Tacitus on Germany | Page 7

exceeding rare; a crime instantly punished, and
the punishment left to be inflicted by the husband. He, having cut off
her hair, expells her from his house naked, in presence of her kindred,
and pursues her with stripes throughout the village. For, to a woman
who has prostituted her person, no pardon is ever granted. However
beautiful she may be, however young, however abounding in wealth, a
husband she can never find. In truth, nobody turns vices into mirth
there, nor is the practice of corrupting and of yielding to corruption,
called the custom of the Age. Better still do those communities, in
which none but virgins marry, and where to a single marriage all their
views and inclinations are at once confined. Thus, as they have but one
body and one life, they take but one husband, that beyond him they
may have no thought, no further wishes, nor love him only as their
husband but as their marriage. To restrain generation and the increase
of children, is esteemed an abominable sin, as also to kill infants newly

born. And more powerful with them are good manners, than with other
people are good laws.
In all their houses the children are reared naked and nasty; and thus
grow into those limbs, into that bulk, which with marvel we behold.
They are all nourished with the milk of their own mothers, and never
surrendered to handmaids and nurses. The lord you cannot discern from
the slave, by any superior delicacy in rearing. Amongst the same cattle
they promiscuously live, upon the same ground they without distinction
lie, till at a proper age the free-born are parted from the rest, and their
bravery recommend them to notice. Slow and late do the young men
come to the use of women, and thus very long preserve the vigour of
youth. Neither are the virgins hastened to wed. They must both have
the same sprightly youth, the like stature, and marry when equal and
able-bodied. Thus the robustness of the parents is inherited by the
children. Children are holden in the same estimation with their mother's
brother, as with their father. Some hold this tie of blood to be most
inviolable and binding, and in receiving of hostages, such pledges are
most considered and claimed, as they who at once possess affections
the most unalienable, and the most diffuse interest in their family. To
every man, however, his own children are heirs and successors: wills
they make none: for want of children his next akin inherits; his own
brothers, those of his father, or those of his mother. To ancient men, the
more they abound in descendants, in relations and affinities, so much
the more favour and reverence accrues. From being childless, no
advantage nor estimation is derived.
All the enmities of your house, whether of your father or of your
kindred, you must necessarily adopt; as well as all their friendships.
Neither are such enmities unappeasable and permanent: since even for
so great a crime as homicide, compensation is made by a fixed number
of sheep and cattle, and by it the whole family is pacified to content. A
temper this, wholesome to the State; because to a free nation,
animosities and faction are always more menacing and perilous. In
social feasts, and deeds of hospitality, no nation upon earth was ever
more liberal and abounding. To refuse admitting under your roof any
man whatsoever, is held wicked and inhuman. Every man receives

every comer, and treats him with repasts as large as his ability can
possibly furnish. When the whole stock is consumed, he who has
treated so hospitably guides and accompanies his guest to the next
house, though neither of them invited. Nor avails it, that they were not;
they are there received, with the same frankness and humanity.
Between a stranger and an acquaintance, in dispensing the rules and
benefits of hospitality, no difference is made. Upon your departure, if
you ask anything, it is the custom to grant it; and with the same facility,
they ask of you. In gifts they delight, but neither claim merit from what
they give, nor own any obligation for what they receive. Their manner
of entertaining their guests is familiar and kind.
The moment they rise from sleep, which they generally prolong till late
in the day, they bathe, most frequently in warm water; as in a country
where the winter is very long and severe. From bathing, they sit down
to meat; every man apart, upon a particular seat, and at a separate table.
They then proceed to their affairs, all in arms; as in arms, they no less
frequently go to banquet. To continue drinking night and day without
intermission, is a reproach to no man. Frequent then are their broils, as