Gell. xvii. 21, 45, 'Eodem anno (A.U.C. Dxix.) Cn. Naevius poeta fabulas apud populum dedit, quem M. Varro in libris de poetis primo stipendia fecisse ait bello Poenico primo, idque ipsum Naevium dicere in eo carmine, quod de eodem bello scripsit.' In his plays he attacked the senatorial party, particularly the Metelli, and was imprisoned, but afterwards released. Gell. iii. 3, 15, 'Sicuti de Naevio quoque accepimus, fabulas eum in carcere duas scripsisse, Hariolum et Leontem, cum ob assiduam maledicentiam et probra in principes civitatis de Graecorum poetarum more dicta in vincula Romae a triumviris coniectus esset. Unde post a tribunis plebis exemptus est, cum in his, quas supra dixi, fabulis delicta sua et petulantias dictorum, quibus multos ante laeserat, diluisset.' Pseud.-Asconius on Cic. _in Verr. act. prior_, 29. 'Dictum facete et contumeliose in Metellos antiquum Naevii est, "Fato Metelli Romai fiunt consules," cui tunc Metellus consul (B.C. 206) iratus versu responderat ..., "Dabunt malum Metelli Naevio poetae."' Cf. the contemporary reference in Plaut. _Mil._ 212, 'Nam os columnatum poetae esse indaudivi barbaro,[2] quoi bini custodes semper totis horis occubant.' For Naevius' freedom of speech cf. his comedies, l. 113 (Ribbeck), 'Libera lingua loquemur ludis Liberalibus'; l. 108 (on Scipio), 'Etiam qui res magnas manu saepe gessit gloriose, cuius facta viva nunc vigent, qui apud gentes solus praestat, eum suus pater cum palliod unod ab amica abduxit.' Naevius was banished and went to Utica, where he died, probably about B.C. 199. It must have been after peace was concluded (B.C. 202), as otherwise he could have reached Utica only by deserting to the enemy.[3] Jerome gives B.C. 201, Cicero B.C. 204, although he says Varro put the date later. The verses on Scipio quoted above could hardly have been written before the battle of Zama. Jerome yr. Abr. 1816 = B.C. 201, 'Naevius comicus Uticae moritur, pulsus Roma factione nobilium, ac praecipue Metelli.' Cic. _Brut._ 60, 'His consulibus (B.C. 204), ut in veteribus commentariis scriptum est, Naevius est mortuus; quamquam Varro noster, diligentissimus investigator antiquitatis, putat in hoc erratum vitamque Naevi producit longius.' (2) WORKS. 1. _Tragedies._--There are extant seven titles and a very few fragments. 2. _Comedies._--There are titles of about thirty-four _palliatae_,[4] and upwards of one hundred and thirty lines extant. Naevius seems to have adopted _contaminatio_[5] in his plays. Ter. _Andr._ prol. 15, 'Id isti vituperant factum atque in eo disputant contaminari non decere fabulas ... qui quom hunc accusant, Naevium Plautum Ennium accusant.' 3. _Praetextae._--Tragedies on Roman subjects, 'Clastidium' and 'Romulus.' The _praetexta_ was invented by Naevius. 4. _Bellum Punicum_, an epic poem in Saturnians, divided later into seven Books. About seventy-four lines are extant.