Thesameignorance，whichrendersbarbariansincapableofconceivingorembracingtheusefulrestraintsoflaws，exposesthemnakedandunarmedtotheblindterrorsofsuperstition。TheGermanpriests，improvingthisfavorabletemperoftheircountrymen，hadassumedajurisdictionevenintemporalconcerns，whichthemagistratecouldnotventuretoexercise；andthehaughtywarriorpatientlysubmittedtothelashofcorrection，whenitwasinflicted，notbyanyhumanpower，butbytheimmediateorderofthegodofwar。^64Thedefectsofcivilpolicyweresometimessuppliedbytheinterpositionofecclesiasticalauthority。Thelatterwasconstantlyexertedtomaintainsilenceanddecencyinthepopularassemblies；andwassometimesextendedtoamoreenlargedconcernforthenationalwelfare。AsolemnprocessionwasoccasionallycelebratedinthepresentcountriesofMecklenburghandPomerania。TheunknownsymboloftheEarth，coveredwithathickveil，wasplacedonacarriagedrawnbycows；andinthismannerthegoddess，whosecommonresidencewasintheIslesofRugen，visitedseveraladjacenttribesofherworshippers。Duringherprogressthesoundofwarwashushed，quarrelsweresuspended，armslaidaside，andtherestlessGermanshadanopportunityoftastingtheblessingsofpeaceandharmony。^65ThetruceofGod，sooftenandsoineffectuallyproclaimedbytheclergyoftheeleventhcentury，wasanobviousimitationofthisancientcustom。^66
[Footnote64:Tacit。Germania，c。7。]
[Footnote65:Tacit。Germania，c。40。]
[Footnote66:SeeDr。Robertson'sHistoryofCharlesV。vol。i。
note10。]
Buttheinfluenceofreligionwasfarmorepowerfultoinflame，thantomoderate，thefiercepassionsoftheGermans。
Interestandfanaticismoftenprompteditsministerstosanctifythemostdaringandthemostunjustenterprises，bytheapprobationofHeaven，andfullassurancesofsuccess。Theconsecratedstandards，longreveredinthegrovesofsuperstition，wereplacedinthefrontofthebattle；^67andthehostilearmywasdevotedwithdireexecrationstothegodsofwarandofthunder。^68InthefaithofsoldiersandsuchweretheGermanscowardiceisthemostunpardonableofsins。Abravemanwastheworthyfavoriteoftheirmartialdeities；thewretchwhohadlosthisshieldwasalikebanishedfromthereligiousandcivilassembliesofhiscountrymen。Sometribesofthenorthseemtohaveembracedthedoctrineoftransmigration，^69othersimaginedagrossparadiseofimmortaldrunkenness。^70Allagreed，thatalifespentinarms，andagloriousdeathinbattle，werethebestpreparationsforahappyfuturity，eitherinthisorinanotherworld。
[Footnote67:Tacit。Germania，c。7。Thesestandardswereonlytheheadsofwildbeasts。]
[Footnote68:Seeaninstanceofthiscustom，Tacit。Annal。xiii。
57。]
[Footnote69:CaesarDiodorus，andLucan，seemtoascribethisdoctrinetotheGauls，butM。PelloutierHistoiredesCeltes，l。
iii。c。18laborstoreducetheirexpressionstoamoreorthodoxsense。]
[Footnote70:ConcerningthisgrossbutalluringdoctrineoftheEdda，seeFablexx。inthecuriousversionofthatbook，publishedbyM。Mallet，inhisIntroductiontotheHistoryofDenmark。]
