ravaged the country on every side. Blesus, for an example of terror to the
rest, commanded those who were most laden with plunder, to be punished
with stripes and cast into prison: for the General was still dutifully
obeyed by the Centurions, and by all the soldiers of any merit; but the
criminals refused to submit, and even struggled with the guard who were
carrying them off; they clasped the knees of the bystanders, implored help
from their fellows, now calling upon every individual, and conjuring them
by their particular names; then appealed to them in a body, and
supplicated the company, the cohort, the legion to which they belonged;
warning and proclaiming that the same ignominy and chastisement hung over
them all. With the same breath they heaped invectives without measure upon
their General, and called upon heaven and all the Gods to be their
witnesses and avengers; nor left they aught unattempted to raise effectual
hatred, compassion, terror, and every species of fury. Hence the whole
body rushed to their relief, burst open the prison, unbound and rescued
the prisoners: thus they owned for their brethren, and incorporated with
themselves, infamous revolters, and traitors convict and condemned.

Hence the violence became more raging, and hence more sedition from more
leaders. There was particularly one Vibulenus, a common soldier, who,
exalted on the shoulders of his comrades, before the tribunal of Blesus,
thus declaimed in the ears of a multitude already outrageous, and eager to
hear what he had to say. "To these innocents," says he, "to these
miserable sufferers, our fellow-soldiers, you have indeed restored breath
and liberty: but who will restore life to my poor brother; who my poor
brother to me? He was sent hither by the German armies, with propositions
for our common good; and for this, was last night butchered by that same
Blesus, who in the murder employed his gladiators, bloody men, whom he
purposely entertains and arms for our common execution. Where, oh where,
Blesus, hast thou thrown his unoffending and mangled corpse? Even open