Cornificius replied that he did not know what allotment the triumvirs had made among themselves, and that since he had received the government from the Senate he would not surrender it to anybody else without the order of the Senate. This was the origin of hostilities between them. Cornificius had the heavier and more numerous army. That of Sextius was more nimble though inferior in number, by which means he was enabled to dash round and detach from Cornificius his inland districts until he was besieged by Ventidius, a lieutenant of Cornificius, who brought against him superior forces and whom he resisted valiantly. Laelius, another lieutenant of Cornificius, ravaged the province of Sextius.
Cornificiusは3人の執政官が自分たちでそのような分割をしたのか知らないし、自分は元老院に基づく政府から土地をもらったのだから、元老院の命令があるまでは誰にも土地を譲らないと答えた。これら彼らの敵対の原因だった。Cornificiusの軍は装備、数で勝っていた。Sextiusの軍は数では劣っていたが機動力があったので、Cornificiusの突進していって内陸地帯をCornificiusから取り上げることができた。ただし、それはCornificiusの副官Ventidiusに包囲されるまでのことだった。Ventidiusは優れた軍事力をもたらし、勇敢に抵抗した。Cornificiusの他の副官LaeliusはSextiusの所有する地方を破壊した。
The wealthy citizens fled from a country that they could no longer consider their own and took refuge with Pompeius,who was near by and greatly beloved by all at that time.There were present with him also many seafaring men from Spain,skilled in naval affairs,so that Pompeius was well provided with ships and money.When Octavian learned these facts he sent Salvidienus with a fleet,as though it were an easy task,to come alongside of Pompeius and destroy him,while he himself passed through Italy with the intention of joining Salvidienus at Rhegium.Pompeius advanced with a large fleet to meet Salvidienus, and a naval engagement took place between them at the entrance of the straits near the promontory of Scyllaeum.
裕福な市民はもはやそこが自分たちの土地とは考えられなかったため国からに逃げ出し、当時皆から深く慕われていたPompeiusの下に身を寄せた。また、海軍の仕事に熟達したスペインからの船乗りも多くいたためPompeiusは船も金も十分に持っていた。Octavianはこれらの事を知ると、Pompeiusに追いついて彼を打ちのめすのはたやすいことであるかのように考え、艦隊と共にSalvidienusを送る一方、自分はRhegiumでSalvidienusと合流しようとしてイタリアを通り抜けた。PompeiusはSalvidienusと対戦するために大艦隊を組んで進軍し、Scyllaeum岬付近の海峡の入り口で両軍の海戦が行なわれた。
The ships of Pompeius, being lighter and manned by better sailors, excelled in swiftness and skill, while those of the Romans, being of great tonnage and size, laboured heavily. When the usual rush of waves through the straits came on, and the sea dashed hither and thither under the influence of the current the crews of Pompeius suffered less than their adversaries, because they were accustomed to the agitation of the waters; while those of Salvidienus, not having their sea-legs through want of experience, and being unable to work their oars, or manage their rudders, were thrown into confusion. Accordingly, about sunset, Salvidienus was the first to give the signal of retreat. Pompeius withdrew also.
Pompeiusの船体の方が軽く、迅速で、技術に優れた船乗りが乗っており、一方ローマ軍の船体は非常に重く大きかったため、操縦に骨が折れた。いつものように海峡に波が押し寄せた時、海流の影響を受けて海はあちらこちらで波が打ち砕けた。Pompeius側の水兵は波の揺れに慣れていたため敵よりも苦しまなかった。一方、Salvidienusの方は経験不足で船酔いを防ぐ能力がなく、櫂を動かしたり舵を撮ったりすることも出来なかったため、混乱に陥った。その結果、夜が明ける頃、最初に撤退の合図を出したのはSalvidienusの方だった。Pompeiusも引き上げた。
