[117] When the report of Agrippa's movement turned out to be false, Pompeius was troubled that he had lost the defiles,1 and he called to his assistance Tisienus with his army. Octavius sought to intercept Tisienus, but lost his way around Mount Myconium. He passed the night there without tents. There was a heavy rainfall, as often occurs in the autumn, and some of his armor-bearers held a Gallic shield over his head the whole night. Harsh mutterings and prolonged roars from Mount Etna were heard, accompanied by flames which lighted up the camp, so that the Germans sprang from their beds in fear. Others, who had heard what had been related of Mount Etna, would not have been surprised, in presence of these remarkable phenomena, if a torrent of fire had rolled upon them. After this Octavius ravaged the territory of the Abacænians,2 where Lepidus, who was foraging, met him, and they both encamped near Messana.
1 ἡσθεὶς τῶν στενῶν ἀφῃρημένος. The first of these words implies that Pompeius was delighted that he had lost the defiles. Both Candidus and Geslen took it to be an error for ἤσθετο (perceived). Schweighäuser suggested ἤχθετο (was troubled), and this change is approved by Mendelssohn.
2 The text says "Palestenians," but Cluver gives reasons for considering this an error for Abacænians.
The Civil Wars. Appian. Horace White. London. MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. 1899.
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