Collected Fragments of Ennius

by Quintus Ennius

  Cicero, de Prov. Consul., 9, 20: An vero M. ille Lepidus, qui bis consul et pontifex maximus fuit, non solum memoriae testimonio sed etiam Annalium litteris et summi poetae voce laudatus est quod cum M. Fulvio collega, quo die censor est factus, homine inimicissimo, in campo statim rediit in gratiam?

  395

  The turning years:

  Priscianus: ‘Acer.’... —

  Autumn follows on summer; after it comes keen winter.

  Censorship of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Marcus Fulvius Nobilior, 179 BC:

  Cicero: But is it not true that our famous Marcus Lepidus, who was twice consul and also pontifex maximus, is praised, not only by the record of tradition but also in the written evidence of Annals and by the greatest of our poets, because with his colleague Marcus Fulvius, a great enemy of his, on the day when he was made censor, he at once made a reconciliation in the Campus?

  396

  Festus, 386, 4: ‘Regimen’ pro regimento.. . —

  Primus senex bradys in regimen belloque peritus

  396

  An ageing Roman?:

  Festus: ‘Regimen’ for ‘regimentum’... —

  First the aged man, tardy in his ruling, skilled in war

  397

  Festus, 490, 29: ‘Spicit’ quoque sine praepositione dixerunt antiqui.. . et ‘spexit.’ Ennius lib. XVI —

  Quos ubi rex Epulo spexit de cautibus celsis,

  Cp. Varro, L.L., VI, 82.

  397

  The Istrian War, 178–7 BC:

  King Epulo sees the Romans move on Lake Timavus:

  Festus: ‘Spicit’ is likewise used by archaic writers without a preposition prefixed.... ‘spexit’ also. Ennius in the sixteenth book —

  When King Epulo spied them from the top of high crags,

  it Car. Sang. Mon. sit rell. fit Fabricius coll. Serv., ad Aen., VI, 685

  bradys Mr. bradyn cd.

  Epulo Bergk / / / / pulo Fest. epulo Varro (Apulo Flor., I, 26: Aepulo Liv., XLI, 11, 1; at cf. Verg., Aen., XIII, 459 Ĕpŭlo) populos olim V cautibus olim V cotibus Bergk nunc prob. V montibua Laetus contibus cd.

  398

  Festus, 220, 25: ‘Obstipum,’ obliquum.. . —

  montibus obstipis obstantibus unde oritur nox.

  398

  The Istrians from behind a hill keep watch over the Roman camp by the Lacus Timavus, 178 BC:

  Festus: ‘Obstipum,’ slanting... —

  Slanting mountains standing in the way, whence rises up the night.

  399

  Priscianus, ap. G.L. II, 278, 12 K: ‘Frux’ ἀπὸ τοῦ φρύγω.. . —

  ‘Si luci si nox si mox si iam data sit frux.

  399

  The Istrians are well prepared:

  Priscianus: ‘Frux’... derived from φρύγω...

  ‘If by daylight, if at night, if soon, if now we be given success.

  400

  Festus, 344, 32: —

  ‘Nox quando mediis signis praecincta volabit,

  400

  The Istrian plan of attack on the Romans:

  Festus: ‘Quando’... —

  ‘When night shall fly girt up by constellations in her midst,

  401–2

  Macrobius, S., VI, 4, 19:.. . ‘Nec lucidus aethra | siderea polus’ (Aen., III, 585). Ennius prior dixerat in XVI —

  interea fax occidit oceanumque rubra tractim obruit aethra.

  401–2

  Dawn comes:

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Nor was there a clear and starlit heaven.’ Ennius had said before in his sixteenth book —

  Meanwhile the torch dies out and pink trailing dawnlight covers the Ocean.

  403–4

  Servius (auctus) ad Georg., IV, 230: ‘Ore fave,’ cum religione ac silentio accede; in XVI Ennius —

  Hic insidiantes vigilant, partim requiescunt contecti gladiis, sub scutis ore faventes.

  Cp. Serv. (auct.) ad Georg., I, 18.

  403–4

  The Romans on the watch:

  Servius (supplemented), reading ‘ore fave’ in Virgil: Come close with the silence of worship: in the sixteenth book Ennius —

  Here in ambush they keep watch, while some of them take rest, guarded by their swords, keeping a shut mouth under their shields.

  405

  Festus, 171, fin.: ‘Navus,’ celer ac strenuus.. . —

  ‘Navorum imperium servare est induperantum.

