Roman Scandinavia - Primary Sources
Cornelius Tacitus
- Agricolae
Publius Cornelius Tacitus,
De Vita Iulii Agricolae 10-12; From LCL
[10] Britanniae situm populosque
multis scriptoribus memoratos non in comparationem curae ingeniive referam,
sed quia tum primum perdomita est. Ita quae priores nondum comperta eloquentia
percoluere, rerum fide tradentur. Britannia, insularum quas Romana notitia
complectitur maxima, spatio ac caelo in orientem Germaniae, in occidentem
Hispaniae obtenditur, Gallis in meridiem etiam inspicitur; septentrionalia
eius, nullis contra terris, vasto atque aperto mari pulsantur. Formam
totius Britanniae Livius veterum, Fabius Rusticus recentium eloquentissimi
auctores oblongae scutulae vel bipenni adsimulavere. Et est ea facies
citra Caledoniam, unde et in universum fama [est]: transgressis inmensum
et enorme spatium procurrentium extremo iam litore terrarum velut in cuneum
tenuatur. Hanc oram novissimi maris tunc primum Romana classis circumvecta
insulam esse Britanniam adfirmavit, ac simul incognitas ad id tempus insulas,
quas Orcadas vocant, invenit domuitque. Dispecta est et Thule, quia hactenus
iussum, et hiems adpetebat. Sed mare pigrum et grave remigantibus perhibent
ne ventis quidem perinde attolli, credo quod rariores terrae montesque,
causa ac materia tempestatum, et profunda moles continui maris tardius
impellitur. Naturam Oceani atque aestus neque quaerere huius operis est,
ac multi rettulere: unum addiderim, nusquam latius dominari mare, multum
fluminum huc atque illuc ferre, nec litore tenus adcrescere aut resorberi,
sed influere penitus atque ambire, et iugis etiam ac montibus inseri velut
in suo.
[11] Ceterum Britanniam qui mortales initio coluerint, indigenae an advecti,
ut inter barbaros, parum compertum. Habitus corporum varii atque ex eo
argumenta. Namque rutilae Caledoniam habitantium comae, magni artus Germanicam
originem adseverant; Silurum colorati vultus, torti plerumque crines et
posita contra Hispania Hiberos veteres traiecisse easque sedes occupasse
fidem faciunt; proximi Gallis et similes sunt, seu durante originis vi,
seu procurrentibus in diversa terris positio caeli corporibus habitum
dedit. In universum tamen aestimanti Gallos vicinam insulam occupasse
credibile est. Eorum sacra deprehendas ac superstitionum persuasiones;
sermo haud multum diversus, in deposcendis periculis eadem audacia et,
ubi advenere, in detrectandis eadem formido. Plus tamen ferociae Britanni
praeferunt, ut quos nondum longa pax emollierit. Nam Gallos quoque in
bellis floruisse accepimus; mox segnitia cum otio intravit, amissa virtute
pariter ac libertate. Quod Britannorum olim victis evenit: ceteri manent
quales Galli fuerunt.
[12] In pedite robur; quaedam nationes et curru proeliantur. Honestior
auriga, clientes propugnant. Olim regibus parebant, nunc per principes
factionibus et studiis trahuntur. Nec aliud adversus validissimas gentis
pro nobis utilius quam quod in commune non consulunt. Rarus duabus tribusve
civitatibus ad propulsandum commune periculum conventus: ita singuli pugnant,
universi vincuntur. Caelum crebris imbribus ac nebulis foedum; asperitas
frigorum abest. Dierum spatia ultra nostri orbis mensuram; nox clara et
extrema Britanniae parte brevis, ut finem atque initium lucis exiguo discrimine
internoscas. Quod si nubes non officiant, aspici per noctem solis fulgorem,
nec occidere et exurgere, sed transire adfirmant. Scilicet extrema et
plana terrarum humili umbra non erigunt tenebras, infraque caelum et sidera
nox cadit. Solum praeter oleam vitemque et cetera calidioribus terris
oriri sueta patiens frugum pecudumque fecundum: tarde mitescunt, cito
proveniunt; eademque utriusque rei causa, multus umor terrarum caelique.
Fert Britannia aurum et argentum et alia metalla, pretium victoriae. Gignit
et Oceanus margarita, sed subfusca ac liventia. Quidam artem abesse legentibus
arbitrantur; nam in rubro mari viva ac spirantia saxis avelli, in Britannia,
prout expulsa sint, colligi: ego facilius crediderim naturam margaritis
deesse quam nobis avaritiam.