Theimmortalitysovainlypromisedbythepriests，was，insomedegree，conferredbythebards。ThatsingularorderofmenhasmostdeservedlyattractedthenoticeofallwhohaveattemptedtoinvestigatetheantiquitiesoftheCelts，theScandinavians，andtheGermans。Theirgeniusandcharacter，aswellasthereverencepaidtothatimportantoffice，havebeensufficientlyillustrated。Butwecannotsoeasilyexpress，orevenconceive，theenthusiasmofarmsandglorywhichtheykindledinthebreastoftheiraudience。Amongapolishedpeople，atasteforpoetryisratheranamusementofthefancy，thanapassionofthesoul。Andyet，whenincalmretirementweperusethecombatsdescribedbyHomerorTasso，weareinsensiblyseducedbythefiction，andfeelamomentaryglowofmartialardor。Buthowfaint，howcoldisthesensationwhichapeacefulmindcanreceivefromsolitarystudy!Itwasinthehourofbattle，orinthefeastofvictory，thatthebardscelebratedthegloryoftheheroesofancientdays，theancestorsofthosewarlikechieftains，wholistenedwithtransporttotheirartlessbutanimatedstrains。Theviewofarmsandofdangerheightenedtheeffectofthemilitarysong；andthepassionswhichittendedtoexcite，thedesireoffame，andthecontemptofdeath，werethehabitualsentimentsofaGermanmind。^71
[Footnote71:SeeTacit。Germ。c。3。Diod。Sicul。l。v。Strabo，l。iv。p。197。TheclassicalreadermayremembertherankofDemodocusinthePhaeaciancourt，andtheardorinfusedbyTyrtaeusintothefaintingSpartans。YetthereislittleprobabilitythattheGreeksandtheGermanswerethesamepeople。
Muchlearnedtriflingmightbespared，ifourantiquarianswouldcondescendtoreflect，thatsimilarmannerswillnaturallybeproducedbysimilarsituations。]
[Footnote*:Besidesthesebattlesongs，theGermanssangattheirfestivalbanquets，Tac。Ann。i。65，andaroundthebodiesoftheirslainheroes。KingTheodoric，ofthetribeoftheGoths，killedinabattleagainstAttila，washonoredbysongswhilehewasbornefromthefieldofbattle。Jornandes，c。41。ThesamehonorwaspaidtotheremainsofAttila。Ibid。c。49。Accordingtosomehistorians，theGermanshadsongsalsoattheirweddings；
butthisappearstomeinconsistentwiththeircustoms，inwhichmarriagewasnomorethanthepurchaseofawife。Besides，thereisbutoneinstanceofthis，thatoftheGothicking，Ataulph，whosanghimselfthenuptialhymnwhenheespousedPlacidia，sisteroftheemperorsArcadiusandHonorius，Olympiodor。p。8。
ButthismarriagewascelebratedaccordingtotheRomanrites，ofwhichthenuptialsongsformedapart。Adelung，p。382。—G。
CharlemagneissaidtohavecollectedthenationalsongsoftheancientGermans。Eginhard，Vit。Car。Mag。—M。]
Suchwasthesituation，andsuchwerethemannersoftheancientGermans。Theirclimate，theirwantoflearning，ofarts，andoflaws，theirnotionsofhonor，ofgallantry，andofreligion，theirsenseoffreedom，impatienceofpeace，andthirstofenterprise，allcontributedtoformapeopleofmilitaryheroes。Andyetwefind，thatduringmorethantwohundredandfiftyyearsthatelapsedfromthedefeatofVarustothereignofDecius，theseformidablebarbariansmadefewconsiderableattempts，andnotanymaterialimpressionontheluxuriousandenslavedprovincesoftheempire。Theirprogresswascheckedbytheirwantofarmsanddiscipline，andtheirfurywasdivertedbytheintestinedivisionsofancientGermany。
I。Ithasbeenobserved，withingenuity，andnotwithouttruth，thatthecommandofironsoongivesanationthecommandofgold。ButtherudetribesofGermany，alikedestituteofboththosevaluablemetals，werereducedslowlytoacquire，bytheirunassistedstrength，thepossessionoftheoneaswellastheother。ThefaceofaGermanarmydisplayedtheirpovertyofiron。Swords，andthelongerkindoflances，theycouldseldomuse。Theirframeoeastheycalledthemintheirownlanguage
werelongspearsheadedwithasharpbutnarrowironpoint，andwhich，asoccasionrequired，theyeitherdartedfromadistance，orpushedincloseonset。Withthisspear，andwithashield，theircavalrywascontented。Amultitudeofdarts，scattered^72
