their own champions and a captive of the nation, against which they had commenced hostilities.' But amid all this dross we discover in their creed, according to the Edda, some grains of pure gold : notwithstanding the corruptions which subsequent ages introduced among them, (as we have already seen) they believed in that sublime and sacred doctrine, which reason, no less than revelation teaches,—the immortality of the soul. But even this belief was debased and alloyed by the notions and vagaries of a sensual Paradise, and, like the Mahometans, they thought that perfect bliss awaited those who fell on the battle-field. “The Cimbri are gay and courageous;' they leap for joy in battle; and rejoice, when they are about to quit life in so glorious a cause; but in sickness and old age they lament, fearing a shameful and inglorious death.” Surely, says Lucan, this people of the north are happy in their delusion! for the fear of death, the greatest dread to mankind, troubles them not; and thus they are ready to rush on the sword, and their souls to embrace death, thinking it the part of a coward to spare a life which they shall soon recover.” Read the words of the original : “Certe populi quos despicit Arctos LUCAN, LIB. I. In fine, their religion, as attaching to the profession of arms eternal salvation and happiness, wrought these deluded men to the highest pitch of euthusiasm for a military life. Neither fatigue, dangers, nor torments could moderate this passion, which was to be crowned with so lasting and blissful a recompense. Such was that happy futurity, the prospect of which rendered the inhabitants of northern Europe so intrepid, not merely defying, but courting, death. King Regner,' when on the eve of dissolution, far from uttering groans or complaints, expressed his joy in these verses: “We are hewn in pieces by the sword; but this fills me with joy, when I think of the feast preparing for me in (7) Smollett's England. (8) Val. Maximus, II. c. 6. (9) Mallet, 1, p. 121. excesses. a Odin's palace. There quietly seated in the splendid habitations of the gods, we shall drink beer out of the skulls of our enemies. A brave man fears not to die. I shall utter no timorous words, as I enter the hall of Odin.” And again : “What is the happy portion of the brave, but to fall in the midst of arrows ? he that flies from wounds, drags out a tedious, miserable life. The dastard feels no heart in his bosom." Thinking as they did 10 every kind of death ignominious, but one of a violent nature, no wonder that the Northmen should have made war the only honourable profession, and carried valour to such extravagant Death, to the soldier at least, had no terror; he could approach it without dismay. A warrior, who was wasting by a lingering sickness, would shorten an inglorious life by a glorious death, desiring to be carried to the battle to die by the enemy's hand. Others slew themselves ; many procured this melancholy service at the hands of friends, who considered this sort of voluntary murder as a sacred duty, deeming that a happy exchange, which gave them happiness and repose for ever, instead of a life of mourning, misery, disquiet, and danger. To such a misguided race constant warfare was, we repeat, not at all strange; however strange to a man who reasons coolly as a Christian. It is but as yesterday, that mankind began to be sensible of the blessings of peace, of the advantage of cultivating the arts, industry, and commerce. The farther we look back into history, we discover mankind to be more engaged in war, , divided among themselves for no cause, and unnaturally bent upon each other's destruction, from a spirit of revenge, or jealousy, of plunder or fanaticism. Three thousand years ago the face of Europe presented the same spectacle as three hundred years ago did the forests of America, viz, a thousand petty wandering tribes, without cities, towns, or even homes, without agriculture, arts, commerce, and therefore property, except a few herds and huts, or what they gained by pillage, harassing each other by inroads, attacks, fire and sword, sometimes conquering, sometimes conquered, preying like wild beasts upon each other; nay, worse than these; for the beasts abstain from their kind; but no creature more cruel than man to his fellow-man. In such a state of rapine and mischief, life being so precarious, has but few charms. (10) Extract from five Runic Odes published by Dodsley. 1 Life is a real blessing to him alone, who knows and feels the & pleasures of domesticity, the enjoyment of property, society, kinI dred, of the fruits of industry, the protection of laws, and who I has a relish for those arts that soften our manners, embellish life, ? and endear us to it. a 4. The character of the ancient northern nations we have attempted, in some measure, to develope. The government and laws of those obscure countries are to us little known. Scarcely does any author of note and authority throw any light upon their polity, except Tacitus, in his short, but masterly Treatise upon the manners of the ancient Germans, in which he has comprised the most prominent traits of the people of that vast country. What he has recorded concerning their polity, is a morsel too precious, not to be here translated entire : “In the election of their kings, they have a regard to their birth, of their chiefs, to their virtue or merit.' Affairs of minor interest are decided by the grandees; but those of importance, by the general assembly of the people. They have certain days of assembling; and, when the king or chief has given his opinion, each speaks in turn, according as he is eminent for valour, birth, or understanding, but deference is paid rather to reason than to the individual. If they disapprove his opinion, they