They had everything to lose and nothing to win.

They wanted rest, an opportunity to enjoy.

Some of them were devoted to the Emperor, in fact, all of them were, but their own comfort and self-interest bulked larger and larger before them.

They saw nothing but defeat at the end of their endeavors, and they wanted to negotiate peace with such honor as could be had while they were still a force to be reckoned with.
Their unwillingness and mutinous spirit, however, had not yet reached its highest development.

That came later, and brought treachery in its train.