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diff --git a/2995.txt b/2995.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f195265 --- /dev/null +++ b/2995.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1438 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tacitus on Germany, by Tacitus + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tacitus on Germany + +Author: Tacitus + +Translator: Thomas Gordon + +Release Date: April 3, 2006 [EBook #2995] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TACITUS ON GERMANY *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny; John Bickers + + + + + +TACITUS ON GERMANY + +Translated by Thomas Gordon + + + + PREPARER'S NOTE + + This text was prepared from a 1910 edition, published + by P. F. Collier & Son Company, New York. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +The dates of the birth and death of Tacitus are uncertain, but it is +probable that he was born about 54 A. D. and died after 117. He was a +contemporary and friend of the younger Pliny, who addressed to him some +of his most famous epistles. Tacitus was apparently of the equestrian +class, was an advocate by training, and had a reputation as an orator, +though none of his speeches has survived. He held a number of important +public offices, and married the daughter of Agricola, the conqueror of +Britain, whose life he wrote. + +The two chief works of Tacitus, the "Annals" and the "Histories," +covered the history of Rome from the death of Augustus to A. D. 96; +but the greater part of the "Histories" is lost, and the fragment that +remains deals only with the year 69 and part of 70. In the "Annals" +there are several gaps, but what survives describes a large part of the +reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero. His minor works, besides the +life of Agricola, already mentioned, are a "Dialogue on Orators" and the +account of Germany, its situation, its inhabitants, their character and +customs, which is here printed. + +Tacitus stands in the front rank of the historians of antiquity for the +accuracy of his learning, the fairness of his judgments, the richness, +concentration, and precision of his style. His great successor, Gibbon, +called him a "philosophical historian, whose writings will instruct the +last generations of mankind"; and Montaigne knew no author "who, in a +work of history, has taken so broad a view of human events or given a +more just analysis of particular characters." + +The "Germany" is a document of the greatest interest and importance, +since it gives us by far the most detailed account of the state of +culture among the tribes that are the ancestors of the modern Teutonic +nations, at the time when they first came into account with the +civilization of the Mediterranean. + + + + + +TACITUS ON GERMANY + + +The whole of Germany is thus bounded; separated from Gaul, from Rhoetia +and Pannonia, by the rivers Rhine and Danube; from Sarmatia and Dacia by +mutual fear, or by high mountains: the rest is encompassed by the ocean, +which forms huge bays, and comprehends a tract of islands immense in +extent: for we have lately known certain nations and kingdoms there, +such as the war discovered. The Rhine rising in the Rhoetian Alps from a +summit altogether rocky and perpendicular, after a small winding towards +the west, is lost in the Northern Ocean. The Danube issues out of the +mountain Abnoba, one very high but very easy of ascent, and traversing +several nations, falls by six streams into the Euxine Sea; for its +seventh channel is absorbed in the Fenns. + +The Germans, I am apt to believe, derive their original from no other +people; and are nowise mixed with different nations arriving amongst +them: since anciently those who went in search of new dwellings, +travelled not by land, but were carried in fleets; and into that mighty +ocean so boundless, and, as I may call it, so repugnant and forbidding, +ships from our world rarely enter. Moreover, besides the dangers from +a sea tempestuous, horrid and unknown, who would relinquish Asia, or +Africa, or Italy, to repair to Germany, a region hideous and rude, under +a rigorous climate, dismal to behold or to manure [to cultivate] unless +the same were his native country? In their old ballads (which amongst +them are the only sort of registers and history) they celebrate +_Tuisto_, a God sprung from the earth, and _Mannus_ his son, as the +fathers and founders of the nation. To _Mannus_ they assign three sons, +after whose names so many people are called; the Ingaevones, dwelling +next the ocean; the Herminones, in the middle country; and all the rest, +Instaevones. Some, borrowing a warrant from the darkness of antiquity, +maintain that the God had more sons, that thence came more denominations +of people, the Marsians, Gambrians, Suevians, and Vandalians, and that +these are the names truly genuine and original. For the rest, they +affirm Germany to be a recent word, lately bestowed: for that those +who first passed the Rhine and expulsed the Gauls, and are now named +Tungrians, were then called Germans: and thus by degrees the name of a +tribe prevailed, not that of the nation; so that by an appellation at +first occasioned by terror and conquest, they afterwards chose to be +distinguished, and assuming a name lately invented were universally +called _Germans_. + +They have a tradition that Hercules also had been in their country, and +him above all other heroes they extol in their songs when they advance +to battle. Amongst them too are found that kind of verses by the recital +of which (by them called _Barding_) they inspire bravery; nay, by such +chanting itself they divine the success of the approaching fight. For, +according to the different din of the battle they urge furiously, or +shrink timorously. Nor does what they utter, so much seem to be singing +as the voice and exertion of valour. They chiefly study a tone fierce +and harsh, with a broken and unequal murmur, and therefore apply their +shields to their mouths, whence the voice may by rebounding swell with +greater fulness and force. Besides there are some of opinion, that +Ulysses, whilst he wandered about in his long and fabulous voyages, was +carried into this ocean and entered Germany, and that by him Asciburgium +was founded and named, a city at this day standing and inhabited upon +the bank of the Rhine: nay, that in the same place was formerly found an +altar dedicated to Ulysses, with the name of his father Laertes added +to his own, and that upon the confines of Germany and Rhoetia are still +extant certain monuments and tombs inscribed with Greek characters. +Traditions these which I mean not either to confirm with arguments of +my own or to refute. Let every one believe or deny the same according to +his own bent. + +For myself, I concur in opinion with such as suppose the people of +Germany never to have mingled by inter-marriages with other nations, but +to have remained a people pure, and independent, and resembling none but +themselves. Hence amongst such a mighty multitude of men, the same make +and form is found in all, eyes stern and blue, yellow hair, huge bodies, +but vigorous only in the first onset. Of pains and labour they are not +equally patient, nor can they at all endure thrift and heat. To bear +hunger and cold they are hardened by their climate and soil. + +Their lands, however somewhat different in aspect, yet taken all +together consist of gloomy forests or nasty marshes; lower and moister +towards Noricum and Pannonia; very apt to bear grain, but altogether +unkindly to fruit trees; abounding in flocks and herds, but generally +small of growth. Nor even in their oxen is found the usual stateliness, +no more than the natural ornaments and grandeur of head. In the number +of their herds they rejoice; and these are their only, these their most +desirable riches. Silver and gold the Gods have denied them, whether in +mercy or in wrath, I am unable to determine. Yet I would not venture to +aver that in Germany no vein of gold or silver is produced; for who has +ever searched? For the use and possession, it is certain they care not. +Amongst them indeed are to be seen vessels of silver, such as have +been presented to their Princes and Ambassadors, but holden in no other +esteem than vessels made of earth. The Germans however adjoining to our +frontiers value gold and silver for the purposes of commerce, and are +wont to distinguish and prefer certain of