tacitus on germany-第3章

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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　clo