Collected Fragments of Ennius

by Quintus Ennius

  440

  The indecisive battle at Phalanna?:

  Gellius: But on the other hand Ennius again in the eighteenth book of Annals writes —

  a tawny mist

  ‘fulva’ not ‘fulvo,’ not only because Homer says ἠέρα βαθεῖαν but, I think, because he believed the former sound a to be more musical and pleasant.

  Other Fragments of the Annals not assigned to any Book

  From Book VIII or IX?

  The six following fragments, to judge from the probable parallelisms in Virgil, come from a description of a sham naval fight or of a fleet in training; the racing ships are compared with racing chariots and horses. Cf. V., 87–8; H. A. Koch, Exercit. Crit., 11; Norden, 165–7. The scene may be the sham display by Scipio at New Carthage in 210 b.c. (Livy, XXVI, 51; Polyb., X, 20, 1, 6); or at Syracuse in 204 BC (Livy, XXIX, 22); or possibly the frs. describe the training of Scipio’s fleet in 205 (Livy, XXVIII, 45–6); or even the activities of the Spartan Nabis at Gytheion in 192 BC (Livy, XXXV, 25 ff.).

  441

  Festus: ‘Termo’ is, as used by Ennius, a Graecism... —

  ... a good prompter before the boundary-post at the limits was now....

  [Virgil describes a boat-race round a post set up by Aeneas.]

  442

  Isidorus: ‘Celoces’ are what the Greeks call κέλητες, that is, swift biremes or triremes fitted for the service of a fleet. Ennius has —

  The cutter Smooth o’er the white o’ the waves on a keel very greasy she glided.

  [Virgil goes on to describe the racing ships.]

  443–4

  A scholiast, on Virgil’s ‘even as when teams of four pour out from the barriers’: ‘Barriers,’ doors. Ennius says —

  When pouring from the barriers the chariots with a mighty clatter strive to move headlong,

  445

  Charisius: As in the case of a ship we can speak of a driver, so in the same way we can speak of a steersman in the case of a chariot, for example —

  and when the steersman has turned his horses with a mighty pull,

  [Virgil likewise compares the racing ships to racing chariots, and imitates Homer.]

  446

  Festus: ‘Restat.’ Ennius is stated to use this word for ‘distat’ when he says —

  Its rush not far off keeps steady in the middle regions of the course.

  Virgil has: her own speed bears her flying on.

  447

  Festus: ‘Termo’ is, as used by Ennius, a Graecism... —

  with giant speed it goes along at the place where the boundary-post is set.

  448

  Cicero: Yes, men call upon him not only as Jupiter but also as lord of the universe, and ruler of all things by his nod, and, as Ennius says —

  father of gods and men

  449

  Varro: Ennius... calling upon the same god, says —

  father and monarch of gods and men

  450–51

  Virgil says:

  The begetter of gods and men, with a gentle smile for her in his look, with which he calms the sky and the weather, gently kissed his daughter.

  Servius, on ‘subridens’: ‘With a gentle smile.’ He represents Jupiter as happy and such as he is wont to be when he brings calm weather.... An augmenter of Servius adds: Ennius has —

  Here Jupiter smiled, and with the almighty’s smile Smiled clear and calm all weathers.

  Homer says: So spake and smiled the father of men and gods.

  452–3

  Servius (supplemented): ‘Arcebat,’ kept off. It means also ‘contains.’ Ennius —

  who with bright thunderbolt Encloses all things in a burst of sound,

  454

  Cicero: It was with reference to our system of augury that Ennius wrote —

  Then on the left, in weather clear and calm, He thundered a good omen.

  Affairs of State.

  455

  Priscianus: ‘Celerissimus’ for ‘celerrimus.’... Ennius in the Annals —

  ‘And then after most swiftest rumour had spread through the lands,

  456

  Servius, on Virgil’s ‘making decision with the sword’: This reading is true Latin and has ancient testimony. For he followed Ennius... —

  Busied with great affairs they were making a decision.

  457

  Servius, on ‘cum vōmĕre’ in Virgil: ‘Cum’ is redundant... Ennius —

  With his own hallowed heart he poured forth speech;

  that is, ‘proprio pcctore,’ for ‘cum’ has no force here.

  458–9

  Charisius: ‘In mundo’ for ‘palam’ and ‘in expedito’ and ‘cito’... Ennius —

  ‘Whether it is life or death is now in readiness for you’

  460

  Servius (supplemented), on ‘Strike strength into the winds’ in Virgil:... Ennius —

  By his words he struck wrath into the Romans

  461

  Cicero: You don’t say so, Atticus! You, who praised the nice honour of my conduct —

  ‘Durst you thus out of your own mouth...

