第 8 节
作者:
北方刷刷 更新:2021-02-19 21:02 字数:2686
pitch or rosin。
Upon the Suiones; border the people Sitones; and; agreeing with them
in all other things; differ from them in one; that here the
sovereignty is exercised by a woman。 So notoriously do they degenerate
not only from a state of liberty; but even below a state of bondage。
Here end the territories of the Suevians。
Whether amongst the Sarmatians or the Germans I ought to account the
Peucinians; the Venedians; and the Fennians; is what I cannot
determine; though the Peucinians; whom some call Basstarnians; speak
the same language with the Germans; use the same attire; build like
them; and live like them; in that dirtiness and sloth so common to
all。 Somewhat they are corrupted into the fashion of the Sarmatians by
the inter…marriages of the principal sort with that nation: from
whence the Venedians have derived very many of their customs and a
great resemblance。 For they are continually traversing and infesting
with robberies all the forests and mountains lying between the
Peucinians and Fennians。 Yet they are rather reckoned amongst the
Germans; for that they have fixed houses; and carry shields; and
prefer travelling on foot; and excel in swiftness。 Usages these; all
widely differing from those of the Sarmatians; who live on horseback
and dwell in waggons。 In wonderful savageness live the nation of the
Fennians; and in beastly poverty; destitute of arms; of horses; and of
homes; their food; the common herbs; their apparel; skins; their bed;
the earth; their only hope in their arrows; which for want of iron
they point with bones。 Their common support they have from the chase;
women as well as men; for with these the former wander up and down;
and crave a portion of the prey。 Nor other shelter have they even for
their babes; against the violence of tempests and ravening beasts;
than to cover them with the branches of trees twisted together; this a
reception for the old men; and hither resort the young。 Such a
condition they judge more happy than the painful occupation of
cultivating the ground; than the labour of rearing houses; than the
agitations of hope and fear attending the defence of their own
property or the seizing that of others。 Secure against the designs of
men; secure against the malignity of the Gods; they have accomplished
a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing remains even to
be wished。
What further accounts we have are fabulous: as that the Hellusians and
Oxiones have the countenances and aspect of men; with the bodies and
limbs of savage beasts。 This; as a thing about which I have no certain
information; I shall leave untouched。
End