DCLXXVI (A XIII, 52)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
PUTEOLI, 21 DECEMBER
WELL, I have no reason after all to repent my
formidable guest! For he made himself exceedingly
pleasant. But on his arrival at the villa of
Philippus on the evening of the second day of the
Saturnalia, 1
the villa was so choke full of soldiers that there
was scarcely a dining-room left for Caesar himself
to dine in. Two thousand men, if you please! I was
in a great taking as to what was to happen the
next day; and so Cassius Barba came to my aid and
gave me guards. A camp was pitched in the open,
the villa was put in a state of defence. He stayed
with Philippus on the third day of the Saturnalia
till one o'clock, without admitting anyone. He was
engaged on his accounts, I think, with Balbus.
Then he took a walk on the beach. After two he
went to the bath. Then he heard about Mamurra
without changing countenance. 2 He
was anointed: took his place at the table. He was
under a course of emetics, 3 and
so ate and drank without scruple and as suited his
taste. It was a very good dinner, and well served,
and not only so, but "Well cooked, well seasoned
food, with rare discourse: A banquet in a word to
cheer the heart." 4 Besides this, the
staff were entertained in three rooms in a very
liberal style. The freedmen of lower rank and the
slaves had everything they could want. But the
upper sort had a really
recherché dinner. In fact, I shewed
that I was somebody. However, he is not a guest to
whom one would say, "Pray look me up again on your
way back." Once is enough. We didn't say a word
about politics. There was plenty of literary talk.
In short, he was pleased and enjoyed himself. He
said he should stay one day at Puteoli, another at
Baiae. That's the story of the entertainment, or I
might call it the billeting on me—trying
to the temper, but not seriously inconvenient. I
am staying on here for a short time and then go to
Tusculum. When he was passing Dolabella's villa,
the whole guard formed up on the right and left of
his horse, and nowhere else. 5 This I was told by
Nicias.
PUTEOLI, 21 DECEMBER
