Tacitus on Germany | Page 8

usual amongst men intoxicated with liquor; and such broils rarely
terminate in angry words, but for the most part in maimings and
slaughter. Moreover in these their feasts, they generally deliberate
about reconciling parties at enmity, about forming affinities, choosing
of Princes, and finally about peace and war. For they judge, that at no
season is the soul more open to thoughts that are artless and upright, or
more fired with such as are great and bold. This people, of themselves
nowise subtile or politic, from the freedom of the place and occasion
acquire still more frankness to disclose the most secret motions and
purposes of their hearts. When therefore the minds of all have been
once laid open and declared, on the day following the several
sentiments are revised and canvassed; and to both conjectures of time,
due regard is had. They consult, when they know not how to dissemble;
they determine, when they cannot mistake.
For their drink, they draw a liquor from barley or other grain; and
ferment the same so as to make it resemble wine. Nay, they who dwell
upon the bank of the Rhine deal in wine. Their food is very simple;

wild fruit, fresh venison, or coagulated milk. They banish hunger
without formality, without curious dressing and curious fare. In
extinguishing thirst, they use not equal temperance. If you will but
humour their excess in drinking, and supply them with as much as they
covet, it will be no less easy to vanquish them by vices than by arms.
Of public diversions they have but one sort, and in all their meetings
the same is still exhibited. Young men, such as make it their pastime,
fling themselves naked and dance amongst sharp swords and the deadly
points of javelins. From habit they acquire their skill, and from their
skill a graceful manner; yet from hence draw no gain or hire: though
this adventurous gaiety has its reward, namely, that of pleasing the
spectators. What is marvellous, playing at dice is one of their most
serious employments; and even sober, they are gamesters: nay, so
desperately do they venture upon the chance of winning or losing, that
when their whole substance is played away, they stake their liberty and
their persons upon one and the last throw. The loser goes calmly into
voluntary bondage. However younger he be, however stronger, he
tamely suffers himself to be bound and sold by the winner. Such is their
perseverance in an evil course: they themselves call it honour.
Slaves of this class, they exchange in commerce, to free themselves too
from the shame of such a victory. Of their other slaves they make not
such use as we do of ours, by distributing amongst them the several
offices and employments of the family. Each of them has a dwelling of
his own, each a household to govern. His lord uses him like a tenant,
and obliges him to pay a quantity of grain, or of cattle, or of cloth. Thus
far only the subserviency of the slave extends. All the other duties in a
family, not the slaves, but the wives and children discharge. To inflict
stripes upon a slave, or to put him in chains, or to doom him to severe
labour, are things rarely seen. To kill them they sometimes are wont,
not through correction or government, but in heat and rage, as they
would an enemy, save that no vengeance or penalty follows. The
freedmen very little surpass the slaves, rarely are of moment in the
house; in the community never, excepting only such nations where
arbitrary dominion prevails. For there they bear higher sway than the
free-born, nay, higher than the nobles. In other countries the inferior

condition of freedmen is a proof of public liberty.
To the practice of usury and of increasing money by interest, they are
strangers; and hence is found a better guard against it, than if it were
forbidden. They shift from land to land; and, still appropriating a
portion suitable to the number of hands for manuring, anon parcel out
the whole amongst particulars according to the condition and quality of
each. As the plains are very spacious, the allotments are easily assigned.
Every year they change, and cultivate a fresh soil; yet still there is
ground to spare. For they strive not to bestow labour proportionable to
the fertility and compass of their lands, by planting orchards, by
enclosing meadows, by watering gardens. From the earth, corn only is
extracted. Hence they quarter not the year into so many seasons. Winter,
Spring, and Summer, they understand; and for each have proper
appellations. Of the name and blessings of Autumn, they are equally
ignorant.
In performing their funerals, they show no state or vainglory. This only
is carefully observed,