The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

V. Of the Tencterians, Chamauians, and Frisians.

NExt vnto the Catti, the Vsipij and Tencteri do inhabit the Rhene, running in a certaine channell, and which may suffice for a bound. The Tencteri be∣sides their auncient renowne of warres, excell the rest in seruice of horse: and the Catteans deserue no greater commendation for footemen, then the Tencteri∣ans for horsemen. So did their predecessors ordaine it, and successors follow it. These are the childrens pastimes; this the emulation betwixtyong men; and old men continue the same; and horses are deliuered, as rights of inheritance among the familie: and the sonnes receiue them, though not the eldest, but he who is most couragious, and likeliest to make a marshall man. Hard by the Tencteri, in times past the Bructeri did inhabit; but now it is reported that the Chamauians, and An∣griuarians, are entred into that countrey, and wholie rooted out and chased the Bructerians, by agreement of nations adioyning: either as hating them for their pride, or for sweetnes of pray, or some fauor of the gods towards vs; as not denying vs the spectacle of the battel, wherein there were slaine threescore thousand, not by the Roman armes and weapons: but, which is more glorious, to shew vs pastime, and please our eye. I wish that if those people cannot loue vs, that they would hate one another, seeing that the state of the Empire fatally declining, fortune can do vs no greater fauor, then sowe sedition among the enemies. The Angriuarians and Chamauians, haue behinde them the Dulgibini and Chasuari, and other nations not greatly spoken of; and before them the Frisians. The Frisians are called great or small, according to their strength: the Rhene bordering both vnto the Ocean, and besides that, do comprehend huge and spacious lakes, which the Roman nauie hath past: yea and the Ocean itselfe we haue entred into and tried on that side. And the fame goeth, that Hercules pillers are yet there to be seene; either because Hercules went so farre, or else because by common consent all that is any where magnificall, is attributed to his renowme. Drusus Germanicus wanted not courage: but the Ocean hindered vs for being ouer inquisitiue of him or Hercules. After that, no man assayed to do it, as being an act of greater deuotion and reuerence, to beleeue the actions of the gods, rather then know them. Hitherto we haue seene the West part of Germanie: towards the North it goeth bowing with a great compas. And first

of all the people of the Chauceans, although they begin at the Frisians, and possesse part of the shore, coast all those nations I haue made mention of, vntill they wind into the Catti; and so spacious and huge countrey the Chauci do not only hold, but fill likewise: of all the German nation the noblest; and desirous to maintaine their greatnes by iustice: without couetousnes or vnbrideled lust, quiet and retired; stirre vp no warres, neuer waste, spoile, nor rob. And which is a speciall marke of their valour and strength, they got not their superioritie ouer others by any wrongs of∣fered. Yet they are all readie for warre, and if occasion require to make an ar∣mie, wanting neither horse nor men: and although they lie quiet, yet their re∣putation is neuer the lesser. On the side of the Chauci and Catti, the Cherusci haue nourished long, beeing neuer prouoked, an idle and lazie peace: which was more sweet than safe vnto them, bicause there is no sure peace betweene stir∣ring and strong people. For when the matter is come to hand-strokes, modestie and good dealing be termes which belong to superiors. So the Cherusci in times past good and iust, are now called cowards and fooles: and the fortune of the Cat∣ti being fauourable, is cause that they are counted wise. The Fosi, a people bordering vpon the Cherusci, are touched with their ruine, companions in their aduersitie, though in prosperitie they were inferiour vnto them. Neere vnto the same coast of the Ocean, the Cimbrians inhabite; now a small people, but highly renowned: ha∣uing yet remaining certaine markes of their old glotie; to wit, on both the bankes, trenches and lodges: by the circuit of which, thou maist yet measure the greatnes and strength of that nation, and beleeue the number of so great an armie. It was sixe hundred and fortie yeeres after the foundation of our citie, before the Cimbri∣ans armes were heard of, when Caecilius Metellus, and Papirius Carbo were Consuls. From that time, vnto the second time that the Emperor Traian was Consull, by iust account, are two hundred and ten yeeres: and so many yeeres we were a conquering Germanie. In the middle time, there were many losses on both parts. Not the Samnites, not the Carthagineans, not the Spaniards, or the Gallois; no, not the Par∣thian haue so often troubled vs: the libertie of the Germans being more earnest, than the kingdome of the Arsacides. For what can the East obiect against vs, sa∣uing the death of Crassus, when he had defeated Pacorus, before troden downe by Ventidius? But the Germans, hauing either slaine or taken Carbo and Cassius, and Scaurus Aurelius, and Seruilius Cepio, and M. Manlius, haue defeated also fiue Con∣sularie armies, and Varus with three legions in Caesars time: neither haue C. Marius in Italie, or Iulius in Gallia, Drusus, and Nero, and Germanicus, molested them in their houses without blowes. After that C. Caesars great threatnings were turned to a iest. Then there was quietnes, vntill our ciuill warres gaue them occasion, when they had taken the standing campes of the legions, to haue a desire to enter Gallia: from whence being againe driuen out, in late times, they haue beene rather trium∣phed ouer then vanquished.