tacitus on germany-第8章

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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　sh