withincredibleforce，wereanadditionalresourceoftheinfantry。Theirmilitarydress，whentheyworeany，wasnothingmorethanaloosemantle。Avarietyofcolorswastheonlyornamentoftheirwoodenorosiershields。Fewofthechiefsweredistinguishedbycuirasses，scarcelyanybyhelmets。ThoughthehorsesofGermanywereneitherbeautiful，swift，norpractisedintheskilfulevolutionsoftheRomanmanege，severalofthenationsobtainedrenownbytheircavalry；but，ingeneral，theprincipalstrengthoftheGermansconsistedintheirinfantry，^73whichwasdrawnupinseveraldeepcolumns，accordingtothedistinctionoftribesandfamilies。Impatientoffatigueanddelay，thesehalf—armedwarriorsrushedtobattlewithdissonantshoutsanddisorderedranks；andsometimes，bytheeffortofnativevalor，prevailedovertheconstrainedandmoreartificialbraveryoftheRomanmercenaries。Butasthebarbarianspouredforththeirwholesoulsonthefirstonset，theyknewnothowtorallyortoretire。Arepulsewasasuredefeat；andadefeatwasmostcommonlytotaldestruction。WhenwerecollectthecompletearmoroftheRomansoldiers，theirdiscipline，exercises，evolutions，fortifiedcamps，andmilitaryengines，itappearsajustmatterofsurprise，howthenakedandunassistedvalorofthebarbarianscoulddaretoencounter，inthefield，thestrengthofthelegions，andthevarioustroopsoftheauxiliaries，whichsecondedtheiroperations。Thecontestwastoounequal，tilltheintroductionofluxuryhadenervatedthevigor，andaspiritofdisobedienceandseditionhadrelaxedthediscipline，oftheRomanarmies。Theintroductionofbarbarianauxiliariesintothosearmies，wasameasureattendedwithveryobviousdangers，asitmightgraduallyinstructtheGermansintheartsofwarandofpolicy。Althoughtheywereadmittedinsmallnumbersandwiththestrictestprecaution，theexampleofCiviliswaspropertoconvincetheRomans，thatthedangerwasnotimaginary，andthattheirprecautionswerenotalwayssufficient。^74DuringthecivilwarsthatfollowedthedeathofNero，thatartfulandintrepidBatavian，whomhisenemiescondescendedtocomparewithHannibalandSertorius，^75
formedagreatdesignoffreedomandambition。EightBataviancohortsrenownedinthewarsofBritainandItaly，repairedtohisstandard。HeintroducedanarmyofGermansintoGaul，prevailedonthepowerfulcitiesofTrevesandLangrestoembracehiscause，defeatedthelegions，destroyedtheirfortifiedcamps，andemployedagainsttheRomansthemilitaryknowledgewhichhehadacquiredintheirservice。Whenatlength，afteranobstinatestruggle，heyieldedtothepoweroftheempire，Civilissecuredhimselfandhiscountrybyanhonorabletreaty。
TheBataviansstillcontinuedtooccupytheislandsoftheRhine，^76theallies，nottheservants，oftheRomanmonarchy。
[Footnote72:Missiliaspargunt，Tacit。Germ。c。6。Eitherthathistorianusedavagueexpression，orhemeantthattheywerethrownatrandom。]
[Footnote73:ItwastheirprincipaldistinctionfromtheSarmatians，whogenerallyfoughtonhorseback。]
[Footnote74:TherelationofthisenterpriseoccupiesagreatpartofthefourthandfifthbooksoftheHistoryofTacitus，andismoreremarkableforitseloquencethanperspicuity。SirHenrySavillehasobservedseveralinaccuracies。]
[Footnote75:Tacit。Hist。iv。13。Likethemhehadlostaneye。]
[Footnote76:ItwascontainedbetweenthetwobranchesoftheoldRhine，astheysubsistedbeforethefaceofthecountrywaschangedbyartandnature。SeeCluverGerman。Antiq。l。iii。c。
30，37。]
