Collected Fragments of Ennius
Page 34
In this passage we must notice that Ennius not only used ‘noctu’ and ‘concubia’ but also ‘qua noctu’; he puts this expression in the seventh book of the Annals....
253
Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 19: ‘Ne qua meis dictis esto mora: Iuppiter hac stat’ (Aen., XII, 565). Ennius in VII —
‘Non semper vestra evertit; nunc Iuppiter hac stat.’
253
Defeat of the Gauls at Telamon? 225 BC Speech of Gaius Atilius or of Lucius Aemilius:
Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Let there be no delay to my commands. Jupiter stands on our side.’ Ennius in the seventh book —
Not always does Jupiter upset your plans; now he stands on our side.
254
Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 52: ‘Audentes fortuna iuvat.’ (Aen., X, 284). E. in VII —
‘Fortibus est fortuna viris data.
254
Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Fortune favours the daring.’ E. in the seventh book —
To men of fortitude is fortune granted.
255
Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 223, 4 K: Sed Nar servavit a productam etiam in obliquis.. . —
Sulphureas posuit spiramina Naris ad undas.
Propertius, III, 3, 9:
Et cecinit.. . Regiaque Aemilia vecta tropaea rate.
255
The Via Flaminia is completed by Flaminius as far as Ariminum (220 BC); works built at the crossing of the river Nar between Narnia and Carsulae?:
Priscianus: But ‘Nar’ has kept the a long even in oblique cases.... —
He built blow-holes by Nar’s sulphury waters.
Second Illyrian War, 219 BC; suppression of Demetrius of Pharos by L. Aemilius Paullus:
Propertius says:
And he sang... of the royal trophies carried by Aemilius chip.
256–7
Servius (auctus) ad Georg., III, 116: Hic equitem.. . equum dicit... . Ennius Annalium septimo —
Denique vi magna quadrupes eques atque elephanti proiciunt sese.
Cp. Gell., XVIII, 5, 2: Non., 106, 30; Macrob., S., VI, 9, 10.
Praeconia ex libris VIII–XV
Cicero, pro Archia, 9, 22: Carus fuit Africano superiori noster Ennius, itaque etiam in sepulchro Scipionum putatur is esse constitutus ex marmore; cuius laudibus certe non solum ipse qui laudatur sed etiam populi Romani nomen ornatur. In caelum huius proavus Cato tollitur; magnus honos populi Romani rebus adiungitur. Omnes denique illi Maximi, Marcelli, Fulvii non sine communi omnium nostrum laude decorantur. Ergo illum qui haec fecerat, Rudinum hominem, maiores nostri in civitatem receperunt.
256–7
Second Punic War begins; Hannibal advances from ‘New Carthage,’ spring 218 BC:
Servius (supplemented): Here by ‘equitem’ Virgil means ‘equmn.’... Ennius in the seventh book of the Annals —
Lastly, with mighty rush the horseman at a four-footed gallop and the elephants too hurl themselves onwards.
Some great men of whom Ennius wrote in Books VIII-XV
Cicero: Our poet Ennius was a dear friend of the elder Africanus, and that is why a marble statue of him, it is thought, was set up in the tomb of the Scipios. But his verses of praise are surely an adornment not only for him who is praised but also for the name of the Roman people. Cato, ancestor of Cato here, is extolled to the skies; this carries with it great honour for the history of the Roman people. In short, all those great names — the Maximi, Marcelli, Fulvii — are honoured by praise which is shared by all of us. Hence it was that he who had done all this, a native of Rudiae, was received by our ancestors into their citizenship.
BOOK VIII. The Second Punic War to the Departure of Scipio for Africa
258–9
Horatius, S., I, 4, 60: Non, ut si solvas —
Postquam Discordia taetra belli ferratos postes portasque refregit,
invenias etiam disiecti membra poetae.
Porphyrio ad loc. Est sensus: Si dissolvas versus vel meos vel LuciUi, non invenies eadem membra quae sunt in Ennianis versibus, qui magno scilicet spiritu et verbis altioribus compositi sunt, velut hi sunt ‘Postquam e.q.s.
Cp. Verg., Aen., VII, 622: Belli ferratos rupit Satumia postes. Serv., ad 622; Acro, ad Hor., l.c.
