QUINTUS, an ancient Latin poet, born at Rodii, a town in Calabria. He came first to Rome when M. Porcius Cato, was quaestor, whom he had instructed in the Greek language in Sardinia; and by his genius and behaviour he gained the esteem of the most eminent persons in the city. According to Horace, Ennius never applied himself to writing till he had drank freely of wine. Hence he contracted the gout, of which he died nine years B.C. He was interred in Scipio's sepulchre; who had a great esteem and friendship for him, and caused a statue to be erected to him upon his monument. He endeavoured to introduce the treasures of the Greek tongue among the Latins, and was the first among the Romans who made use of heroic verses. He wrote the Annals of Rome; he translated several tragedies from the Greek, and wrote others, besides several comedies. We have only some fragments of his works, which were first collected by the two Stephens, and afterwards published at Naples, with a learned commentary, by Jerom Columma, in quarto, 1590; and reprinted at Amsterdam in 1707, in quarto, with additions by Hesselius.