CHAP. I.
The* Vsipetes, and* Tenchtheri bring great multi∣tudes of peoples, ouer the Rhene into Gal∣lia: the nature of the Sueui.
THE winter following,* Pompeie and Crassus being Consuls, the Vsipetes and Tenchtheri, two Germaine nations, passed ouer the Rhene, with great multitudes of people; not far from the place, where it falleth into the sea. The reason of their flitting, was the ill intreatie, which for manie yeares together they had receiued of the Sueui, the greatest & warlikest nation amongst the Germains. For these Sueui had one hundred Cantons or shires, which yearely furnished their warres, with 1000 men a piece; and kept as ma∣nie at home to maintaine both themselues, and their Armies abroad: and these the yeare following were in Armes; and the other staied at home, and performed the like dutie; and so by this meanes, they all continued their experience both of tillage, and matter of warre. They liued chiefly vpon cattell and milke, and vsed much hun∣ting, which was the cause (what through the qualitie of their diet, their continuall exercise, and libertie of life, being neuer tied to any discipline, nor vrged to any thing against their disposition) that they were strong and of a large stature, vsing skins and hides for their cloathing, which couered but part of their body, the rest being naked. Their horsmen oftentimes, in time of battell, forsooke their horse, and fought on foot; Page 131 being taught to stand still in one place, that when they would they might returne vn∣to them. Neither was there any thing more base, or dishonest in the course of their life, then to vse furniture for horses: & would aduenture to charge vpon great troups of horse, that vsed Equipage, with a few of their owne qualitie. They admitted no wine to be brought in vnto them, least it might effeminate their warlike inclination, or make them vnapt for labour. The greatest honour in their opinion, was to haue their bordering Territories lie wast and desolate: for so it would be thought, that ma∣nie states together, would not resist, their conquering valour: and it was reported, that the country laie wast from them one waie 600 miles together.
THE OBSERVATION.
BY this practise of the Sueui, it appeareth, how little a naked reso∣lution of valour auaileth, when it wanteth the ornaments of moral carriage and ciuill discretion, to make vse of that greatnesse which prowesse hath obtained: for notwithstanding that they were a nati∣on both warlike, and of good abilitie, they were so vainly carried on with a con∣ceit of manhood, that it sorted to no other ende, then to maintaine barbarisme at home, and desolation abroad; where as true valour is alwaies subordinate to the preseruation of common weales, and is as the defensiue armes of ciuill so∣cietie. Which I haue the rather noted, in as much as it resembleth an humour that aboundeth in this age, especially in the particular hauiour of our young ga∣lants, whose naked valour reuelling it selfe onely in the lie and in the stabbe, for want of other assistant vertues to temper the heat of so brittle a mettall, leadeth them into such inconueniences and disordered actions, that it changeth the na∣ture thereof, into giddie headed rashnesse; and in lieue of vertues guerdon, is repaide with irrision.
