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boroughs。 To each of these are assigned an hundred persons chosen from
amongst the populace； to accompany and assist him； men who help him at
once with their authority and their counsel。
Without being armed they transact nothing； whether of public or
private concernment。 But it is repugnant to their custom for any man
to use arms； before the community has attested his capacity to wield
them。 Upon such testimonial； either one of the rulers； or his father；
or some kinsman dignify the young man in the midst of the assembly；
with a shield and javelin。 This amongst them is the /manly robe/； this
first degree of honour conferred upon their youth。 Before this they
seem no more than part of a private family； but thenceforward part of
the Commonweal。 The princely dignity they confer even upon striplings；
whose race is eminently noble； or whose fathers have done great and
signal services to the State。 For about the rest； who are more
vigorous and long since tried； they crowd to attend； nor is it any
shame to be seen amongst the followers of these。 Nay； there are
likewise degrees of followers； higher or lower； just as he whom they
follow judges fit。 Mighty too is the emulation amongst these
followers； of each to be first in favour with his Prince； mighty also
the emulation of the Princes； to excel in the number and valour of
followers。 This is their principal state； this their chief force； to
be at all times surrounded with a huge band of chosen young men； for
ornament and glory in peace； for security and defence in war。 Nor is
it amongst his own people only； but even from the neighbouring
communities； that any of their Princes reaps so much renown and a name
so great； when he surpasses in the number and magnanimity of his
followers。 For such are courted by Embassies； and distinguished with
presents； and by the terror of their fame alone often dissipate wars。
In the day of battle； it is scandalous to the Prince to be surpassed
in feats of bravery； scandalous to his followers to fail in matching
the bravery of the Prince。 But it is infamy during life； and indelible
reproach； to return alive from a battle where their Prince was slain。
To preserve their Prince； to defend him； and to ascribe to his glory
all their own valorous deeds； is the sum and most sacred part of their
oath。 The Princes fight for victory； for the Prince his followers
fight。 Many of the young nobility； when their own community comes to
languish in its vigour by long peace and inactivity； betake themselves
through impatience in other States which then prove to be in war。 For；
besides that this people cannot brook repose； besides that by perilous
adventures they more quickly blazon their fame； they cannot otherwise
than by violence and war support their huge train of retainers。 For
from the liberality of their Prince； they demand and enjoy that /war…
horse/ of theirs； with that /victorious javelin/ dyed in the blood of
their enemies。 In the place of pay； they are supplied with a daily
table and repasts； though grossly prepared； yet very profuse。 For
maintaining such liberality and munificence； a fund is furnished by
continual wars and plunder。 Nor could you so easily persuade them to
cultivate the ground； or to await the return of the seasons and
produce of the year； as to provoke the foe and to risk wounds and
death： since stupid and spiritless they account it； to acquire by
their sweat what they can gain by their blood。
Upon any recess from war； they do not much attend the chase。 Much more
of their time they pass in indolence； resigned to sleep and repasts。
All the most brave； all the most warlike； apply to nothing at all； but
to their wives； to the ancient men； and to even the most impotent
domestic； trust all the care of their house； and of their lands and
possessions。 They themselves loiter。 Such is the amazing diversity of
their nature； that in the same men is found so much delight in sloth；
with so much enmity to tranquillity and repose。 The communities are
wont； of their own accord and man by man； to bestow upon their Princes
a certain number of beasts； or a certain portion of grain； a
contribution which passes indeed for a mark of reverence and honour；
but serves also to supply their necessities。 They chiefly rejoice in
the gifts which come from the bordering countries； such as are sent
not only by particulars but in the name of the State； curious horses；
splendid armour； rich harness； with collars of silver and gold。 Now
too they have learnt； what we have taught them； to receive money。
That none of the several people in Germany live together in cities； is
abundantly known； nay； that amongst them none of their dwellings are
suffered to be contiguous。 They inhabit apart and distinct； just as a
fountain； or a field； or a wood happened to invite them to settle。
They raise their villages in opposite rows； but not in our manner with
the houses joined one to another。 Every man has a vacant space quite
round his own； whether for security against accidents from fire； or
that they want the art of building。 With them in truth； is unknown
even the use of mortar and of tiles。 In all their structures they
employ materials quite gross and unhewn； void of fashion and
comeliness。 Some parts they besmear with an earth so pure and
resplendent； that it resembles painting and colours。 They are likewise
wont to scoop caves deep in the ground； and over them to lay great
heaps of dung。 Thither they retire for shelter in the winter； and
thither convey their grain： for by such close places they mollify the
rigorous and excessive cold。 Besides when at any time their enemy
invades them； he can only ravage the open country； but either knows
not such recesses as are invisible and subterraneous； or must suffer
them to escape him； on this very account that he is uncertain where to
find them。
For their covering a mantle is what they all wear； fastened with a
clasp or； for want of it； with a thorn。 As far as this reaches not
they are naked； and lie whole days before the fire。 The most wealthy
are distinguished with a vest； not one large and flowing like those of
Sarmatians and Parthians； but girt close about them and expressing the
proportion of every limb。 They likewise wear the skins of savage
beasts； a dress which those bordering upon the Rhine use without any
fondness or delicacy； but about which such who live further in the
country are more curious； as void of all apparel introduced by
commerce。 They choose certain wild beasts； and； having flayed them；
diversify their hides with many spots； as also with the skins of
monsters from the deep； such as are engendered in the distant ocean
and in seas unknown。 Neither does the dress of the women differ from
that of the men； save that the women are orderly attired in linen
embroidered with purple； and use no sleeves； so that all their arms
are bare。 The upper part of their breast is withal exposed。
Yet the laws of matrimony are severely observed there； for in the
whole of their manners is aught more praiseworthy than this： for they
are almost the only Barbarians contented with one wife； excepting a
very few amongst them； men of dignity who marry divers wives； from no
wantonness or lubricity； but courted for the lustre of their family
into many alliances。
To the husband； the wife tenders no dowry； but the husband； to the
wife。 The parents and relations attend and declare their approbation
of the presents； not presents adapted to feminine pomp and delicacy；
nor such as serve to deck the new married woman； but oxen and horse
accoutred； and a shield； with a javelin and sword。 By virtue of these
gifts； she is espoused。 She too on her part brings her husband some
arms。 This they esteem the highest tie； these the holy mysteries； and
matrimonial Gods。 That the woman may not suppose herself free from the
considerations of fortitude and fighting； or exempt from the
casualties of war； the very first solemnities of her wedding serve to
warn her； that she comes to her husband as a partner in his hazards
and fatigues； that she is to suffer alike with him； to adventure
alike； during peace or during war。 This the oxen joined in the same
yoke plainly indicate； this the horse ready equipped； this the present
of arms。 'Tis thus she must be content to live； thus to resign life。
The arms which she then receives she must preserve inviolate； and to
her sons restore the same； as presents worthy of them； such as their
wives may again receive； and still resign to her grandchildren。
They therefore live in a state of chastity well secured； corrupted by
no seducing shows and public diversions； by no irritations from
banqueting。 Of learning and of any secret intercourse by letters； they
are all equally ignorant； men and women。 Amongst a people so numerous；
adultery is 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 aboundin