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[633]
In the mean time, Antonius Primus took the third of the legions that
were in Mysia, for he was president of that province, and made haste, in
order to fight Vitellius; whereupon Vitellius sent away Cecinna, with a
great army, having a mighty confidence in him, because of his having beaten
Otho. This Cecinna marched out of Rome in great haste, and found Antonius
about Cremona in Gall, which city is in the borders of Italy; but when
he saw there that the enemy were numerous and in good order, he durst not
fight them; and as he thought a retreat dangerous, so he began to think
of betraying his army to Antonius. Accordingly, he assembled the centurions
and tribunes that were under his command, and persuaded them to go over
to Antonius, and this by diminishing the reputation of Vitellius, and by
exaggerating the power of Vespasian. He also told them that with the one
there was no more than the bare name of dominion, but with the other was
the power of it; and that it was better for them to prevent necessity,
and gain favor, and, while they were likely to be overcome in battle, to
avoid the danger beforehand, and go over to Antonius willingly; that Vespasian
was able of himself to subdue what had not yet submitted without their
assistance, while Vitellius could not preserve what he had already with
it.
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