person
Lucius Papirius Paetus
Paetus
Wealthy literary friend of Cicero's, resident at Naples; recipient of the long sequence Fam. 9.15--9.26 in the late 50s and 40s.
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 14.16 §1 our Paetus's cheese-and-salt-fish
L. Papirius Paetus, Cicero's wealthy literary friend at Naples; the comic Greek word tyrotarichum ("cheese-and-salt-fish") jokes at the modest fare Cicero expects at his table.
- Ad Familiares 9.20 §1 that old elegant style of yours, I mean when you had the means to spend
Paetus had suffered financial losses (the recurring joke of this group of letters), so Cicero is careful to say he aspires to Paetus's former tasteful spending, not to vulgar present-day extravagance. The reference 'though you never had more landed estate than now' is an ironic dig at his friend's reduced fortunes.
- Ad Familiares 9.23 §1 suffering with your feet
Paetus is laid up with gout (Latin 'ex pedibus laborares'), a recurring affliction of the wealthy diner; Cicero turns it into a joke that at least the cook will not also be gouty, so a dinner is still possible.