ready to break through all discipline, unless they were
led as they wished.
