Michael, apropos of your point (and his Punic Wars reference would buttress it), I am reminded of a favorite anecdote concerning the late William F. Buckley:
I remember years ago that a reader passed along a notification from a newspaper editor explaining his decision to drop Buckley’s column. Alluding to Buckley’s tendency to use foreign words or phrases when they’re appropriate, the editor said he preferred his columnists to speak English.
Buckley’s response: Qualis anus equi!
In short, when faced with dislike over a style comprising phrases, allusions and figures that appeal to a higher degree of education (or seen another way, that challenges the reader to learn such things for himself), one can dismiss it either with De gustibus non disputandum est or, in certain cases, Qualis anus equi!
