Collected Fragments of Ennius
Page 29
Nam populos...... Italos res atque poemata nostra cluebunt.
Fronto, de Eloq., 146 N: Magistra Homeri Calliopa, magister Enni Homerus et Somnus.
Fronto, Epp., Vol. I, p. 94 (cp. 98) Haines: Transeo nunc ad Q. Ennium nostrum, quem tu ais ex somno et somnio initium sibi scribendi fecisse. Sed profecto nisi ex somno suscitatus esset, numquam somnium suum narrasset.
2–3
Exhortation to readers:
Probus: As for the neuter gender the syllable is short.... Ennius in the first book —
for my subject and my poem shall have renown among the peoples of Italy.
Homer, seen by Ennius on Mount Helicon in a dream, was the source of inspiration:
Fronto: Homer’s instructress was Calliope; Ennius’ instructors were Homer and Sleep.
Marcus Aurelius to Fronto: And now I pass to our poet Ennius, who you say began to write after sleeping and dreaming. But surely if he had not been roused out of his sleep he would never have told the tale of his dream.
4
Fronto, Epp., Vol. I, pp. 204 H: Si quando te —
somno leni
ut poeta ait —
placidoque revinctus
video in somnis, numquam est quin amplectar et exosculer.. . hoc unum ex Annalibus sumptum amoris mei argumentum poeticum et sane somniculosum.
4
Fronto writes to Marcus Aurelius: If ever, —
Fettered in soft calm sleep
as the poet says, I see you in dreams, there is no time when I do not embrace you and fondly kiss you... this is one proof of my love, which I take from the Annals, a poetic and dreamy one indeed.
5
Cicero, Ac. Pr., II, 16, 51: Cum somniavit (Ennius) narravit —
visus Homerus adesse poeta.
Cp. Ac. Pr., 27, 88: de Re Pub., VI, 10, 10.
5
Homer appears:
Cicero: When Ennius had dreamed, this is what he told of it —
Homer the poet appeared at my side.
6
Cicero, Ac. Pr., II, 27, 88: Nisi vero Ennium non putamus ita totum illud audivisse —
‘O pietas animi! si modo id somniavit ut si vigilans audiret.
Cp. Donat. in Ter., Eun., III, 5, 12.
6
Opening of Homer’s speech:
Cicero: Unless indeed we choose to believe that Ennius, merely because he dreamed it, did not hear the whole of that famous speech —
‘O loving kindness of thy heart....
as well as he would have heard it if he had been awake.
7–10
Epicharmus, ap. Com. Cr. Fr. I, 123 Kaibel: καὶ γὰρ τὸ θῆλυ τῶν ἀλεκτορίδων γένος, | αἰ λῇς καταμαθεῖν, ἀτενὲς οὐ τίκτει τέκνα | ζῶντ᾿ ἀλλ᾿ ἐπῴζει καὶ ποιεῖ ψυχὰν ἔχειν.
Varro, L.L., V, 59: Haec duo caelum et terra quod anima et corpus. Humidum et frigidum terra, sive —
‘Ova parire solet genus pennis condecoratum non animam,
ut ait Ennius —
‘et post inde venit divinitus pullis ipsa anima;
sive, ut Zenon Citieus, animalium semen ignis isque anima et mens.
Cp. Diomed., ap. G.L., I, 383, 5 K; Priscian., ap. G.L., II, 401, 3 K.
7–10
Homer explains to Ennius some principles of life:
Varro These two, sky and earth, correspond with life and body. The wet and cold masses form the earth, whether we assume that —
‘The feather-furbished tribe is wont to be delivered of eggs, not of life,
according to the words of Ennius —
‘and after that time life itself comes to the chicks by a god’s will;
or, according to Zenon of Cition, that the seed of living things is fire and this is their life and soul.
11–12
Varro, L.L., V, 60: Recte igitur.. . quod ait.. . Ennius —
‘terraque corpus
quae dedit ipsa capit neque dispendi facit hilum.
Cp. V, 111; IX, 53.
11–12
Varro: Right therefore is the statement of... Ennius —
‘And earth who herself bestowed the body takes it back and wastes not a whit.
13
Donatus, in Ter., Andr., II, 5, 18: ‘Memini videre’ pro ‘vidisse’ Ennius —
‘Memini me fiere pavum.
Cp. Donat., in Ter., in Adelph., I, 2, 26; Phorm., I, 2, 24; Charis., ap. G.L., I, 98, 4 K; Tertull., de An., 33 pavum se meminit Homerus Ennio somniante. Lucret., I, 112–126.