  (says Ennius), ask me to give Scaptius some cavalry to collect his debts with?

  462

  Varro: ‘Tueri’ has two meanings, one derived from the idea of looking at, whence comes Ennius’ use of it... —

  ‘What man, father or kinsman, will wish to look you all in the face?

  463

  Nonius: ‘Vultus’... in the neuter.... Ennius —

  ‘You and your faces will be ever turned away

  464–6

  Varro: Many animal sounds have been used figuratively of human beings;... of quite clear cases there is, for example, Ennius’ —

  when his heart in his breast barks his wants

  ... and of less obvious cases there is for example...

  ... Ennius’ usage drawn from the calf... and the same poet’s usage drawn from the ox —

  clamorously mooing

  and also his usage drawn from the lion —

  they put a stop to their roaring.

  467

  Augustine: Just as Tully himself declared, speaking not in Scipio’s nor anyone else’s words but in his own person at the beginning of his fifth book (sc. On the Republic), having first quoted the line of Ennius where that poet had written —

  On manners and on men of good old time Stands firm the Roman State.

  468–9

  Varro: With regard to this matter, only now could it be said, and not when Ennius wrote, that —

  Seven hundred years it is, a little more or less, since renowned Rome was founded by august augury

  470

  Nonius: ‘Caelum’... in the masculine.... Ennius —

  Brave are the Romans as the sky’s profound

  471–2

  Porphyrio, on Horace’s words: ‘It’s worth your while, all you who wish no successful path for adulterers, to hear how they are burdened on all sides’: He wittily perverts lines of Ennius —

  ‘To hear is worth your while, all you who wish the Roman State to tread a successful path and Latium to increase.’

  473

  Servius, on Virgil’s —

  whom, lacking not of valour,

  says: This is a line of Ennius.

  474

  Over a passage of Orosius, in a codex Sangallensis, mentioning the punishment of Minucia a vestal virgin in 343 BC, Ekkehart wrote: Ennius —

  since nothing more horrible did any law ever demand.

  475

  Nonius: ‘Propages’ is a connected series drawn out without a break, or at great length.... Ennius —

  Whence there might be crops and prolonging of life for us.

  476

  Priscianus: ‘Necatus’ is the proper term to use of a man killed by the sword, but ‘nectus’ of a man killed by some other violence. Ennius —

  Some a plague did kill; others of them fell in wars.

  War.

  477


  Cassiodorius: ‘Cum’ as a preposition must be written with a c; ‘quum’ as an adverb of time meaning ‘quando,’ with a q for the sake of distinction, for example in Ennius —

  When the commander sets forth with his hosts,

  478

  Nonius: ‘Metus’... in the feminine.... Ennius —

  Nor any fear holds them; trusting in their valiance, they rest.

  479

  Festus: ‘Sultis’ means ‘si vultis’;... Ennius —

  ‘Open your eyelids, will you all, and let your brains leave sleep behind.’

  480

  ‘Lactantius,’ on ‘And sleep fled away, his horn empty’ in Statius: Sleep is represented by painters so as to appear to pour out over slumberers liquid sleep from a horn. So Ennius has —

  When the young warriors of Rome dry themselves from sleep.

  481–2

  Nonius: ‘Latrocinari’ to serve as a soldier for pay.... Ennius —

  and the hired warriors began to talk among themselves of their fortunes

  483

  Nonius: ‘Sagum’... Masculine form. Ennius —

  Therefore a thick cloak covers his back

  484

  Festus: Ennius... —

  ... one Syrian to carry a stake, still he could defend,...

  ‘suri’ are stakes; the diminutive is ‘surculi.’

  485

  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: ‘Superescit’ means ‘supererit.’ Ennius —

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

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

  The best youth of Rome with fine spirit

  490

  Paulus: ‘Cracentes,’ slender. Ennius —

  Sword-girt and slender round the waist.

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

  and the light-armed followed in lances.

  493

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

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

  494

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

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

  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

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

  armed with spear, gave way

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

  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,’ 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, 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, 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 (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:... Ennius also in a book of the Annals —

  Bravo! The Latins were refreshed.

  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

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

  ‘Whither go you all so rashly?

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

  foul elephants

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

  and their sturdy strength cruel winter crushed

  Here he has scanned the penultimate long.

  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: 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: When Ennius says ‘celerissimus’ —

  goes like the most swiftest cavalry,

  it is a barbarism.

  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 —