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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 Rhi