our coins. They who live more +remote are more primitive and simple in their dealings, and exchange +one commodity for another. The money which they like is the old and +long known, that indented [with milled edges], or that impressed with +a chariot and two horses. Silver too is what they seek more than gold, +from no fondness or preference, but because small pieces are more ready +in purchasing things cheap and common. + +Neither in truth do they abound in iron, as from the fashion of their +weapons may be gathered. Swords they rarely use, or the larger spear. +They carry javelins or, in their own language, _framms_, pointed with a +piece of iron short and narrow, but so sharp and manageable, that with +the same weapon they can fight at a distance or hand to hand, just as +need requires. Nay, the horsemen also are content with a shield and a +javelin. The foot throw likewise weapons missive, each particular +is armed with many, and hurls them a mighty space, all naked or only +wearing a light cassock. In their equipment they show no ostentation; +only that their shields are diversified and adorned with curious +colours. With coats of mail very few are furnished, and hardly upon any +is seen a headpiece or helmet. Their horses are nowise signal either in +fashion or in fleetness; nor taught to wheel and bound, according to the +practice of the Romans: they only move them forward in a line, or turn +them right about, with such compactness and equality that no one is ever +behind the rest. To one who considers the whole it is manifest, that +in their foot their principal strength lies, and therefore they fight +intermixed with the motions and engagements of the cavalry. So that the +infantry are elected from amongst the most robust of their youth, and +placed in front of the army. The number to be sent is also ascertained, +out of every village _an hundred_, and by this very name they continue +to be called at home, _those of the hundred band_: thus what was at +first no more than a number, becomes thenceforth a title and distinction +of honour. In arraying their army, they divide the whole into distinct +battalions formed sharp in front. To recoil in battle, provided you +return again to the attack, passes with them rather for policy than +fear. Even when the combat is no more than doubtful, they bear away the +bodies of their slain. The most glaring disgrace that can befall them, +is to have quitted their shield; nor to one branded with such ignominy +is it lawful to join in their sacrifices, or to enter into their +assemblies; and many who had escaped in the day of battle, have hanged +themselves to put an end to this their infamy. + +In the choice of kings they are determined by the splendour of their +race, in that of generals by their bravery. Neither is the power of +their kings unbounded or arbitrary: and their generals procure obedience +not so much by the force of their authority as by that of their example, +when they appear enterprising and brave, when they signalise themselves +by courage and prowess; and if they surpass all in admiration and +pre-eminence, if they surpass all at the head of an army. But to none +else but the Priests is it allowed to exercise correction, or to inflict +bonds or stripes. Nor when the Priests do this, is the same considered +as a punishment, or arising from the orders of the general, but from the +immediate command of the Deity, Him whom they believe to accompany them +in war. They therefore carry with them when going to fight, certain +images and figures taken out of their holy groves. What proves the +principal incentive to their valour is, that it is not at random nor by +the fortuitous conflux of men that their troops and pointed battalions +are formed, but by the conjunction of whole families, and tribes of +relations. Moreover, close to the field of battle are lodged all the +nearest and most interesting pledges of nature. Hence they hear the +doleful howlings of their wives, hence the cries of their tender +infants. These are to each particular the witnesses whom he most +reverences and dreads; these yield him the praise which affect him most. +Their wounds and maims they carry to their mothers, or to their wives, +neither are their mothers or wives shocked in telling, or in sucking +their bleeding sores. Nay, to their husbands and sons whilst engaged in +battle, they administer meat and encouragement. + +In history we find, that some armies already yielding and ready to fly, +have been by women restored, through their inflexible importunity +and entreaties, presenting their breasts, and showing their impending +captivity; an evil to the Germans then by far most dreadful when it +befalls their women. So that the spirit of such cities as amongst +their hostages are enjoined to send their damsels of quality, is always +engaged more effectually than that of others. They even believe them +endowed with something celestial and the spirit of prophecy. Neither +do they disdain to consult them, nor neglect the responses which they +return. In the reign of the deified Vespasian, we have seen _Veleda_ for +a long time, and by many nations, esteemed and adored as a divinity. In +times past they likewise worshipped _Aurinia_ and several more, from +no complaisance or effort of flattery, nor as Deities of their own +creating. + +Of all the Gods, Mercury is he whom they worship most. To him on certain +stated days it is lawful to offer even human victims. Hercules and Mars +they appease with beasts usually allowed for sacrifice. Some of the +Suevians make likewise immolations to _Isis_. Concerning the cause and +original of this foreign sacrifice I have found small light; unless +the figure of her image formed like a galley, show that such devotion +arrived from abroad. For the rest, from the grandeur and majesty of +beings celestial, they judge it altogether unsuitable to hold the Gods +enclosed within walls, or to represent them under any human likeness. +They consecrate whole woods and groves, and by the names of the Gods +they call these recesses; divinities these, which only in contemplation +and mental reverence they behold. + +To the use of lots and auguries, they are addicted beyond all other +nations. Their method of divining by lots is exceeding simple. From a +tree which bears fruit they cut a twig, and divide it into two small +pieces. These they distinguish by so many several marks, and throw them +at random and without order upon a white garment. Then the Priest of the +community, if for the public the lots are consulted, or the father of +a family if about a private concern, after he has solemnly invoked the +Gods, with eyes lifted up to heaven, takes up every piece thrice, and +having done thus forms a judgment according to the marks before made. If +the chances have proved forbidding, they are no more consulted upon the +same affair during the same day; even when they are inviting, yet, for +confirmation, the faith of auguries too is tried. Yea, here also is the +known practice of divining events from the voices and flight of birds. +But to this nation it is peculiar, to learn presages and admonitions +divine from horses also. These are nourished by the State in the same +sacred woods and grooves, all milk-white and employed in no earthly +labour. These yoked in the holy chariot, are accompanied by the Priest +and the King, or the Chief of the community, who both carefully observed +his actions and neighing. Nor in any sort of augury is more faith and +assurance reposed, not by the populace only, but even by the nobles, +even by the Priests. These account themselves the ministers of the Gods, +and the horses privy to his will. They have likewise another method of +divination, whence to learn the issue of great and mighty wars. From the +nation with whom they are at war they contrive, it avails not how, to +gain a captive: him they engage in combat with one selected from amongst +themselves, each armed after the manner of his country, and according +as the victory falls to this or to the other, gather a presage of the +whole. + +Affairs of smaller moment the chiefs determine: about matters of +higher consequence the whole nation deliberates; yet in such sort, +that whatever depends upon the pleasure and decision of the people, is +examined and discussed by the chiefs. Where no accident or emergency +intervenes, they assemble upon stated days, either, when the moon +changes, or is full: since they believe such seasons to be