Tacitus on Germany | Page 2

these are the names truly genuine and original. For
the rest, they affirm Germany to be a recent word, lately bestowed: for
that those who first passed the Rhine and expulsed the Gauls, and are
now named Tungrians, were then called Germans: and thus by degrees
the name of a tribe prevailed, not that of the nation; so that by an
appellation at first occasioned by terror and conquest, they afterwards
chose to be distinguished, and assuming a name lately invented were
universally called Germans.
They have a tradition that Hercules also had been in their country, and
him above all other heroes they extol in their songs when they advance
to battle. Amongst them too are found that kind of verses by the recital
of which (by them called Barding) they inspire bravery; nay, by such
chanting itself they divine the success of the approaching fight. For,
according to the different din of the battle they urge furiously, or shrink
timorously. Nor does what they utter, so much seem to be singing as
the voice and exertion of valour. They chiefly study a tone fierce and
harsh, with a broken and unequal murmur, and therefore apply their
shields to their mouths, whence the voice may by rebounding swell
with greater fulness and force. Besides there are some of opinion, that
Ulysses, whilst he wandered about in his long and fabulous voyages,
was carried into this ocean and entered Germany, and that by him
Asciburgium was founded and named, a city at this day standing and
inhabited upon the bank of the Rhine: nay, that in the same place was
formerly found an altar dedicated to Ulysses, with the name of his
father Laertes added to his own, and that upon the confines of Germany
and Rhoetia are still extant certain monuments and tombs inscribed
with Greek characters. Traditions these which I mean not either to
confirm with arguments of my own or to refute. Let every one believe
or deny the same according to his own bent.
For myself, I concur in opinion with such as suppose the people of
Germany never to have mingled by inter-marriages with other nations,
but to have remained a people pure, and independent, and resembling
none but themselves. Hence amongst such a mighty multitude of men,
the same make and form is found in all, eyes stern and blue, yellow hair,

huge bodies, but vigorous only in the first onset. Of pains and labour
they are not equally patient, nor can they at all endure thrift and heat.
To bear hunger and cold they are hardened by their climate and soil.
Their lands, however somewhat different in aspect, yet taken all
together consist of gloomy forests or nasty marshes; lower and moister
towards Noricum and Pannonia; very apt to bear grain, but altogether
unkindly to fruit trees; abounding in flocks and herds, but generally
small of growth. Nor even in their oxen is found the usual stateliness,
no more than the natural ornaments and grandeur of head. In the
number of their herds they rejoice; and these are their only, these their
most desirable riches. Silver and gold the Gods have denied them,
whether in mercy or in wrath, I am unable to determine. Yet I would
not venture to aver that in Germany no vein of gold or silver is
produced; for who has ever searched? For the use and possession, it is
certain they care not. Amongst them indeed are to be seen vessels of
silver, such as have been presented to their Princes and Ambassadors,
but holden in no other esteem than vessels made of earth. The Germans
however adjoining to our frontiers value gold and silver for the
purposes of commerce, and are wont to distinguish and prefer certain of
our coins. They who live more remote are more primitive and simple in
their dealings, and exchange one commodity for another. The money
which they like is the old and long known, that indented [with milled
edges], or that impressed with a chariot and two horses. Silver too is
what they seek more than gold, from no fondness or preference, but
because small pieces are more ready in purchasing things cheap and
common.
Neither in truth do they abound in iron, as from the fashion of their
weapons may be gathered. Swords they rarely use, or the larger spear.
They carry javelins or, in their own language, framms, pointed with a
piece of iron short and narrow, but so sharp and manageable, that with
the same weapon they can fight at a distance or hand to hand, just as
need requires. Nay, the horsemen also are content with a shield and a
javelin. The foot throw likewise weapons missive, each particular is
armed with many, and hurls them a mighty