Contiguous to the Tencterians formerly dwelt the Bructerians, in whose room it is said the Chamavians and Angrivarians are now settled; they who expulsed and almost extirpated the Bructerians, with the concurrence of the neighbouring nations:  whether in detestation of their arrogance, or allured by the love of spoil, or through the special favour of the Gods towards us Romans.  They in truth even vouchsafed to gratify us with the sight of the battle.  In it there fell above sixty thousand souls, without a blow struck by the Romans; but, what is a circumstance still more glorious, fell to furnish them with a spectacle of joy and recreation.  May the Gods continue and perpetuate amongst these nations, if not any love for us, yet by all means this their animosity and hate towards each other:  since whilst the destiny of the Empire thus urges it, fortune cannot more signally befriend us, than in sowing strife amongst our foes.

The Angrivarians and Chamavians are enclosed behind, by the Dulgibinians and Chasuarians; and by other nations not so much noted:  before the Frisians face them.  The country of Frisia is divided into two; called the greater and lesser, according to the measure of their strength.  Both nations stretch along the Rhine, quite to the ocean; and surround vast lakes such as once have born Roman fleets.  We have moreover even ventured out from thence into the ocean, and upon its coasts common fame has reported the pillars of Hercules to be still standing:  whether it be that Hercules ever visited these parts, or that to his renowned name we are wont to ascribe whatever is grand and glorious everywhere.  Neither did Drusus who made the attempt, want boldness to pursue it:  but the roughness of the ocean withstood him, nor would suffer discoveries to be made about itself, no more than about Hercules.  Thenceforward the enterprise was dropped:  nay, more pious and reverential it seemed, to believe the marvellous feats of the Gods than to know and to prove them.

Hitherto, I have been describing Germany towards the west.  To the northward, it winds away with an immense compass.  And first of all occurs the nation of the Chaucians; who though they begin immediately at the confines of the Frisians, and occupy part of the shore, extend so far as to border upon all the several people whom I have already recounted; till at last, by a Circuit, they reach quite to the boundaries of the Cattans.  A region so vast, the Chaucians do not only possess but fill; a people of all the Germans the most noble, such as would rather maintain their grandeur by justice than violence.  They live in repose, retired from broils abroad, void of avidity to possess more, free from a spirit of domineering over others.  They provoke no wars, they ravage no countries, they pursue no plunder.  Of their bravery and power, the chief evidence arises from hence, that, without wronging or oppressing others, they are come to be superior to all.  Yet they are all ready to arm, and if an exigency require, armies are presently raised, powerful and abounding as they are in men and horses; and even when they are quiet and their weapons laid aside, their credit and name continue equally high.