the most +fortunate for beginning all transactions. Neither in reckoning of time +do they count, like us, the number of days but that of nights. In this +style their ordinances are framed, in this style their diets appointed; +and with them the night seems to lead and govern the day. From their +extensive liberty this evil and default flows, that they meet not at +once, nor as men commanded and afraid to disobey; so that often the +second day, nay often the third, is consumed through the slowness of the +members in assembling. They sit down as they list, promiscuously, like a +crowd, and all armed. It is by the Priests that silence is enjoined, +and with the power of correction the Priests are then invested. Then the +King or Chief is heard, as are others, each according to his precedence +in age, or in nobility, or in warlike renown, or in eloquence; and the +influence of every speaker proceeds rather from his ability to persuade +than from any authority to command. If the proposition displease, they +reject it by an inarticulate murmur: if it be pleasing, they brandish +their javelins. The most honourable manner of signifying their assent, +is to express their applause by the sound of their arms. + +In the assembly it is allowed to present accusations, and to prosecute +capital offences. Punishments vary according to the quality of the +crime. Traitors and deserters they hang upon trees. Cowards, and +sluggards, and unnatural prostitutes they smother in mud and bogs under +an heap of hurdles. Such diversity in their executions has this view, +that in punishing of glaring iniquities, it behooves likewise to +display them to sight; but effeminacy and pollution must be buried and +concealed. In lighter transgressions too the penalty is measured by +the fault, and the delinquents upon conviction are condemned to pay a +certain number of horses or cattle. Part of this mulct accrues to the +King or to the community, part to him whose wrongs are vindicated, or to +his next kindred. In the same assemblies are also chosen their chiefs +or rulers, such as administer justice in their villages and boroughs. +To each of these are assigned an hundred persons chosen from amongst +the populace, to accompany and assist him, men who help him at once with +their authority and their counsel. + +Without being armed they transact nothing, whether of public or private +concernment. But it is repugnant to their custom for any man to use +arms, before the community has attested his capacity to wield them. +Upon such testimonial, either one of the rulers, or his father, or +some kinsman dignify the young man in the midst of the assembly, with +a shield and javelin. This amongst them is the _manly robe_, this first +degree of honour conferred upon their youth. Before this they seem +no more than part of a private family, but thenceforward part of the +Commonweal. The princely dignity they confer even upon striplings, whose +race is eminently noble, or whose fathers have done great and signal +services to the State. For about the rest, who are more vigorous and +long since tried, they crowd to attend; nor is it any shame to be seen +amongst the followers of these. Nay, there are likewise degrees of +followers, higher or lower, just as he whom they follow judges fit. +Mighty too is the emulation amongst these followers, of each to be first +in favour with his Prince; mighty also the emulation of the Princes, +to excel in the number and valour of followers. This is their principal +state, this their chief force, to be at all times surrounded with a huge +band of chosen young men, for ornament and glory in peace, for security +and defence in war. Nor is it amongst his own people only, but even from +the neighbouring communities, that any of their Princes reaps so +much renown and a name so great, when he surpasses in the number and +magnanimity of his followers. For such are courted by Embassies, and +distinguished with presents, and by the terror of their fame alone often +dissipate wars. + +In the day of battle, it is scandalous to the Prince to be surpassed in +feats of bravery, scandalous to his followers to fail in matching the +bravery of the Prince. But it is infamy during life, and indelible +reproach, to return alive from a battle where their Prince was slain. +To preserve their Prince, to defend him, and to ascribe to his glory all +their own valorous deeds, is the sum and most sacred part of their oath. +The Princes fight for victory; for the Prince his followers fight. Many +of the young nobility, when their own community comes to languish in +its vigour by long peace and inactivity, betake themselves through +impatience in other States which then prove to be in war. For, +besides that this people cannot brook repose, besides that by perilous +adventures they more quickly blazon their fame, they cannot otherwise +than by violence and war support their huge train of retainers. For from +the liberality of their Prince, they demand and enjoy that _war-horse_ +of theirs, with that _victorious javelin_ dyed in the blood of their +enemies. In the place of pay, they are supplied with a daily table and +repasts; though grossly prepared, yet very profuse. For maintaining such +liberality and munificence, a fund is furnished by continual wars and +plunder. Nor could you so easily persuade them to cultivate the ground, +or to await the return of the seasons and produce of the year, as +to provoke the foe and to risk wounds and death: since stupid and +spiritless they account it, to acquire by their sweat what they can gain +by their blood. + +Upon any recess from war, they do not much attend the chase. Much more +of their time they pass in indolence, resigned to sleep and repasts. All +the most brave, all the most warlike, apply to nothing at all; but to +their wives, to the ancient men, and to even the most impotent domestic, +trust all the care of their house, and of their lands and possessions. +They themselves loiter. Such is the amazing diversity of their nature, +that in the same men is found so much delight in sloth, with so much +enmity to tranquillity and repose. The communities are wont, of their +own accord and man by man, to bestow upon their Princes a certain number +of beasts, or a certain portion of grain; a contribution which passes +indeed for a mark of reverence and honour, but serves also to supply +their necessities. They chiefly rejoice in the gifts which come from the +bordering countries, such as are sent not only by particulars but in the +name of the State; curious horses, splendid armour, rich harness, with +collars of silver and gold. Now too they have learnt, what we have +taught them, to receive money. + +That none of the several people in Germany live together in cities, is +abundantly known; nay, that amongst them none of their dwellings are +suffered to be contiguous. They inhabit apart and distinct, just as a +fountain, or a field, or a wood happened to invite them to settle. They +raise their villages in opposite rows, but not in our manner with the +houses joined one to another. Every man has a vacant space quite round +his own, whether for security against accidents from fire, or that they +want the art of building. With them in truth, is unknown even the use of +mortar and of tiles. In all their structures they employ materials +quite gross and unhewn, void of fashion and comeliness. Some parts +they besmear with an earth so pure and resplendent, that it resembles +painting and colours. They are likewise wont to scoop caves deep in the +ground, and over them to lay great heaps of dung. Thither they retire +for shelter in the winter, and thither convey their grain: for by such +close places they mollify the rigorous and excessive cold. Besides +when at any time their enemy invades them, he can only ravage the +open country, but either knows not such recesses as are invisible and +subterraneous; or must suffer them to escape him, on this very account +that he is uncertain where to find them. + +For their covering a mantle is what they all wear, fastened with a clasp +or, for want of it, with a thorn. As far as this reaches not they +are naked, and lie whole days before the fire. The most wealthy are +distinguished with a vest, not one large and flowing like those of +Sarmatians and Parthians, but girt close about them and expressing the +proportion of every limb. They likewise wear the skins of savage beasts, +a dress which those bordering upon the Rhine use without any