TheBoiisettledinNoricum，weremingledafterwardswiththeLombards，andreceivedthenameofBoioAriiBavariaorBoiovarii:var，insomeGermandialects，appearingtomeanremains，descendants。CompareMalteB—m，Geography，vol。i。p。
410，edit1832—M。]
Suchrationaldoubtisbutillsuitedwiththegeniusofpopularvanity。AmongthenationswhohaveadoptedtheMosaichistoryoftheworld，thearkofNoahhasbeenofthesameuse，aswasformerlytotheGreeksandRomansthesiegeofTroy。Onanarrowbasisofacknowledgedtruth，animmensebutrudesuperstructureoffablehasbeenerected；andthewildIrishman，^13aswellasthewildTartar，^14couldpointouttheindividualsonofJaphet，fromwhoseloinshisancestorswerelineallydescended。Thelastcenturyaboundedwithantiquariansofprofoundlearningandeasyfaith，who，bythedimlightoflegendsandtraditions，ofconjecturesandetymologies，conductedthegreatgrandchildrenofNoahfromtheTowerofBabeltotheextremitiesoftheglobe。Ofthesejudiciouscritics，oneofthemostentertainingwasOausRudbeck，professorintheuniversityofUpsal。^15Whateveriscelebratedeitherinhistoryorfable，thiszealouspatriotascribestohiscountry。FromSwedenwhichformedsoconsiderableapartofancientGermanytheGreeksthemselvesderivedtheiralphabeticalcharacters，theirastronomy，andtheirreligion。OfthatdelightfulregionforsuchitappearedtotheeyesofanativetheAtlantisofPlato，thecountryoftheHyperboreans，thegardensoftheHesperides，theFortunateIslands，andeventheElysianFields，wereallbutfaintandimperfecttranscripts。AclimesoprofuselyfavoredbyNaturecouldnotlongremaindesertaftertheflood。ThelearnedRudbeckallowsthefamilyofNoahafewyearstomultiplyfromeighttoabouttwentythousandpersons。Hethendispersesthemintosmallcoloniestoreplenishtheearth，andtopropagatethehumanspecies。TheGermanorSwedishdetachmentwhichmarched，ifIamnotmistaken，underthecommandofAskenaz，thesonofGomer，thesonofJaphetdistinguisheditselfbyamorethancommondiligenceintheprosecutionofthisgreatwork。ThenorthernhivecastitsswarmsoverthegreatestpartofEurope，Africa，andAsia；andtousetheauthor'smetaphorthebloodcirculatedfromtheextremitiestotheheart。
[Footnote13:AccordingtoDr。Keating，HistoryofIreland，p。
13，14，thegiantPortholanus，whowasthesonofSeara，thesonofEsra，thesonofSru，thesonofFramant，thesonofFathaclan，thesonofMagog，thesonofJaphet，thesonofNoah，landedonthecoastofMunsterthe14thdayofMay，intheyearoftheworldonethousandninehundredandseventy—eight。Thoughhesucceededinhisgreatenterprise，theloosebehaviorofhiswiferenderedhisdomesticlifeveryunhappy，andprovokedhimtosuchadegree，thathekilled—herfavoritegreyhound。This，asthelearnedhistorianveryproperlyobserves，wasthefirstinstanceoffemalefalsehoodandinfidelityeverknowninIreland。]
[Footnote14:GenealogicalHistoryoftheTartars，byAbulghaziBahadurKhan。]
[Footnote15:Hiswork，entitledAtlantica，isuncommonlyscarce。
Baylehasgiventwomostcuriousextractsfromit。RepubliquedesLettresJanvieretFevrier，1685。]
Butallthiswell—laboredsystemofGermanantiquitiesisannihilatedbyasinglefact，toowellattestedtoadmitofanydoubt，andoftoodecisiveanaturetoleaveroomforanyreply。
