tacitus on germany-第2章

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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