Collected Fragments of Ennius

by Quintus Ennius

  ‘But wherefore do I grieve now in my heart?

  197

  Varro, L.L., VII, 41: Apud Ennium —

  Orator sine pace redit regique refert rem,

  orator dictus ab oratione.

  197

  Cineas reports to Pyrrhus his failure at Rome:

  Varro: In a passage of Ennius —

  The spokesman came back without a peace, and brought the news to the king, ‘spokesman’ is a term derived from speech.

  libertati me L m.l. cdd.

  viai Lambinus via cdd.

  198–9

  Schol. Veron., ad Aen., V, 473: ‘Hic victor superans (animis tauroque superbus)’... . Ennius in VI —

  ‘aut animos superant atque aspera prima .. . fera belli spernunt.. .

  198–9

  The courage of the Romans?:

  A scholiast, on ‘Here the conqueror towering in pride of soul’ in Virgil: Ennius in the sixth book —

  ‘Or they mount high in pride, and the rough beginnings... of war they spurn.

  200–2

  Nonius, 150, 5: ‘Prognariter,’ strenue fortiter et constanter... . —

  ‘Divi hoc audite parumper; ut pro Romano populo prognariter armis certando prudens animam de corpore mitto,

  200–2

  The battle of Ausculum, 279 BC Deems Mus devotes himself to the ‘di manes’:

  Nonius: ‘Prognariter,’ actively, valiantly and steadfastly. (Non. is wrong. O. Skutsch, C.Q., Nov. 1960, 190, 193 ff.)... —

  ‘Ye gods, hear this my prayer a little while: just as from my body I breathe my last for the Roman people’s sake, with foreknowledge and awareness, in arms and in battle,

  203

  Festus, 438, 28: bona facie, a

as bons oetis usurpantur... . Ennius in

  VI —

  Iumen scitus agaso

  aut cd. ast olim V animos cd. animo Keil fort. animis aspera prima Keil (Rh. Mus. VI, 375) asperrima Mai asp.. . rima cd.

  iumenta Ilberg lumen Fest. iumentisque parum iam prodest scitus agaso coni. Havet, Rev. de Phil., IX, 167

  203

  Pyrrhus’ mahouts cut the traces of the Roman chariot-horses in the battle of Ausculum?:

  Festus: ‘Scitae’ is a term applied by poets sometimes to women of good looks, sometimes to women who are of good accomplishments.... Ennius in the sixth (?) book —

  The skilled driver...... the beasts.

  204

  Macrobius, S., VI, 22: ‘Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum’ (Aen., VIII, 596). Ennius in VI —

  Explorant Numidae, totam quatit ungula terram

  204

  Operations of Pyrrhus against the Carthaginians in Sicily, 277–276 BC:

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘The four-footed beat of the hoofs shook the crumbling plain.’ Ennius in the sixth book —

  The Numidians went scouting; their hoofs shook the whole ground.

  205

  Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 8: ‘Vertitur interea caelum et ruit Oceano nox’ (Aen., II, 250). Ennius in libro VI —

  Vertitur interea caelum cum ingentibus signis.

  205

  The battle of Beneventum, 275 BC; Pyrrhus moves to attack the Roman camp by night?;

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Meanwhile round rolls the sky and night sets in from the Ocean.’ Ennius in the sixth book —

  Meanwhile the sky rolls round with its vast constellations.

  206

  [Achilles Statius, ad Catull., LXIII, 40: ‘Lustravit aethera album’:.. . Ennius de sole.. . in VI —

  Ut primum tenebris abiectis indalbabat,

  Cp. Apulei., Met., VII, 1.]

  206

  [and dawn reveals his approach:

  Achilles Statius: ‘He scanned the white ether’... Ennius on the sun... in the sixth book... —

  When for the first time darkness was cast away and the day was whitening, ]

  207–8

  Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 10: ‘Conciliumque vocat divum pater atque hominum rex’ (Aen., X, 2). Ennius in VI —

  Tum cum corde suo divum pater atque hominum rex effatur.

  Hom., Il., I, 544: πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε.

  totum cdd.

  tostam Stowasser trib. lib.· VII Kuypers

  inalbabat dies Ach. dies· inalbebat Apulei. indalbabat | orta dies Wakefield cuncta dies coni. V. reicil hoc fr. Bergk prob. Norden209

  Cicero, de Re Publ., III, 3, 6: ex qua vita (sc. civili) sic summi viri ornantur, ut vel M’ Curius —

  quem nemo ferro potuit superare nec auro.

