‘Ennius “equi fortis et victoris senectuti comparat suam”’ (Cic. Cato Maior, 14).
The lines are Ann. xviii. fr. 7,
‘Sic ut fortis equus, spatio qui saepe supremo
vicit Olimpia, nunc senio confectus quiescit.’
His epitaph (Epigr. i) is quoted by Cic. Tusc. i. 34 and 117,
‘Aspicite, o cives, senis Enni imaginis formam!
hic vestrum panxit maxima facta patrum;
Nemo me dacrumis decoret nec funera fletu
faxit. Cur? Volito vivus per ora virum.’
According to Aelius Stilo, Ennius has depicted his own character in Ann. vii. fr. 10, wherein he portrays Servilius Geminus, the trusty companion of a man of position (Gell. xii. 4). For Ennius’ self-appreciation cf. also his epitaph (if by himself) quoted above, and Ann. i. fr. 4,
‘Latos per populos terrasque poemata nostra
clara cluebunt.’
In philosophy Ennius was an eclectic. Cf. Trag. 1. 417,
‘Philosophari est mihi necesse, at paucis: nam omnino haut placet.
Degustandum ex ea, non in eam ingurgitandum censeo.’
His rationalism is seen in Telamo, fr. 1,