An account of Nævius has been given in Note 41, and of Plautus in Note 42. Ennius was the tenth comic poet of Rome, according to Volcatius, who says, “Antiquitatis causâ decimum addo Ennium.” If it be true that Ennius was but the tenth in poetical merit, the greatest glory of the nine who were above him, must have been the distinguished honour of excelling this highly extolled poet. Ennius was born in the year of Rome 515, and died in 585; though he obtained the privileges of a Roman citizen, he was, by birth, a Calabrian, as _Ovid_ expressly tells us, and informs us, that his statue was placed on the tomb of the Scipios, because he had so nobly celebrated their renowned actions: “Ennius emeruit, Calabris in montibus ortus, Contiguus poni, Scipio, magne tibi.” _Ennius, among Calabrian mountains born, Deserves, O Scipio, to be placed by thee._ The reader cannot become acquainted with the enthusiastic admiration of the Romans for the brilliant performances of Ennius, better than by a perusal of some of the many and great encomiums passed on him by those who, though they lived after him, may be called his competitors for literary fame. _Cicero_ calls him, “Ingeniosus, poeta et auctor valde bonus.”――_A man of great abilities and wit, and an admirable writer both of poetry and of prose._ _Horace_ also “Ennius et sapiens, et fortis, et alter Homerus.” _Ennius the wise, and strong, another Homer._ _Quintilian_ speaks of him thus, “Ennium sicut sacros vetustate lucos adoremus, in quibus grandia et antiqua robora jam non tantam speciem habent quam religionem.”――_We revere Ennius, as we revere the groves, sacred for their antiquity, in which the great and ancient oaks are not reckoned precious for their beauty, but because they are consecrated to religious purposes._ _Lucretius_ thus, “Ennius―――――――――――――― primus amœno Detulit ex Helicone perenni fronde coronam.” _Ennius first wore the never-fading crown, Gain’d at the Muses’ seat, the pleasant Helicon._ And, lastly, _Ovid_, “Ennius ingenio maximus, arte rudis.” _Ennius, the first in wit, though wanting art._ Ennius wrote tragedies, comedies, annals, _&c._, of which some fragments remain: he died of the gout, brought on by drinking. _Horace_ tells us, that Ennius was in the habit of raising his imagination by large draughts of wine, when he intended to write a description of any warlike action. NOTE 60. Simo. _Carry in these things directly._