1As it happened, on open ground between the Po and the road two legions met, for Vitellius the Twenty-First, surnamed Rapax, distinguished by old renown, on Otho's side the First Adiutrix, never before led into battle, but fierce and greedy for its first glory. 1The men of the First overthrew the front ranks of the Twenty-First and carried off their eagle; 1stung by this indignity, the legion both drove back the men of the First in turn, killing their legate Orfidius Benignus, and seized a great many standards and banners from the enemy. 1On another part of the field the Thirteenth legion was driven back by an onslaught of the Fifth, and the men of the Fourteenth were surrounded by a rush of greater numbers.
1And, since Otho's generals had long since fled, Caecina and Valens were strengthening their men with reserves. 1Fresh help arrived, Varus Alfenus with the Batavians, after routing the band of gladiators which had been ferried across in boats and which the cohorts posted opposite had slaughtered in the river itself: so, as victors, they charged into the enemy's flank.