Book 12
2
In the same place Seneca writes the following about Virgil also: Our Virgil too admitted some verses which are harsh, irregular and somewhat beyond the proper length, with no other motive than that those who were devoted to Ennius might find a flavour of antiquity in the new poem.
2
But I am already weary of quoting Seneca; yet I shall not pass by these jokes of that foolish and tasteless man: There are some thoughts in Quintus Ennius, says he, that are of such lofty tone that though written among the unwashed, Lit., those who smell like a he-goat; cf. Hor. Serm. i. 2. 27, pastillos Rufillus olet, Gargonius hircum; Epod. xii. 5. they nevertheless can give pleasure among the anointed; and, after censuring the verses about Cethegus which I have quoted above, he said: It would be clear to you that those who love verses of this kind admire even the couches of Sotericus. Obviously, an unskilful workman.
