Collected Fragments of Ennius

by Quintus Ennius

Virgil: Not when conquered can they have done with the sword. An augmenter of Servius adds: Ennius —

  ‘He who has conquered is not conqueror Unless the conquered one confesses it’

  Varro and the rest speak of the Trojans as ‘unconquered’ because they were overthrown by trickery.

  486

  Festus, 434, 30: ‘Superescit’ significat supererit. Ennius —

  ‘Dum quidem unus homo Romanus toga superescit,

  Cp. Paul., ex F., 435, 8.

  486

  Festus: ‘Superescit’ means ‘supererit.’ Ennius —

  ‘Yes, so long as one gowned man of Rome is left alive,

  487

  Varro, L.L., VII, 46: Apud Ennium —

  Iam cata signa fere sonitum dare voce parabant,

  ‘cata’ acuta; hoc enim verbo dicunt Sabini.

  487

  Varro: In a passage of Ennius —

  About then the shrill watchwords were making ready to give sound in a call, ‘cata’ means sharp; for this is the word used by the Sabines for ‘acuta.’

  488

  Paulus, ex F., 83, 16 (26): ‘Lituus’ appellatus quod litis sit testis... . Ennius —

  Inde loci lituus sonitus effudit acutos

  488

  Paulus: ‘Lituus’ was so called on the ground that it is a witness of ‘lis’ (strife)... Ennius —

  Thereupon the war-horn poured forth sharp sounds

  489

  Donatus, ad Ter., Phorm. III, 1, 1:.. . ‘cum istoc animo’.. . Ennius —

  Optima cum pulchris animis Romana iuventus

  489

  Donatus, on ‘With such faint spirit as that’ in Terence: Ennius —

  The best youth of Rome with fine spirit

  490

  Paulus, ex F., 37, 24 (16): ‘Cracentes,’ graciles. Ennius —

  Succincti gladiis media regione cracentes.

  490

  Paulus: ‘Cracentes,’ slender. Ennius —

  Sword-girt and slender round the waist.

  491

  Servius, ad Aen., IX, 675: ‘Armati ferro’; aut bene instructi armis aut, ut Asper dicit, ferrea corda habentes, id est dura et cruenta cogitantes, ut Ennium sit secutus qui ait —

  succincti corda machaeris.

  491

  Servius, on ‘Armed in iron’ in Virgil: Either ‘well equipped with arms’ or, according to the statement of Asper, ‘having hearts of iron,’ that is, ‘thinking hard and bloody thoughts’; this makes him follow Ennius, who says —

  girt round their hearts with broadswords.

  492

  Servius (auctus) ad Aen., V, 37: ‘in iaculis.’ In hastis Ennius —

  levesque sequuntur in hastis.

  492

  Servius (supplemented), on ‘In spears’ in Virgil: Ennius has ‘in lances’ —

  and the light-armed followed in lances.

  493

  Paulus, ex F., 500, 18 (20): ‘Siciles,’ hastarum spicula lata. Ennius —

  Incedit veles vulgo sicilibus latis.

  493

  Paulus: ‘Siciles,’ broad points of lances. Ennius —

  The skirmishers, holding broad cutting-spears, advanced in a body.

  494

  Nonius, 555, 14: ‘Falarica,’ telum maximum... . Ennius —

  ... quae valide veniunt; falarica missa

  Cp. Virgil., Aen., IX, 702: contorta falarica venit.

  494

  Nonius: ‘Falarica,’ a very large missile.... Ennius —

  ... which come sturdily; the fire-spear was hurled

  495

  Schol. Bern., ad Luc., Phars., I, 6: Infestisque obvia signis | signa, pares aquilas et pila minantia pilis’; Ennii versus —

  Pila retunduntur venientibus obvia pilis

  495

  A Scholiast on Lucan’s ‘How standards faced enemy standards, eagles were matched one with another, and spears threatened spears’: A line of Ennius —

  Blunted back were spears that clashed against oncoming spears

  496

  Servius (auctus) ad Aen., XII, 294: ‘teloque orantem multa trabali (... ferit)Ennius —

  teloque trabali

  496

  Serving (supplemented) on ‘and with a spear stout as a beam he smote him praying many a prayer’ in Virgil: Ennius —

  and with a spear stout as a beam

  497

  Paulus, ex F., 353, 1: ‘Runa’ genus tebi significat. Ennius —

  runata recedit

  id est proeliata. Cp. Fest., 352, 1.

  497

  Paulus: ‘Runa’ means a kind of spear. Ennius —

  armed with spear, gave way

  ‘runata,’ that is, ‘having given battle.’