TheGermans，intheageofTacitus，wereunacquaintedwiththeuseofletters；^16andtheuseoflettersistheprincipalcircumstancethatdistinguishesacivilizedpeoplefromaherdofsavagesincapableofknowledgeorreflection。Withoutthatartificialhelp，thehumanmemorysoondissipatesorcorruptstheideasintrustedtohercharge；andthenoblerfacultiesofthemind，nolongersuppliedwithmodelsorwithmaterials，graduallyforgettheirpowers；thejudgmentbecomesfeebleandlethargic，theimaginationlanguidorirregular。Fullytoapprehendthisimportanttruth，letusattempt，inanimprovedsociety，tocalculatetheimmensedistancebetweenthemanoflearningandtheilliteratepeasant。Theformer，byreadingandreflection，multiplieshisownexperience，andlivesindistantagesandremotecountries；whilstthelatter，rootedtoasinglespot，andconfinedtoafewyearsofexistence，surpassesbutverylittlehisfellow—laborer，theox，intheexerciseofhismentalfaculties。Thesame，andevenagreater，differencewillbefoundbetweennationsthanbetweenindividuals；andwemaysafelypronounce，thatwithoutsomespeciesofwriting，nopeoplehaseverpreservedthefaithfulannalsoftheirhistory，evermadeanyconsiderableprogressintheabstractsciences，oreverpossessed，inanytolerabledegreeofperfection，theusefulandagreeableartsoflife。
[Footnote16:Tacit。Germ。ii。19。Literarumsecretaviripariteracfoeminaeignorant。Wemayrestcontentedwiththisdecisiveauthority，withoutenteringintotheobscuredisputesconcerningtheantiquityoftheRuniccharacters。ThelearnedCelsius，aSwede，ascholar，andaphilosopher，wasofopinion，thattheywerenothingmorethantheRomanletters，withthecurveschangedintostraightlinesfortheeaseofengraving。
SeePelloutier，HistoiredesCeltes，l。ii。c。11。DictionnaireDiplomatique，tom。i。p。223。Wemayadd，thattheoldestRunicinscriptionsaresupposedtobeofthethirdcentury，andthemostancientwriterwhomentionstheRuniccharactersisVenantiusFrotunatus，Carm。vii。18，wholivedtowardstheendofthesixthcentury。
BarbarafraxineispingaturRunatabellis。
Note:TheobscuresubjectoftheRuniccharactershasexercisedtheindustryandingenuityofthemodernscholarsofthenorth。Therearethreedistincttheories；one，maintainedbySchlozer，NordischeGeschichte，p。481，&c。，whoconsiderstheirsixteenletterstobeacorruptionoftheRomanalphabet，post—Christianintheirdate，andSchlozerwouldattributetheirintroductionintothenorthtotheAlemanni。Thesecond，thatofFrederickSchlegel，VorlesungenuberalteundneueLiteratur，
supposesthatthesecharacterswereleftonthecoastsoftheMediterraneanandNorthernSeasbythePhoenicians，preservedbythepriestlycastes，andemployedforpurposesofmagic。TheircommonoriginfromthePhoenicianwouldaccountforheirsimilaritytotheRomanletters。Thelast，towhichweincline，claimsmuchhigherandmorevenerableantiquityfortheRunic，andsupposesthemtohavebeentheoriginalcharactersoftheIndo—Teutonictribes，broughtfromtheEast，andpreservedamongthedifferentracesofthatstock。SeeUeberDeutscheRunenvonW。C。Grimm，1821。AMemoirbyDr。Legis。FundgrubendesaltenNordens。ForeignQuarterlyReviewvol。ix。p。438。—M。]
Ofthesearts，theancientGermanswerewretchedlydestitute。Theypassedtheirlivesinastateofignoranceandpoverty，whichithaspleasedsomedeclaimerstodignifywiththeappellationofvirtuoussimplicity。ModernGermanyissaidtocontainabouttwothousandthreehundredwalledtowns。^17Inamuchwiderextentofcountry，thegeographerPtolemycoulddiscovernomorethanninetyplaceswhichhedecorateswiththenameofcities；^18though，accordingtoourideas，theywouldbutilldeservethatsplendidtitle。Wecanonlysupposethemtohavebeenrudefortifications，constructedinthecentreofthewoods，anddesignedtosecurethewomen，children，andcattle，whilstthewarriorsofthetribemarchedouttorepelasuddeninvasion。^19ButTacitusasserts，asawell—knownfact，thattheGermans，inhistime，hadnocities；^20andthattheyaffectedtodespisetheworksofRomanindustry，asplacesofconfinementratherthanofsecurity。