II。ThestrengthofancientGermanyappearsformidable，whenweconsidertheeffectsthatmighthavebeenproducedbyitsunitedeffort。Thewideextentofcountrymightverypossiblycontainamillionofwarriors，asallwhowereofagetobeararmswereofatempertousethem。Butthisfiercemultitude，incapableofconcertingorexecutinganyplanofnationalgreatness，wasagitatedbyvariousandoftenhostileintentions。
Germanywasdividedintomorethanfortyindependentstates；and，evenineachstate，theunionoftheseveraltribeswasextremelylooseandprecarious。Thebarbarianswereeasilyprovoked；theyknewnothowtoforgiveaninjury，muchlessaninsult；theirresentmentswerebloodyandimplacable。Thecasualdisputesthatsofrequentlyhappenedintheirtumultuouspartiesofhuntingordrinking，weresufficienttoinflamethemindsofwholenations；
theprivatefeudsofanyconsiderablechieftainsdiffuseditselfamongtheirfollowersandallies。Tochastisetheinsolent，ortoplunderthedefenceless，werealikecausesofwar。ThemostformidablestatesofGermanyaffectedtoencompasstheirterritorieswithawidefrontierofsolitudeanddevastation。
Theawfuldistancepreservedbytheirneighborsattestedtheterroroftheirarms，andinsomemeasuredefendedthemfromthedangerofunexpectedincursions。^77
[Footnote77:CaesardeBell。Gal。l。vi。23。]
"TheBructeriitisTacituswhonowspeaksweretotallyexterminatedbytheneighboringtribes，^78provokedbytheirinsolence，alluredbythehopesofspoil，andperhapsinspiredbythetutelardeitiesoftheempire。Abovesixtythousandbarbariansweredestroyed；notbytheRomanarms，butinoursight，andforourentertainment。Maythenations，enemiesofRome，everpreservethisenmitytoeachother!Wehavenowattainedtheutmostvergeofprosperity，^79andhavenothinglefttodemandoffortune，exceptthediscordofthebarbarians。"
^80—Thesesentiments，lessworthyofthehumanitythanofthepatriotismofTacitus，expresstheinvariablemaximsofthepolicyofhiscountrymen。Theydeemeditamuchsaferexpedienttodividethantocombatthebarbarians，fromwhosedefeattheycouldderiveneitherhonornoradvantage。ThemoneyandnegotiationsofRomeinsinuatedthemselvesintotheheartofGermany；andeveryartofseductionwasusedwithdignity，toconciliatethosenationswhomtheirproximitytotheRhineorDanubemightrenderthemostusefulfriendsaswellasthemosttroublesomeenemies。Chiefsofrenownandpowerwereflatteredbythemosttriflingpresents，whichtheyreceivedeitherasmarksofdistinction，orastheinstrumentsofluxury。Incivildissensionstheweakerfactionendeavoredtostrengthenitsinterestbyenteringintosecretconnectionswiththegovernorsofthefrontierprovinces。EveryquarrelamongtheGermanswasfomentedbytheintriguesofRome；andeveryplanofunionandpublicgoodwasdefeatedbythestrongerbiasofprivatejealousyandinterest。^81
[Footnote*:TheBructeriwereanon—Sueviantribe，whodweltbelowtheduchiesofOldenburgh，andLauenburgh，onthebordersoftheLippe，andintheHartzMountains。ItwasamongthemthatthepriestessVelledaobtainedherrenown。—G。]
[Footnote78:Theyarementioned，however，intheivthandvthcenturiesbyNazarius，Ammianus，Claudian，&c。，asatribeofFranks。SeeCluver。Germ。Antiq。l。iii。c。13。]
[Footnote79:Urgentibusisthecommonreading；butgoodsense，Lipsius，andsomeMss。declareforVergentibus。]
[Footnote80:TacitGermania，c。33。ThepiousAbbedelaBleterieisveryangrywithTacitus，talksofthedevil，whowasamurdererfromthebeginning，&c。，&c。]
[Footnote81:ManytracesofthispolicymaybediscoveredinTacitusandDion:andmanymoremaybeinferredfromtheprinciplesofhumannature。]