Schol. ad Pers., Prol., 2–3: Tangit Ennium qui dixit se vidisse per somnium in Parnaso Homerum sibi dicentem quod eius anima in suo esset corpore.
13
Homer tells how his soul transmigrated from a peacock into Ennius’ body:
Donatus: ‘I remember seeing’ instead of ‘having seen’: Ennius —
‘I remember becoming a peacock.
A scholiast: Persius alludes to Ennius, who states that in a dream he saw a vision of Homer on Parnassus (mistake for Helicon); Homer said that his soul was in Ennius’ body.
14
Persius, S., VI, 9–11: —
‘Lunai portum, est operae, cognoscite, cives.
Cor iubet hoc Enni posquam destertuit esse | Maeonides, Quintus pavone ex Pythagoreo.
Schol., ad loc.: Hunc versum ad suum carmen de Ennii carminibus transtulit. Merito ergo ait ‘cor iubet hoc Enni postquam destertuit.’ Sic Ennius ait in Annalium suorum principio, ubi dicit se vidisse in somnis Homerum dicentem fuisse quondam pavonem et ex eo translatam in se animam esse secundum Pythagorae philosophi definitionem.
Cp. Porphyr., ad Hor., Ep. II, 1, 50–3; Lactant., in Stat., Theb., III, 484; Ov., Met., XV, 160 s.; Hor., C., I, 28–9 s.
14
Romans must remember the place where Ennius dreamed: Persius: —
‘Take note, ye citizens, of Luna’s harbour — it is worth while.
Thus commanded Ennius in his senses after he had snored out his dream that he was the Man of Maeonia — Quintus at last out of a Pythagorean peacock.
A scholiast on this passage: This line he took from the poems of Ennius to put into his own poem. It is well then that he says,’ thus commanded Ennius in his senses after he had snored out.’ That is what Ennius says in the beginning of his Annals where he states that in the course of a dream he saw a vision of Homer who said that he was once a peacock and from it, according to a rule laid down by the philosopher Pythagoras, his soul had been conveyed into Ennius.
15
Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 97–8 K.: ‘Veterrimus quasi a ‘veter.’.. . Ennius —
Quom veter occubuit Priamus sub Marte Pelasgo,
15
Beginning of the narrative. The fall of Troy:
Priscianus: ‘Veterrimus’ is as it were derived from a positive ‘veter.’... Ennius has —
When aged Priam was laid low beneath the warring Pelasgian,
16–17
Servius (auctus) ad Georg., III, 35: Assaracus avus Anchisae. Ennius —
Assaraco natus Capys optimus isque pium ex se Anchisen generat.
Il., XX, 239: Ἀσσάρακος δὲ Κάπυν, ὅδ᾿ ἄρ᾿ Ἀγχίσην τέκε παῖδα.
16–17
The lineage of Aeneas: Assaracus, Capys, and Anchises:
Servius (supplemented): Assaracus was grandfather of Anchises.... Ennius —
From Assaracus sprang Capys best of men: and he was from his loins begetter of Anchises the loyal.
18–19
Probus in Verg., Ecl., VI, 31: Ennius Anchisen augurii ac per hoc divini quoddam habuisse praesumit sic —
Doctusque Anchisa, Venus quem pulcherruma dium fari donavit, divinum pectus habere.
Cp. Schol. Ver. ad Aen., II, 687.
18–19
Anchises:
Probus: Ennius pictures to himself A
nchises as having some power of soothsaying by bird-lore, and, through this, something of the prophet in him: thus — and shrewd Anchises to whom Venus, loveliest of goddesses, granted power to foretell, yea to have a godly heart of prophecy.
20
Servius (auctus) ad Georg., IV, 59: ‘Nare’ pro volare ut apud Ennium in primo —
transnavit cita per teneras caliginis auras.
20
An approach of Venus:
Servius (supplemented): ‘To float’ instead of ‘to fly,’ as in a passage of E. in the first book —
Along she floated swiftly through thin wafts of mistiness.
21
Festus, 428, 11: ‘Sos’ pro ‘eos’.. . ut Ennius lib. I —
Constitit inde loci propter sos dia dearum.
Cp. Paul., ex F., 429, 11. Cp. Il., XVIII, 388, etc., δῖα θεάων.
21
Venus appears to Aeneas and his companions:
Festus: ‘Sos’ for ‘eos’; for example Ennius in Book I —
Thereupon she, hallowed among the holy goddesses, took her stand close to them.