  405

  The tribune Aelius reminds the consul (A. Manlius Vulso) of his duty:

  Festus: ‘Navus’ swift and strenuous... —

  ‘It is the part of commanders who are men of deeds, to keep discipline.

  406

  Festus, 476, 28: Idem (sc. Ennius) cum ait sapsam pro ipsa nec alia, ponit in lib. XVI —

  ‘quo res sapsa loco sese ostentatque iubetque.

  Cp. Paul., 477, 6.

  406

  Aelius says he will stand his ground:

  Festus: The same (i.e. Ennius), when he says ‘sapsa’ instead of ‘ipsa nec alia,’ writes in the sixteenth book —

  ‘in the place where my very duty displays itself and commands me.

  407

  Festus, 492, 5: ‘Speres’ antiqui pluraliter dicebant.. . —

  ‘Spero, si speres quicquam prodesse potis sunt,

  407

  The hopes of Aelius:

  Festus: The archaic writers used a plural ‘speres’... —

  ‘I hope — if hopes can help at all,

  408

  Festus, 284, 30: ‘Prodit’.. . perdit.. . —

  Non in sperando cupide rem prodere summam

  Cp. Paul., ex F., 285, 14.

  408

  Possibly from the consul’s reply to Aelius:

  Festus: ‘Prodit,’... ruins... —

  ‘Not to ruin the State by hoping eagerly

  409–16

  Macrobius, S., VI, 3, 1: Sunt quaedam apud Vergilium quae ab Homero creditur transtulisse; sed ea docebo a nostris auctoribus sumpta, qui priores haec ab Homero in carmina sua transtulerant.. . Homerus de Aiacis forti pugna ait (Il., XVI, 102) —

  Αἴας δ᾿ οὐκέτ᾿ ἔμιμνε· βιάζετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν. δάμνα μιν Ζηνός τε νόος καὶ Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ βάλλοντες· δεινὴν δὲ περὶ κροτάφοισι φαεινὴ πήληξ βαλλομένη καναχὴν ἔχε· βάλλετο δ᾿ αἰεὶ κὰπ φάλαρ᾿ εὐποίηθ᾿· ὁ δ᾿ ἀριστερὸν ὦμον ἔκαμνεν ἔμπεδον αἰὲν ἔχων σάκος αἰόλον, οὐδ᾿ ἐδύναντο ἀμφ᾿ αὐτῷ πελεμίξαι ἐρείδοντες βελέεσσιν· αἰεὶ δ᾿ ἀργαλέῳ ἔχετ᾿ ἄσματι κὰδ δέ οἱ ἱδρὼς πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων ῥέεν ἄσπετος, οὐδέ πῃ εἶχεν ἀμπνεῦσαι, πάντῃ δὲ κακὸν κακῷ ἐστήρικτο.

  Hunc locum Ennius in XVI ad pugnam C. Aelii tribuni his versibus transfert —

  Undique conveniunt velut imber tela tribuno: configunt parmam, tinnit hastilibus umbo aerato sonitu galeae, sed nec pote quisquam undique nitendo corpus discerpere ferro; semper abundantes hastas frangitque quatitque; totum sudor habet corpus multumque laborat, 415nec respirandi fit copia; praepete ferro Histri tela manu iacientes sollicitabant.

  Hinc Vergilius eundem locum de incluso Turno gratia elegantiore composuit (Aen., IX, 803–811) —

  Ergo nec clipeo iuvenis subsistere tantum nec dextra valet, obiectis sic undique telis obruitur, strepit adsiduo cava tempora circum tinnitu galea et saxis solida aera fatiscunt

  discussaeque iubae capiti nec sufficit umbo ictibus; ingeminant hastis et Troes et ipse fulmineus Mnestheus; tum toto corpore sudor liquitur et piceum, nec respirare potestas, flumen agit, fessos quatit aeger anhelitus artus.

  409–16

  Aelius stands fast against violent attacks:

  Macrobius: Virgil has certain passages which he is be
lieved to have transferred from Homer; but I shall show that they are passages which were taken from authors of ours who, earlier than Virgil, had transferred these passages from Homer to their own poetic works.... Homer on a brave fight fought by Ajax has —

  But Aias could no longer stand his ground; for distressed was he by spears. Yea, the will of Zeus overmastered him, the Trojans too who pelted him; dread was the rattle which his shining helmet thus pelted kept around his brows, for pelted was it again and again over its fair-wrought cheek-pieces. Weary was he too in his shoulder — the left where he firm and constant held his motley shield, nor could they by lunging all around him with their javelins so dash him off. And ever was he gripped in cruel gasping, while sweat unquenched poured down off his limbs from every point, nor could he in any wise draw breath; but on all sides heaped was hurt on hurt.

