Hist. 2.22.1Sed prīmus diēs impetū magis quam veterānī exercitūs artibus trānsāctus: apertī incautīque mūrōs subiēre, cibō vīnōque praegravēs.But the first day was spent in a headlong rush rather than with the skills of a veteran army: they came up to the walls exposed and careless, heavy with food and wine. Hist. 2.22.1In eō certāmine pulcherrimum amphitheātrī opus, situm extrā mūrōs, cōnflagrāvit, sīve ab obpugnātōribus incēnsum, dum facēs et glandīs et missilem ignem in obsessōs iaculantur, sīve ab obsessīs, dum regerunt.In that struggle a very beautiful amphitheatre, situated outside the walls, burned down, set on fire either by the attackers, while they hurled torches, shot and fire-missiles at the besieged, or by the besieged, while they threw them back. Hist. 2.22.1Mūnicipāle vulgus, prōnum ad suspīciōnēs, fraude inlāta ignis alimenta crēdidit ā quibusdam ex vīcīnīs colōniīs invidiā et aemulātiōne, quod nūlla in Ītaliā mōlēs tam capāx foret.The townspeople, prone to suspicion, believed that fuel for the fire had been treacherously brought in by certain people from neighbouring colonies out of envy and rivalry, because no building in Italy was so capacious. Hist. 2.22.1Quōcumque cāsū accidit, dum atrōciōra metuēbantur, in levī habitum, redditā sēcūritāte, tamquam nihil gravius patī potuissent, maerēbant.By whatever chance it happened, while worse things were feared it was thought a slight matter; when security was restored, they grieved as if they could have suffered nothing more grievous.
Hist. 2.22.1Cēterum multō suōrum cruōre pulsus Caecīna, et nox parandīs operibus absūmpta.However, Caecina was driven back with much bloodshed among his men, and the night was spent in preparing siege works. Hist. 2.22.1Vitelliānī pluteōs crātīsque et vīneās subfodiendīs mūrīs prōtegendīsque obpugnātōribus, Othōniānī sudīs et immēnsās lapidum ac plumbī aerisque mōlīs perfringendīs obruendīsque hostibus expediunt.The Vitellians got ready mantlets, hurdles and sheds for undermining the walls and protecting the attackers, the Othonians stakes and huge masses of stone, lead and bronze for breaking through and crushing the enemy. Hist. 2.22.1Utrimque pudor, utrimque glōria et dīversae exhortātiōnēs hinc legiōnum et Germānicī exercitūs rōbur, inde urbānae mīlitiae et praetōriārum cohortium decus attollentium;On both sides there was shame, on both sides a thirst for glory, and contrasting exhortations, as one side extolled the strength of the legions and the German army, the other the honour of the city soldiery and the praetorian cohorts; Hist. 2.22.1illī ut segnem et dēsidem et circō ac theātrīs corruptum mīlitem, hī peregrīnum et externum increpābant.the former abused the latter as idle, lazy soldiers corrupted by the circus and the theatres, the latter abused the former as foreigners and outsiders.
Hist. 2.22.1Simul Othōnem ac Vitellium celebrantēs culpantēsve ūberiōribus inter sē probrīs quam laudibus stimulābantur.At the same time, as they extolled or blamed Otho and Vitellius, they spurred one another on with insults more abundant than praises.