fondness or +delicacy, but about which such who live further in the country are more +curious, as void of all apparel introduced by commerce. They choose +certain wild beasts, and, having flayed them, diversify their hides with +many spots, as also with the skins of monsters from the deep, such as +are engendered in the distant ocean and in seas unknown. Neither does +the dress of the women differ from that of the men, save that the +women are orderly attired in linen embroidered with purple, and use no +sleeves, so that all their arms are bare. The upper part of their breast +is withal exposed. + +Yet the laws of matrimony are severely observed there; for in the whole +of their manners is aught more praiseworthy than this: for they are +almost the only Barbarians contented with one wife, excepting a very few +amongst them; men of dignity who marry divers wives, from no wantonness +or lubricity, but courted for the lustre of their family into many +alliances. + +To the husband, the wife tenders no dowry; but the husband, to the wife. +The parents and relations attend and declare their approbation of the +presents, not presents adapted to feminine pomp and delicacy, nor such +as serve to deck the new married woman; but oxen and horse accoutred, +and a shield, with a javelin and sword. By virtue of these gifts, she +is espoused. She too on her part brings her husband some arms. This they +esteem the highest tie, these the holy mysteries, and matrimonial Gods. +That the woman may not suppose herself free from the considerations of +fortitude and fighting, or exempt from the casualties of war, the very +first solemnities of her wedding serve to warn her, that she comes to +her husband as a partner in his hazards and fatigues, that she is to +suffer alike with him, to adventure alike, during peace or during war. +This the oxen joined in the same yoke plainly indicate, this the horse +ready equipped, this the present of arms. 'Tis thus she must be content +to live, thus to resign life. The arms which she then receives she must +preserve inviolate, and to her sons restore the same, as presents worthy +of them, such as their wives may again receive, and still resign to her +grandchildren. + +They therefore live in a state of chastity well secured; corrupted by no +seducing shows and public diversions, by no irritations from banqueting. +Of learning and of any secret intercourse by letters, they are all +equally ignorant, men and women. Amongst a people so numerous, adultery +is exceeding rare; a crime instantly punished, and the punishment left +to be inflicted by the husband. He, having cut off her hair, expells her +from his house naked, in presence of her kindred, and pursues her with +stripes throughout the village. For, to a woman who has prostituted her +person, no pardon is ever granted. However beautiful she may be, however +young, however abounding in wealth, a husband she can never find. In +truth, nobody turns vices into mirth there, nor is the practice of +corrupting and of yielding to corruption, called the custom of the Age. +Better still do those communities, in which none but virgins marry, and +where to a single marriage all their views and inclinations are at once +confined. Thus, as they have but one body and one life, they take +but one husband, that beyond him they may have no thought, no further +wishes, nor love him only as their husband but as their marriage. +To restrain generation and the increase of children, is esteemed an +abominable sin, as also to kill infants newly born. And more powerful +with them are good manners, than with other people are good laws. + +In all their houses the children are reared naked and nasty; and thus +grow into those limbs, into that bulk, which with marvel we behold. +They are all nourished with the milk of their own mothers, and never +surrendered to handmaids and nurses. The lord you cannot discern from +the slave, by any superior delicacy in rearing. Amongst the same cattle +they promiscuously live, upon the same ground they without distinction +lie, till at a proper age the free-born are parted from the rest, and +their bravery recommend them to notice. Slow and late do the young men +come to the use of women, and thus very long preserve the vigour of +youth. Neither are the virgins hastened to wed. They must both have +the same sprightly youth, the like stature, and marry when equal and +able-bodied. Thus the robustness of the parents is inherited by the +children. Children are holden in the same estimation with their mother's +brother, as with their father. Some hold this tie of blood to be most +inviolable and binding, and in receiving of hostages, such pledges are +most considered and claimed, as they who at once possess affections +the most unalienable, and the most diffuse interest in their family. +To every man, however, his own children are heirs and successors: wills +they make none: for want of children his next akin inherits; his own +brothers, those of his father, or those of his mother. To ancient men, +the more they abound in descendants, in relations and affinities, so +much the more favour and reverence accrues. From being childless, no +advantage nor estimation is derived. + +All the enmities of your house, whether of your father or of your +kindred, you must necessarily adopt; as well as all their friendships. +Neither are such enmities unappeasable and permanent: since even for +so great a crime as homicide, compensation is made by a fixed number of +sheep and cattle, and by it the whole family is pacified to content. +A temper this, wholesome to the State; because to a free nation, +animosities and faction are always more menacing and perilous. In social +feasts, and deeds of hospitality, no nation upon earth was ever more +liberal and abounding. To refuse admitting under your roof any man +whatsoever, is held wicked and inhuman. Every man receives every +comer, and treats him with repasts as large as his ability can possibly +furnish. When the whole stock is consumed, he who has treated so +hospitably guides and accompanies his guest to the next house, though +neither of them invited. Nor avails it, that they were not; they are +there received, with the same frankness and humanity. Between a +stranger and an acquaintance, in dispensing the rules and benefits of +hospitality, no difference is made. Upon your departure, if you ask +anything, it is the custom to grant it; and with the same facility, they +ask of you. In gifts they delight, but neither claim merit from what +they give, nor own any obligation for what they receive. Their manner of +entertaining their guests is familiar and kind. + +The moment they rise from sleep, which they generally prolong till late +in the day, they bathe, most frequently in warm water; as in a country +where the winter is very long and severe. From bathing, they sit down to +meat; every man apart, upon a particular seat, and at a separate table. +They then proceed to their affairs, all in arms; as in arms, they +no less frequently go to banquet. To continue drinking night and day +without intermission, is a reproach to no man. Frequent then are their +broils, as usual amongst men intoxicated with liquor; and such broils +rarely terminate in angry words, but for the most part in maimings and +slaughter. Moreover in these their feasts, they generally deliberate +about reconciling parties at enmity, about forming affinities, choosing +of Princes, and finally about peace and war. For they judge, that at no +season is the soul more open to thoughts that are artless and upright, +or more fired with such as are great and bold. This people, of +themselves nowise subtile or politic, from the freedom of the place +and occasion acquire still more frankness to disclose the most secret +motions and purposes of their hearts. When therefore the minds of all +have been once laid open and declared, on the day following the several +sentiments are revised and canvassed; and to both conjectures of time, +due regard is had. They consult, when they know not how to dissemble; +they determine, when they cannot mistake. + +For their drink, they draw a liquor from barley or other grain; and +ferment the same so as to make it resemble wine. Nay, they who dwell +upon the bank of the Rhine deal in wine. Their food is very simple; wild +fruit, fresh venison, or coagulated milk. They banish hunger without +formality, without curious dressing and curious fare. In extinguishing +thirst, they use not