258–9
Outbreak of Discord:
Horace: You would not find the limbs of a poet even when dismembered, as you would if you were to break up the following —
After foul Discord broke open the ironclad doors and doorposts of war,
Porphyrio on this passage: The sense is: If you analyse my verses or Lucilius’, you will not find the same sort of ‘limbs’ as you would in Ennius verses, which are to be sure composed with mighty inspiration, with the use of a loftier diction as these are: ‘After...
260–1
Probus, ad Verg., Ecl., VI, 31.. . Hic (aer) est.. . qui nobis vivendi spirituum commeatum largitur. Hoc illud et Ennius appellavit in Annalibus —
corpore tartarino prognata paluda virago, cui par imber et ignis spiritus et gravis terra.
Cp. Varr., L.L., VII, 37; Fest., 546, 2.
trib. lib. VIII St., VII Norden
260–1
Probus: Air surely is the thing which gives us supplies of the breath of life. ‘Spiritus’ is the name given to it by Ennius also in the Annals —
262–8
Gellius, XX, 10, 1: ‘Ex iure manum consertum’ verba sunt ex antiquis actionibus... . Ennius.. . verbis hisce usus est.. . tum ego hos versus ex octavo Annali absentes dixi.. . —
Cp. Cic., Pro Mur., 14, 30 (proeliis promulgatis ‘pellitur.. .); Cic., ad Fam., VII, 13, 2; Lactant., Div. Inst., V, 1, 5.
262–8
The people in time of war:
Gellius says: ‘Ex iure manum consertum’ are words drawn from ancient cases at law.... Ennius used these words... Then I myself recited from memory these lines from the eighth book of the Annals... —
When news of battles is proclaimed, away from view is Wisdom thrust, with violence is action done, scorned is the spokesman of good counsel, dear is the rude warrior. Not with learned speeches do men strive, but with evil speaking fall foul one of another, brewing unfriendliness. They rush to make joint seizure — not by law; rather by the sword do they seek a due return and aim at the first place, and move on with pack and press.
269
Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 209, 6 K: Dido, Didonis... . (210, 10 K) Ennius in VIII —
Poenos Didone oriundos
269
Rome thinks lightly of the Carthaginians?:
Priscianus: Dido, Didonis.... E. in the eighth book —
Phoenicians sprung from Dido
270
Gellius, VI, 12, 7: Q.. . Ennius Carthaginiensium —
tunicatam iuventutem
non videtur sine probro dixisse.
Cp. Non., 536, 31.
270
Gellius: Quintus Ennius does not appear to have spoken of the Carthaginians as —
petticoated lads without scorn.
271
Ekkehart, ad Oros., VI, 6, 21 (de Hamilcare Rhodano): Ennius —
qualis consiliis quantumque potesset in armis.
271
The Romans were unaware of Hannibal’s character:
Over a passage of Orosius, in a codex Sangallensis, referring to Hamilcar Rhodanus, Ekkehart wrote the following: Ennius has —
what kind of man he was in counsels, and how great his prowess in arms.
272–3
Ekkehart (?), ad Oros., IV, 14, 3 (de Hannibale): De quo Ennius —
at non sic duple
x fuit hostis Aeacida Burrus.
Propertius, III, 3, 9–10:
Et cecinit.. . victricesque moras Fabii pugnamque sinistram
Cannensem et versos ad pia vota deos.
272–3
Over another passage of Orosius, in the same codex, referring to Hannibal, Ekkehart (?) wrote the following: On Hannibal Ennius has —
But not such a double-faced foe was Burrus sprung from Aeacus.
Election in 217 BC of Quintus Fabius Maximus (Cunctator) as dictator: Battle of Cannae, 216 BC; crisis of the war:
Propertius: And he sang... of Fabius’ delays that were fraught with victory: and of the ill-starred fight of Cannae; and how the gods were turned to hear our heartfelt prayers.
274
Nonius, 150, 18: ‘Praecox’ et ‘praecoca’.. . —
‘praecox pugna est.
274
The Battle of Cannae. Aemilius Paullus, on the eve of Cannae, tries to persuade Terentius Varro not to accept battle:
Nonius: ‘Praecox’ and ‘praecoca’... —
‘Time is unripe for fighting.
275
Diomedes, ap. G.L., I, 382, 11 K: Apud veteres et abnueo dictum annotamus.. . —
‘Certare abnueo; metuo legionibus labem.