^21Theiredificeswerenotevencontiguous，orformedintoregularvillas；^22eachbarbarianfixedhisindependentdwellingonthespottowhichaplain，awood，orastreamoffreshwater，hadinducedhimtogivethepreference。Neitherstone，norbrick，nortiles，wereemployedintheseslighthabitations。^23Theywereindeednomorethanlowhuts，ofacircularfigure，builtofroughtimber，thatchedwithstraw，andpiercedatthetoptoleaveafreepassageforthesmoke。Inthemostinclementwinter，thehardyGermanwassatisfiedwithascantygarmentmadeoftheskinofsomeanimal。
ThenationswhodwelttowardstheNorthclothedthemselvesinfurs；andthewomenmanufacturedfortheirownuseacoarsekindoflinen。^24Thegameofvarioussorts，withwhichtheforestsofGermanywereplentifullystocked，supplieditsinhabitantswithfoodandexercise。^25Theirmonstrousherdsofcattle，lessremarkableindeedfortheirbeautythanfortheirutility，^26
formedtheprincipalobjectoftheirwealth。Asmallquantityofcornwastheonlyproduceexactedfromtheearth；theuseoforchardsorartificialmeadowswasunknowntotheGermans；norcanweexpectanyimprovementsinagriculturefromapeople，whoseprosperityeveryyearexperiencedageneralchangebyanewdivisionofthearablelands，andwho，inthatstrangeoperation，avoideddisputes，bysufferingagreatpartoftheirterritorytoliewasteandwithouttillage。^27
[Footnote*:LudentheauthoroftheGeschichtedesTeutschenVolkeshassurpassedmostwritersinhispatrioticenthusiasmforthevirtuesandnoblemannersofhisancestors。Eventhecoldoftheclimate，andthewantofvinesandfruittrees，aswellasthebarbarismoftheinhabitants，arecalumniesoftheluxuriousItalians。M。Guizot，ontheotherside，inhisHistoiredelaCivilisation，vol。i。p。272，&c。，hasdrawnacuriousparallelbetweentheGermansofTacitusandtheNorthAmericanIndians。—M。][Footnote17:RecherchesPhilosophiquessurlesAmericains，tom。iii。p。228。Theauthorofthatverycuriousworkis，ifIamnotmisinformed，aGermanbybirth。DePauw。]
[Footnote18:TheAlexandrianGeographerisoftencriticizedbytheaccurateCluverius。]
[Footnote19:SeeCaesar，andthelearnedMr。WhitakerinhisHistoryofManchester，vol。i。]
[Footnote20:Tacit。Germ。15。]
[Footnote21:WhentheGermanscommandedtheUbiiofColognetocastofftheRomanyoke，andwiththeirnewfreedomtoresumetheirancientmanners，theyinsistedontheimmediatedemolitionofthewallsofthecolony。"Postulamusavobis，muroscoloniae，munimentaservitii，detrahatis；etiamferaanimalia，siclausateneas，virtutisobliviscuntur。"Tacit。Hist。iv。64。]
[Footnote22:ThestragglingvillagesofSilesiaareseveralmilesinlength。SeeCluver。l。i。c。13。]
[Footnote23:OnehundredandfortyyearsafterTacitus，afewmoreregularstructureswereerectedneartheRhineandDanube。
Herodian，l。vii。p。234。]
[Footnote24:Tacit。Germ。17。]
[Footnote25:Tacit。Germ。5。]
[Footnote26:CaesardeBell。Gall。vi。21。]
[Footnote27:Tacit。Germ。26。Caesar，vi。22。]
Gold，silver，andiron，wereextremelyscarceinGermany。
Itsbarbarousinhabitantswantedbothskillandpatiencetoinvestigatethoserichveinsofsilver，whichhavesoliberallyrewardedtheattentionoftheprincesofBrunswickandSaxony。
