tacitus on germany-第4节

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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　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；　that　with　the　corpses　of　their　signal　men
certain　woods　be　burned。　Upon　the　funeral　pile　they　accumulate　neither
apparel　nor　perfumes。　Into　the　fire；　are　always　thrown　the　arms　of　the
dead；　and　sometimes　his　horse。　With　sods　o