signify so by a murmur; if they approve, they make a noise by clashing their spears; for they always resort to their assemblies, clad in armour. And to clash their arms, is deemed the most respectful way of confessing assent or conferring praise. “ It is in these assemblies also, that criminals are tried and punished. Here too are elected those magistrates, who are to dispense justice through the towns and villages, and each delegate takes with him a hundred persons, to assist him by their authority and advice. The king's grandeur consists in seeing himself surrounded by a brave and numerous youth, who are to him an ornament in peace, a security in war. When they come to the combat, it is dishonourable for the king not to be foremost in the action; and the people make a vow, to follow him every where, and defend him. His glory is the end and aim of their noblest exploits; and it is an indelible infamy to survive (1) Reges ex nobilitate, duces ex virtute sumunt. &c. the prince. . . . him in the battle ; for the prince fights for victory, and they, for The public, as also individuals, make presents to the prince, as well out of the revenue of their lands as of their flocks,-a custom which is a source of profit and a token of esteem to him, and the Prince, on his part, bestows on those who fight for him either a war-horse or a victorious and bloody lance. Nor is the power of the kings free and unlimited. The leaders set an example of valour, rather than give orders. If these are foremost and conspicuous in the field, they are held in esteem and admiration. . . Illustrious descent and the merits of their fathers entitle even striplings (adolescentulos) to the monarch's favour. And, as these advance in age, other youthful warriors attach themselves to the prince's retinue. They have different ranks according to the judgment of the chief ; and, among his followers (comites) is the highest emulation, who shall stand foremost in his favour ; and the princes are equally : ; emulous, who shall have the most numerous and most valiant in their train. This is their dignity, this their strength, to be surrounded by a choice company of Thus formidable, they are courted by embassies, and honoured by presents; and the mere terror of their name often averts a war.? . If there be no employment for the warriors at home, they voluntarily resort to other nations engaged in war. For to retain them in his service, the prince has no other resource than war. And they would rather challenge the enemy and serve for wounds, (mereri vulnera) than plough the soil and wait for the produce. Nay, it appears to them the part of a dastard to earn by the sweat of the brow what a man can acquire by the glory of the sword.” This valuable little treatise of the sententious Historian,—the most prominent points in which are given in the above desultory extracts,—is a most faithful epitome of the religion, polity, manners, customs, and habits of the inhabitants of Germany, no less than of Northern Europe, prior and subsequent to the Christian age. In it we discover the character, especially, of the ancient Gothic form of government. Here we see kings of illustrious descent, presiding over rather than ruling a free people. Here we discern the nucleus of the British Constitution, which came forth originally from the forests of Germany. Here we behold a a (2) Et ipsa plerumque fama bella profligavit. i brave and independent nation, assembling at certain times, and ! making resolutions in their own persons (as we by our represeni tatives) on all affairs of importance, enacting laws, deciding on peace or war, concluding alliances, dispensing justice, appointing magistrates, and deliberating on the public weal. We trace here the outline of a House of Peers, or what in other European States was styled “ The Grand Council,” the General Assembly, &c. with an exception that the monarchies of modern Europe are hereditary, not elective,-an improvement, perhaps, upon the antient polity. We discover moreover, in the same, the origin of the feudal system. For though Tacitus informs us, that eminent services were rewarded by the gift of a horse or lance, in the earlier times; yet, when territorial acquisitions were increased by conquest, such services were requited by donations of a more substantial character, by grants of conquered lands on military tenure. In effect, we recognize in these swarms of Germans and Scandinavians a host of savage warriors, who seemed born only for ravage and destruction, changed into an orderly and politic community, as soon as they had confirmed their conquests, infusing into their institutions a spirit of equity and justice, electing for kings such of their princes, as they judged most deserving of the crown, dividing between those kings and the whole nation the exercise of the sovereign power; reserving to the general assemblies the making of laws, and deciding public measures ; and lastly, to give solidity to the powers essential to a limited monarchy, assigning certain privileges to the several orders of the State. Our often-quoted Historian further states, that the Germans had among them four classes or ranks, the hereditary nobles (ingenui,) the nobles by election, the freemen, and slaves. These orders subsisted among the Danes also, according to Adam Bremensis ;' and other authors speak to the same effect of the Saxons, as well those, who with the Angles settled in England, as those who settled in Germany. The first class were those, who, by their very extraction and independently of the royal favour, were reputed noble. Among the second were comprised, besides the nobles properly so called, all those who held great offices at court, or in the provinces, as senators, governors, (3) See Mallet, p. 111, 3 (4) Id. |
