A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

546 The Northern Barbarians
Women.
Women in
war.
Tac. Germ. 8.
Council of
chiefs and
assembly
of warriors.
lb. II.
chief incentive to bravery.
Their dearest too are close at
hand; the women's cries and the wailing of the babies
reach their ears. It is their testimony that each man
respects, their praise he values most. They carry their
wounds to show to mother and to wife; nor are the women
frightened to number and examine the blows; during battle
they bring them food and encouragement.
There is a tradition that in some battles troops already
wavering and beginning to run have been rallied by the
women, who offer unceasing prayers, bare their breasts,
and point out that captivity lies waiting close at hand.
This the Germans fear far more anxiously for the women's
sake than for their own, and the strongest hold upon the
loyalty of these tribes is got by demanding as hostages
girls of noble family.
Indeed they believe that there is in
women some divine spark of foreknowledge, and they do
not despise their advice or neglect their answers. . . .
On minor matters the chief men consult alone; on more
They provide, however,
important business they all meet.
that all questions, the decision of which lies with the
people, may be previously discussed by the chiefs.
Their
meetings are, except in case of chance emergencies, on
fixed days, either at new moon or full moon; such seasons
they believe to be the most auspicious for beginning business.
They reckon the number, not of the days as we do,
but of the nights. It is thus that they make their appointments
and contracts. To them day seems to follow night.
Their love of liberty makes them independent to a fault;
they do not assemble all at once or as though they were
under orders;
but two or three days are wasted by their
delay in arriving. They take their seats as they come,
all in full armor. Silence is demanded by the priests, to
whom are granted special powers of coercion. Next the