2 On the Pristine Character of the Ancient Germans. [Aug; 1, 
compile a grammar of the .?l.olo-DorIc powers be so vigorously called into ac- 
tongue, which I believe has hitherto not tion, as in that stage of the savage slate, 
been attempted in this country; but, as where his enjoyments being purely sen- 
few refers may be so inquisitive as sual, he shall suddenly find liimself ren= 
Piedagogus, and few booksellers|be found dered, as it were, independent of liis own 
willing to speculate in a publication faculties of invention for their aliment, 
whicb cannot expect to meet with much by coming in contact with a people aU 
encouragement at the best, my manu- ready far advanced in the career of ci- 
script has lain nearly half a year in the vilization. Hence, it cannot be matter 
liands of my bookseller, waiting for the of surprise, the pristine character of the 
dawn of better prospects. Germans should date its first aberration 
In the mean time, should Paidngogus from an intercourse with the polished 
wish to see the grammar here alluded to, and luxurious Romans. These, greedy 
or feel any curiosity to peruse a modern of dominion, and eager to establish their 
Greek tragedy in rhyme h^ciitKov bj own security on the enervation or sub- 
Twv ’AjoXooftj^txnv AiaXsulev) which 1 have jugationoftheir neighbours, were scarcely 
some idea of publishing in the original, masters of Gaul, when their fears natu- 
accompanied by an English translation, rally directed their attention to the rude 
a hint given through the medium of your and warlike multitudes, which peopled 
.Magazine, will be duly attended to by ancient Germany. From the earliest 
^iXo^coixuioiQi;. times, Rome liad foreseen the clangers, 
June 23, 1811. with which any proximity to so hardy and 
■ P. S. That such of your readers as under- intractable a race was fraught. Cajsar 
stand ancient Greek, may have an idea of 
modern Greek verse, I beg leave to subjoin 
the first scene of the tragedy above-raentl- 
sedulously endeavoured to 
immediate neighbourhood, 
had defeated the Helvetir, 
avoid their 
When lie 
he suffered 
vokms 
oned, in which Achilles is represented as in- them to return quietly to their homes, 
lest the Germans might possess them¬ 
selves of the districts, which would, 
otherwise, have been deserted. The 
same apprehensions made him urgent 
that Ariovistus should retire from Gaul, 
and never again pass the Rhine, lest his 
countrymen migiit afterwards flock thitlier 
in more formidable numbers.'* Seneca 
w'as equally sedulous in warning his- 
countrymen of the storms which threat¬ 
ened them from this quarter. “ What, 
(says he) is more intrepid than the Gtr- 
tiic assistance of Jupiter. 
f-sZ See aeaauvocpoge 5,'S7'y tv avia KaleiySi^ 
'Eiflov aoTBieov aiQiga^ ‘/.kiTav S'iotx?:?, 
"Oj/sjn a-y-BtvBiqK BcpBPBvugliiV (piXi'avltiv 
K.' B^^iKSicrai Kai tvaiHuStgli'iV ^oXlay Kai wXa^nVf 
’iS's'iy'lMV /an <p(X5fv1>5V a^aoig-w -Iv^'riy, 
'H otiTOia Ihv tiroXX^v aii avo-^nv^ 
Uxg k 'Inv ynvlnc Ltvc^SBU^va <pavBfk 
k’j atiT 'ii vr'pr; ag-p&tJilcig, Va Idg yavs-p; 
<^XByB^a j ^ 
•570C"ov ava<7‘/y^xig zailyg vo/ueg era 'sralav, 
Kai Ing <plXB.’g x’ ivB^ydag ig sy &^Bglxv atira'lSv. 
*Ay £>a' ay.apiavx, tiTai^Bva-B (A BvSvg 
'Li ^5 h':v aoixstay sxS'iXnc-y avg'^ea^ 
0/1 
For the ]\Ionthly Jlagazine. 
the 
AisCiENT GERMANS, and the 
jEEFECTS produced upon their pristine 
CUARACTEPw, Cj/ JXTERCOURSE ZCitfl the 
HOMANS. 
A T a former period I attempted a 
sketch, illustrative of the leading 
ciiaracteristies of the German nation, 
previously to its connexion with the 
Romans.* It has been my humble en- 
deavour, in the subsequent pages, to de- 
yelope the general consequences of this 
connex 
tibfacioriiy ascertained by 
of contemporaneous historians. 
In every stage of society, man is pe¬ 
culiarly susceptible of the influence of 
example; but in none will his imitative 
I •» » I 1 II H !■ Mi w I. , . . . ■ . . . ■ „ ^ .1 ..I ... 
* Yide, Tol. §7, N 9 , 186, p, 565, et se^. 
mans; what more fierce in the attac! 
what more eager after warfare, in which 
theyjare born and nurtured, and to which, 
neglectful of every other occupation, 
their whole attention is bent? Let sucli 
bodies and minds as these, winch 
are unacquainted with luxury, debauch¬ 
ery, and riches, once acquire prudence 
and military discipline, that I may soy 
no more, and we shall soon be compelled 
to return to our old Roman iiahits/’f 
And yet it was on sucii a people as ihis, 
that the armies and treasures of Rome 
Were wasted, in prosecuting a series of 
contests, whose result, e’ en if successful, 
2 xlnn, m as far as tiiey can he sa- could afford tliera only a ccmquest, held 
ioriiy ascertained by the testimony 
* De Bello Gal!. Lib. i. 
+ Agedum illis corporibus, illls anlmls 
delicias, luxum opes ignorancibus, da rati- 
onem, da disciplinam, iit nihil amplius dicsn;. 
necesse erit nobis certe mores Romanos re- 
petere, Seneca dc Ira, lib. i. cap. 2. 
ar 
