ng else that could be easily procured. Cato, who was his friend
and connected with him by marriage, was so much annoyed at his life
and habits that, on one occasion, when a young man had delivered in
the senate a tedious and lengthy discourse, quite out of season, on
frugality and temperance, Cato got up and said, "Won't you stop, you
who are as rich as Crassus, and live like Lucullus, and speak like
Cato?" Some say that a remark to this effect was made, but that it was
not by Cato.

XLI. That Lucullus was not merely pleased with this mode of living,
but prided himself upon it, appears from the anecdotes that are
recorded. It is said, that he feasted for many days some Greeks who
visited Rome, and that they, feeling as Greeks would do[434] on the
occasion, began to be ashamed and to decline the invitation, on the
ground that he was daily incurring so much expense on their account;
but Lucullus said to them with a smile, "It is true, Greeks, that this
is partly done on your account, but mainly on the account of
Lucullus." One day, when he was supping alone, a single course and a
moderate repast had been prepared for him, at which he was angry, and
called for the slave whose business it was to look after such matters.
The slave said, that he did not suppose that he would want anything
costly, as no guest was invited. "What sayest thou?" said Lucullus,
"didst thou not know that to-day Lucullus sups with Lucullus?" Now,
this matter being much talked of in the city, as one might expect,
there came up to Lucullus, as he was idling in the Forum, Cicero and
Pompeius, of whom Cicero was among his most intimate friends; but
between Lucullus and Pompeius there was some difference, arising out
of the affair of the command in the Mithridatic war, and yet they were
accustomed to associate and talk together frequently in a friendly
manner. Accordingly, Cicero saluted him, and asked him how he was
disposed to receive visitors, to which Lucullus replied, "Exceedingly
well," and invited them to pay him a visit. "We wish," said Cicero,
"to sup with you to-day, just in the same way as if preparation were
made for yourself only." Lucullus began to make some difficulty, and
to ask them to allow him to name another day; but they said they would
not, nor would they let him speak to his servants, that he might not
have the opportunity of ordering anything more than what was preparing
for himself. However, at his request, they allowed him just t