Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/301

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 277 tion, the example of Civilis was proper to convince the CHAP. Romans, that the danger was not imaginary, and that ^^- their precautions were not always sufficient®. During the civil wars that followed the death of Nero, that artful and intrepid Batavian, whom his enemies conde- scended to compare with Hannibal and Sertorius*^, formed a great design of freedom and ambition. Eight Batavian cohorts, renowned in the wars of Britain and Italy, repaired to his standard. He introduced an army of Germans into Gaul, prevailed on the powerful cities of Treves and Langres to embrace his cause, de- feated the legions, destroyed their fortified camps, and employed against the Romans the military knowledge which he had acquired in their service. When at length, after an obstinate struggle, he yielded to the power of the empire, Civilis secured himself and his country by an honourable treaty. The Batavians still continued to occupy the islands of the Rhine ^, the allies not the servants of the Roman monarchy. II. The strength of ancient Germany appears for- Civil dis- midable, when we consider the effects that might have ^"^"0 °^ been produced by its united effort. The wide extent of country might very possibly contain a million of war- riors, as all who were of age to bear arms were of a temper to use them. But this fierce multitude, inca- pable of concerting or executing any plan of national greatness, was agitated by various and often hostile in- tentions. Germany was divided into more than forty independent states ; and even in each state the union of the several tribes was extremely loose and preca- rious. The barbarians were easily provoked ; they knew not how to forgive an injury, much less an insult; their resentments were bloody and implacable. The casual disputes that so frequently happened in their « The relation of this enterprise occupies a great part of the fourth and fifth books of the history of Tacitus, and is more remarkable for its eloquence than perspicuity. Sir Henry Saville has observed several inaccuracies. ^ Tacit. Hist. iv. 13. Like them, he had lost an eye. fe' It was contained between the two branches of the old Rhine, as they subsisted before the face of the country was changed by art and nature. See Cluver. German. Antiq. 1. ii. c. 30. 37.