COMMENTARIUS QUARTUS
The following winter (this was the year in which Cn. Pompey and M. Crassus were consuls [55 B.C.]), those Germans [called] the Usipetes, and likewise the Tenchtheri, with a great number of men, crossed the Rhine, not far from the place at which that river discharges itself into the sea.
Ea quae secuta est hieme, qui fuit annus Cn. Pompeio, M. Crasso consulibus, Usipetes Germani et item Tencteri magna [cum] multitudine hominum flumen Rhenum transierunt, non longe a mari, quo Rhenus influit.
The motive for crossing [that river] was, that having been for several years harassed by the Suevi, they were constantly engaged in war, and hindered from the pursuits of agriculture.
Causa transeundi fuit quod ab Suebis complures annos exagitati bello premebantur et agri cultura prohibebantur.
The nation of the Suevi is by far the largest and the most warlike nation of all the Germans.
Sueborum gens est longe maxima et bellicosissima Germanorum omnium.
They are said to possess a hundred cantons, from each of which they yearly send from their territories for the purpose of war a thousand armed men: the others who remain at home, maintain [both] themselves and those-engaged in the expedition.
Hi centum pagos habere dicuntur, ex quibus quotannis singula milia armatorum bellandi causa ex finibus educunt. Reliqui, qui domi manserunt, se atque illos alunt;
The latter again, in their turn, are in arms the year after: the former remain at home.
hi rursus in vicem anno post in armis sunt, illi domi remanent.
Thus neither husbandry, nor the art and practice of war are neglected.
Sic neque agri cultura nec ratio atque usus belli intermittitur.
But among them there exists no private and separate land; nor are they permitted to remain more than one year in one place for the purpose of residence.
Sed privati ac separati agri apud eos nihil est, neque longius anno remanere uno in loco colendi causa licet.
They do not live much on corn, but subsist for the most part on milk and flesh, and are much [engaged] in hunting;
Neque multum frumento, sed maximam partem lacte atque pecore vivunt multum sunt in venationibus;
which circumstance must, by the nature of their food, and by their daily exercise and the freedom of their life (for having from boyhood been accustomed to no employment, or discipline, they do nothing at all contrary to their inclination), both promote their strength and render them men of vast stature of body.
quae res et cibi genere et cotidiana exercitatione et libertate vitae, quod a pueris nullo officio aut disciplina adsuefacti nihil omnino contra voluntatem faciunt, et vires alit et immani corporum magnitudine homines efficit.
And to such a habit have they brought themselves, that even in the coldest parts they wear no clothing whatever except skins, by reason of the scantiness of which, a great portion of their body is bare, and besides they bathe in open rivers.
Atque in eam se consuetudinem adduxerunt ut locis frigidissimis neque vestitus praeter pelles habeant quicquam, quarum propter exiguitatem magna est corporis pars aperta, et laventur in fluminibus.