all been enriched in Caesar's service, and Cicero's hostile comment
is directed at Caesar rather than at the recipients of his
largesse. Five years later Cicero described a visit to his estate by
the dictator and his entourage. Among other items he wrote
tum audivit (Caesar) de Mamurra, vultum non mutavit4). It is usually
assumed that he heard news of the death of his former officer,
but it could have been news of some difficulty in his business
affairs 5).
The fullest note on Mamurra is a fragment quoted by Pliny
the EIder from the lost Exempla of Cornelius Nepos. Publication
of this work almost certainly is to be dated 43 B.C. (Fragm.
34 M.)6):
Primum Romae parietes crusta marmoris operuisse totos domus
suae in Caelio monte Cornelius Nepos tradit Mamurram, Formiis
natum, equitem Romanum, praefectum fabrum C. Caesaris in
Gallia, ne quid indignitati desit, tali auctore inventa re. hic
namque est Mamurra Catulli Veroniensis carminibus proscissus,
quem, ut res est, domus ipsius clarius quam Catullus dixit habere
quidquid habuisset Comata Gallia. namque adicit idem Nepos
primum totis aedibus nullam nisi e marmore columnam habuisse
et omnes solidas e Carystio aut Luniensi. .
The whole passage is quoted by Peter and Malcovati as a fragment
of the Exempla, and this may be correct. The first and
third sentences are certainly from Nepos, but the middle sentence
might be Pliny's own comment. Both authors dwelt upon