Hist. 2.44.1Eōdem diē ad Caecīnam operī pontis intentum duo praetōriārum cohortium tribūnī, conloquium eius postulantēs, vēnērunt: audīre condiciōnēs ac reddere parābat, cum praecipitēs explōrātōrēs adesse hostem nūntiāvēre.On the same day two tribunes of the praetorian cohorts came to Caecina, who was intent on the work of the bridge, asking for an interview with him: he was preparing to hear their terms and give his own, when scouts rushed up headlong to report that the enemy was at hand. Hist. 2.44.1Interruptus tribūnōrum sermō, eōque incertum fuit īnsidiās an prōditiōnem vel aliquod honestum cōnsilium coeptāverint.The tribunes' talk was broken off, and so it remained uncertain whether they had been attempting a trap or treachery or some honourable plan. Hist. 2.44.1Caecīna dīmissīs tribūnīs revectus in castra datum iussū Fabiī Valentis pugnae signum et mīlitem in armīs invēnit.Caecina, dismissing the tribunes, rode back to camp and found the signal for battle given by order of Fabius Valens and the soldiers under arms. Hist. 2.44.1Dum legiōnēs dē ōrdine agminis sortiuntur, equitēs prōrūpēre;While the legions were drawing lots for their order of march, the cavalry burst out; Hist. 2.44.1et mīrum dictū, ā pauciōribus Othōniānīs quō minus in vallum inpingerentur, Italicae legiōnis virtūte dēterritī sunt: ea strictīs mūcrōnibus redīre pulsōs et pugnam resūmere coēgit.and, remarkable to say, they were kept from being driven against their own rampart by a smaller number of Othonians only through the courage of the Italian legion: with drawn swords it forced the beaten men to turn back and renew the fight.
Hist. 2.44.1Disposita Vitelliānārum legiōnum aciēs sine trepidātiōne: etenim quamquam vīcīnō hoste aspectus armōrum dēnsīs arbustīs prohibēbātur.The line of the Vitellian legions was drawn up without alarm: for although the enemy was near, the sight of their arms was screened by dense plantations of trees. Hist. 2.44.1Apud Othōniānōs pavidī ducēs, mīles ducibus īnfēnsus, mīxta vehicula et lixae, et praeruptīs utrimque fossīs via quiētō quoque agminī angusta.On the Othonian side the generals were fearful, the soldiers hostile to their generals, wagons and camp-followers mingled with the troops, and the road, with steep ditches on either side, narrow even for a column at rest. Hist. 2.44.1Circumsistere aliī signa sua, quaerere aliī;Some were gathering round their own standards, others looking for them; Hist. 2.44.1incertus undique clamor adcurrentium, vocantium: ut cuique audācia vel formīdō, in prīmam postrēmamve aciem prōrumpēbant aut relābēbantur.on every side there was a confused shouting of men running up and calling out: according to each man's boldness or fear, they rushed forward into the front line or slipped back into the rear.