  498

  Festus, 490, 15: ‘Spira’ dicitur.. . basis columnae... . Ennius quidem hominum multitudinem ita appellat cum dicit —

  spiras legionibus nexit.

  Cp. Paul., ex F., 491, 1.

  498

  Festus: ‘Spira’ is a term applied to the base of a pillar.... But Ennius gives the name to a multitude of men when he says —

  coils wove he with his hosts.

  499–500

  ‘Lactantius,’ ad Stat., Theb., XI, 56 (... iam gelida ora tacent; carmen tuba sola peregit): Ennius —

  Quomque caput caderet, carmen tuba sola peregit et pereunte viro raucus sonus aere cucurrit.

  Cp. Sil. Ital., IV, 169 ff.

  499–500

  ‘Lactantius,’ on Statius... ‘then his chill mouth fell silent; the trumpet finished alone its tune’: Ennius —

  And when his head was falling, the trumpet finished alone its tune; and even as the warrior did perish, a hoarse blare sped from the brass.

  501–2

  Servius, ad Aen., X, 396 (395–6): Te decisa suum, Laride, dextera quaerit, | semianimesque micant digiti ferrumque retractant.’ Ennii est, ut —

  Oscitat in campis caput a cervice revulsum semianimesque micant oculi lucemque requirunt.

  Cp. Sil. Ital., VI, 10; Vergil., Aen., IV, 691.

  501–2

  Servius, on Virgil’s ‘You, Larides, your severed right hand seeks — you — its master; and your fingers half alive lie twitching, and clench at the sword’: The idea is Ennius’, thus —

  On the plains gaped his head torn out from the neck, and his eyes half alive lay twitching, and were fain to see the light.

  503

  Porphyrio, ad Hor., C., I, 9,1: Vides ut alta stet nive candidum (Soracte)... . ‘Stet’ autem ‘plenum sit’ significat, ut Ennius —

  stant pulvere campi

  et Vergilius (Aen., XII, 408): Iam pulvere caelum | stare vides.

  503

  Porphyrio, on Horace’s ‘Do you see how Soracte stands white in deep snow...?’...: ‘Stet’ means ’is laden,’ as Ennius has it —

  The plains stand thick with dust

  and Virgil: ‘And now you see the sky stand thick with dust.’

  504–5

  Servius (auctus) ad Aen.,I, 81 (82 cavum conversa cuspide montem | impulit in latus):.. . Ennius —

  ‘nam me gravis impetus Orci percutit in latus.

  504–5

  Servius (supplemented), on Virgil’s ‘With inturned spear he struck into the hollow mountain’s side’: Ennius —

  ‘for a heavy onset of Death strikes into my side.

  506

  Charisius, ap. G.L., I, 240, 6 K:.. . Ennius quoque in Annalium libro —

  Euax! Aquast aspersa Latinis.

  506

  Charisius:... Ennius also in a book of the Annals —

  Bravo! The Latins were refreshed.

  507–8

  auctor, Bell. Hisp., XXXI, 6: Ita cum clamor esset intermixtus gemitu gladiorumque crepitus auribus oblatus, imperitorum mentes timore praepediebat. Ut ait Ennius —

  ... pede pes premitur, armisque teruntur arma...................... .

  Cp. Fur. Bibac., ap. Macrob., S., VI, 3: ‘pressatur pede pes, mucro mucrone, viro
vir.’ Vergil., Aen., X, 361: haeret pede pes densusque viro vir. Homer., Il., XIII, 130 s. (cp. XVI, 214 ff.): φράξαντες δόρυ δουρί σάκος σάκεϊ προθελύμνῳ Ἀσπὶς ἄρ᾿ ἀσπίδ᾿ ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δ᾿ ἀνήρ·

  507–8

  The author of The Spanish War: Thus since shouts were mingled with groans, and a clattering of swords struck upon the ear, the din confused the minds of the raw levies. As Ennius says —

  Hereupon foot pressed foot and weapons weapons rubbed, and warrior warrior thronged.

  509

  auctor, Bell. Hisp., XXIII, 2: Hic dum in opere nostri distenti essent, complures ex superiore loco adversariorum decucurrerunt nec detinentibus nostris multis telis iniectis complures vulneribus affecere; ut ait Ennius —

  Hic tum nostri cessere parumper.

  509

  The same author: At this point, while our men were busied at the work, a number of our adversaries ran down from a higher level and by casting many spears wounded a number of our men who were unable to hold them back. As Ennius says —

  Here now our men gave way a little while.

  510

  Servius (auctus), ad Aen., IX, 327: ‘Temere’... significat et subito. Ennius —

  ‘quo tam temere itis?

  510

  Servius (supplemented) on Virgil: ‘Temere’... also means ‘suddenly.’ Ennius —

  ‘Whither go you all so rashly?