equal temperance. If you will but humour their +excess in drinking, and supply them with as much as they covet, it will +be no less easy to vanquish them by vices than by arms. + +Of public diversions they have but one sort, and in all their meetings +the same is still exhibited. Young men, such as make it their pastime, +fling themselves naked and dance amongst sharp swords and the deadly +points of javelins. From habit they acquire their skill, and from their +skill a graceful manner; yet from hence draw no gain or hire: though +this adventurous gaiety has its reward, namely, that of pleasing the +spectators. What is marvellous, playing at dice is one of their most +serious employments; and even sober, they are gamesters: nay, so +desperately do they venture upon the chance of winning or losing, that +when their whole substance is played away, they stake their liberty and +their persons upon one and the last throw. The loser goes calmly into +voluntary bondage. However younger he be, however stronger, he tamely +suffers himself to be bound and sold by the winner. Such is their +perseverance in an evil course: they themselves call it honour. + +Slaves of this class, they exchange in commerce, to free themselves too +from the shame of such a victory. Of their other slaves they make not +such use as we do of ours, by distributing amongst them the several +offices and employments of the family. Each of them has a dwelling of +his own, each a household to govern. His lord uses him like a tenant, +and obliges him to pay a quantity of grain, or of cattle, or of cloth. +Thus far only the subserviency of the slave extends. All the other +duties in a family, not the slaves, but the wives and children +discharge. To inflict stripes upon a slave, or to put him in chains, or +to doom him to severe labour, are things rarely seen. To kill them they +sometimes are wont, not through correction or government, but in heat +and rage, as they would an enemy, save that no vengeance or penalty +follows. The freedmen very little surpass the slaves, rarely are of +moment in the house; in the community never, excepting only such nations +where arbitrary dominion prevails. For there they bear higher sway +than the free-born, nay, higher than the nobles. In other countries the +inferior condition of freedmen is a proof of public liberty. + +To the practice of usury and of increasing money by interest, they are +strangers; and hence is found a better guard against it, than if it +were forbidden. They shift from land to land; and, still appropriating +a portion suitable to the number of hands for manuring, anon parcel out +the whole amongst particulars according to the condition and quality +of each. As the plains are very spacious, the allotments are easily +assigned. Every year they change, and cultivate a fresh soil; yet +still there is ground to spare. For they strive not to bestow labour +proportionable to the fertility and compass of their lands, by planting +orchards, by enclosing meadows, by watering gardens. From the earth, +corn only is extracted. Hence they quarter not the year into so many +seasons. Winter, Spring, and Summer, they understand; and for each +have proper appellations. Of the name and blessings of Autumn, they are +equally ignorant. + +In performing their funerals, they show no state or vainglory. This only +is carefully observed, that with the corpses of their signal men certain +woods be burned. Upon the funeral pile they accumulate neither apparel +nor perfumes. Into the fire, are always thrown the arms of the dead, and +sometimes his horse. With sods of earth only the sepulchre is raised. +The pomp of tedious and elaborate monuments they contemn, as things +grievous to the deceased. Tears and wailings they soon dismiss: their +affliction and woe they long retain. In women, it is reckoned becoming +to bewail their loss; in men, to remember it. This is what in general +we have learned, in the original and customs of the whole people of +Germany. I shall now deduce the institutions and usages of the several +people, as far as they vary one from another; as also an account of what +nations from thence removed, to settle themselves in Gaul. + +That the Gauls were in times past more puissant and formidable, is +related by the Prince of authors, the deified Julius [Caesar]; and hence +it is probable that they too have passed into Germany. For what a small +obstacle must be a river, to restrain any nation, as each grew +more potent, from seizing or changing habitations; when as yet all +habitations were common, and not parted or appropriated by the founding +and terror of Monarchies? The region therefore between the Hercynian +Forest and the rivers Moenus and Rhine, was occupied by the Helvetians; +as was that beyond it by the Boians, both nations of Gaul. There still +remains a place called _Boiemum_, which denotes the primitive name and +antiquity of the country, although the inhabitants have been changed. +But whether the Araviscans are derived from the Osians, a nation +of Germans passing into Pannonia, or the Osians from the Araviscans +removing from thence into Germany, is a matter undecided; since they +both still use the language, the same customs and the same laws. For, as +of old they lived alike poor and alike free, equal proved the evils +and advantages on each side the river, and common to both people. The +Treverians and Nervians aspire passionately to the reputation of being +descended from the Germans; since by the glory of this original, they +would escape all imputation of resembling the Gauls in person and +effeminacy. Such as dwell upon the bank of the Rhine, the Vangiones, the +Tribocians, and the Nemetes, are without doubt all Germans. The Ubians +are ashamed of their original; though they have a particular honour to +boast, that of having merited an establishment as a Roman Colony, and +still delight to be called _Agrippinensians_, after the name of their +founder: they indeed formerly came from beyond the Rhine, and, for the +many proofs of their fidelity, were settled upon the very bank of the +river; not to be there confined or guarded themselves, but to guard and +defend that boundary against the rest of the Germans. + +Of all these nations, the Batavians are the most signal in bravery. They +inhabit not much territory upon the Rhine, but possess an island in it. +They were formerly part of the Cattans, and by means of feuds at home +removed to these dwellings; whence they might become a portion of the +Roman Empire. With them this honour still remains, as also the memorials +of their ancient association with us: for they are not under the +contempt of paying tribute, nor subject to be squeezed by the farmers of +the revenue. Free from all impositions and payments, and only set apart +for the purposes of fighting, they are reserved wholly for the wars, +in the same manner as a magazine of weapons and armour. Under the same +degree of homage are the nation of the Mattiacians. For such is the +might and greatness of the Roman People, as to have carried the awe and +esteem of their Empire beyond the Rhine and the ancient boundaries. Thus +the Mattiacians, living upon the opposite banks, enjoy a settlement and +limits of their own; yet in spirit and inclination are attached to +us: in other things resembling the Batavians, save that as they still +breathe their original air, still possess their primitive soil, they are +thence inspired with superior vigour and keenness. Amongst the people +of Germany I would not reckon those who occupy the lands which are +under decimation, though they be such as dwell beyond the Rhine and the +Danube. By several worthless and vagabond Gauls, and such as poverty +rendered daring, that region was seized as one belonging to no certain +possessor: afterwards it became a skirt of the Empire and part of a +province, upon the enlargement of our bounds and the extending of our +garrisons and frontier. + +Beyond these are the Cattans, whose territories begin at the Hercynian +Forest, and consist not of such wide and marshy plains, as those of +the other communities contained within the vast compass of Germany; but +produce ranges of hills, such as run lofty and contiguous for a long +tract, then by degrees sink and decay. Moreover the Hercynian Forest +attends for a while its native Cattans, then suddenly forsakes them. +This people are distinguished with bodies more hardy and robust, compact +limbs, stern countenances, and greater