  207–8

  A soliloquy of Jupiter (during the battle of Beneventum?):

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘and the father of the gods and king of men called a council.’ Ennius in the sixth book —

  Then with all his heart the father of the gods and king of men spoke forth.

  209

  Triumph (275?) or death (270) of Manius Curius Dentatus:

  Cicero: From such a life (i.e. of a statesman) men of the highest rank are honoured, as for example Manius Curius —

  whom none could overcome with iron or gold.

  210–27

  Gellius, XII, 4, 4: Descriptum definitumque est a Quinto Ennio in Annali septimo graphice admodum sciteque sub historia Gemini Servilii, viri nobilis, quo ingenio, qua comitate qua modestia.. . amicum esse conveniat hominis genere et fortuna superioris —

  Haece locutus vocat quocum bene saepe libenter mensam sermonesque suos rerumque suarum comiter inpertit, magnam cum lassus diei partem trivisset de summis rebus regendis, consilio indu foro lato sanctoque senatu; 215quoi res audacter magnas parvasque iocumque eloqueretur sed cura, malaque et bona dictu evomeret si qui vellet tutoque locaret; quocum multa volup ac gaudia clamque palamque, ingenium quoi nulla malum sententia suadet 220ut faceret facinus levis aut malus; doctus fidelis suavis homo facundus, suo contentus, beatus, scitus, secunda loquens in tempore, commodus, verbum paucum, multa tenens antiqua, sepulta vetustas quae facit, et mores veteresque novosque, tenens res 225multorum veterum, leges divumque hominumque, prudenter qui dicta loquive tacereve posset. Hunc inter pugnas Servilius sic conpellat.

  L. Aelium Stilonem dicere solitum ferunt, Q. Ennium de semet ipso haec scripsisse picturamque istam morum et ingenii ipsius Q. Ennii factam esse.

  BOOK VII. Events leading to the Second Punic War

  NOTE ON THE CLASH BETWEEN ROME AND CARTHAGE.

  On this book see pp. 64–5. Steuart includes in it the end of the war with Pyrrhus. Norden, pp. 143–52 has devoted special attention to a reconstruction of the book; he would carry the narrative at least as far as the battle at the Trebia.

  Vahlen, CLXXIX ff., believes that Ennius did include a fairly detailed narrative of the First Punic War. O. Skutsch, C.Q., XLIII, 1948, 94 ff.; W. Friedrich, Herm., LXXVI, 1941,113 ff.

  228

  Festus, 340, 24: ‘Quianam’ pro quare.. . —

  — quianam dictis nostris sententia flexa est?

  Cp. Paul., ex F., 341, 9.

  210–27

  Prologue:

  Gellius: There is a very clever and graphic description and definition by Ennius in the seventh book of the Annuls (in a sketch of Geminus Servilius, a man of noble birth), of what temper and cheerfulness and modesty... it is seemly a man should show who is a friend of another his superior in birth and fortunes —

  So saying he called to one with whom he shared willingly and cheerfully and right often his table, his talks, and his affairs, when, tired out, he had spent long hours of the day in managing the greatest affairs, by counsel given in the wide forum and sacred senate-house; one to whom care-free he would often speak out boldly matters great and small, and joke the while, and blurt out words good and bad to say, if so he wished at all, and store them in loyal keeping; one with whom he could share many a pleasure and many a joy both openly and secretly; whose nature no thought of mind led to do a bad deed lightly or with wrong intent; a le
arned, trusty, winsome man and a fine talker, content with his own, happy and shrewd; one who spoke the right thing at the right time, and obliging; of few words; keeping many old-time ways of which a bygone age long buried is the maker, and manners old and new; keeping also to the modes of many a one of our elders, and the laws too of gods and men; one who could prudently speak out hearsay or keep it to himself. Him did Servilius, in the midst of battles, thus address.

  They say that Lucius Aelius Stilo used to state that Quintus Ennius wrote this about none other than himself, and that the passage given here is a picture of the manners and temper of Quintus Ennius himself.

  229–30

  Festus, 476, 17: ‘Sas.’.. . Eiusdem lib. VII fatendum est eam significari cum ait —

  nec quisquam sophiam sapientia quae perhibetur in somnis vidit prius quam sam discere coepit.

  Cp. Paul., ex F., 477, 4.

  228

  Prologue, continued?

  Festus: ‘Quianam’ for ‘quare’ and ‘cur’... —

  For why has your intent been turned by my words?