  511

  Varro, L.L., VII, 100: Apud Ennium —

  Decretum est stare corpora telis.

  Hoc verbum Ennii dictum a fodiendo, a quo fossa.

  511

  Varro: In a passage of Ennius —

  Order was given to stand and delve into their bodies with spears.

  This word ‘fossari’ in Ennius is derived from ‘fodio,’ whence comes the word ‘fossa.’

  512

  Isidorus, Orig., X, 270: ‘Taeterrimus’ pro fero nimium.. . Ennius —

  taetros elephantos

  Cp. Placid., ap. C.G.L., V, 157, 21: excerpt. ex cod. Cassin., ap. C.G.L., 581, 14 (... tetros elephantos † ad inguinem †).

  512

  Isidorus: ‘Taeterrimus’ for very savage.... Ennius —

  foul elephants

  513

  Servius, ad Aen., IV, 404: —

  It nigrum campis agmen

  Hemistichium Ennii de elephantis dictum, quo ante Accius est usus de Indis.

  513

  Servius, on —

  goes a black column upon the plains

  in Virgil: a half-line of Ennius used of elephants. Accius used it earlier (sc. than Virgil) of Indians.

  514–15

  Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 518, 13 K: ‘Tutudi’.. . Ennius in Annalibus —

  viresque valentes contudit crudelis hiems

  Hic produxit paenultimam.

  514–15

  Priscianus: ‘Tutudi’... Ennius... in the Annals —

  and their sturdy strength cruel winter crushed

  Here he has scanned the penultimate long.

  516

  Nonius, 211, 10: ‘Lapides ‘et feminino genere dici possunt ut apud Ennium —

  Tanto sublatae sunt agmine tunc lapides,

  ad Homeri similitudinem qui genere feminino lapides posuit.

  Il., XII, 287: ὣς τῶν ἀμφοτέρωσε λίθοι πωτῶντο θαμειαί. Cp. Od., XIX, 494.

  516

  Nonius: ‘Lapides.’ This term can be used also in the feminine gender; for example, Ennius —

  With so great a column were stones then upraised,

  This is after the manner of Homer, who used his word for ‘stones’ in the feminine gender.

  517–21

  Macrobius, S., VI, 3, 7: Homerica descriptio est equi fugientis in haec verba (Il, VI, 506 ff.)

  ὡς δ᾿ ὅτε τις στατὸς ἵππος ἀκοστήσας ἐπὶ φάτνῃ δεσμὸν ἀπορρήξας θείῃ πεδίοιο κροαίνων, εἰωθὼς λούεσθαι ἐὔρρεῖος ποταμοῖο, κυδιοων· ὑψοῦ δὲ κάρη ἔχει, ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖται ὤμοις αἴσσονται· ὁ δ᾿ ἀγλαΐηφι πεποιθώς, ῥίμφα ἑ γοῦνα φέρει μετὰ τ᾿ ἤθεα καὶ νομὸν ἵππων,

  Ennius hinc traxit —

  Et tum sicut equus qui de praesepibus fartus vincla suis magnis animis abrupit et inde fert sese campi per caerula laetaque prata celso pectore; saepe iubam quassat simul altam; spiritus ex anima calida spumas agit albas,

  Vergilius ‘qualis ubi abruptis fugit praesepia vinclis’ et cetera.

  [Vergilius, Aen., XI, 492 ff.

  Qualis ubi abruptis fugit praesepia vinclis tandem liber equus, campoque potitur aperto: aut ille in pastus armentaque tendit equarum aut assuetus aquae perfundi flumine noto emicat arrectisque fremit cervicibus alte luxurians; luduntque iubae per colla per armos.]

  517–21

  Macrobius: There is in Homer a description of a horse in flight, in these words:

  Even as when a stalled horse full fed at the manger breaks his tether and gallops clattering over the plain, being wont to bathe himself in a fair-flowing river, glorying therein, high holds he his head, and round his shoulders floats his mane; and he trusting in his glory — swiftly do his limbs bring him to the haunts and pastures of mares,

  From this Ennius derived the following —

  And then just as a horse which, full fattened from the stalls, has burst his tether in his high fettle, and away with breast uplifted bears himself over the rich grey-green meadows of the plain; and withal again and again tosses his mane on high; and his breath born of his hot temper flings out white froth,

  and Virgil: ‘As when, tether burst, has fled his stalls,’ and the rest.

  [Virgil (speaking of Turnus) has:

  As when, tether burst, has fled his stalls a horse, free at last and possessed of the open plain; maybe he makes for the pastures and herds of mares, or, accustomed to bathe in the water of a river known to him, flashes forth and neighs and lifting high his neck goes glorying; and his mane plays over his neck and shoulders.]

