Ennius

Cato was almost exactly contemporary with Ennius: and he had been the foremost representative of the reaction.

It was probably through his position as a teacher of Greek that Ennius first became known to the leading men of Rome.

To him, as to Ennius, common sense and a just estimate of life were large ingredients in virtue.

This was first arrested by Ennius, who cast the literary language of Rome into forms which became permanent after his time.