  231–2

  Cicero, Brut., 19, 76: Tamen illius quem in vatibus et Faunis adnumerat Ennius, Bellium Punicum quasi Myronis opus delectat. Sit Ennius sane ut est certe perfectior: qui si illum ut simulat contemneret, non omnia bella persequens primum illud Punicum acerrimum bellum reliquisset. Sed ipse dicit cur id faciat —

  Scripsere alii rem versibus

  et luculente quidem scripserunt etiam si minus quam tu polite: nec vero tibi aliter videri debet, qui a Naevio vel sumpsisti multa, si fateris, vel si negas, surripuisti.

  229–30

  Prologue continued: Ennius alludes to his tale of his dream in the first book:

  Festus: ‘Sas.’.. In the seventh book of the same poet it must be confessed that ‘earn’ is meant when he says — nor has any man seen in his dreams Wisdom (a name given to knowledge) before he has begun to learn her secrets.

  232–4

  Cicero, Brut., 18, 71: Quid? Nostri veteres versus ubi sunt?

  quos olim Fauni vatesque canebant, quom nequ Musarum scopulos....... nec dicti studiosus quisquam erat ante hunc

  ait ipse de se nec mentitur in gloriando.

  231–2

  The first Punic War; Ennius chooses to omit a detailed narrative of the war because Naevius and others have already sung about it:

  Cicero: Nevertheless, the Punic War of this poet, whom Ennius counts among the seers and Fauns, gives delight as though it were a work of Myron. I grant you, to be sure, that Ennius is the more perfect poet as he certainly is; but if he really scorned Naevius, as he pretends, he would not, in working through all our wars, have left undone the famous First Punic War, a most bitter one. But in his own words he tells us why he does it. He says —

  Others have written of the matter in verses

  And nobly indeed they wrote, even though they did it in less finished fashion than you did; nor indeed ought it to appear otherwise to you who took many points from Naevius, if you confess it; or if you deny it, filched them.

  235

  Cicero, Orat., 51, 171: Ergo Ennio licuit vetera contemnenti dicere ‘versibus quos olim Fauni vatesque canebant,’ mihi de antiquis eodem modo non licebit? Praesertim cum dicturus non sim ‘ante hunc,’ ut ille, nec quae sequuntur —

  Nos ausi reserare

  Cp. Cic., Orat., 47, 157; de Div., I, 50, 114; Varro, L.L., VII, 36; Quintil., IX, 4, 115; Serv. auct., ad Georg., I, 11; Fest., 476, 10.

  232–4

  Cicero: Well? Our old verses, where are they? In his own words he speaks of himself (nor lies in his boasting) — which once upon a time the Fauns and Seers used to sing, when no one had surmounted the rough rocks of the Muses... nor was anyone mindful of style before this man...

  83

  235

  Cicero: Therefore since it was allowed to Ennius, when he scorned the old poetry, to say ‘in verses which once upon a time the Fauns and seers used to sing,’ must I be forbidden to speak of archaic writers in the same fashion? Especially since I am not going to say ‘before me’ as he does, nor what follows —

  ’Twas I durst unbar...

  236

  Probus, ad Georg., II, 506: ‘Sarrano dormiat ostro.’ Tyriam purpuram vult intelligi Sarranum ostrum. Tyron enim Sarram appellatam Homerus docet, quem etiam Ennius sequitur auctorem cum dicit —

  Poenos Sarra oriundos

  236

  The origins of Cartilage. The Carthaginian stock; the worship of Moloch:

  Probus, on ‘that he may sleep on shell-dye of Sarra’ in Virgil: By shell-dye of ‘Sana’ he wishes us to understand Tyrian purple. For that Tyre was called Sana we are informed by Homer; Ennius also follows him as an authority when he says —

  Phoenicians sprung from Sarra

  237

  Festus, 324, 15: ‘Puelli’ per deminutionem a pueris dicti sunt. Itaque et Ennius ait —

  Poeni suos soliti dis sacrificare puellos

  Cp. Paul., ex F., 325, 5; Nonius, 158, 20.

  237

  Festus: ‘Puelli’ is a word derived in a diminutive form from ‘pueri.’ Thus Ennius says —

  Phoenicians accustomed to offer up to the gods their own little sons

  238

  Cicero, de Inv., I, 19, 27: Historia est gesta res ab aetatis nostrae memoria remota, quod genus —

  Appius indixit Karthaginiensibus bellum.

  238

  How the Romans and the Carthaginians first came into conflict?; Appius Claudius Caudex enters Sicily, 264 BC:

  Cicero: ‘History’ means public events remote from the recollection of our own age; such as —

  Appius proclaimed war against the Carthaginians.

  239–40

  Servius (auctus) ad Georg., II, 449: ‘Buxum’ lignum non arborem dixit, quamvis Ennii exemplo et arborem potuerit dicere neutro genere. Ille enim sic in septimo —

  longique cupressi stant sectis foliis et amaro corpore buxum.

