144. By a very singular metaphor, borrowed from the military
character of the first emperors, the steward of their
household was styled the count of their camp (comes
castrensis). Cassiodorus very seriously represents to him
that his own fame, and that of the empire, must depend on
the opinion which foreign ambassadors may conceive of the
plenty and magnificence of the royal table. (Variar. 1. vi.
epistol. 9.)