Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/460

 446 STRABO. CASATJB. 291. the Romans, at one time submitting, at another revolting and quitting their habitations ; and we should have become ac- quainted with a greater number of their tribes, if Augustus had permitted his generals to pass the Elbe, in pursuit of those who had fled thither ; but he considered the war on hand would be more easily brought to a conclusion, if he left the people on the other side of the Elbe unmolested, and not by attacking provoke them to make common cause with his enemies. The Sicambri inhabiting the country next the Rhine were the first to commence the war, under the conduct of their leader, Melon ; other nations afterwards followed their ex- ample, at one time being victorious, at another defeated, and again recommencing hostilities, without regard to hostages or the faith of treaties. Against these people mistrust was the surest defence ; for those who were trusted effected the most mischief. For example, the Cherusci, and those who were subject to them, amongst whom three Roman legions with their general, Quintilius Varus, perished by ambush, in vio- lation of the truce ; nevertheless all have received punishment for this perfidy, which furnished to Germanicus the Younger the opportunity of a most brilliant triumph, he leading pub- licly as his captives the most illustrious persons, both men and women, amongst whom were Segimuntus, 1 the son of Segestes, the chief of the Cherusci, and his sister, named Thusnelda, the wife of Armenius, who led on the Cherusci when they treacherously attacked Quintilius Varus, and even to this day continues the war ; likewise his son Thumelicus, a boy three years old, as also Sesithacus, the son of Segime- rus, 2 chief of the Cherusci, and his wife Rhamis, the daughter of Ucromirus, 3 chief of the Chatti, 4 and Deudorix, the son of Baetorix, the brother of Melon, of the nation of the Sicam- bri ; but Segestes, the father-in-law of Armenius, from the commencement opposed the designs of his son-in-law, and taking advantage of a favourable opportunity, went over to the Roman camp and witnessed the triumphal procession over 1 Segimundus in Tacitus, Annal. lib. i. cap. 57. 2 ^Egimerus in Tacitus, Annal. lib. i. cap. 71. 3 Acrumerus, according to the correction of Cluverius. He is Actu- merus in Tacitus, Annal. lib. xi. 16, 17. 4 MSS. Batti, which Vossius reckons were the Batavi.