  This passage Ennius in the sixteenth book transferred to the fight of the tribune C. Aelius, in the following lines —

  From all sides the javelins like a rain-storm showered in upon the tribune, and pierced his buckler; then jangled the embossment under spears, the helmet too with brassy clang; but not one of them, though strain they did from every side, could rend apart his body with the iron. Every time he shakes and breaks the waves of lances; sweat covers all his body; he is hard distressed; to breathe he has not a chance. The iron came flying as the Histrians cast the spears from their hands to harass him.

  By the use of this as an example Virgil, on the subject of Turnus hemmed in, has rendered the same passage with a more elegant grace —

  Thus neither by the strength of his shield nor of his right hand can the young warrior withstand an onset so great, so overwhelmed is he by javelins cast at him from all sides: again and again his helmet jingles and jangles round the hollows of his temples, the firm plates of brass gave way under the

  stones, and his horse-hair crest was struck from his head; the embossment could not bear the blows; the Trojans, yea and Mnestheus too like a thunder-bolt, redoubled the thrusts of their spears. Then over all his body sweat trickled and flowed in a dark stream; no power had he to draw his breath; a sick sore gasping shook his wearied limbs.

  417

  Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 24: ‘Corruit in vulnus; sonitum super arma dedere’ (Aen., X, 488). Ennius in XVI —

  concidit et sonitum simul insuper arma dederunt.

  Hom., Il., IV, 504 δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε᾿ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ.

  417

  The death of Aelius?:

  Macrobius: ‘He fell forward upon the wound; his weapons dinned over him.’ Ennius in the sixteenth book —

  He tumbled and withal his armour dinned over him.

  418

  Diomedes, ap. G.L. I, 382, 21 K: ‘Hortatur’.. . ‘horitur’ dixerunt.. . —

  prandere iubet horiturque.

  418

  The Istrians prevailed; they feast in the Roman camp at the order of the king:

  Diomedes: ‘Horitur’ was used for ‘hortatur’... —

  He orders and encourages them to break their fast.

  419–20

  Servius (auctus) ad Aen., XI, 19: Alii ‘vellere’ movere accipiunt. Ennius —

  Rex deinde citatus

  convellit sese.

  419–20

  The Romans recover their camp; King Epulo, half-drunk, escapes:

  Servius (supplemented): Others take ‘vellere’ to mean ‘to move.’ Ennius —

  Then the king, full roused, pulled himself up.

  421

  Varro, L.L., VII, 103: Multa ab animalium vocibus tralata in homines.. . Ennii.. . ab haedo —

  Clamor ad caelum volvendus per aethera vagit.

  421

  The siege of Nesactum by C. Claudius Pulcher, 177 BC?:

  Varro: There are many sounds which though belonging to animals have been used figuratively of men... Ennius... transferred from the kid —

  The clamour rolling skyward bleated through the air.

  422

  Festus, 570, 8: ‘Vagorem’ pro vagitu.. . —

  qui clamos oppugnantes vagore volanti

  422

  Festus: ‘Vagor’ instead of ‘vagitus’... —

  this clamour... the besiegers... with winged bleating

  423

  Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 518, 13 K (p. 140): Ennius.. . in XVI —

  Ingenio forti dextrum latus pertudit hasta.

  423

  From scenes of battle:

  Priscianus on ‘tutudi’:... E. in the sixteenth book —

  The lance of sturdy mettle punched through his right side.

  424

  Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 50: ‘Tum gelidus toto manabat corpore sudor’ (Aen., III, 175). Ennius in XVI —

  Tunc timido manat ex omni corpore sudor.

  424

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Then a cold sweat came oozing down all my body.’ Ennius in the sixteenth book —

  Then sweat oozed from all his fear-filled body.

  425–6

  Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 53: ‘Apicem tamen incita summum hasta tulit’ (Aen., XII, 492). Ennius in XVI —

  tamen induvolans secum abstulit hasta

  insigne.

  425–6

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Still the darting lance took away the helmet top.’ Ennius in the sixteenth book —

  Still the lance flying at him carried away with it the badge.

  BOOK XVII. Probably from the end of the Istrian War to the Defeat of P. Licinius Crassus at Callinicus, 171 BC, during the third Macedonian War

  427

  Festus, 510, 28: ‘Specus’ feminino genere.. . Ennius —

  Tum cava sub monte late specus intus patebat.

  Cp. Non., 223, 1; Priscian., ap. G.L. II, 260, 2 K (Ennius in XVII Annalium); Serv., ad Aen., VII, 568.

