Cic. Tusc. i. 3, ‘Oratio Catonis, in qua obiecit ut probrum M. Nobiliori quod is in provinciam poetas duxisset. Duxerat autem consul ille in Aetoliam, ut scimus, Ennium.’
Cic. pro Arch. 22, ‘In caelum huius proavus Cato tollitur: magnus honos populi Romani rebus adiungitur.’
So far as is known, Ennius was at Rome B.C. 204-189. He lived plainly, and supported himself by teaching Latin and Greek.
Jerome yr. Abr. 1777 = B.C. 240, ‘Q. Ennius poeta Tarenti [an error] nascitur, qui a Catone quaestore Romam translatus habitavit in monte Aventino, parco admodum sumptu contentus, et unius ancillae ministerio.’
Sueton. Gramm. 1, ‘Livium et Ennium, quos utraque lingua domi forisque docuisse adnotatum est.’
At Rome he was on familiar terms with the elder Scipio Africanus and his brother Cornelius Nasica, and their circle.
Cic. pro Arch. 22, ‘Carus fuit Africano superiori noster Ennius; itaque etiam in sepulchro Scipionum putatur is esse constitutus ex marmore.’
A pleasant story of his relations with Nasica is given by Cic. de Or. ii. 276. Two epigrams on Scipio (Nos. 2 and 3) are extant.
In B.C. 189 Ennius accepted an invitation from M. Fulvius Nobilior to accompany him in his campaign against the Aetolians, and be a witness of his exploits. Fulvius’ victory gave the poet materials for the praetexta Ambracia, and Book xv. of the Annals.
Cic. pro Arch. 27, ‘Ille qui cum Aetolis Ennio comite bellavit Fulvius.’ Cf. Cic. Tusc. i. 3 (above).