g money like Crassus,
living like Lucullus, and talking like Cato?"

It is plain from the anecdotes on record of him, that Lucullus was not
only pleased with, but even gloried in his way of living. For he is said
to have feasted several Greeks upon their coming to Rome day after day,
who, out of a true Grecian principle, being ashamed, and declining the
invitation, where so great an expense was every day incurred for them,
he with a smile said to them, "Some of this, indeed, my Grecian friends,
is for your sakes, but more for that of Lucullus." Once when he supped
alone, there being only one course, and that but moderately furnished,
he called his steward and reproved him, who, professing to have supposed
that there would be no need of any great entertainment, when nobody
was invited, was answered, "What, did you not know, then, that today
Lucullus was to dine with Lucullus?" This being much spoken of about
the city, Cicero and Pompey one day met him loitering in the forum, the
former his intimate friend and familiar, and, though there had been some
ill-will between Pompey and him about the command in the war, still
they used to see each other and converse on easy terms together. Cicero
accordingly saluted him, and asked him whether today was a good time for
asking a favor of him, and on his answering, "Very much so," and begging
to hear what it was, Cicero said, "then we should like to dine with you
today, just on the dinner that is prepared for yourself." Lucullus being
surprised, and requesting a day's time, they refused to grant it, and
would not allow him to talk with his servants, for fear he should give
orders for more than was appointed before. But this they consented to,
that before their faces he might tell his servant, that today he would
sup in "the Apollo" (for so one of his best dining-rooms was called),
and by this evasion he outwitted his guests. For every room, as it
seems, had its own assessment of expenditure, dinner at such a price,
and all else in accordance; so that the servants, on knowing where he
would dine, knew also how much was to be expended, and in what style
and form dinner was to be served. The expense for the Apollo was fifty
thousand drachmas, and such a sum being that day laid out, the greatness
of the cost did not so much amaze Pompey and Cicero, as the rapidity
of the outlay. One might believe that Lucullus thought his money really
captive and barbarian, so wantonly and contumeliously