275
Fears of Paullus:
Diomedes: In the old writers we notice that ‘abnueo’ is used... —
‘I refuse to join issue; I fear ruin for my legions.
276–7
Cicero, pro Balbo, 22, 51: Neque enim ille summus poeta noster Hannibalis illam magis cohortationem quam communem imperatoriam voluit esse —
‘Hostem qui feriet mihi erit Karthaginiensis, quisquis erit; quoiatis siet.. .
276–7
Hannibal to his troops on the occasion of the battle of Cannae, BC 216:
Cicero: And further our renowned and greatest poet did not wish that famous encouragement to be Hannibal’s any more than one common to all commanders —
‘He who will strike an enemy — hear me! he will be a Carthaginian, whatever his name will be; whatever his country,
278
Festus, 220, 25: ‘Obstipum,’ obliquum.. . —
amplius exaugere obstipo lumine solis
278
The battle. The position of the sun favours both sides:
Festus: ‘Obstipum,’ slanting.... — to make much greater because of the slanting sunlight
279
Nonius, 217, 7: ‘Pulvis’ generis.. . feminini.. . —
iamque fere pulvis ad caelum vasta videtur
279
But the wind raised dust-clouds which hindered the Romans: Nonius: ‘Pulvis’ in the feminine gender... —
and just then a huge dust-cloud was seen to reach the sky.
280
Priscianus, ap. G.L., III, 479, 4 K: ‘Denseo’.. . (480, 5) ‘denso’.. . —
Densantur campis horrentia tela virorum.
280
The infantry engagement:
Priscian: ‘Denseo’ inflected as from ‘denso... —
The bristling spears of the warriors crowded thick upon the plain.
281
Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 52: ‘Ac ferreus ingruit imber’ (Aen., XII, 284). Ennius in VIII —
Hastati spargunt hastas; fit ferreus imber.
281
Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘And a shower of iron comes thick.’ Ennius in the eighth book —
The line of lancers scattered its lances; came a rain-storm of iron.
282
Paulus, ex F., 439, 7: ‘Suppernati’ dicuntur quibus femina sunt succisa in modum suillarum pernarum. Ennius —
His pernas succidit iniqua superbia Poeni.
Cp. Fest., 438, 14.
282
Attack of the Numidians; Romans are mutilated:
Paulus: Men are called ‘suppernati’ (ham-strung) whose upper thighs are cut through in the manner of pigs’ haunches. Ennius —
These the Poeni houghed, wicked haughty foes.
283
Macrobius, S., XI, 1, 22: ‘Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum’ (Aen., VIII, 596). Ennius.. . in VIII —
Consequitur; summo sonitu quatit ungula terram.
Livius, XXII, 50: Haec ubi dicta dedit stringit gladium, cuneoque facto per medios vadit hostes.
283
Hasdrubal sends the Numidians in pursuit of the Romans:
Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘The four-footed beat of the hoofs shook the crumbling plain.’ Ennius in the eighth book —
They gave chase: with mightiest clatter their hoofs shook the ground.
The military tribune, P. Sempronius Tuditanus, leads a remnant through to Canusium:
Livy: When he had made this speech, he drew his sword, formed the men into a wedge, and charged through the midst of the enemy.
284–6
Macrobius, S., VI, 2, 16: ‘Multa dies variusque labor mutabilis aevi | rettulit in melius, multos alterna revisens | lusit et in solido rursus fortuna locavit (Aen., XI, 425–7). Ennius in VIII —
‘Multa dies in bello conficit unus.. . et rursus multae fortunae forte recumbunt; haudquaquam quemquam semper fortuna secuta est.
284–6
The Senators prevent panic at Rome?:
Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Many a day and change of work in ever-varying life have brought back countless men to better state; and fortune, her eye now here now there, has had the laugh and set men anew on foundation form.’ Ennius in the eighth book —
‘Many things does one day bring about in war... and many fortunes through chance sink low again. In no wise has fortune followed any man all his days.
287
Nonius, 435, 13: ‘Quartum’ et ‘quarto’.. . Ennius recte —
Quintus pater quartum fit consul.
Cp. Gell., X, 1, 6.
287
The fourth consulship of Fabius, 214 BC:
Nonius: ‘Quartum’ and ‘quarto.’ E. rightly has ‘quartum’ in —
Quintus the father was made consul for the fourth time.
