[514] Simon was a bandit from the east of Jordan; John of
          Gischala headed a party of refugees from Galilee; Eleazar was
          the leader of the Jewish war-party, and related to the high
          priests.

    [515] They submitted to John’s authority and were not killed.

    [516] ‘Ye shall not ... use enchantments, nor practise augury’
          (Lev. xix. 26).

    [517] e.g.  ’And in the days of those kings shall the God of
          heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, nor
          shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but
          it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms’ (Dan.
          ii. 44).  The Jews were looking for Messiah:  the Romans thought
          of Vespasian.

THE END OF THE GERMAN REVOLT

After the severe reverse at Trier[518] Civilis recruited his army 14 in Germany, and pitched his camp near Vetera.  The position was a safe one, and he hoped to inspirit his native troops with the memory of their former victories there.[519] Cerialis followed in his footsteps, with forces now doubled by the arrival of the Second,[520] Thirteenth, and Fourteenth legions, besides auxiliary troops, both horse and foot,[521] who had long received their summons and came hurrying on the news of victory.  Neither general was dilatory, but a vast plain lay between them.  It was by nature swampy, and Civilis had built a dam projecting into the Rhine, which stemmed the current and flooded the adjacent fields.  The treacherous nature of the ground, where the shallows were hard to find, told against our men, who were heavily armed and afraid of swimming.  The Germans, on the other hand, were used to rivers, lightly armed, and tall enough to keep their heads above water.

Provoked by the Batavi, the bravest of our troops opened the 15 engagement at once, but soon fell into a panic when their arms and horses began to sink in the deep marshes.  The Germans, who knew the fords, came leaping across them, often leaving our front alone and running round to the flanks or the rear.  It was not like an infantry engagement at close quarters, but more like a naval battle.  The men floundered about in the water or, finding firm foothold, strove with all their might for possession of it.  Thus, wounded and whole, those who could swim and those who could not, struggled helplessly with each other and perished all alike.  However, considering the confusion, our loss was less than might have been expected, for the Germans, not daring to venture out of the marsh, withdrew to their camp.  The result of this engagement gave each of the generals a different motive for hastening on a decisive battle.  Civilis wanted to follow up his success, Cerialis to wipe out his disgrace.  Success stimulated the pride of the Germans; the Romans thrilled with shame.  The natives spent the night singing uproariously, while our men muttered angry threats.