Mittam’: post paulo scribit sibi milia quinque
Esse domi chlamydum; partem vel tolleret omnes.
Horace, Ep. I. vi. 40-44.
Subject. Horace says ‘I am like Lucullus’ soldier—when his pocket was empty he would volunteer for forlorn hopes; when it was full again he would do so no more. It was poverty that made me write verses.’—W.
40 Chlamydes. The Chlamys was the light short mantle of the Greeks, here wanted for a pageant on the stage.
44 tolleret. The subj. is the praetor or person giving the show.—W.
Reference. For the magnificence of his Villas at Tusculum and near Neapolis, see Cicero De Fin. ii. § 107, De Leg. iii. § 30, Pliny, N. H. ix. 170.