Varius's most famous literary production was the tragedy "Thyestes", which Quintilian ("Inst. Orat." x.1, 98) declared fit to rank with any of the Greek tragedies. The "didascalia" (which is preserved in a Paris manuscript) states that it was produced at the games celebrated in 29 BC by Octavian in honour of the victory at Actium, and that Varius received a present of a million sesterces from the Roman ruler.