The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

VI. Germanicus being returned, wasteth the countrey of the Chatti: and recouereth an ensigne, lost with Varus.

BVt the fame of the nauie lost; as it did put the Germans in a hope, of beginning a new warre: so did it giue Germanicus stomack to curbe them. Wherupon he comanded C. Silius to goe against the Chatti, with thirtie thousand footemen, and three thousand horsmen: and himselfe inuaded the Marsi with stronger forces. Their Captaine called Malouendus; who not long before had yeelded himselfe, gaue notice how, that not far off, an ensigne of Varus legion was buried, and kept but with a slender guarde. A band of men was sent thither out of hand: with direction, that some should toll them out, and assaile them in the front; and others by inui∣roning them behind, to open the earth and take out the ensigne: fortune shewing hir-selfe fauourable to both the companies. This made Caesar more forward, and ente∣reth further into the land: wasteth, forrageth, rifleth the countrey; the enimie not daring to encounter him: or if at any time he did resist; he was straight driuen back: neuer (as they vnderstood by certaine captiues) fearing more in their liues. For they gaue out, that the Romans were inuincible, and not to be daunted with any misfor∣tune; seeing that hauing lost their nauie, and armor; and after that the shores were couered, with the carcasses of their men and horses; they inuaded them a fresh, with the same courage, and like fiercnes: yea as if they had increased their number. From thence the souldiers were brought backe to their winter standing camps: glad that they had recompensed their misfortune by sea, with so prosperous a victorie. Caesar vsed great largesse, recompensing euerie man, to the value of the losse he had

sustained. Little doubt, but the enimie grew faint harted, and began to consult, how he might intreat a peace: and that if the next sommer the wars should haue beene continued, there would be an ende of all. But Germanicus was sollicited by often letters from Tiberius, to returne and receiue the triumphe which was or∣dained for him: that he had passed through many chaunces and accidents: that he had had prosperous successe in many battels: that he should remēber what grieuous and cruell losses he had sustained, not by any ouersight of the Captaine, but by the winds & waues of the sea: that he had bin sent nine times into Germanie by Augustus of famous memorie: where he had atchieued more noble exploites by counsel then force. So he had receiued the submission of the Sigambri: so the Sueuians, and the King of the Maroboduans were inforced to make peace: that the Cherusci and other rebellious nations, seeing the Romans had had a sufficient reuenge on them, might be left to war one against another. But Germanicus intreating for one yeere longer, to finish the enterprises he had begun; Tiberius assaulted his mode∣stie more earnestly; offering him the consulship once more: which he should exe∣cute in person. He added further, that if there were any more wars to be enterprised, he should reserue that subiect, for the glorie of his brother Drusus: who no other enimy being left, could not but by warring against the Germans, get the title of Em∣peror, or win the crowne of laurell. Germanicus made no longer stay, although he knew well that those were but colours, sought through enuie, to draw him from the glorie he had alreadie purchased.