Tacitus, The Life of
Julius Agricola 10-12; From LCL
10. The geographical position
of Britain and the races which inhabit it have been recorded by many writers:
if I record them it is not to challenge comparison in the matter of accuracy
or talent, but because it was Agricola who first thoroughly subdued it:
accordingly, where earlier writers embroidered with rhetoric a theme still
legendary, there will be found only a faithful narration of facts.
Britain is the largest island known to Romans: as regards its extent and
situation it faces Germany on the east, Spain on the west; on the south
it is actually within sight of Gaul; its northern shores alone have no
lands opposite them, but are beaten by the wastes of open sea. Livy and
Fabius Rusticus, the most graphic of ancient and modern writers respectively,
have likened the shape of Britain as a whole to an elongated shoulder-blade
or to an axe-head. This is in fact its shape up to the borders of Caledonia,
whence also this idea has been extended to the whole; but when you cross
the border a vast and irregular tract of land runs out forming the final
stretch of coast-line and eventually tapers as it were into a wedge. It
was only under Agricola that the Roman fleet for the first time rounded
this coast, the coast of the remotest sea, and established the insularity
of Britain; by the same voyage it discovered the islands called Orcades,
up to that time unknown, and conquered them. Thule also was surveyed,
their instructions taking them only so far: besides, winter was approaching.
However, they brought the report that the sea was sluggish and heavy to
the oar and comparatively torpid even to the wind - I presume because
land and mountain, the cause and occasion of storms, are fewer and further
between, and because the deep mass of uninterrupted water is slower to
be set in motion. The character and tides of the ocean it is beyond the
function of this work to investigate, and, besides, many have recorded
them. I would add but a single word, that nowhere has the sea more potent
influence: many tidal currents set in various directions; nor merely do
the incoming tides wash the shores and ebb again, but penetrate the land
deeply and invest it, and even steal into the heart of hills and mountains
as though into their native element.
11. Be this as it may, the question who were the first inhabitants of
Britain and whether they were indigenous or immigrant is one which, as
one would expect among barbarous people, has never received attention.
The physique of the people presents many varieties, whence inferences
are drawn: the red hair and large limbs of the inhabitants of Caledonia
proclaim their Germanic origin; the swarthy faces of the Silures, the
curly quality, in general, of their hair, and the position of Spain opposite
their shores, attest the passage of Iberians in old days and the occupation
by them of these districts; those peoples, again, who adjoin Gaul are
also like Gauls, whether because the influence of heredity persists, or
because when two lands project in opposite directions until they face
each other the climatic condition stamps a certain physique on the human
body; but, taking a general view of the case, we can readily believe that
the Gauls took possession of the adjacent island. You would find there
Gallic ceremonies and Gallic religious beliefs; the language is not very
different; there is the same recklessness in courting danger, and, when
it comes, the same anxiety to escape it; but the Britons display a higher
spirit, not having yet been emasculated by long years of peace. The Gauls
also, according to history, once shone in war: afterwards indolence made
its appearance hand in hand with peace, and courage and liberty have been
lost together. This has happened to such of the Britons as were conquered
long ago: the rest remain what the Gauls once were.
12. Their strength lies in their infantry; but certain tribes also fight
from chariots: the driver has the place of honour, the combatants are
mere retainers. Originally the people were subject to kings: now the quarrels
and ambitions of petty chieftains divide them; nor indeed have we any
weapon against the stronger races more effective than this, that they
have no common purpose: rarely will two or three states confer to repulse
a common danger; accordingly they fight individually and are collectively
conquered. The sky is overcast with continual rain and cloud, but the
cold is not severe. The length of the days is beyond the measure of our
world: the nights are clear and, in the distant parts of Britain, short,
so that there is but a brief space separating the evening and morning
twilight. If there be no clouds to hinder, the sun's brilliance - they
maintain - is visible throughout the night: it does not set and then rise
again, but simply passes over. That is to say, the flat extremities of
the earth with their low shadows do not project the darkness, and nightfall
never reaches the sky and stars.
The soil, except for the olive and the vine and the other fruits usual
in warmer lands, is tolerant of crops and prolific of cattle: they ripen
slowly, but are quick to sprout - in each case for the same reason, the
abundant moisture of the soil and sky. Britain produces gold and silver
and other metals: conquest is worth while. Their sea also produces pearls,
but somewhat clouded and leaden-hued. Some people suppose that their pearl-fishers
lack skill; in the Red Sea we are to imagine them torn alive and still
breathing from the shell, while in Britain they are gathered only when
thrown up on shore: for myself I could more readily believe that quality
was lacking in the pearls than greed in Romans.
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