Caesar (II), L. Volcacius L. F. Tullus. (B.C. 33 = a. u. 721.)

(BOOK 49, BOISSEVAIN.)

[B.C. 36 (a. u. 718)]

[-1-] This happened in the winter when Lucius Gellius and Cocceius Nerva became consuls.  Caesar, when his fleet had been made ready and spring set in, started from Baise and coasted along Italy, having great hopes of encompassing Sicily on all sides.  For he was sailing thither with many ships and those of Antony were already in the strait.  Also Lepidus, though reluctantly, had promised to assist him.  His greatest ground of confidence lay in the height of the vessels and the thickness of the timbers.  They had been built unusually stout and unusually high so as to carry the largest number of marines possible; indeed, they were surmounted by towers, in order that the conflict might be waged from a higher point, as if from a wall:  they were further intended to resist the rammings of antagonists and to bend aside their beaks by making the collision more violent.  With such calculations Caesar was hastening to Sicily.  As he was passing the promontory of Palinurus, so-called, a great storm fell upon him.  This destroyed many ships, and Menas coming upon the rest in confusion burned a number and towed away the rest.  And had he not again changed sides on the promise of immunity and through some other hopes, besides betraying the whole fleet that he commanded by receiving some triremes that simulated desertion, Caesar’s voyage to Sicily on this occasion also would have proved fruitless.  Menas’s action was due to the fact that he was not allowed by Sextus to fight against Lepidus and was under suspicion in nearly every way.  Caesar was then extremely glad to receive him, but trusted him no longer.  He first repaired the damaged ships, freed the slaves that served on the triremes, and assigned the spare seamen, (many of whom when their vessels were destroyed in the wreck had dived and escaped by swimming) to Antony’s fleet, which was short of men.  Then he came to Lipara, and leaving there Agrippa and the ships, returned to the mainland with the intention of transporting the infantry across into Sicily, when an opportunity should arise.

[-2-] On learning this Sextus himself lay quietly at anchor off Messana, watching for his attempt to cross, and ordered Demochares to anchor opposite Agrippa at Mylae.  This pair spent most of the time in testing each other’s strength according as each one would temporarily give way a little; yet they did not dare to risk an engagement with their entire armaments.  They were not acquainted with each other’s forces and on both sides they figured everything about their opponents as being greater and more terrible than the reality.  Finally Agrippa comprehended that it was not advantageous for him to delay,—­for the adherents of Sextus, occupying a friendly position, had no need to hurry,—­and taking the best of his ships set out for Mylae to spy out the numbers of the enemy.  As he could