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XXXXXXXXXXTacitus:
XXXXXXXXXXGermania, trans. Thomas Gordon
XXXXXXXXXXIntroductory Note
XXXXXXXXXXThe dates of the birth and death of Tacitus are uncertain, but it is probable that
XXXXXXXXXXhe was born about 54 A. D. and died after 117. He was a contemporary and friend of the
XXXXXXXXXXyounger Pliny, who addressed to him some of his most famous epistles. Tacitus was
XXXXXXXXXXapparently of the equestrian class, was an advocate by training, and had a reputation as
XXXXXXXXXXan orator, though none of his speeches has survived. He held a number of important public
XXXXXXXXXXoffices, and ma
ied the daughter of Agricola, the conqueror of Britain, whose life he
XXXXXXXXXXwrote.
XXXXXXXXXXThe two chief works of Tacitus, the "Annals" and the
"Histories," covered the history of Rome from the death of Augustus to A. D. 96;
XXXXXXXXXXbut the greater part of the "Histories" is lost, and the fragment that remains
XXXXXXXXXXdeals only with the year 69 and part of 70. In the "Annals" there are several
XXXXXXXXXXgaps, but what survives describes a large part of the reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and
XXXXXXXXXXNero. His minor works, besides the life of Agricola, already mentioned, are a
"Dialogue on Orators" and the account of Germany, its situation, its
XXXXXXXXXXinhabitants, their character and customs, which is here printed.
XXXXXXXXXXTacitus stands in the front rank of the historians of antiquity for the accuracy of
XXXXXXXXXXhis learning, the fairness of his judgments, the richness, concentration, and precision of
XXXXXXXXXXhis style. His great successor, Gi
on, called him a "philosophical historian, whose
XXXXXXXXXXwritings will instruct the last generations of mankind"; and Montaigne knew no autho
"who, in a work of history, has taken so
oad a view of human events or given a more
XXXXXXXXXXjust analysis of particular characters."
XXXXXXXXXXThe "Germany" treatise is a document of the greatest interest and
XXXXXXXXXXimportance, since it gives us by far the most detailed account of the state of culture
XXXXXXXXXXamong the tribes that are the ancestors of the modern Teutonic nations, at the time when
XXXXXXXXXXthey first came into contact with the civilization of the Medite
anean.
XXXXXXXXXXGermany - Part I
XXXXXXXXXXThe whole of Germany is thus bounded; separated from Gaul, from Rhoetia and Pannonia,
XXXXXXXXXXby the rivers Rhine and Danube; from Sarmatia and Dacia by mutual fear, or by high
XXXXXXXXXXmountains: the rest is encompassed by the ocean, which forms huge bays, and comprehends a
XXXXXXXXXXtract of islands immense in extent: for we have lately known certain nations and kingdoms
XXXXXXXXXXthere, such as the war discovered. The Rhine rising in the Rhoetian Alps from a summit
XXXXXXXXXXaltogether rocky and perpendicular, after a small winding towards the west, is lost in the
XXXXXXXXXXNorthern Ocean. The Danube issues out of the mountain Abnoba, one very high but very easy
XXXXXXXXXXof ascent, and traversing several nations, falls by six streams into the Euxine Sea; fo
XXXXXXXXXXits seventh channel is abso
ed in the Fenns.
XXXXXXXXXXThe Germans, I am apt to believe, derive their original from no other people; and are
XXXXXXXXXXnowise mixed with different nations a
iving amongst them: since anciently those who went
XXXXXXXXXXin search of new buildings, travelled not by land, but were ca
ied in fleets; and into
XXXXXXXXXXthat mighty ocean so boundless, and, as I may call it, so repugnant and fo
idding, ships
XXXXXXXXXXfrom our world rarely enter. Moreover, besides the dangers from a sea tempestuous, ho
id
XXXXXXXXXXand unknown, who would relinquish Asia, or Africa, or Italy, to repair to Germany, a
XXXXXXXXXXregion hideous and rude, under a rigorous climate, dismal to behold or to manure1 unless the same were his native country? In their old ballads (which amongst them are the
XXXXXXXXXXonly sort of registers and history) they cele
ate Tuisto, a God sprung from the earth,
XXXXXXXXXXand Mannus his son, as the fathers and founders of the nation. To Mannus they assign three
XXXXXXXXXXsons, after whose names so many people are called; the Ingaevones, dwelling next the
XXXXXXXXXXocean; the Herminones, in the middle country; and all the rest, Instaevones. Some,
XXXXXXXXXXbo
owing a wa
ant from the darkness of antiquity, maintain that the God had more sons,
XXXXXXXXXXthat thence came more denominations of people, the Marsians, Gam
ians, Suevians, and
XXXXXXXXXXVandalians, and that these are the names truly genuine and original. For the rest, they
XXXXXXXXXXaffirm Germany to be a recent word, lately bestowed: for that those who first passed the
XXXXXXXXXXRhine and expulsed the Gauls, and are now named Tungrians, were then called Germans: and
XXXXXXXXXXthus by degrees the name of a tribe prevailed, not that of the nation; so that by an
XXXXXXXXXXappellation at first occasioned by te
or and conquest, they afterwards chose to be
XXXXXXXXXXdistinguished, and assuming a name lately invented were universally called Germans.
[Footnote 1: To cultivate.]
XXXXXXXXXXThey have a tradition that Hercules also had been in their country, and him above all
XXXXXXXXXXother heroes they extol in their songs when they advance to battle. Amongst them too are
XXXXXXXXXXfound that kind of verses by the recital of which (by them called Barding) they inspire
avery; nay, by such chanting itself they divine the success of the approaching fight.
XXXXXXXXXXFor, according to the different din of the battle, they urge furiously, or shrink
XXXXXXXXXXtimorously. Nor does what they utter, so much seem to be singing as the voice and exertion