  239–40

  Events between the First and Second Punic Wars. Rome obtains Corsica (239 BC) and Sardinia (238):

  Servius (supplemented): By ‘box’ Virgil meant the wood and not the tree, although in using the neuter gender he could have meant even the tree after the example of Ennius; for that poet has it thus in the seventh book —

  and tapering cypresses with crenelled leaves, and the box too, with bitter body, stand straight.

  241

  Charisius, ap. G.L., I, 130, 29 K: ‘Frus.’ ‘Haec frus’ quia sic ab Ennio est declinatum Annalium libro VII —

  russescunt frundes

  241

  Charisius: ‘Frus.’ Fern, gender because it is thus inflected by E. in the seventh book of the Annals —

  the leaves turn ruddy

  242–3

  Nonius, 385, 5: ‘Rumor,’ favor, auxiliatio.. . —

  Legio aggreditur Romana ruinas; mox auferre domos, populi rumore secundo.

  242–3

  Rome obtains Sardinia (238 BC):

  Nonius: ‘Rumor,’ favour, aid.... —

  The Roman army attacked the ruins; and next made away with the dwellings, cheered on by the crowd.

  244

  Festus, 428, 1: ‘Sos’ pro eos.. . —

  Dum censent terrere minis, hortantur ibi sos.

  244

  War with the Illyrian pirates, 230–228 BC Complaints of the Greeks about half-hearted measures?:

  Festus: ‘Sos’ for ‘eos’... —

  While they were minded to startle them with threats, therewith they encouraged them.

  245–6

  Festus, 538, 34: ‘Tonsam’ Ennius significat remum, quod quasi tondeatur ferro, cum ait lib. VII —

  ‘Poste recumbite vestraque pectora pellite tonsis.’

  Item —

  Pone petunt, exim referunt ad pectora tonsas.

  Cp. Paul., ex. F., 539, 13.

  245–6

  Advance of the Roman fleet under Cn. Fulvius and L. Postumius:

  Fest
us: ‘Tonsa.’ By this word Ennius, when he says in the seventh book —

  ‘Lean ye right backward and beat ye your breasts with the trimmers’; means an oar, because as it were ‘tondetur,’ it is trimmed, with a knife; again —

  Backward they reach, then again pull the trimmers to their breasts.

  247

  Festus, 170, 28: ‘Nare’ a nave ductum Cornifieius ait.. . —

  Alter nare cupit, alter pugnare paratust.

  247

  A sea-fight; Illyrians hard-pressed:

  Festus: ‘Nare.’ Cornificius states that this word is derived from ‘navis’... —

  The one wishes to float in flight; the other is ready to fight.

  248

  Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 486, 13 K: ‘Mulgeo’ quoque mulsi facit.. . —

  Mulserat huc navem compulsam fluctibus pontus.

  248

  An Illyrian ship is driven ashore:

  Priscianus: ‘Mulgeo’ likewise takes ‘mulsi’ for its perfect tense... —

  Hither the sea had gently washed a ship buffeted by the billows.

  249

  Paulus, ex F., 500, 10: ‘Sibynam’ appellant Illyrii telum venabuli simile. Ennius —

  Illyrii restant sicis sibynisque fodentes.

  249

  The Illyrians resist stoutly:

  Paulus: ‘Sibyna,’ a name given by the Illyrians to a javelin resembling a hunting-spear. Ennius —

  The Illyrians stood fast and stabbed with curving knives and hunting-spears.

  250

  Nonius, 116, 2: ‘Gracilentum’ pro gracili.. . —

  Deducunt habiles gladios filo gracilento.

  250

  War of the Boii and other Cisalpine and Transalpine Celts against Borne, 226–222 BC Preparations of the Gauls?:

  Nonius: ‘Gracilentum’ for ‘graoilos.’... — They beat out handy swords like slender thread.

  251–2

  Macrobius, S., I, 4, 17:.. . —

  qua Galli furtim noctu summa arcis adorti moenia concubia vigilesque repente cruentant.

  Quo in loco animadvertendum est non solum quod ‘noctu, ‘concubia’ sed quod etiam ‘qua noctu’ dixerit (Ennius); et hoc ponit in Annalium septimo... .

  251–2

  The Gauls near Clusium, 225 BC; terror at Rome; reminiscence of the invasion of 390 (? 387) BC:

  Macrobius: — on that night the Gauls with stealth attacked the wall-tops of the citadel in the sleep-time, and on a sudden brought bloodshed on the sentinels.