Naevius, fr. 64 (Morel)

Naevius’ epitaph for himself.

inmortales mortales si foret fas flere,
flerent divae Camenae Naevium poetam.
itaque postquamst Orchi traditus thesauro,
obliti sunt Romae loquier Latina lingua.

If it were permitted for immortals to weep for mortals, the divine Camenae would weep for Naevius the poet. This is why, after he has been handed over to the treasury of Orcus, people at Rome have forgotten how to speak the Latin tongue.

Naevius, Punic War, fr.1 Morel

Here is an elegant fragment perhaps from the very opening of Naevius‘ poem on the Punic War. As Michael von Albrecht says, ‘the unusual luxury of invoking all nine Muses would chime with Naevius’ Campanian arrogance’!

novem Iovis concordes filiae sorores…

Nine sisters like-minded, Jupiter’s daughters…