22–3
Festus, 234, 23: ‘Orare’ antiquos dixisse pro agere testimonio... . Ennius quoque cum dixit in lib. I Annalium —
‘face vero quod tecum precibus pater orat.’
doctusque Anchisa Fleckeisen atque Anchises doctus S doctus parens Anchisa Mr. doctusque Anchises Prob. doctus Anchisa Schol. Ver. pulcherruma dium Fleckeisen pulchra dearum Prob. pulcherrima diu Schol. Ver.
fari donavit Prob. fata docet Schol. Ver. fari Bernays fari fata docet coni. V
face vero Colonna facere vero cdd. tu face vero August. tum face vero (olim tu vero face) V qui un. vers. constit.
22–3
She tries to persuade Aeneas to obey Anchises and retire to Mount Ida:
Festus: That the ancients used the term ‘to plead’ for ‘to deal.’ Ennius also was a witness when he wrote in the first book of the Annals —
‘But be sure to do what your father pleads for in prayers with you.’
24
Macrobius, VI, I, 11: ‘Est locus, Hesperiam Grai cognomine dicunt’ (Aen., I, 530; III, 163). Ennius in I —
Est locus, Hesperiam quam mortales perhibebant,
24
Italy and the Latins:
Macrobius: ‘There is a region which the Greeks call by name “Western Land.”’ Ennius in the first book —
There is a region which mortals used to call ‘Western Land,’
25
Varro, L.L., VII, 28: ‘Cascum’ vetus esse significat E. quod ait —
quam prisci casci populi tenuere Latini.
Cp. Cic, Tusc. Disp., I, 12, 27.
25
Varro: That ‘cascus’ means ‘old’ is shown by Ennius where he says — which the ancient Latin folk of eld did hold.
26
Varro, L.L., V, 42 (de Capitolio): Hunc antea montem Saturnium appellatum prodiderunt et ab eo Latium Saturniam terram ut etiam Ennius appellat —
Saturnia terra
26
The early connexion of Latium with Saturn:
Varro says of the Capitoline Hill: Men have recorded that once upon a time this hill was called ‘Saturn’s’ and hence Latium has been called —
Saturn’s Land as Ennius among others calls Latium.
27–8
Nonius, 197, 2: ‘Caelum’ neutro. Masculino.. . Ennius —
Saturno quem Caelus genuit.
Cp. Charis., ap. G.L., I, 72, 13 K.
27–8
The fortunes of Saturn:
Nonius: ‘Caelum’ neuter. In a masculine form... Ennius —
To Saturn whom Sky begat.
29
Nonius, 216, 31: ‘Obsidio’.. . neutro Ennius —
Quom saevo obsidio magnus Titanus premebat,
29
Why he fled to Italy:
Nonius: ‘Obsidio’... neuter in Ennius —
When great Titan was afflicting him with cruel duress.
30
Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 337, 26 K: ‘Laurentis’ etiam pro ‘Laurens.’ Ennius in A. —
quos homines quondam Laurentis terra recepit.
30
Aeneas and his followers arrive at Laurentum in Latium:
Priscianus: ‘Laurentis’ for ‘Laurens.’ Ennius in the Annals —
These men one day Laurentum’s land received.
31
Atilius Fortunat., ap. G.L., VI, 284, 20 K: Maximus qui est versus syllabas habet XVII.. . minimus habet XII ut est Ennianus —
Olli respondit rex Albai Longai.
Cp. Donat., ap. G. L., IV, 396, 19 K: Pompeius, ap. G.L., V, 297, 30 K: Serg., Explanat. in Donat., ap. G.L., IV, 548, 2 K.
Servius, ad Aen., VI, 777:.. . Secundum Ennium, referetur (Romulus) inter deos cum Aenea.
Servius, ad Aen., VI, 777: Dicit.. . Iliam fuisse filiam Aeneae.
31
Concourse of Aeneas and the King of Alba:
Atilius: The longest line has 17 syllables... the shortest has 12 like this of Ennius —
To him answer made the King of Alba Longa.
Aeneas is deified:
Servius: According to Ennius, he (Romulus) will be reckoned with Aeneas among the gods.
The story of Ilia:
Servius goes on: He says that Ilia was a daughter of Aeneas.
32–48
Cicero, de Div., I, 20, 40: Narrat.. . apud Ennium Vestalis illa —
Excita quom tremulis anus attulit artubus lumen, talia tum memorat lacrumans exterrita somno: ‘Euridica prognata, pater quam noster amavit, 35vires vitaque corpus meum nunc deserit omne. Nam me visus homo pulcher per amoena salicta et ripas raptare locosque novos; ita sola postilla, germana soror, errare videbar, tardaque vestigare et quaerere te, neque posse
corde capessere; semita nulla pedem stabilibat. Exin conpellare pater me voce videtur his verbis: “O gnata, tibi sunt ante ferendae aerumnae, post ex fluvio fortuna resistet.” Haec ecfatus pater, germana, repente recessit, 45nec sese dedit in conspectum corde cupitus, quamquam multa manus ad caeli caerula templa tendebam lacrumans et blanda voce vocabam. Vix aegro tum corde meo me somnus reliquit.
