Tacitus' Germania
Page 5
44.
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.
45.
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 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.
46.
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 shields, and prefer traveling on foot,
and excel in swiftness. Usages these, all widely differing from those of the
Sarmatians, who live on horseback and dwell in wagons. In wonderful savageness
live the nation of the Fennians, and in beastly poverty, destitute of arms,
of horses, and of homes; their food, the common herbs; their apparel, skins;
their bed, the earth; their only hope in their arrows, which for want of iron
they point with bones. Their common support they have from the chase, women
as well as men; for with these the former wander up and down, and crave a portion
of the prey. Nor other shelter have they even for their babes, against the violence
of tempests and ravening beasts, than to cover them with the branches of trees
twisted together; this a reception for the old men, and hither resort the young.
Such a condition they judge more happy than the painful occupation of cultivating
the ground, than the labour of rearing houses, than the agitations of hope and
fear attending the defense of their own property or the seizing that of others.
Secure against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods,
they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing
remains even to be wished.
What further accounts we have are fabulous: as that the Hellusians and Oxiones
have the countenances and aspect of men, with the bodies and limbs of savage
beasts. This, as a thing about which I have no certain information, I shall
leave untouched.
Onward to Germania in Latin
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