XXXIV
Angrivarios et Chamavos a tergo Dulgibini et Chasuarii cludunt aliaeque gentes, haud perinde (haud perinde: ‘not to the same extent ‘) memoratae. A fronte Frisii (Dulgibini et Chasuarii … Frisii: the Dulgibini or Dulgubnii were next east of the Angrivarii and Chamavi (see previous chapter) between Osnabruck and Hannover, but slightly more to the north of either city, mainly along the river Aller, a tributary of the Weser. The Chasuarii dwelt south of the Chamavi, between the Ems and the Weser rivers, south-west of Bremen. The Frisii occupied the coastal regions of Holland from the mouth of the Rhine to the river Ems; they were west of the Angrivarii and Chamavii.) excipiunt. Majoribus minoribusque Frisiis vocabulum est ex modo virium: (majoribus minoribusque Frisiis vocabulum est ex modo virium: majoribus minoribusque Frisiis is dative of possessor with est, on the pattern of mihi nomen est: ‘they have the designation Upper and Lower Frisii from the extent of their strength’) utraeque nationes usque ad Oceanum Rheno praetexuntur, (Rheno praetexuntur: ‘are bordered by the Rhine’; lit. ‘are hemmed by the Rhine’: cf. toga praetexta, ‘toga hemmed by the purple’.) ambiuntque immensos insuper lacus (ambiuntque immensos insuper lacus: all these separate lakes disappeared after an overwhelming inundation in the late 13th century, which formed the Zuyder Zee.) et Romanis classibus navigatos. Ipsum quin etiam Oceanum illa tentavimus: (quin etiam Oceanum illa tentavimus: ‘nay, more than that, we even tried to explore the ocean in those parts’; illa is adverb.) et superesse adhuc Herculis columnas (Herculis columnas: the high ground on either side of the Straight of Gibraltar, which narrowly connects the Atlantic ocean with the Mediterranean sea, was thought to have been raised by Hercules; whenever ancient mariners, while exploring unknown regions, encountered a narrow sea passage flanked by rocky walls, they imagined it to be also the work of the mythical hero.) fama vulgavit; sive adiit Hercules, seu, quicquid ubique magnificum est, (quicquid ubique magnificum est: ‘whatever marvel there is anywhere’; quicquid is neuter of quisquis, indefinite pronoun and adjective) in claritatem ejus referre consensimus. Nec defuit audentia Druso Germanico: (nec defuit audentia Druso Germanico: lit. ‘to Drusus Germanicus daring was not wanting’: the verb desum requires dative. Drusus, the brother of emperor Tiberius, called Germanicus for his campaigns in Germany, sailed into the northern ocean in 12 A.D.) sed obstitit Oceanus in se simul atque in Herculem inquiri. (obstitit Oceanus in se simul atque in Herculem inquiri: ‘Oceanus refused to be investigated both in regard to himself and in regard to Hercules’: Oceanus is personification; in se: ‘in reference to himself’; simul atque: here coordinating conjunction, ‘and at the same time’) Mox nemo tentavit; sanctiusque ac reverentius visum, de actis deorum credere, quam scire.