Ovidius, Tr. II, 259–260:
Sumpserit annales (nihil est hirsutius illis) facta sit unde parens Ilia nempe leget.
Servius (anctus) ad Aen., I, 273 Naevius et Ennius Aeneae ex filia nepotem Romulum conditorem urbis tradunt.
Cp. Serv., ad Aen., VI, 777.
32–48
The dream of Ilia, daughter of Aeneas, after his death:
Cicero: in Ennius the famous vestal tells her story —
When the old woman roused up, had with limbs a-tremble brought a light, then the maid frightened out of sleep, spoke thus in tears:— ‘O daughter of Eurydica, you whom our father loved, now strength and life too leave all my body. For a man of beautiful looks seemed to hurry me away among pleasant sallow-thickets and banks and places strange; so, my own sister, after that did I seem to wander alone, and slow-footed to track and search for you, but to be unable to catch you in my senses: no path made sure my footing. Then it was father who seemed to lift up his voice and speak to me in these words:— “O daughter, first there are hardships to be borne by you; but after that, your fortunes will rise again from a river.” With these words, my own sister, did father suddenly withdraw, and no longer gave himself to my gaze though my heart longed for him; no, even though many a time and with tears did I keep holding out my hands towards the blue precincts of the sky, and called and called him with caressing voice. Then did sleep scarcely leave me all sick at heart.
Ilia, loved by Mars, gives birth to Romulus and Remus:
Ovid:
If a woman should take the Annals (there’s no poem shaggier than they) she will perforce read how Ilia became a mother.
Servius (supplemented): Naevius and Ennius record that the founder of the city was Romulus, grandson of Aeneas through his daughter.
49–50
&nbs
p; Nonius, 378, 15: ‘Parumper,’ cito ac velociter... . Ennius Annali lib. I —
‘Te nunc sancta precor Venus, te genetrix patris nostri ut me de caelo visas cognata parumper,’
49–50
Ilia, arraigned for her fault, appeals to Venus:
Nonius: ‘Parumper,’ speedily and quickly.... Ennius in the first book of the Annals —
‘Thee, hallowed Venus, thee now the mother of my father, I pray look down on me from heaven a little while, my kinswoman.’
51
Macrobius VI, 1, 12: ‘Tuque o Thybri, tuo genitor cum flumine sancto’ (Aen., VIII, 72). Ennius in I —
‘Teque pater Tiberine tuo cum flumine sancto,
51
Ilia appeals also to Tiber:
Macrobius: ‘And thou, sire Thybris with thy hallowed stream’; Ennius in the first book —
‘And thee, Father of the Tiber, with thy hallowed stream,
52
Charisius, ap. G.L., I, 90, 26 K.: ‘Neptis’ grammatici nolunt dici.. . et advocant Ennium quod dixerit ita —
‘Ilia dia nepos, quas aerumnas tetulisti
Cp. Non., 215, 8: Fest., 402, 15; Serg., Explanat. in Donat., ap. G.L., IV, 563, 14 K.
52
Venus answers Ilia’s prayer:
Charisius: The grammarians would have it that the form ‘neptis’ should not be used... and Ennius is appealed to because he wrote ‘nepos’ as a feminine, thus —
‘Ilia, godly granddaughter, the hardships you have borne...
53–4
Servius (auctus) ad Aen., IX, 653: ‘Cetera’ id est in ceterum; est autem Ennianum —
‘cetera quos peperisti ne cures.
53–4
Servius (supplemented), on ‘cetera’ in Virgil: ‘Cetera that is, ‘in ceterum’; and it is an Ennian usage —
‘For the rest, take you no care for the boys to whom you gave birth.
55
Nonius, 306, 26: ‘Facessere’ est facere... . —
Haec ecfatus, ibique latrones dicta facessunt.
Porphyrio, ad Hor., C, I, 2, 17: Ilia auctore Ennio in amnem Tiberim iussu Amulii regis Albanorum praecipitata; antea enim Anieni matrimonio iuncta est.
55
Amulius orders Ilia to be thrown into the Tiber:
Nonius: ‘Facessere’ means ‘to do.’... —
Thus he spake out; and then the hireling warriors sprang to carry out his word.
Porphyrio: According to Ennius’ account Ilia was thrown headlong into the river Tiber by order of Amulius, King of the Albans; but before this she was joined in marriage to the Anio.