and, when he had got a sufficient force, he again blocked up the ports of Italy, and reduced the inhabitants of the capital to the utmost distress for want of provisions.  Octavianus, (Augustus Caesar,) to whom the protection of Italy was assigned, had neither the courage nor the means to oppose Pompey, who, probably, would speedily have forced the triumvirate, to grant him conditions still more favourable than the former ones, had it not been for the defection of one of his admirals.  As he was an officer of great valour and experience in maritime affairs, and carried over with him the numerous fleet which he commanded, Augustus was emboldened and rendered better able to cope with Pompey by sea.  The latter, rather enraged than intimidated by this defection, sent another of his admirals, who had always been jealous of the one who had gone over to Augustus, with a numerous fleet, to ravage the coasts of Italy.  On his return, he fell in with a fleet of Augustus, on board of which was his rival.  An obstinate battle ensued:  at first Pompey’s fleet was worsted; but in the issue it was victorious, and the greater number of Augustus’ ships were sunk, captured, or driven on shore.  As soon as Augustus learnt the issue of this battle, he resolved to sail from Tarentum, where he then was, pass the straits of Messina, and reinforce the shattered remains of his squadron; but, while he was in the straits, his ships were attacked by Pompey himself, and most of them sunk or dashed to pieces:  with great difficulty he escaped.  He was now in a dreadful situation; without ships or money; while the inhabitants of Rome were on the point of rising against his authority, for want of corn.  In this extremity he applied to Anthony, who immediately came to his aid with 300 sail of ships.  As Anthony needed land-forces, which, under the present circumstances, were of no use to Augustus, they agreed to an interchange:  Augustus gave Anthony two legions; and Anthony, on his part, left with Augustus 100 armed galleys.  In addition to these, Octavia obtained from her husband twenty small ships, as a reinforcement to her brother.

Augustus, though now superior in naval force to Pompey, (for his ships were more numerous, as well as larger and stronger, though not so light and expeditious, nor so well manned,) was not willing to expose himself any more to the hazards of a sea-fight:  he therefore appointed Agrippa commander-in-chief of his navy, with directions to cruise off Mylae, a city on the northern coast of Sicily, where Pompey had assembled all his naval forces.  As the possession of this important island was absolutely necessary to the reduction of Pompey’s power, and the relief and supply of the city of Rome, Augustus, Lepidus, and another general were to invade it in three different places, while Agrippa was watching Pompey’s fleet.  The whole of Augustus’s expeditions sailed from different ports of Italy at the same time; but they had scarcely put to sea, when a violent storm arose,