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[72] Eodem anno Frisii, transrhenanus popolus, pacem exuere,
nostra magis avaritia quam obsequii impatientes. tributum iis
Drusus iusserat modicum pro angustia rerum, ut in usus militaris
coria boum penderent, non intenta cuiusquam cura quae firmitudo,
quae mensura, donec Olennius e primipilaribus regendis Frisiis
impositus terga urorum delegit quorum ad formam acciperentur.
id aliis quoque nationibus arduum apud Germanos difficilius tolerabatur,
quis ingentium beluarum feraces saltus, modica domi armenta sunt.
ac primo boves ipsos, mox agros, postremo corpora coniugum aut
liberorum servitio tradebant. |
[72] In that same year (28 CE) the Frisians, a people
who dwelt over the Rhine, broke the peace, the more for our greediness
than for intolerance of our rule. Drusus had decreed for them
a reasonable tribute, for their lack of goods, that is paying
in cattle hides for military purposes, not minding their strength
or their size, until the primipilar Olennius, assegned to the
rule of the Frisians, choose the aurochs' hide as a model to
be assumed. This tribute would have been huge for every people,
but it was even more difficult to stand for the Germans, whose
forest is rich of wild beasts, while at home they rear low size
livestock. So they were forced to give away first of all their
oxen, then their fields, and finally they sold as slaves their
wives and sons. |
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last updated:
February 2th 2008