1Their minds, stunned by sudden terror, were turned to slackness by a false joy, when men were found who falsely claimed that the army had deserted Vitellius. 1Whether this rumour was spread by Vitellius' scouts, or arose on Otho's own side by design or by chance, has not been well established. 1Abandoning their ardour for battle, the Othonians actually hailed the enemy; 1and, met with a hostile murmur, since most of their own men did not know the reason for the greeting, they raised fear of treachery. 1Then the enemy's line bore down, its ranks intact, superior in strength and numbers: the Othonians, though scattered, fewer and tired, nevertheless took up the fight fiercely.
1And over ground obstructed by trees and vines the battle had no single aspect: at close quarters and at a distance, in columns and wedges they clashed. 1On the raised causeway of the road they pressed foot to foot, shoving with bodies and shield-bosses, and, giving up throwing javelins, they broke through helmets and breastplates with swords and axes: recognising one another, watched by the rest, they fought for the outcome of the whole war.