Sweden，whichnowsuppliesEuropewithiron，wasequallyignorantofitsownriches；andtheappearanceofthearmsoftheGermansfurnishedasufficientproofhowlittleirontheywereabletobestowonwhattheymusthavedeemedthenoblestuseofthatmetal。ThevarioustransactionsofpeaceandwarhadintroducedsomeRomancoinschieflysilveramongtheborderersoftheRhineandDanube；butthemoredistanttribeswereabsolutelyunacquaintedwiththeuseofmoney，carriedontheirconfinedtrafficbytheexchangeofcommodities，andprizedtheirrudeearthenvesselsasofequalvaluewiththesilvervases，thepresentsofRometotheirprincesandambassadors。^28Toamindcapableofreflection，suchleadingfactsconveymoreinstruction，thanatediousdetailofsubordinatecircumstances。
Thevalueofmoneyhasbeensettledbygeneralconsenttoexpressourwantsandourproperty，asletterswereinventedtoexpressourideas；andboththeseinstitutions，bygivingamoreactiveenergytothepowersandpassionsofhumannature，havecontributedtomultiplytheobjectstheyweredesignedtorepresent。Theuseofgoldandsilverisinagreatmeasurefactitious；butitwouldbeimpossibletoenumeratetheimportantandvariousserviceswhichagriculture，andallthearts，havereceivedfromiron，whentemperedandfashionedbytheoperationoffire，andthedexteroushandofman。Money，inaword，isthemostuniversalincitement，ironthemostpowerfulinstrument，ofhumanindustry；anditisverydifficulttoconceivebywhatmeansapeople，neitheractuatedbytheone，norsecondedbytheother，couldemergefromthegrossestbarbarism。^29
[Footnote28:Tacit。Germ。6。]
[Footnote29:ItissaidthattheMexicansandPeruvians，withouttheuseofeithermoneyoriron，hadmadeaverygreatprogressinthearts。Thosearts，andthemonumentstheyproduced，havebeenstrangelymagnified。SeeRecherchessurlesAmericains，tom。ii。p。153，&c]
Ifwecontemplateasavagenationinanypartoftheglobe，asupineindolenceandacarelessnessoffuturitywillbefoundtoconstitutetheirgeneralcharacter。Inacivilizedstate，everyfacultyofmanisexpandedandexercised；andthegreatchainofmutualdependenceconnectsandembracestheseveralmembersofsociety。Themostnumerousportionofitisemployedinconstantandusefullabor。Theselectfew，placedbyfortuneabovethatnecessity，can，however，filluptheirtimebythepursuitsofinterestorglory，bytheimprovementoftheirestateoroftheirunderstanding，bytheduties，thepleasures，andeventhefolliesofsociallife。TheGermanswerenotpossessedofthesevariedresources。Thecareofthehouseandfamily，themanagementofthelandandcattle，weredelegatedtotheoldandtheinfirm，towomenandslaves。Thelazywarrior，destituteofeveryartthatmightemployhisleisurehours，consumedhisdaysandnightsintheanimalgratificationsofsleepandfood。Andyet，byawonderfuldiversityofnature，accordingtotheremarkofawriterwhohadpiercedintoitsdarkestrecesses，thesamebarbariansarebyturnsthemostindolentandthemostrestlessofmankind。Theydelightinsloth，theydetesttranquility。^30
Thelanguidsoul，oppressedwithitsownweight，anxiouslyrequiredsomenewandpowerfulsensation；andwaranddangerweretheonlyamusementsadequatetoitsfiercetemper。ThesoundthatsummonedtheGermantoarmswasgratefultohisear。Itrousedhimfromhisuncomfortablelethargy，gavehimanactivepursuit，and，bystrongexerciseofthebody，andviolentemotionsofthemind，restoredhimtoamorelivelysenseofhisexistence。Inthedullintervalsofpeace，thesebarbarianswereimmoderatelyaddictedtodeepgamingandexcessivedrinking；bothofwhich，bydifferentmeans，theonebyinflamingtheirpassions，theotherbyextinguishingtheirreason，alikerelievedthemfromthepainofthinking。Theygloriedinpassingwholedaysandnightsattable；andthebloodoffriendsandrelationsoftenstainedtheirnumerousanddrunkenassemblies。^31Theirdebtsofhonorforinthatlighttheyhavetransmittedtousthoseofplaytheydischargedwiththemostromanticfidelity。
