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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 th