Tacitus, Germania. Chapter 36.
36. Dwelling one one side of the Chauci and Chatti, the Cherusci long chersished, unassailed, an excessive and enervating love of peace. This was more pleasant than safe, for to be peaceful is self-deception among lawless and powerful neighbours. Where the strong hand decides, moderation and justice are terms applied only to the more powerful; and so the Cherusci, ever reputed good and just, are now called cowards and fools, whil ein the case of the victorious Chatti success has been identified with prudence. The downfall of the Cherusci brought with it also that of the Fosi, a neighbouring tribe, which shared equally in their disasters, though they had been inferior to them in prosperous days.
36. Dwelling one one side of the Chauci and Chatti, the Cherusci long chersished, unassailed, an excessive and enervating love of peace. This was more pleasant than safe, for to be peaceful is self-deception among lawless and powerful neighbours. Where the strong hand decides, moderation and justice are terms applied only to the more powerful; and so the Cherusci, ever reputed good and just, are now called cowards and fools, whil ein the case of the victorious Chatti success has been identified with prudence. The downfall of the Cherusci brought with it also that of the Fosi, a neighbouring tribe, which shared equally in their disasters, though they had been inferior to them in prosperous days.
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Tacitus, Germania - translated by Alfred Lord Church and William Jackson Brodribb.
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place time topic people language
Ancient Germany - Ancient/1st century CE - General history - Germans - Latin translation
Ancient Germany - Ancient/1st century CE - General history - Germans - Latin translation
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