vigour of spirit. For Germans, +they are men of much sense and address. They dignify chosen men, listen +to such as are set over them, know how to preserve their post, to +discern occasions, to rebate their own ardour and impatience; how +to employ the day, how to entrench themselves by night. They account +fortune amongst things slippery and uncertain, but bravery amongst such +as are never-failing and secure; and, what is exceeding rare nor ever to +be learnt but by a wholesome course of discipline, in the conduct of +the general they repose more assurance than in the strength of the +army. Their whole forces consist of foot, who besides their arms carry +likewise instruments of iron and their provisions. You may see other +Germans proceed equipped to battle, but the Cattans so as to conduct a +war. They rarely venture upon excursions or casual encounters. It is in +truth peculiar to cavalry, suddenly to conquer, or suddenly to fly. Such +haste and velocity rather resembles fear. Patience and deliberation are +more akin to intrepidity. + +Moreover a custom, practised indeed in other nations of Germany, yet +very rarely and confined only to particulars more daring than the rest, +prevails amongst the Cattans by universal consent. As soon as they +arrive to maturity of years, they let their hair and beards continue to +grow, nor till they have slain an enemy do they ever lay aside this form +of countenance by vow sacred to valour. Over the blood and spoil of a +foe they make bare their face. They allege, that they have now acquitted +themselves of the debt and duty contracted by their birth, and rendered +themselves worthy of their country, worthy of their parents. Upon the +spiritless, cowardly and unwarlike, such deformity of visage still +remains. All the most brave likewise wear an iron ring (a mark of great +dishonour this in that nation) and retain it as a chain; till by killing +an enemy they become released. Many of the Cattans delight always to +bear this terrible aspect; and, when grown white through age, become +awful and conspicuous by such marks, both to the enemy and their own +countrymen. By them in all engagements the first assault is made: of +them the front of the battle is always composed, as men who in their +looks are singular and tremendous. For even during peace they abate +nothing in the grimness and horror of their countenance. They have no +house to inhabit, no land to cultivate, nor any domestic charge or care. +With whomsoever they come to sojourn, by him they are maintained; always +very prodigal of the substance of others, always despising what is their +own, till the feebleness of old age overtakes them, and renders them +unequal to the efforts of such rigid bravery. + +Next to the Cattans, dwell the Usipians and Tencterians; upon the Rhine +now running in a channel uniform and certain, such as suffices for a +boundary. The Tencterians, besides their wonted glory in war, surpass in +the service and discipline of their cavalry. Nor do the Cattans derive +higher applause from their foot, than the Tencterians from their horse. +Such was the order established by their forefathers, and what their +posterity still pursue. From riding and exercising of horse, their +children borrow their pastimes; in this exercise the young men find +matter for emulating one another, and in this the old men take pleasure +to persevere. Horses are by the father bequeathed as part of his +household and family, horses are conveyed amongst the rights of +succession, and as such the son receives them; but not the eldest son, +like other effects, by priority of birth, but he who continues to be +signal in boldness and superior in war. + +Contiguous to the Tencterians formerly dwelt the Bructerians, in whose +room it is said the Chamavians and Angrivarians are now settled; they +who expulsed and almost extirpated the Bructerians, with the concurrence +of the neighbouring nations: whether in detestation of their arrogance, +or allured by the love of spoil, or through the special favour of the +Gods towards us Romans. They in truth even vouchsafed to gratify us with +the sight of the battle. In it there fell above sixty thousand souls, +without a blow struck by the Romans; but, what is a circumstance +still more glorious, fell to furnish them with a spectacle of joy and +recreation. May the Gods continue and perpetuate amongst these nations, +if not any love for us, yet by all means this their animosity and hate +towards each other: since whilst the destiny of the Empire thus urges +it, fortune cannot more signally befriend us, than in sowing strife +amongst our foes. + +The Angrivarians and Chamavians are enclosed behind, by the Dulgibinians +and Chasuarians; and by other nations not so much noted: before the +Frisians face them. The country of Frisia is divided into two; called +the greater and lesser, according to the measure of their strength. Both +nations stretch along the Rhine, quite to the ocean; and surround +vast lakes such as once have born Roman fleets. We have moreover even +ventured out from thence into the ocean, and upon its coasts common fame +has reported the pillars of Hercules to be still standing: whether it be +that Hercules ever visited these parts, or that to his renowned name we +are wont to ascribe whatever is grand and glorious everywhere. Neither +did Drusus who made the attempt, want boldness to pursue it: but the +roughness of the ocean withstood him, nor would suffer discoveries to +be made about itself, no more than about Hercules. Thenceforward the +enterprise was dropped: nay, more pious and reverential it seemed, to +believe the marvellous feats of the Gods than to know and to prove them. + +Hitherto, I have been describing Germany towards the west. To the +northward, it winds away with an immense compass. And first of all +occurs the nation of the Chaucians; who though they begin immediately +at the confines of the Frisians, and occupy part of the shore, extend +so far as to border upon all the several people whom I have already +recounted; till at last, by a Circuit, they reach quite to the +boundaries of the Cattans. A region so vast, the Chaucians do not only +possess but fill; a people of all the Germans the most noble, such as +would rather maintain their grandeur by justice than violence. They live +in repose, retired from broils abroad, void of avidity to possess more, +free from a spirit of domineering over others. They provoke no wars, +they ravage no countries, they pursue no plunder. Of their bravery and +power, the chief evidence arises from hence, that, without wronging or +oppressing others, they are come to be superior to all. Yet they are all +ready to arm, and if an exigency require, armies are presently raised, +powerful and abounding as they are in men and horses; and even when they +are quiet and their weapons laid aside, their credit and name continue +equally high. + +Along the side of the Chaucians and Cattans dwell the Cheruscans; a +people who finding no enemy to rouse them, were enfeebled by a peace +over lasting and uniform, but such as they failed not to nourish. A +conduct which proved more pleasing than secure; since treacherous is +that repose which you enjoy amongst neighbours that are very powerful +and very fond of rule and mastership. When recourse is once had to the +sword, modesty and fair dealing will be vainly pleaded by the weaker; +names these which are always assumed by the stronger. Thus the +Cheruscans, they who formerly bore the character of _good and upright_, +are now called _cowards and fools_; and the fortune of the Cattans +who subdued them, grew immediately to be wisdom. In the ruin of the +Cheruscans, the Fosians, also their neighbours, were involved; and in +their calamities bore an equal share, though in their prosperity they +had been weaker and less considered. + +In the same winding tract of Germany live the Cimbrians, close to the +ocean; a community now very small, but great in fame. Nay, of their +ancient renown, many and extensive are the traces and monuments still +remaining; even their entrenchments upon either shore, so vast in +compass that from thence you may even now measure the greatness and +numerous bands of that people, and assent to the account of an army so +mighty. It was on the six hundred and fortieth year of Rome, when of the +arms of the Cimbrians the first mention was made, during the Consulship +of Caecilius Metellus and Papirius Carbo. If from that time we count to +the second Consulship of the Emperor Trajan, the interval comprehends +near two hundred and ten years; so long have we been conquering Germany. +In a course of time, so vast between these two periods, many have been +the blows and disasters suffered on each side. In truth neither from the +Samnites, nor from the Carthaginians, nor from both Spains, nor from all +the nations of Gaul, have we received more frequent checks and alarms; +nor even from the Parthians: for, more vigorous and invincible is the +liberty of the Germans than the monarchy of the Arsacides. Indeed, what +has the power of the East to allege to our dishonour; but the fall of +Crassus, that power which was itself overthrown and abased by Ventidius, +with the loss of the great King Pacorus bereft of his life? But by the +Germans the Roman People have been bereft of five armies, all commanded +by Consuls; by the Germans, the commanders of these armies, Carbo, and +Cassius, and Scaurus Aurelius, and Servilius Caepio, as also Marcus +Manlius, were all routed or taken: by the Germans even the Emperor +Augustus was bereft of Varus and three legions. Nor without difficulty +and loss of men were they defeated by Caius Marius in Italy, or by the +deified Julius in Gaul, or by Drusus or Tiberius or Germanicus in their +native territories. Soon after, the mighty menaces of Caligula against +them ended in mockery and derision. Thenceforward they continued quiet, +till taking advantage of our domestic division and civil wars, they +stormed and seized the winter entrenchments of the legions, and aimed at +the dominion of Gaul; from whence they were once more expulsed, and in +the times preceding the present, we gained a triumph over them rather +than a victory. + +I must now proceed to speak of the Suevians, who are not, like the +Cattans and Tencterians, comprehended in a single people; but divided +into several nations all bearing distinct names, though in general they +are entitled Suevians, and occupy the larger share of Germany. This +people are remarkable for a peculiar custom, that of twisting their hair +and binding it up in a knot. It is thus the Suevians are distinguished +from the other Germans, thus the free Suevians from their slaves. In +other nations, whether from alliance of blood with the Suevians, or, as +is usual from imitation, this practice is also found, yet rarely, and +never exceeds the years of youth. The Suevians, even when their hair is +white through age, continue to raise it backwards in a manner stern and +staring; and often tie it upon the top of their head only. That of their +Princes, is more accurately disposed, and so far they study to appear +agreeable and comely; but without any culpable intention. For by +it, they mean not to make love or to incite it: they thus dress when +proceeding to war, and deck their heads so as to add to their height and +terror in the eyes of the enemy. + +Of all the Suevians, the Semnones recount themselves to be the most +ancient and most noble. The belief of their antiquity is confirmed +by religious mysteries. At a stated time of the year, all the several +people descended from the same stock, assemble by their deputies in +a wood; consecrated by the idolatries of their forefathers, and by +superstitious awe in times of old. There by publicly sacrificing a man, +they begin the horrible solemnity of their barbarous worship. To this +grove another sort of reverence is also paid. No one enters it otherwise +than bound with ligatures, thence professing his subordination and +meanness, and power of the Deity there. If he fall down, he is not +permitted to rise or be raised, but grovels along upon the ground. And +of all their superstition, this is the drift and tendency; that from +this place the nation drew their original, that here God, the supreme +Governor of the world, resides, and that all things else whatsoever +are subject to him and bound to obey him. The potent condition of the +Semnones has increased their influence and authority, as they inhabit an +hundred towns; and from the largeness of their community it comes, that +they hold themselves for the head of the Suevians. + +What on the contrary ennobles the Langobards is the smallness of their +number, for that they, who are surrounded with very many and very +powerful nations, derive their security from no obsequiousness or +plying; but from the dint of battle and adventurous deeds. There follow +in order the Reudignians, and Aviones, and Angles, and Varinians, and +Eudoses, and Suardones and Nuithones; all defended by rivers or forests. +Nor in one of these nations does aught remarkable occur, only that they +universally join in the worship of _Herthum_; that is to say, the Mother +Earth. Her they believe to interpose in the affairs of men, and to visit +countries. In an island of the ocean stands the wood _Castum_: in it +is a chariot dedicated to the Goddess covered over with a curtain, and +permitted to be touched by none but the Priest. Whenever the Goddess +enters this her holy vehicle, he perceives her; and with profound +veneration attends the motion of the chariot, which is always drawn by +yoked cows. Then it is that days of rejoicing always ensue, and in all +places whatsoever which she descends to honour with a visit and her +company, feasts and recreation abound. They go not to war; they touch +no arms; fast laid up is every hostile weapon; peace and repose are +then only known, then only beloved, till to the temple the same priest +reconducts the Goddess when well tired with the conversation of mortal +beings. Anon the chariot is washed and purified in a secret lake, as +also the curtain; nay, the Deity herself too, if you choose to believe +it. In this office it is slaves who minister, and they are forthwith +doomed to be swallowed up in the same lake. Hence all men are possessed +with mysterious terror; as well as with a holy ignorance what that must +be, which none see but such as are immediately to perish. Moreover this +quarter of the Suevians stretches to the middle of Germany. + +The community next adjoining, is that of the Hermondurians; (that I may +now follow the course of the Danube, as a little before I did that of +the Rhine) a people this, faithful to the Romans. So that to them alone +of all the Germans, commerce is permitted; not barely upon the bank of +the Rhine, but more extensively, and even in that glorious colony in the +province of Rhoetia. They travel everywhere at their own discretion and +without a guard; and when to other nations, we show no more than our +arms and encampments, to this people we throw open our houses and +dwellings, as to men who have no longing to possess them. In the +territories of the Hermondurians rises the Elbe, a river very famous and +formerly well known to us; at present we only hear it named. + +Close by the Hermondurians reside the Nariscans, and next to them the +Marcomanians and Quadians. Amongst these the Marcomanians are most +signal in force and renown; nay, their habitation itself they acquired +by their bravery, as from thence they formerly expulsed the Boians. Nor +do the Nariscans or Quadians degenerate in spirit. Now this is as it +were the frontier of Germany, as far as Germany is washed by the Danube. +To the times within our memory the Marcomanians and Quadians were +governed by kings, who were natives of their own, descended from the +noble line of Maroboduus and Tudrus. At present they are even subject to +such as are foreigners. But the whole strength and sway of their king +is derived from the authority of the Romans. From our arms, they rarely +receive any aid; from our money very frequently. + +Nor less powerful are the several people beyond them; namely, the +Marsignians, the Gothinians, the Osians and the Burians, who altogether +enclose the Marcomanians and Quadians behind. Of those, the Marsignians +and the Burians in speech and dress resemble the Suevians. From the +Gallic language spoken by the Gothinians, and from that of Pannonia by +the Osians, it is manifest that neither of these people are Germans; as +it is also from their bearing to pay tribute. Upon them as upon aliens +their tribute is imposed, partly by the Sarmatians, partly by the +Quadians. The Gothinians, to heighten their disgrace, are forced to +labour in the iron mines. By all these several nations but little level +country is possessed: they are seated amongst forests, and upon +the ridges and declivities of mountains. For, Suevia is parted