§11.1γενομένων δὲ τούτων, καὶ τῶν ἐν Βητριακῷ στρατιωτῶν τοῦ Ὄθωνος ἐκφερομένων μετʼ ὀργῆς ἐπὶ τὴν μάχην, προήγαγεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Πρόκλος ἐκ τοῦ Βητριακοῦ, καὶ κατεστρατοπέδευσεν ἀπὸ πεντήκοντα σταδίων οὕτως ἀπείρως καὶ καταγελάστως ὥστε, τῆς μὲν ὥρας ἐαρινῆς οὔσης, τῶν δὲ κύκλῳ πεδίων πολλὰ νάματα καὶ ποταμοὺς ἀεννάους ἐχόντων, ὕδατος σπάνει πιέζεσθαι.
When these things had happened, and Otho's soldiers in Bedriacum were rushing with anger into battle, Proclus led them forth from Bedriacum and encamped at a distance of fifty stades, so ignorantly and ridiculously that, although the season was spring and the surrounding plains had many springs and perennial rivers, they were hard pressed by a scarcity of water.
§11.2τῇ δὲ ὑστεραίᾳ βουλόμενον προάγειν ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ὁδὸν οὐκ ἐλάττονα σταδίων ἑκατὸν οἱ περὶ τὸν Παυλῖνον οὐκ εἴων, ἀλλʼ ᾤοντο δεῖν περιμένειν καὶ μὴ προπονεῖν ἑαυτούς, μηδὲ εὐθὺς ἐκ πορείας μάχην τίθεσθαι πρὸς ἄνδρας ὡπλισμένους καὶ παρατεταγμένους καθʼ ἡσυχίαν, ἐν ὅσῳ χρόνῳ προΐασιν αὐτοὶ τοσαύτην ὁδὸν ἀναμεμιγμένων ὑποζυγίων καὶ ἀκολούθων.
On the next day, when he wished to lead them forward against the enemy a distance of no less than a hundred stades, Paulinus and his party would not allow it, but thought they ought to wait and not exhaust themselves beforehand, nor immediately after a march join battle with men who were armed and drawn up in quiet, during the time they themselves were advancing so great a distance with baggage animals and camp followers mixed among them.
§11.3οὔσης δὲ περὶ τούτων ἀντιλογίας ἐν τοῖς στρατηγοῖς ἦλθε παρʼ Ὄθωνος ἱππεὺς τῶν καλουμένων Νομάδων γράμματα κομίζων κελεύοντα μὴ μένειν μηδὲ διατρίβειν, ἀλλʼ ἄγειν εὐθὺς ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν ἄραντες ἐχώρουν, ὁ δὲ Κεκίνας πυθόμενος τὴν ἔφοδον αὐτῶν ἐθορυβήθη, καὶ κατὰ σπουδὴν ἀπολιπὼν τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὸν ποταμὸν ἧκεν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον.
While there was a dispute among the generals about these matters, there came from Otho a horseman of those called Nomads, bringing a letter ordering them not to wait nor delay, but to lead immediately against the enemy. They, therefore, broke camp and advanced; and Caecina, hearing of their approach, was thrown into confusion, and in haste abandoning the works and the river came to the camp.
§11.4ὡπλισμένων δὲ ἤδη τῶν πολλῶν, καὶ τὸ σύνθημα παραλαμβανόντων παρὰ τοῦ Οὐάλεντος, ἐν ὅσῳ τὴν τάξιν διελάγχανε τὰ τάγματα, τοὺς ἀρίστους τῶν ἱππέων προεξέπεμψαν.
While the majority were already armed and receiving the watchword from Valens, during the time the legions were drawing lots for their positions, they sent out the best of the cavalry ahead.