On the attempt of Mentula to become a poet. Concerning him cf.
Catul. 94.1ff., Catul. 114.1ff., Catul. 115.1ff., and Intr. 73f. He is sneered at as eruditulus also in Catul.
57.7
Pipleum montem: Pimpla (Pipla) was a region (with a hill and fountain) in the Macedonian district of Pieria, and was sacred to the Muses.
scandere: cf. Enn. Ann. 223 Vahl. neque Musarum scopulos quisquam superarat.
[2] furcillis eiciunt: a proverbial expression for expulsion with violence and ignominy; cf. Hor. Ep. 1.10.24 “naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret” ; Cic. Att. 16.2.4 “sed, quoniam furcilla extrudimur, Brundisium cogito;” Aristoph. Peace 637 “τήνδε μὲν δικροῖς ἐώθουν τὴν θεὸν κεκράγμασιν” .