The Germany and the Agricola of TacitusTacitus, Cornelius
History
The Germany and the Agricola of Tacitus
Tacitus, Cornelius
Agricola, Gnaeus Julius, 40-93; Germanic peoples -- Early works to 1800; Statesmen -- Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
31. "Our children and relations are by the appointment of nature the
dearest of all things to us. These are torn away by levies to serve in
foreign lands. [115] Our wives and sisters, though they should escape
the violation of hostile force, are polluted under names of friendship
and hospitality. Our estates and possessions are consumed in tributes;
our grain in contributions. Even our bodies are worn down amidst stripes
and insults in clearing woods and draining marshes. Wretches born to
slavery are once bought, and afterwards maintained by their masters:
Britain every day buys, every day feeds, her own servitude. [116] And as
among domestic slaves every new comer serves for the scorn and derision
of his fellows; so, in this ancient household of the world, we, as the
newest and vilest, are sought out to destruction. For we have neither
cultivated lands, nor mines, nor harbors, which can induce them to
preserve us for our labors. The valor too and unsubmitting spirit
of subjects only render them more obnoxious to their masters; while
remoteness and secrecy of situation itself, in proportion as it conduces
to security, tends to inspire suspicion. Since then all Lopes of mercy
are vain, at length assume courage, both you to whom safety and you to
whom glory is dear. The Trinobantes, even under a female leader, had
force enough to burn a colony, to storm camps, and, if success had not
damped their vigor, would have been able entirely to throw off the
yoke; and shall not we, untouched, unsubdued, and struggling not for the
acquisition but the security of liberty, show at the very first onset
what men Caledonia has reserved for her defence?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account