  427

  Perseus of Macedon fortifies the passes of Tempe, 171 BC?:

  Festus: ‘Specus’ in the feminine gender... Ennius —

  Then a hollow cavern opened widely inwards under the mountain.

  428

  Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 198, 6 K: Genetivum etiam in as (199, 4 K).. . —

  ... dux ipse vias

  428

  Perseus watches Crassus from Mount Ossa?:

  Priscianus: Genitive even in -as... —

  himself the leader of the way

  429

  Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 22: ‘Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum’ (Aen., VIII, 596). Ennius.. . in XVII —

  It eques et plausu cava concutit ungula terram.

  429

  Defeat of P. Licinius Crassus in a cavalry-battle at Callinicus, 171 BC:

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘The four-footed beat of the hoof shakes the crumbling plain.’ Ennius... in the seventeenth book —

  The horsemen charged, and the beating of their hollow hoofs shook the ground.

  430–32

  Macrobius, S., VI, 2, 28: ‘Diversi magno ceu quondam turbine venti | confligunt zephyrusque notusque et laetus Eois | eurus equis (Aen., II, 416). Ennius in XVII —

  Concurrunt veluti venti quom spiritus Austri imbricitor Aquiloque suo cum flamine contra indu mari magno fluctus extollere certant.

  Homer, Il, IX, 4:

  ὡς δ᾿ ἄνεμοι δύο πόντον ὀρίνετον ἰχθυόεντα Βορέης καὶ Ζέφυρος, τώ τε Θρῄκηθεν ἄητον ἐλθόντ᾿ ἐξαπίνης· ἄμυδις δέ τε κῦμα κελαινὸν κορθύεται.. .

  430–32

  The clash:

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘As from time to time with a great whirlwind gales set against each other meet in conflict — the west wind and the south, and the east happy in his horses of the dawn.’ Ennius in the seventeenth book —

  They rushed together as when the breath of the showery Wind of the South and the Wind of the North with his counterblast strive to upheave billows on the mighty main.
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  Homer: As when two winds, the Northern and the Western, stir up the fishy sea; they come on a sudden, blowing from Thrace, and forthwith the black billow rises to a head,

  433

  Macrobius, S., VI, 1, 21: ‘Tollitur in caelum clamor, cunctique Latini’ (Aen., XI, 745). Ennius in XVII —

  Tollitur in caelum clamor exortus utrimque.

  433

  Macrobius, quoting Virgil: ‘Uproars to heaven a shout and the Latins, one and all,’... Ennius in the seventeenth book —

  Uproars to heaven the shout that rose from either side.

  434–5

  Servius (auctus), ad Georg., IV, 188: ‘Mussant’ hic ‘murmurant’; quae vox ponitur et in tacendi significatione.. .

  ‘Noenu decet mussare bonos qui facta labore nixi militiae peperere.

  Cp. Serv. ad Aen., XII. 657; Paulus, ex F., 127, 7.

  434–5

  Slackness of discipline in the Roman army?:

  Servius (supplemented): ‘Mussant’ here means ‘murmurant’; it is a term which is also used with a sense of not speaking... —

  No, it is not meet that good warriors should mumble; warriors who, straining in the toil of battle-fields, have given birth to deeds.

  436–8

  Nonius, 134, 19: ‘Longiscere,’ longum fieri vel frangi.. . —

  neque corpora firma longiscunt quicquam.

  idem —

  quom soles eadem facient longiscere longe.

  436–8

  Unplaced fragments:

  Nonius: ‘Longiscere,’ to become long, or to be broken... —

  nor do their firm bodies languish at all.

  The same poet —

  when the sunny days shall make them lengthen long.

  BOOK XVIII. Further Events of the year 171?

  439

  Nonius, 63, 4: Est autem gruma mensura quaedam qua fixa viae ad lineam deriguntur.. . Ennius lib. XVIII gruma derigere dixit —

  degrumare forum

  439

  Making a camp:

  Nonius: The ‘gruma’ is a certain measuring-instrument; by means of this, when it is fixed in position, roads are built in a truly straight line.... Ennius in the eighteenth book, for ‘to mark out with the measuring rod,’ uses the phrase —

  to level off the meeting-place

  440

  Gellius, XIII, 21, 14: Contra vero idem Ennius in Annali XVIII —

  aere fulva

  dixit, non fulvo, non ob id solum quod Homerus ἠέρα βαθεῖαν (II., XX. 446, XXI, 6) dicit, sed quod hic sonus opinor vocabilior est visus et amoenior.