Collected Fragments of Ennius

by Quintus Ennius

  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.

  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.

  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 learned, 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.

  228

  Prologue, continued?

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

  For why has your intent been turned by my words?

  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.

  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.

  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

  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: ‘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

  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

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

  the leaves turn ruddy

  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

  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

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

  Festus: ‘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

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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.

  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

  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, quoting Virgil: ‘Fortune favours the daring.’ E. in the seventh book —

  To men of fortitude is fortune granted.

  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

  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

  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: 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 —

  of hellish body daughter bred, woman of war in warrior’s cloak, for whom water and fire and breath and heavy earth are equal.

  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

  Rome thinks lightly of the Carthaginians?:

  Priscianus: Dido, Didonis.... E. in the eighth book —

  Phoenicians sprung from Dido

  270

  Gellius: Quintus Ennius does not appear to have spoken of the Carthaginians as —

  petticoated lads without scorn.

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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

  The battle. The position of the sun favours both sides:

  Festus: ‘Obstipum,’ slanting.... — to make much greater because of the slanting sunlight

  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

  The infantry engagement:

  Priscian: ‘Denseo’ inflected as from ‘denso... —

  The bristling spears of the warriors crowded thick upon the plain.

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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.