Vos, qui regalis corporis custodias Agitatis, ite actutum in frundiferos locos, Ingenio arbusta ubi nata sunt, non obsita[39]. He composed a number of comedies, and also some original plays, founded on events in Roman history,--one of them called _Romulus_, or _Alimonia Romuli et Remi_. The longest of the fragments attributed to him is a passage from a comedy, which has been, with less probability, attributed to Ennius. It is a description of a coquette, and shows considerable power of close satiric observation:-- Quasi pila In choro ludens dadatim dat se, et communem facit: Alii adnutat, alii adnictat, alium amat, alium tenet; Alibi manus est occupata, alii percellit pedem; Alii spectandum dat annulum; a labris alium invocat; Cum alio cantat, attamen dat alii digito literas[40]. The chief characteristic illustrated by the scanty fragments of his dramas is the political spirit with which they were animated. Thus Cicero[41] refers to a passage in one of his plays (_ut est in Naevii ludo_) where, to the question, 'Who had, within so short a time, destroyed your great commonwealth?' the pregnant answer is given, Proveniebant oratores novi, stulti adolescentuli[41]. The nobles, whose enmity he provoked, were probably attacked by him in his comedies. One passage is quoted by Aulus Gellius, in which a failing of the great Scipio is exposed[42]. Other fragments are found indicative of his freedom of speech and bold independence of character:-- Quae ego in theatro hic meis probavi plausibus, Ea nunc audere quemquam regem rumpere? Quanto libertatem hanc his superat servitus[43]? and this also[44]:-- Semper pluris feci potioremque ego Libertatem habui multo quam pecuniam. He is placed in the canon of Volcatius Sedigitus immediately after Plautus in the rank of comic poets. He has more of the stamp of Lucilius than of his immediate successor Ennius. By his censorious and aggressive vehemence, by boldness and freedom of speech, and by his strong political feeling, Naevius in his dramas represents the spirit of Roman satire rather than of Roman tragedy. He holds the same place in Roman literature as the Tribune of the Commons in Roman politics. He expressed the vigorous independence of spirit that supported the Commons in their long struggle with the patricians, while Ennius may be regarded as expressing the majesty and authority with which the Roman Senate ruled the world.