288
Paulus, ex F., 193, 7: ‘Ob’.. . pro ‘ad,’ ut E. —
Ob Romam noctu legiones ducere coepit
Cp. Fest., 192, 15; id., 218, 9; Exc. ex cd. Cassin. 90, ap. C.G.L., V, 573, 45.
Propertius, III, 3, 11:
Et cecinit.. . Hannibalemque Lares Romana sede fugantes.
288
During the siege of Capua. Hannibal marches on Rome, 211 BC:
Paulus: ‘Ob,’... for ‘ad’; for example Ennius —
He began by night to lead his hosts against Rome.
His retreat:
Propertius: And he sang... how our Guardian Gods put Hannibal to flight from their Roman home.
289
Festus, 234, 29: ‘Oscos’ quos dicimus ait Verrius Opscos ante dictos teste Ennio cum dicat —
De muris rem gerit Opscus.
289
Capua is stormed, 211 BC:
Festus says: ‘Oscans.’ Verrius states that the people we call by this name were formerly called the ‘Opscians,’ his witness being Ennius, since he says —
The Opscan gives battle from the wall.
290
Paulus, ex F., 88, 34: ‘Meddix’ apud Oscos nomen magistratus est. E. —
Summus ibi capitur meddix, occiditur alter.
290
Fate of Seppius Loesius and others of Capua:
Paulus: ‘Meddix’ is among the Oscans the name of a magistrate. Ennius —
There the chief magistrate was made prisoner, the other was slaughtered.
291
Schol. Bern. ad Georg., IV, 67: Ennius in VIII ait —
Tibia Musarum pangit melos,
291
Hymn of Livius Andronicus (?) to Juno, 207 BC?:
A scholiast: Ennius says in the eighth book —
The flute composed a song of music,
292
Priscianus, ap. G.L., III, 192, 9 K: Solent
auctores variare figuras.. . ut Ennius —
Optima caelicolum, Saturnia, magna dearum
292
Juno begins to favour the Romans:
Priscianus: Authors are wont to vary their figures... for example, Ennius —
Saturn’s daughter, mighty among goddesses, dearest of those that dwell in heaven,
293
Servius, ad Aen., I, 281: ‘Consilia in melius referet’ quia bello Punico secundo, ut ait Ennius —
Romanis Iuno coepit placata favere.
Servius, ad Aen., I, 20; In Ennio.. . inducitur Iuppiter promittens Romanis excidium Carthaginis.
293
Servius: ‘She will change her counsels for the better,’ because in the Second Punic War, according to Ennius —
Juno was appeased and began to shew the Romans her good-will.
And Jupiter promises that destruction awaits Carthage:
Servius: In Ennius Jupiter is introduced as promising the Romans that Carthage shall be overthrown.
294
Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 20: ‘Invadunt urbem somno vinoque sepultam’ (Aen., II, 265). Ennius in VIII —
Nunc hostes vino domiti somnoque sepulti,
Cp. Lucret., V, 974, somnoque sepulti.
294
The drunken Gauls at the Battle of the Metaurus, 207 BC:
Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘They rushed on the city, which was buried in sleep and wine.’ Ennius in the eighth book —
And now the enemy, mastered by wine and buried in sleep,
295
Festus, 194, 12: ‘Occasus’.. . pro occasione.. . —
Ast occasus ubi tempusve audere repressit,
295
Festus: ‘Occasus’... for ‘occasio’... —
But when the occasion or the time smothered their daring,
296
Servius (auctus), ad Aen., IX, 641: ‘Mactus.’ Etiam mactatus dicebatur, ut Ennius —
Livius inde redit magno mactatus triumpho.
296
Triumphant return of the two consuls:
Servius (supplemented): ‘Mactus.’ Even the form ‘mactatus’ was used for this; for example, Ennius —
Thence returned Livius magnified with a great triumph.
297–9
Nonius, 151, 18: ‘Portisculus’ proprie est hortator remigum, id est qui eam perticam tenet quae portisculus dicitur qua et cursum et exhortamenta moderatur.. . —
tonsam ante tenentes parerent, observarent, portisculus signum quom dare coepisset.
297–9
New fleet of Scipio Africanus (consul, 205) in training?: