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XXIX
XXIX
To Atticus (at Rome)
Puteoli, 21 December, 45 B.C.
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, 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. He was
anointed: took his place at the table. He was under a course of emetics, 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."
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 recherche 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. This I was told by Nicias.
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