Thedesperategamester，whohadstakedhispersonandlibertyonalastthrowofthedice，patientlysubmittedtothedecisionoffortune，andsufferedhimselftobebound，chastised，andsoldintoremoteslavery，byhisweakerbutmoreluckyantagonist。^32
[Footnote30:Tacit。Germ。15。]
[Footnote31:Tacit。Germ。22，23。]
[Footnote32:Id。24。TheGermansmightborrowtheartsofplayfromtheRomans，butthepassioniswonderfullyinherentinthehumanspecies。]Strongbeer，aliquorextractedwithverylittleartfromwheatorbarley，andcorruptedasitisstronglyexpressedbyTacitusintoacertainsemblanceofwine，wassufficientforthegrosspurposesofGermandebauchery。ButthosewhohadtastedtherichwinesofItaly，andafterwardsofGaul，sighedforthatmoredeliciousspeciesofintoxication。
Theyattemptednot，however，ashassincebeenexecutedwithsomuchsuccess，tonaturalizethevineonthebanksoftheRhineandDanube；nordidtheyendeavortoprocurebyindustrythematerialsofanadvantageouscommerce。Tosolicitbylaborwhatmightberavishedbyarms，wasesteemedunworthyoftheGermanspirit。^33Theintemperatethirstofstrongliquorsoftenurgedthebarbarianstoinvadetheprovincesonwhichartornaturehadbestowedthosemuchenviedpresents。TheTuscanwhobetrayedhiscountrytotheCelticnations，attractedthemintoItalybytheprospectoftherichfruitsanddeliciouswines，theproductionsofahappierclimate。^34AndinthesamemannertheGermanauxiliaries，invitedintoFranceduringthecivilwarsofthesixteenthcentury，werealluredbythepromiseofplenteousquartersintheprovincesofChampaigneandBurgundy。^35
Drunkenness，themostilliberal，butnotthemostdangerousofourvices，wassometimescapable，inalesscivilizedstateofmankind，ofoccasioningabattle，awar，orarevolution。
[Footnote33:Tacit。Germ。14。]
[Footnote34:Plutarch。inCamillo。T。Liv。v。33。]
[Footnote35:Dubos。Hist。delaMonarchieFrancoise，tom。i。p。
193。]
TheclimateofancientGermanyhasbeenmodified，andthesoilfertilized，bythelaboroftencenturiesfromthetimeofCharlemagne。Thesameextentofgroundwhichatpresentmaintains，ineaseandplenty，amillionofhusbandmenandartificers，wasunabletosupplyahundredthousandlazywarriorswiththesimplenecessariesoflife。^36TheGermansabandonedtheirimmenseforeststotheexerciseofhunting，employedinpasturagethemostconsiderablepartoftheirlands，bestowedonthesmallremainderarudeandcarelesscultivation，andthenaccusedthescantinessandsterilityofacountrythatrefusedtomaintainthemultitudeofitsinhabitants。Whenthereturnoffamineseverelyadmonishedthemoftheimportanceofthearts，thenationaldistresswassometimesalleviatedbytheemigrationofathird，perhaps，orafourthpartoftheiryouth。^37Thepossessionandtheenjoymentofpropertyarethepledgeswhichbindacivilizedpeopletoanimprovedcountry。ButtheGermans，whocarriedwiththemwhattheymostvalued，theirarms，theircattle，andtheirwomen，cheerfullyabandonedthevastsilenceoftheirwoodsfortheunboundedhopesofplunderandconquest。Theinnumerableswarmsthatissued，orseemedtoissue，fromthegreatstorehouseofnations，weremultipliedbythefearsofthevanquished，andbythecredulityofsucceedingages。Andfromfactsthusexaggerated，anopinionwasgraduallyestablished，andhasbeensupportedbywritersofdistinguishedreputation，that，intheageofCaesarandTacitus，theinhabitantsoftheNorthwerefarmorenumerousthantheyareinourdays。^38Amoreseriousinquiryintothecausesofpopulationseemstohaveconvincedmodernphilosophersofthefalsehood，andindeedtheimpossibility，ofthesupposition。TothenamesofMarianaandofMachiavel，^39wecanopposetheequalnamesofRobertsonandHume。^40