by a +continual ridge of mountains; beyond which, live many distinct nations. +Of these the Lygians are most numerous and extensive, and spread into +several communities. It will suffice to mention the most puissant; even +the Arians, Helvicones, Manimians; Elysians and Naharvalians. Amongst +the Naharvalians is shown a grove, sacred to devotion extremely ancient. +Over it a Priest presides apparelled like a woman; but according to +the explication of the Romans, 'tis _Castor_ and _Pollux_ who are here +worshipped. This Divinity is named _Alcis_. There are indeed no images +here, no traces of an extraneous superstition; yet their devotion is +addressed to young men and to brothers. Now the Arians, besides their +forces, in which they surpass the several nations just recounted, are +in their persons stern and truculent; and even humour and improve their +natural grimness and ferocity by art and time. They wear black shields, +their bodies are painted black, they choose dark nights for engaging in +battle; and by the very awe and ghastly hue of their army, strike the +enemy with dread, as none can bear this their aspect so surprising and +as it were quite infernal. For, in all battles the eyes are vanquished +first. + +Beyond the Lygians dwell the Gothones, under the rule of a King; and +thence held in subjection somewhat stricter than the other German +nations, yet not so strict as to extinguish all their liberty. +Immediately adjoining are the Rugians and Lemovians upon the coast of +the ocean, and of these several nations the characteristics are a round +shield, a short sword and kingly government. Next occur the communities +of the Suiones, situated in the ocean itself; and besides their strength +in men and arms, very powerful at sea. The form of their vessels varies +thus far from ours, that they have prows at each end, so as to be always +ready to row to shore without turning nor are they moved by sails, nor +on their sides have benches of oars placed, but the rowers ply here and +there in all parts of the ship alike, as in some rivers is done, and +change their oars from place to place, just as they shift their course +hither or thither. To wealth also, amongst them, great veneration is +paid, and thence a single ruler governs them, without all restriction of +power, and exacting unlimited obedience. Neither here, as amongst other +nations of Germany, are arms used indifferently by all, but shut up and +warded under the care of a particular keeper, who in truth too is always +a slave: since from all sudden invasions and attacks from their foes, +the ocean protects them: besides that armed bands, when they are not +employed, grow easily debauched and tumultuous. The truth is, it suits +not the interest of an arbitrary Prince, to trust the care and power of +arms either with a nobleman or with a freeman, or indeed with any man +above the condition of a slave. + +Beyond the Suiones is another sea, one very heavy and almost void +of agitation; and by it the whole globe is thought to be bounded and +environed, for that the reflection of the sun, after his setting, +continues till his rising, so bright as to darken the stars. To this, +popular opinion has added, that the tumult also of his emerging from +the sea is heard, that forms divine are then seen, as likewise the rays +about his head. Only thus far extend the limits of nature, if what fame +says be true. Upon the right of the Suevian Sea the AEstyan nations +reside, who use the same customs and attire with the Suevians; their +language more resembles that of Britain. They worship the Mother of the +Gods. As the characteristic of their national superstition, they wear +the images of wild boars. This alone serves them for arms, this is the +safeguard of all, and by this every worshipper of the goddess is secured +even amidst his foes. Rare amongst them is the use of weapons of iron, +but frequent that of clubs. In producing of grain and the other fruits +of the earth, they labour with more assiduity and patience than is +suitable to the usual laziness of Germans. Nay, they even search the +deep, and of all the rest are the only people who gather _amber_. They +call it _glasing_, and find it amongst the shallows and upon the very +shore. But, according to the ordinary incuriosity and ignorance of +Barbarians, they have neither learnt, nor do they inquire, what is +its nature, or from what cause it is produced. In truth it lay long +neglected amongst the other gross discharges of the sea; till from our +luxury, it gained a name and value. To themselves it is of no use: they +gather it rough, they expose it in pieces coarse and unpolished, and for +it receive a price with wonder. You would however conceive it to be a +liquor issuing from trees, for that in the transparent substance are +often seen birds and other animals, such as at first stuck in the soft +gum, and by it, as it hardened, became quite enclosed. I am apt to +believe that, as in the recesses of the East are found woods and groves +dropping frankincense and balms, so in the isles and continent of the +West such gums are extracted by the force and proximity of the sun; at +first liquid and flowing into the next sea, then thrown by the winds +and waves upon the opposite shore. If you try the nature of amber by +the application of fire, it kindles like a torch; and feeds a thick and +unctuous flame very high scented, and presently becomes glutinous like +pitch or rosin. + +Upon the Suiones, border the people Sitones; and, agreeing with them in +all other things, differ from them in one, that here the sovereignty is +exercised by a woman. So notoriously do they degenerate not only from +a state of liberty, but even below a state of bondage. Here end the +territories of the Suevians. + +Whether amongst the Sarmatians or the Germans I ought to account the +Peucinians, the Venedians, and the Fennians, is what I cannot determine; +though the Peucinians, whom some call Basstarnians, speak the same +language with the Germans, use the same attire, build like them, and +live like them, in that dirtiness and sloth so common to all. +Somewhat they are corrupted into the fashion of the Sarmatians by the +inter-marriages of the principal sort with that nation: from whence +the Venedians have derived very many of their customs and a great +resemblance. For they are continually traversing and infesting with +robberies all the forests and mountains lying between the Peucinians +and Fennians. Yet they are rather reckoned amongst the Germans, for +that they have fixed houses, and carry shields, and prefer travelling +on foot, and excel in swiftness. Usages these, all widely differing from +those of the Sarmatians, who live on horseback and dwell in waggons. +In wonderful savageness live the nation of the Fennians, and in beastly +poverty, destitute of arms, of horses, and of homes; their food, the +common herbs; their apparel, skins; their bed, the earth; their only +hope in their arrows, which for want of iron they point with bones. +Their common support they have from the chase, women as well as men; +for with these the former wander up and down, and crave a portion of +the prey. Nor other shelter have they even for their babes, against the +violence of tempests and ravening beasts, than to cover them with the +branches of trees twisted together; this a reception for the old men, +and hither resort the young. Such a condition they judge more happy than +the painful occupation of cultivating the ground, than the labour of +rearing houses, than the agitations of hope and fear attending the +defence of their own property or the seizing that of others. Secure +against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods, +they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them +nothing remains even to be wished. + +What further accounts we have are fabulous: as that the Hellusians and +Oxiones have the countenances and aspect of men, with the bodies and +limbs of savage beasts. This, as a thing about which I have no certain +information, I shall leave untouched. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tacitus on Germany, by Tacitus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TACITUS ON GERMANY *** + +***** This file should be named 2995.txt or 2995.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/9/2995/ + +Produced by Dagny; John Bickers; David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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