MODERN HISTORY. 171 



the language in which thole hiftoric hymns were 

 fung. It appears by thefe writers that the an- 

 cient Germans were mere barbarians. Among 

 that dark ignorance and that ferocity with which 

 they were furrounded, there were however to be 

 iome fparks of virtue, valour, art and know- 

 ledge. Tacitus fays, for example, that they 

 were much addicted to drinking , and this im- 

 plies that they had the art of making wine, or 

 fome other ftrong liquor : that author, indeed^ 

 exprefly fays, that they brewed beer (cerevifia). 

 He fays alib, that they trafficked with the Ro- 

 mans, and fold them, among other things, am- 

 ber,- which they gathered on the borders of the 

 Baltic Sea, and named Glade. All this fuppofes 

 fome exertion of induftry. This firft period 

 comes down to the birth of Chrill. 



XIX. The middle age comprehends the N 

 volutions in Germany from the commencement 

 of the Chriftian era to the time of Charlemagne, 

 including eight centuries. It is in this fecond 

 period that we find, (i.) The accounts of the 

 wars that the Germans fuftained againft the Ro- 

 mans, who were never able completely to fub- 

 due them. (2.) The particular enumeration of 

 the different nations that then inhabited Ger- 

 .y. (3.) The progrcfs of each of thefe peo- 

 their Hate during the decline of the Roman 

 and the manner in which each of them 

 fibly recovered their liberty. It is a matter 

 worthy of remark, that during all the 



die 



