The Germania of Tacitus

purpose are clearly explained,) that the 'Germania' was intended to be an appendix to the Histories, the readers of which would perpetually feel themselves in need of a fuller and more detailed acquaintance with the country than could be conveniently given in the course of the work. This is at least a more probable hypothesis than many which have been suggested, and which can be described only as groundless conjectures. If we are to have a theory on the subject, we incline to think that ch. 38 which enumerates the Roman losses in Germany and dwells on the fierce independence of the people, more terrible even than Samnite, Carthaginian, Gaul or Parthian, hints at the motive which led to the composition of this work. A country so formidable, from which alone, as Tacitus might well think, serious danger was to be apprehended by Rome, would at least be worth a description as full and as accurate as his opportunities enabled him to give.

It cannot, we think, be inferred with any thing like certainty from the contents and general character of this work that Tacitus had ever visited Germany and passed some time in the country. Kritz indeed labours to show in an elaborate discussion that here and there matters are described with a precision and particularity which clearly betoken an eye-witness, and he lays considerable stress on the occasional introduction of native words which he argues would hardly have been known to one who had not actually resided in the country. His arguments, though ingenious, do not seem conclusive. It is certainly by no means improbable that Tacitus may have been in Germany, but the various opportunities which he must have had of gaining a knowledge of the country are amply

sufficient to account for the character of his descriptions. As a youth he had lived in all likelihood on the German border, and in his maturer years he would be able to add to his early impressions information gathered from Roman soldiers who had served in Germany, from members of the Emperor's German body-guard, from travellers and merchants, from the elder Pliny, with whom he was personally acquainted, and from the numerous Germans who were at that time living in Rome.

The 'Germania' bears the marks of a youthful composition. It is in passages highly rhetorical, and even poetic in some of its turns of expression. It is occasionally harsh and obscure, particularly in its description of localities, which is usually vague and illdefined. The satire which is so characteristic of Tacitus is continually meeting us in this work. German life and manners are so described that a Roman reader must have felt that the degeneracy of his countrymen was being intentionally put to shame. The text is in a more satisfactory state than that of the Agricola, and the recensions of Haupt and Kritz, considerably more recent than that of Orelli, have probably done for it as much as a careful examination of the MSS. and a sound estimate of their comparative value can accomplish.

Table of Passages in which the Text of this Edition of the 'Germania' differs from that of Orelli.