ThegeneralconspiracywhichterrifiedtheRomansunderthereignofMarcusAntoninus，comprehendedalmostallthenationsofGermany，andevenSarmatia，fromthemouthoftheRhinetothatoftheDanube。^82Itisimpossibleforustodeterminewhetherthishastyconfederationwasformedbynecessity，byreason，orbypassion；butwemayrestassured，thatthebarbarianswereneitheralluredbytheindolence，norprovokedbytheambition，oftheRomanmonarch。ThisdangerousinvasionrequiredallthefirmnessandvigilanceofMarcus。Hefixedgeneralsofabilityintheseveralstationsofattack，andassumedinpersontheconductofthemostimportantprovinceontheUpperDanube。
Afteralonganddoubtfulconflict，thespiritofthebarbarianswassubdued。TheQuadiandtheMarcomanni，^83whohadtakentheleadinthewar，werethemostseverelypunishedinitscatastrophe。Theywerecommandedtoretirefivemiles^84fromtheirownbanksoftheDanube，andtodeliverupthefloweroftheyouth，whowereimmediatelysentintoBritain，aremoteisland，wheretheymightbesecureashostages，andusefulassoldiers。^85OnthefrequentrebellionsoftheQuadiandMarcomanni，theirritatedemperorresolvedtoreducetheircountryintotheformofaprovince。Hisdesignsweredisappointedbydeath。Thisformidableleague，however，theonlyonethatappearsinthetwofirstcenturiesoftheImperialhistory，wasentirelydissipated，withoutleavinganytracesbehindinGermany。
[Footnote82:Hist。Aug。p。31。Ammian。Marcellin。l。xxxi。c。
5。Aurel。Victor。TheemperorMarcuswasreducedtoselltherichfurnitureofthepalace，andtoenlistslavesandrobbers。]
[Footnote83:TheMarcomanni，acolony，who，fromthebanksoftheRhineoccupiedBohemiaandMoravia，hadonceerectedagreatandformidablemonarchyundertheirkingMaroboduus。SeeStrabo，l。vii。[p。290。]Vell。Pat。ii。108。Tacit。Annal。ii。63。
Note:TheMark—manaen，theMarch—menorborderers。Thereseemslittledoubtthatthiswasanappellation，ratherthanapropernameofapartofthegreatSuevianorTeutonicrace。—
M。]
[Footnote84:Mr。WottonHistoryofRome，p。166increasestheprohibitiontotentimesthedistance。Hisreasoningisspecious，butnotconclusive。Fivemilesweresufficientforafortifiedbarrier。]
[Footnote85:Dion，l。lxxi。andlxxii。]
Inthecourseofthisintroductorychapter，wehaveconfinedourselvestothegeneraloutlinesofthemannersofGermany，withoutattemptingtodescribeortodistinguishthevarioustribeswhichfilledthatgreatcountryinthetimeofCaesar，ofTacitus，orofPtolemy。Astheancient，orasnewtribessuccessivelypresentthemselvesintheseriesofthishistory，weshallconciselymentiontheirorigin，theirsituation，andtheirparticularcharacter。Modernnationsarefixedandpermanentsocieties，connectedamongthemselvesbylawsandgovernment，boundtotheirnativesoilbyartsandagriculture。TheGermantribeswerevoluntaryandfluctuatingassociationsofsoldiers，almostofsavages。Thesameterritoryoftenchangeditsinhabitantsinthetideofconquestandemigration。Thesamecommunities，unitinginaplanofdefenceorinvasion，bestowedanewtitleontheirnewconfederacy。Thedissolutionofanancientconfederacyrestoredtotheindependenttribestheirpeculiarbutlong—forgottenappellation。Avictoriousstateoftencommunicateditsownnametoavanquishedpeople。Sometimescrowdsofvolunteersflockedfromallpartstothestandardofafavoriteleader；hiscampbecametheircountry，andsomecircumstanceoftheenterprisesoongaveacommondenominationtothemixedmultitude。Thedistinctionsoftheferociousinvaderswereperpetuallyvariedbythemselves，andconfoundedbytheastonishedsubjectsoftheRomanempire。^86