tacitus on germany-第3章

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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　close　about　them　and　expressing　the
proportion　of　every　limb。　They　likewise　wear　the　skins　of　savage
beasts；　a　dress　which　those　bordering　upon　the　Rhine　use　without　any
fondness　or　delicacy；　but　about　which　such　who　live　further　in　the
country　are　more　curious；　as　void　of　all　apparel　introduced　by
commerce。　They　choose　certain　wild　beasts；　and；　having　flayed　them；
diversify　their　hides　with　many　spots；　as　also　with　the　skins　of
monsters　from　the　deep；　such　as　are　engendered　in　the　distant　ocean
and　in　seas　unknown。　Neither　does　the　dress　of　the　women　differ　from
that　of　the　men；　save　that　the　women　are　orderly　attired　in　linen
embroidered　with　purple；　and　use　no　sleeves；　so　that　all　their　arms
are　bare。　The　upper　part　of　their　breast　is　withal　exposed。

Yet　the　laws　of　matrimony　are　severely　observed　there；　for　in　the
whole　of　their　manners　is　aught　more　praiseworthy　than　this：　for　they
are　almost　the　only　Barbarians　contented　with　one　wife；　excepting　a
very　few　amongst　them；　men　of　dignity　who　marry　divers　wives；　from　no
wantonness　or　lubricity；　but　courted　for　the　lustre　of　their　family
into　many　alliances。

To　the　husband；　the　wife　tenders　no　dowry；　but　the　husband；　to　the
wife。　The　parents　and　relations　attend　and　declare　their　approbation
of　the　presents；　not　presents　adapted　to　feminine　pomp　and　delicacy；
nor　such　as　serve　to　deck　the　new　married　woman；　but　oxen　and　horse
accoutred；　and　a　shield；　with　a　javelin　and　sword。　By　virtue　of　these
gifts；　she　is　espoused。　She　too　on　her　part　brings　her　husband　some
arms。　This　they　esteem　the　highest　tie；　these　the　holy　mysteries；　and
matrimonial　Gods。　That　the　woman　may　not　suppose　herself　free　from　the
considerations　of　fortitude　and　fighting；　or　exempt　from　the
casualties　of　war；　the　very　first　solemnities　of　her　wedding　serve　to
warn　her；　that　she　comes　to　her　husband　as　a　partner　in　his　hazards
and　fatigues；　that　she　is　to　suffer　alike　with　him；　to　adventure
alike；　during　peace　or　during　war。　This　the　oxen　joined　in　the　same
yoke　plainly　indicate；　this　the　horse　ready　equipped；　this　the　present
of　arms。　'Tis　thus　she　must　be　content　to　live；　thus　to　resign　life。
The　arms　which　she　then　receives　she　must　preserve　inviolate；　and　to
her　sons　restore　the　same；　as　presents　worthy　of　them；　such　as　their
wives　may　again　receive；　and　still　resign　to　her　grandchildren。

They　therefore　live　in　a　state　of　chastity　well　secured；　corrupted　by
no　seducing　shows　and　public　diversions；　by　no　irritations　from
banqueting。　Of　learning　and　of　any　secret　intercourse　by　letters；　they
are　all　equally　ignorant；　men　and　women。　Amongst　a　people　so　numerous；
adultery　is　exceeding　rare；　a　crime　instantly　punished；　and　the
punishment　left　to　be　inflicted　by　the　husband。　He；　having　cut　off　her
hair；　expells　her　from　his　house　naked；　in　presence　of　her　kindred；
and　pursues　her　with　stripes　throughout　the　village。　For；　to　a　woman
who　has　prostituted　her　person；　no　pardon　is　ever　granted。　However
beautiful　she　may　be；　however　young；　however　abounding　in　wealth；　a
husband　she　can　never　find。　In　truth；　nobody　turns　vices　into　mirth
there；　nor　is　the　practice　of　corrupting　and　of　yielding　to
corruption；　called　the　custom　of　the　Age。　Better　still　do　those
communities；　in　which　none　but　virgins　marry；　and　where　to　a　single
marriage　all　their　views　and　inclinations　are　at　once　confined。　Thus；
as　they　have　but　one　body　and　one　life；　they　take　but　one　husband；
that　beyond　him　they　may　have　no　thought；　no　further　wishes；　nor　love
him　only　as　their　husband　but　as　their　marriage。　To　restrain
generation　and　the　increase　of　children；　is　esteemed　an　abominable
sin；　as　also　to　kill　infants　newly　born。　And　more　powerful　with　them
are　good　manners；　than　with　other　people　are　good　laws。

