tacitus on germany-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


King　Pacorus　bereft　of　his　life？　But　by　the　Germans　the　Roman　People
have　been　bereft　of　five　armies；　all　commanded　by　Consuls；　by　the
Germans；　the　commanders　of　these　armies；　Carbo；　and　Cassius；　and
Scaurus　Aurelius；　and　Servilius　Caepio；　as　also　Marcus　Manlius；　were
all　routed　or　taken：　by　the　Germans　even　the　Emperor　Augustus　was
bereft　of　Varus　and　three　legions。　Nor　without　difficulty　and　loss　of
men　were　they　defeated　by　Caius　Marius　in　Italy；　or　by　the　deified
Julius　in　Gaul；　or　by　Drusus　or　Tiberius　or　Germanicus　in　their　native
territories。　Soon　after；　the　mighty　menaces　of　Caligula　against　them
ended　in　mockery　and　derision。　Thenceforward　they　continued　quiet；
till　taking　advantage　of　our　domestic　division　and　civil　wars；　they
stormed　and　seized　the　winter　entrenchments　of　the　legions；　and　aimed
at　the　dominion　of　Gaul；　from　whence　they　were　once　more　expulsed；　and
in　the　times　preceding　the　present；　we　gained　a　triumph　over　them
rather　than　a　victory。

I　must　now　proceed　to　speak　of　the　Suevians；　who　are　not；　like　the
Cattans　and　Tencterians；　comprehended　in　a　single　people；　but　divided
into　several　nations　all　bearing　distinct　names；　though　in　general
they　are　entitled　Suevians；　and　occupy　the　larger　share　of　Germany。
This　people　are　remarkable　for　a　peculiar　custom；　that　of　twisting
their　hair　and　binding　it　up　in　a　knot。　It　is　thus　the　Suevians　are
distinguished　from　the　other　Germans；　thus　the　free　Suevians　from
their　slaves。　In　other　nations；　whether　from　alliance　of　blood　with
the　Suevians；　or；　as　is　usual　from　imitation；　this　practice　is　also
found；　yet　rarely；　and　never　exceeds　the　years　of　youth。　The　Suevians；
even　when　their　hair　is　white　through　age；　continue　to　raise　it
backwards　in　a　manner　stern　and　staring；　and　often　tie　it　upon　the　top
of　their　head　only。　That　of　their　Princes；　is　more　accurately
disposed；　and　so　far　they　study　to　appear　agreeable　and　comely；　but
without　any　culpable　intention。　For　by　it；　they　mean　not　to　make　love
or　to　incite　it：　they　thus　dress　when　proceeding　to　war；　and　deck
their　heads　so　as　to　add　to　their　height　and　terror　in　the　eyes　of　the
enemy。

Of　all　the　Suevians；　the　Semnones　recount　themselves　to　be　the　most
ancient　and　most　noble。　The　belief　of　their　antiquity　is　confirmed　by
religious　mysteries。　At　a　stated　time　of　the　year；　all　the　several
people　descended　from　the　same　stock；　assemble　by　their　deputies　in　a
wood；　consecrated　by　the　idolatries　of　their　forefathers；　and　by
superstitious　awe　in　times　of　old。　There　by　publicly　sacrificing　a
man；　they　begin　the　horrible　solemnity　of　their　barbarous　worship。　To
this　grove　another　sort　of　reverence　is　also　paid。　No　one　enters　it
otherwise　than　bound　with　ligatures；　thence　professing　his
subordination　and　meanness；　and　power　of　the　Deity　there。　If　he　fall
down；　he　is　not　permitted　to　rise　or　be　raised；　but　grovels　along　upon
the　ground。　And　of　all　their　superstition；　this　is　the　drift　and
tendency；　that　from　this　place　the　nation　drew　their　original；　that
here　God；　the　supreme　Governor　of　the　world；　resides；　and　that　all
things　else　whatsoever　are　subject　to　him　and　bound　to　obey　him。　The
potent　condition　of　the　Semnones　has　increased　their　influence　and
authority；　as　they　inhabit　an　hundred　towns；　and　from　the　largeness　of
their　community　it　comes；　that　they　hold　themselves　for　the　head　of
the　Suevians。

What　on　the　contrary　ennobles　the　Langobards　is　the　smallness　of　their
number；　for　that　they；　who　are　surrounded　with　very　many　and　very
powerful　nations；　derive　their　security　from　no　obsequiousness　or
plying；　but　from　the　dint　of　battle　and　adventurous　deeds。　There
follow　in　order　the　Reudignians；　and　Aviones；　and　Angles；　and
Varinians；　and　Eudoses；　and　Suardones　and　Nuithones；　all　defended　by
rivers　or　forests。　Nor　in　one　of　these　nations　does　aught　remarkable
occur；　only　that　they　universally　join　in　the　worship　of　/Herthum/；
that　is　to　say；　the　Mother　Earth。　Her　they　believe　to　interpose　in　the
affairs　of　men；　and　to　visit　countries。　In　an　island　of　the　ocean
stands　the　wood　/Castum/：　in　it　is　a　chariot　dedicated　to　the　Goddess
covered　over　with　a　curtain；　and　permitted　to　be　touched　by　none　but
the　Priest。　Whenever　the　Goddess　enters　this　her　holy　vehicle；　he
perceives　her；　and　with　profound　veneration　attends　the　motion　of　the
chariot；　which　is　always　drawn　by　yoked　cows。　Then　it　is　that　days　of
rejoicing　always　ensue；　and　in　all　places　whatsoever　which　she
descends　to　honour　with　a　visit　and　her　company；　feasts　and　recreation
abound。　They　go　not　to　war；　they　touch　no　arms；　fast　laid　up　is　every
hostile　weapon；　peace　and　repose　are　then　only　known；　then　only
beloved；　till　to　the　temple　the　same　priest　reconducts　the　Goddess
when　well　tired　with　the　conversation　of　mortal　beings。　Anon　the
chariot　is　washed　and　purified　in　a　secret　lake；　as　also　the　curtain；
nay；　the　Deity　herself　too；　if　you　choose　to　believe　it。　In　this
office　it　is　slaves　who　minister；　and　they　are　forthwith　doomed　to　be
swallowed　up　in　the　same　lake。　Hence　all　men　are　possessed　with
mysterious　terror；　as　well　as　with　a　holy　ignorance　what　that　must　be；
which　none　see　but　such　as　are　immediately　to　perish。　Moreover　this
quarter　of　the　Suevians　stretches　to　the　middle　of　Germany。

The　community　next　adjoining；　is　that　of　the　Hermondurians；　（that　I
may　now　follow　the　course　of　the　Danube；　as　a　little　before　I　did　that
of　the　Rhine）　a　people　this；　faithful　to　the　Romans。　So　that　to　them
alone　of　all　the　Germans；　commerce　is　permitted；　not　barely　upon　the
bank　of　the　Rhine；　but　more　extensively；　and　even　in　that　glorious
colony　in　the　province　of　Rhoetia。　They　travel　everywhere　at　their　own
discretion　and　without　a　guard；　and　when　to　other　nations；　we　show　no
more　than　our　arms　and　encampments；　to　this　people　we　throw　open　our
houses　and　dwellings；　as　to　men　who　have　no　longing　to　possess　them。
In　the　territories　of　the　Hermondurians　rises　the　Elbe；　a　river　very
famous　and　formerly　well　known　to　us；　at　present　we　only　hear　it
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