  522

  Charisius, ap. G.L., I, 83, 22 K: Quod Ennius ait —

  It equitatus uti celerissimus,

  barbarismus est.

  522

  Charisius: When Ennius says ‘celerissimus’ —

  goes like the most swiftest cavalry,

  it is a barbarism.

  523

  Servius, ad Aen., IX, 37 (38: Hostis adest. Eia! ingenti clamore per omnes | condunt se Teucri portas): ‘Hostis adest’; hic distinguendum, ut heia militum sit properantium clamor. Et est Ennianum qui ait —

  Heia machaeras!

  Ergo heia ingenti clamore dicentes ad portas ruebant, Alii ‘hostis adest, heia’ legunt.

  195

  523

  Servius, on ‘The enemy is here, Hi! With a great clamour the Teucri betook themselves through all the gates,’ in Virgil: ‘The enemy is here.’ At this point we must punctuate so as to make ‘hi!’ a clamour of hastening soldiers. The idea belongs to Ennius, who says —

  Hi, your swords!

  Thus Virgil means: — shouting ‘hi’ with a great clamour they rushed at the gates. Others read ‘the enemy is here, hi!’

  524

  Priscianus, ap. G.L., II, 482, 34 H: ‘Detondeo’.. . detotondi. Ennius in Annalibus —

  deque totondit agros laetos atque oppida cepit.

  524

  Priscianus: ‘Detondeo’... ‘detotondi.’ Ennius in the Annals —

  Bare also stripped he the joyful fields, and he took the cities.

  525

  Servius, ad Aen., X, 6: ‘Quianam.’ Cur. Quare. Ennianus sermo est. Servius auctus: —

  ‘Quianam legiones caedimus ferro?

  525

  Servius, on ‘quianam’ in Virgil: ‘Quianam,’ ‘why?’ ‘for what reason?’ The expressi
on is Ennian. An augmenter of Servius adds —

  ‘For why do we cut down the hosts with the sword?

  526–8

  Gellius, XVI, 10,1: Legebatur in consessu forte complurium Ennii liber ex Annalibus. In eo libro versus hi fuerunt —

  Proletarius publicitus scutisque feroque ornatur ferro, muros urbemque forumque excubiis curant.

  Cp. Non., 155, 21.

  526–8

  Gellius: At a sitting where a good many were present, it happened that a book chosen from Ennius’ Annals was being read. In that book occurred these lines —

  The lowest breeders at the country’s cost were armed with shield and savage steel; it was they with sentries guarded the city and its walls and mart.

  529

  Gellius, X, 29, 2: ‘Atque’ particula.. . si gemina fiat auget incenditque rem de qua agitur, ut animadvertimus in Q. Ennii Annalibus, nisi memoria in hoc versu labor —

  atque atque accedit muros Romana iuventus.

  Cp. Non., 530, 3. Cp. Il, XXII, 221: προπροκυλινδόμενος. Od., XVII, 525: προπρό Apoll. Rh., III, 453.

  529

  Gellius: The particle ‘atque’..., should it be doubled, increases and intensifies the action with which it is connected, as we notice in the Annals of Quintus Ennius (unless, in giving this line, my memory is at fault) —

  and then and then approached the walls young warriors of Rome.

  530

  Paulus, ex Fest., 559, 7: ‘Trifax’ telum longitudinis trium cubitorum quod catapulta mittitur. Ennius —

  aut permarceret paries percussa trifaci

  530

  Paulus: ‘Trifax,’ a javelin three ells in length; it is shot from a catapult. Ennius —

  or the party-wall pelted by long spears might crumble away

  531

  Festus, 140, 21: ‘Metonymia’ est tropos, cum significatur.. . a superiore re inferior, ut Ennius —

  Cum magno strepitu Volcanum ventus vegebat.

  531

  Festus: ‘Metonymia’ (change of names) is a trope which comes about when... a lesser thing is given its meaning from a greater one; for example, Ennius has —

  With a great crackle the breeze blew big the Fire-God’s blaze.

  532

  Schol. Bembin., in Ter., Heaut., II, 3, 16: ‘Interea loci.’ Loci parhelcon.. . Ennius —

  Flamma loci postquam concussa est turbine saevo,

  532

  A scholiast, on ‘interea loci’ in Terence: ‘loci’ is redundant;... Ennius —

  The flame there, when it had been tossed about in a fierce whirl,

  Naval affairs.

  533

  Isidorus, Orig., XIX, 2, 4: ‘Agea’ viae sunt, loca in navi per qua ad. remiges hortator accedit; de qua Ennius —