In　all　their　houses　the　children　are　reared　naked　and　nasty；　and　thus
grow　into　those　limbs；　into　that　bulk；　which　with　marvel　we　behold。
They　are　all　nourished　with　the　milk　of　their　own　mothers；　and　never
surrendered　to　handmaids　and　nurses。　The　lord　you　cannot　discern　from
the　slave；　by　any　superior　delicacy　in　rearing。　Amongst　the　same
cattle　they　promiscuously　live；　upon　the　same　ground　they　without
distinction　lie；　till　at　a　proper　age　the　free…born　are　parted　from
the　rest；　and　their　bravery　recommend　them　to　notice。　Slow　and　late　do
the　young　men　come　to　the　use　of　women；　and　thus　very　long　preserve
the　vigour　of　youth。　Neither　are　the　virgins　hastened　to　wed。　They
must　both　have　the　same　sprightly　youth；　the　like　stature；　and　marry
when　equal　and　able…bodied。　Thus　the　robustness　of　the　parents　is
inherited　by　the　children。　Children　are　holden　in　the　same　estimation
with　their　mother's　brother；　as　with　their　father。　Some　hold　this　tie
of　blood　to　be　most　inviolable　and　binding；　and　in　receiving　of
hostages；　such　pledges　are　most　considered　and　claimed；　as　they　who　at
once　possess　affections　the　most　unalienable；　and　the　most　diffuse
interest　in　their　family。　To　every　man；　however；　his　own　children　are
heirs　and　successors：　wills　they　make　none：　for　want　of　children　his
next　akin　inherits；　his　own　brothers；　those　of　his　father；　or　those　of
his　mother。　To　ancient　men；　the　more　they　abound　in　descendants；　in
relations　and　affinities；　so　much　the　more　favour　and　reverence
accrues。　From　being　childless；　no　advantage　nor　estimation　is　derived。

All　the　enmities　of　your　house；　whether　of　your　father　or　of　your
kindred；　you　must　necessarily　adopt；　as　well　as　all　their　friendships。
Neither　are　such　enmities　unappeasable　and　permanent：　since　even　for
so　great　a　crime　as　homicide；　compensation　is　made　by　a　fixed　number
of　sheep　and　cattle；　and　by　it　the　whole　family　is　pacified　to
content。　A　temper　this；　wholesome　to　the　State；　because　to　a　free
nation；　animosities　and　faction　are　always　more　menacing　and　perilous。
In　social　feasts；　and　deeds　of　hospitality；　no　nation　upon　earth　was
ever　more　liberal　and　abounding。　To　refuse　admitting　under　your　roof
any　man　whatsoever；　is　held　wicked　and　inhuman。　Every　man　receives
every　comer；　and　treats　him　with　repasts　as　large　as　his　ability　can
possibly　furnish。　When　the　whole　stock　is　consumed；　he　who　has　treated
so　hospitably　guides　and　accompanies　his　guest　to　the　next　house；
though　neither　of　them　invited。　Nor　avails　it；　that　they　were　not；
they　are　there　received；　with　the　same　frankness　and　humanity。　Between
a　stranger　and　an　acquaintance；　in　dispensing　the　rules　and　benefits
of　hospitality；　no　difference　is　made。　Upon　your　departure；　if　you　ask
anything；　it　is　the　custom　to　grant　it；　and　with　the　same　facility；
they　ask　of　you。　In　gifts　they　delight；　but　neither　claim　merit　from
what　they　give；　nor　own　any　obligation　for　what　they　receive。　Their
manner　of　entertaining　their　guests　is　familiar　and　kind。

The　moment　they　rise　from　sleep；　which　they　generally　prolong　till
late　in　the　day；　they　bathe；　most　frequently　in　warm　water；　as　in　a
country　where　the　winter　is　very　long　and　severe。　From　bathing；　they
sit　down　to　meat；　every　man　apart；　upon　a　particular　seat；　and　at　a
separate　table。　They　then　proceed　to　their　affairs；　all　in　arms；　as　in
arms；　they　no　less　frequently　go　to　banquet。　To　continue　drinking
night　and　day　without　intermission；　is　a　reproach　to　no　man。　Frequent
then　are　their　broils；　as　usual　amongst　men　intoxicated　with　liquor；
and　such　broils　rarely　terminate　in　angry　words；　but　for　the　most　part
in　maimings　and　slaughter。　Moreover　in　these　their　feasts；　they
generally　deliberate　about　reconciling　parties　at　enmity；　about
forming　affinities；　choosing　of　Princes；　and　finally　about　peace　and
war。　For　they　judge；　that　at　no　season　is　the　soul　more　open　to
thoughts　that　are　artless　and　upright；　or　more　fired　with　such　as　are
great　and　bold。　This　people；　of　themselves　nowise　subtile　or　politic；
from　the　freedom　of　the　place　and　occasion　acquire　still　more
frankness　to　disclose　the　most　secret　motions　and　purposes　of　their
hearts。　When　therefore　the　minds　of　all　have　been　once　laid　open　and
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