Ch. vi. Inhabitants of the North of Europe. 109 



necessity, of applying this rate of increase to the 

 inhabitants of ancient Germany will strikingly 

 appear from that most valuable picture of their 

 manners which has been left us by Tacitus. He 

 describes them as not inhabiting cities, or even 

 of admitting of contiguous settlements. Every 

 person surrounds his house with a vacant space;* 

 a circumstance, which besides its beneficial effect 

 as a security from fire, is strongly calculated to 

 prevent the generation, and check the ravages, of 

 epidemics. " They content themselves almost 

 universally with one wife. Theirmatrimonial bond 

 is strict and severe, and their manners in this 

 respect deserving of the highest praise.f They 

 live in a state of well-guarded chastity, corrupted 

 by no seducing spectacles or convivial incite- 

 ments. Adultery is extremely rare, and no in- 

 dulgence is shewn to a prostitute. Neither 

 beauty, youth, nor riches, can procure her a hus- 

 band: for none there looks on vice with a smile, 

 or calls mutual seduction the way of the world. 

 To limit the increase of children, or put to death 

 any of the husband's blood, is accounted infa- 

 mous; and virtuous manners have there more 

 efficacy than good laws elsewhere.^ Every 

 mother suckles her own children, and does not 

 deliver them into the hands of servants and 

 nurses. The youths partake late of the sexual 



* Tacitus ile Moribus Genu. s. xvi. 

 f Id. s. xviii. 

 + Id. s. xix. 



